Definition

Noun: A business or organization whose primary purpose is to produce and stage operas. This involves financing, casting, rehearsing, and performing operatic works, often with its own orchestra, chorus, and permanent ensemble of singers.

Usage

An "opera company" is a specific type of theatrical production company. It is used to refer to the organization as a whole, not a single performance. - The Metropolitan Opera is a world-renowned opera company based in New York City. - She secured a contract to sing with a national opera company. - Funding cuts have forced the small opera company to reduce its season.

Advanced Usage

• "in residence at": Used to describe an opera company that is permanently based at a particular theater or venue.
  • The Lyric Opera Company is in residence at the Civic Opera House.
• The term can be part of formal names, often capitalized: , .

Variants and Related Words

• Opera house (n): The building or theater where an opera company performs. While related, an "opera house" is the venue, and an "opera company" is the producing organization. A company may perform in an opera house.
• Repertory company (n): A theater company that performs a rotating selection of plays or operas from its repertoire. An opera company can be a type of repertory company.

Synonyms

• Operatic troupe: A more traditional term for a group of opera performers, though it may imply a smaller or touring group rather than a large, established institution.
• Production company (in context): When the context is clearly about opera, "production company" can be a broader synonym.

Related Phrases

• To be engaged by an opera company: To be hired as a singer, musician, or staff member.
  • After winning the competition, the tenor was engaged by a major European opera company.
• Company manager: A specific role within an opera company responsible for administrative and logistical coordination of the artists and productions.

Noun

1. a company that produces operas