Mission: New Orleans Opera exists to entertain, inspire and, educate our city and our state through the production and performance of opera. We believe in the power of opera to express our most visceral stories, expanding our capacity for wonder, laughter, and humanity and bringing audiences together for shared experiences that transport and delight. We honor our responsibility as bearers of a three-hundred-year legacy of presenting European and American premieres in the Crescent City, the gateway to opera for the nation; we celebrate the unique linguistic and cultural heritage of our city through our programming, people, and practices. Our mission extends beyond the stage, as we enrich the cultural landscape of our community through inclusive education, outreach, and partnerships that foster a love for the arts. We believe in showing up in places where our audiences can meet us, performing grand operas in formal theaters and melodic fantasies in unexpected corners with equal love and excitement.

H. Lloyd Hawkins Scenic Studio: Our scenic studio serves 32 states and 3 Canadian provinces, providing practical apprenticeships in set painting, electrical engineering, carpentry, and other fine skilled trades. We work closely with our unions to train the best and brightest Louisiana talent and export our work nationwide. We our proud to be one of the only remaining designing and building scenic studios in the nation, and our business supports over 30 local schools, universities, and charities who receive professional grade sets and props at the most competitive rates possible.

A legacy of innovation, a tradition of excellence, a reflection of America.