Opera Neo

05/07/2026

05/01/2026

Some shots from yesterday's Arsilda (A. Vivaldi) rehearsal. It's gonna be great! Shows are May 15 and 16, 7:30PM. Do join us!! Gary Payne Photography

03/20/2026

Exciting update – Dejah is a Metropolitan Opera Competition Finalist!

Congratulations to Dejah and bravi tutti to all those who competed in the semi-finals! We’ll be cheering her on again this Sunday, March 22 at 3:00 PM EST for the Laffont Grand Finals Concert.

You can tune in too through the Free Live Audio Streams provided by Met Opera On Demand at ondemand.metopera.org. Join us in wishing her the best of luck!

03/13/2026

Well known by the public today for composing The Four Seasons, Antonio Vivaldi is regarded as one of the most influential composers and performers of the Baroque era.

Over the course of his career, Vivaldi wrote more than 500 concertos. Around 200 of those feature the violin, his primary instrument. He also composed roughly 50 operas, known for their equally intense and exciting melodies, although only roughly 20 survive today. Regardless of the musical form, the violin was always central to his music. Thanks to his mastery of the instrument and his compositional genius, even in his operas the agility and brilliance of the violins shine through.

In Italy, he was famously known as “The Red Priest,” a nickname inspired by his fiery red hair and his ordination in the Catholic Church. Combined with his musical fame, he was an instantly recognizable Venetian celebrity in his time.

Check out our past performance of Vivaldi’s Motezuma (2025).

Opera Neo’s Arsilda is on sale now!

02/28/2026

Happy Birthday to Gioachino Rossini!

Born into a musical family in the coastal town of Pesaro, Italy, he wrote his first opera at just 14 years old. Over the next two decades, Rossini went on to compose 39 operas, achieving immense fame and fortune through the rapid and widespread success of his works.

But at only 37, Rossini retired from opera and left behind his intensely fast-paced career. He chose instead to live a life of leisure in Paris and Italy, focusing on gourmet cooking and socializing. He was a notorious foodie, once even declaring "I know of no more admirable occupation than eating." He was a close friend of the famous chef Antonin Carême and became an expert in the culinary arts, experimenting with dishes that often included truffles and foie gras.

Rossini left behind a remarkable compositional legacy, most notable for his comedic operas that blend fast-paced humor with beautiful, dramatic lyricism. Along with favorites such as Il barbiere di Siviglia (pictured here!) and La Cenerentola, Il turco in Italia captures his signature style with quick wit, big personality, and melodies you’ll be humming long after the show has ended.

Il turco in Italia is on sale now! Get tickets at www.operaneo.com!

02/17/2026

Congratulations 🥂 to Dejah Watts!

Dejah is an incoming Opera Neo Young Artist (2026), and is a winner of the Central Region of the Met Competition, and is headed to the perform on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in the National Semi-Finals on March 15th!

From all of us at Opera Neo - toi toi toi! Join us in wishing Dejah the best of luck!

02/16/2026

Congratulations 🥂 and Happy Birthday 🎉 to Julianna Smith!

Seen recently as our Mitrena in “Motezuma” (2025) and returning to the Opera Neo stage for the title role in “Fausto” (2026), Julianna won the Middle Atlantic Region of the Met Competition and will be off to perform on stage at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in the National Semi-Finals on March 15th!

From your Opera Neo family - toi toi toi! Join us in wishing Julianna the best of luck!

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️ Love, passion, drama - opera has it all.

Celebrate the stories that move us. From sweeping romance to fiery comedy. Opera Neo’s 15th Anniversary Season brings unforgettable emotions to the stage with Vivaldi’s “Arsilda,” Rossini’s “Il turco in Italia,” and the U.S. premiere of Louise Bertin’s “Fausto.”

Fall in love with opera all over again. 🎶

01/24/2026

We heard 2016 was trending 😏 … Travel back in time with us to 10 years ago where Purcell’s Fairy Queen and Mozart’s Don Giovanni was lit.🔥🔥🔥

01/20/2026

Announcing Opera Neo's Fifteenth Anniversary Season!
Tickets are on sale now at www.operaneo.com.

Arsilda | Vivaldi (American Premiere)
May 15 & 16 @ 7:30pm
First Unitarian Church, Hillcrest

Fausto | Louise Bertin (American Premiere)
June 26 & 27 @ 7:30pm
Old Town Theatre

Il turco in Italia | Rossini
July 24 & 25 @ 8:00pm
The Spanish Village Art Center | Balboa Park

A Night at the Museum | Recital
July 18 @ 7:30pm
La Jolla Woman's Club

Aria Gala
July 12 @ 6:00pm
La Jolla Woman's Club

01/16/2026

Stay tuned for our 2026 Season Announcement on January 20! We have exciting plans in store for our Fifteenth Anniversary Season and we can't wait to share them with you!

Tickets go on sale as soon as the season is announced!