Tulsa Opera

The spirit, drive and fierce sense of pride of those who made Tulsa boom into an important city also encouraged a rich cultural heritage, leading to the formation of the Tulsa Opera Club on December 1, 1948. As opera gained popularity, so did the organization. In 1951, the directors agreed that the name Tulsa Opera Club sounded too amateurish to be taken seriously. On April 21, the organization became Tulsa Opera Incorporated, as it is still officially known. Tulsa Opera presented light operas and operettas twice yearly until November, 1955 when a major milestone was reached. With its presentation of Madama Butterfly, featuring imported professional singers for all principal roles, Tulsa Opera successfully transitioned to grand opera and made a giant step toward national prominence. Today, Tulsa Opera, the 18th oldest opera company in North America, produces three grand operas each season, and has been named one of Americas top 10 favorite regional opera companies by Opera ...