Since its inception, and especially in the past decade, Calgary Opera has made a name for itself as a company that is committed to the development of Canadian talent and the development of new opera works.
 
In July 2005, Calgary Opera moved to a new home - the Arrata Opera Centre - a 29,000 square foot facility in the historic Wesley United Church that brings together administration offices, rehearsal and education space, as well as props and wardrobe workshops. Calgary Opera mainstage productions take place at the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
 
At the end of Calgary Opera’s 2009-2010 season it was announced that the Emerging Artist Development Program would receive the Canada Arts Training Fund’s support at $125,000 over three years.  This was a great acknowledgement of the value and strength of the program which was founded in 2004.  Other recipients include the National Ballet School of Canada, the National Theatre School and the Canadian Opera Company’s ensemble.
 
Calgary Opera has an annual operating budget of almost $5 million with a subscription base close to 3,400 and total attendance over 80% capacity.
 
Over the past decade creating new works and building new productions has been a cornerstone of the company. By the end of the 2011-2012 season Calgary Opera will have presented five world premieres, five Canadian premieres, and many company premieres. During the current season, Calgary Opera premieres its newest opera commission Moby-Dick, by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, co-produced with The Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera and the State Opera of South Australia. Moby-Dick had its world premiere in Dallas on April 30, 2010 to rave reviews.
 
Calgary Opera’s outreach and education programs are helping the company connect with the community more than ever. Let’s Create an Opera continues to take the magic of opera into Calgary schools, giving children the chance to write and present their very own operas to Calgary audiences. The Opera for All program offers those ordinarily not able to come to experience live opera performances, and our For Students Only Dress Rehearsals provides thousands of students with hugely discounted tickets to mainstage productions.
 
On the mainstage, Calgary Opera produces a subscription season of three full-scale operas at the 2,400-seat Jubilee Auditorium complimented by a series of opera-related events and fundraisers.