Founded in 1969, Manitoba Opera is one of several western Canadian opera companies that flourished under the so-called "father of opera in Western Canada," Irving Guttman.[1]
Manitoba Opera was founded in 1969 and incorporated in 1970, with its first production being a concert version of Giuseppe Verdi's Il Trovatore in 1972.[2] The Opera's first fully-staged production was in March 1973 with Madama Butterfly.[3]
From the 1970s through 1998, the Opera led by the artistic direction of Irving Guttman, known as the "father of opera in Western Canada."[1][3] Guttman would be instrumental in the development of many young Canadian singers, including Winnipeg native Tracy Dahl (soprano) and Winkler's Phillip Ens (bass). Both have gone on to international careers.[4]
In November 2007, the company staged its first full-length original production, Transit of Venus, composed by Victor Davies, with a libretto by Maureen Hunter, based on her stage play of the same name.[3]
Larry Desrochers has been the General Director since November 2000.[5] Tyrone Paterson had been Music Advisor and Principal Conductor since 2004.[6]
