KNOXVILLE OPERA
HISTORY
2023-2024
rising: lawrence brownlee in concert | june 29, 2024cendrillon | May 3-5, 2024 la traviata | february 16 & 18, 2024falstaff | october 13 & 15, 20232022-2023
The Marriage of Figaro | April 28 & 30, 2023The Merry Widow |November 3 & 5, 2022Glory Denied | September 9 & 11, 20222020-2021
Jason Hardy Appointed Executive Director July 1, 2020
The 2020 - 2021 season was marked by over 100 musical events during a time of great challenge in the midst of the Covid-19 Pandemic.2018-2019
SACRED MUSIC CONCERT & CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA | MAY 4 & 5, 2019LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR | FEBruary 22 & 24, 2019THE IMPRESARIO & GIANNI SCHICCHI | OCTober 26 & 28, 20182017-2018
AIDA | MAY 4 & 6, 2018TURANDOT | FEB. 23 & 25, 201840th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT | OCTober 27, 20172016-2017
MARIA STUARDA | APril 28 & 30, 2017LA BOHÈME | FEBruary 10 & 12, 2017THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE OCTober 21 & 23, 20162015-2016
TOSCA | APril 30, 2016HANSEL AND GRETEL | FEBruary 26 & 28, 2016MEFISTOFELE | OCTober 9 & 11, 20152014-2015
IL TROVATORE | APRil 24 & 26, 2015CARMEN | FEBruary 13 & 15, 2015H.M.S. PINAFORE | NOVember 21 & 23, 20142013-2014
NORMA | APRil 11 & 13, 2014THE ELIXIR OF LOVE | FEBruary 14 & 16, 2014THE TALES OF HOFFMANN OCTober 25 & 27, 20132012-2013
CINDERELLA | APRil 26 & 28, 2013LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST | FEBruary 8 & 10, 2013DIE FLEDERMAUS | OCTober 26 & 28, 20122011-2012
OTELLO | APRril 27 & 29, 2012ROMEO & JULIETTE | FEBruary 10 & 12, 2012LA TRAVIATA | OCTober 28 & 30, 20112010-2011
I PURITANI | APRil 9 & 10, 2011MANON | FEBRuary 11 & 13, 2011MADAME BUTTERFLY | OCTOber 1 & 3, 20102009-2010
knoxville opera presents the first "Knoxville Opera Goes to Church" featuring the new Knoxville Opera Gospel ChoirIL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA | APRil 23 & 25, 2010THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE | MARch 12 & 14, 2010LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR | FEBruary 12 & 14, 20102006-2007
CARMEN | May 2007
LA BOHÈME | FebRuary 2007
COSÌ FAN TUTTE | November 2006
MOZART OPERA GALA | October 20062004-2005
Daughter of the regiment | April 2005The marriage bill/roman fever | April 2005the Mikado | february 2005the magic flute | october 2004bel canto to broadway | 20042002-2003
the italian girl in algiers | 2003la bohème | 2003the merry widow in concert | november 2002bel canto to broadway | August 20022000-2001
francis graffeo appointed general director and principal conductorh.m.s. pinafore | april 2001the elixir of love | february 2001roberta peters in concert | october 2000rigoletto | 20001998-1999
don giovanni | july 1999aida | april 1999the pirates of penzance | february 1999salome | october 19981996-1997
the magic flute | April 1997il trovatore | january/february 1997la bohème | october 19961994-1995
lucia di lammermoor | march 1995cosi fan tutte | january 1995rigoletto | november 1994music of the night concert | july 19941992-1993
The east tennessee opera guild, later called the knoxville opera guild and knoxville opera camerata, is created in 1992otello | april 1993wagner concert | january 1993the tales of hoffman | november 1992man of la mancha | july 19921990-1991
don giovannimadama butterflyluciano pavarotti concertthe king and i1988-1989
Rachel (world premiere) | april 1989la traviata | october 1988oklahoma | july 19881986-1987
romeo et juliette | april 1987rigoletto | october/november 1986south pacific | july 19861984-1985
knoxville opera partners with the university of tennessee voice department and ut opera to create the knoxville opera studioil trovatore | april 1985massenet's cinderella | december 1984lucia di lammermoor | november 1984the sound of music | july 19841982-1983
Robert lyall appointed as general directordie fledermaus | april 1983la bohème | september 19821980-1981
the barber of seville | october/november 19801978-1979
Inaugural PresentationLa Traviata | November 3 and 5, 1978 at the Bijou TheatreFeaturing soprano, Mary Costa, as Violetta; tenor, John Stewart as Alfredo; and mezzo-soprano, Delores Ziegler, as Flora.2005-2006
brian salesky appointed as general director and principal conductorTHE MOST HAPPY FELLA | April 2006MADAMA BUTTERFLY | FebRuary 2006LITTLE WOMEN | November 2005CATHERINE MALFITANO: FROM THE MET TO THE COPA | October 20052003-2004
the barber of seville | april 2004le nozze de figaro | april 2004die fledermaus | february 2004turandot | october 2003Bel Canto to Broadway | september 20032001-2002
Inaugural Rossini Festival in 2002 draws over 6,000 attendees to downtown knoxvillerossini's cinderella | April 2002signor bruschino & suor angelica | April 2002romeo et juliette | february 2002gianni schicci & pagliacci | october 20011999-2000
tosca | april 2000the flying dutchman | january 2000the barber of seville | october 1999marilyn horne in concert | september 19991997-1998
20th anniversary concert | july 1998carmen | april 1998la traviata | january/february 1998madama butterfly | november 19971995-1996
faust | april 1996the marriage of figaro | january 1996a masked ball | september/october 19951993-1994
tosca | march 1994cavalleria rusticana & pagliacci | january 1994die fledermaus | november 1993music of the night concert | july 19931991-1992
carmen | april 1992opera belissimo | january 1992the barber of sevillewest side story1989-1990
aida | april 1990 porgy and bess in concert | january 1990the magic flute | october 1989my fair lady | july 19891987-1988
i am the wayle nozze di figaro | april 1988la bohème | october/november 1987the music man | july 19871985-1986
susannah | april 1986faust | november 19851983-1984
under the new name of knoxville opera, the company reaches full professional statustosca | april 1984hansel and gretel | december 1983cavalleria rusticana & pagliacci | october 19831981-1982
madama butterfly | april 19821979-1980
carmen | april 1980the merry widow | november 19791976
knoxville opera is founded as the Knoxville Civic Opera Company; under Edward Zambara, Artistic Director; William Starr, Principal Conductor; Carolyn
Sergeant, Founding President, 1977-1978