Following a successful first edition at Madrid’s Teatro Real in 2018, the global opera professionals’ gathering holds its second edition at the LA Opera from June 3 to 5.

The second World Opera Forum aimed to focus the industry on advocating for opera in the 21st century. Over three days, attendees engaged in debates, discussions, and networking to gain new insights, ideas, and relationships with global impact.

This iteration includes an introductory exploration on How to Defend Opera in the 21st Century, followed by deep dives into production analysis, its audience, and how to elevate human values and transform industry workers into committed cultural citizens. The forum aimed to conclude with affirming the importance of defending opera.

The OLA delegation attending this World Opera Forum included: Alejandra Martí, Executive Director of Ópera Latinoamérica; Jorge Telerman, General and Artistic Director of Teatro Colón (Argentina); Ricardo Apezzato, Artistic Director of Theatro São Pedro (Brazil); Miguel Campos Neto, Principal Conductor of Orquestra Sinfônica do Theatro Da Paz (Brazil); Andrea Caruso Saturnino, General Director of Theatro Municipal de São Paulo (Brazil); Paulo Esper, General and Artistic Director of Cia. Ópera São Paulo (Brazil); Flávia Furtado, Director of Festival Amazonas de Ópera (Brazil); Alberto Marcondes, Coordinator of Cia. Ópera São Paulo (Brazil); Carmen Gloria Larenas, General Director of Teatro Municipal de Santiago (Chile); Francisca Peró, Executive Director of Teatro Biobío (Chile); Yalilé Cardona, Co-director of Bogotá’s International Festival of Classical Music (Colombia); Pedro Salazar, Stage Director and Founder of La Compañía Estable (Colombia); and Salvador García, from Teatro Bicentenario de León (Mexico); along with representatives from Spanish theatres: Ignacio García Belenguer, General Director of Teatro Real (Spain); Joan Matabosch, Artistic Director of Teatro Real (Spain); and Javier Menéndez, General Director of Teatro de la Maestranza (Spain).

The sessions featured sixty delegates, including artists, administrators, trustees, and advocates from six continents, leading debates, a moderated discussion, and workshops. The full program is available here.

LA Opera has curated a diverse performance program; delegates can attend Magdalene, a collective work by Beth Morrison Projects; Turandot at LA Opera; Madama Butterfly presented by Pacific Opera Project; Ipsa dixit by Long Beach Opera; and Minute to Midnight presented by Synchromy.

After the forum, delegates had the opportunity to join OPERA America’s annual opera conference, also held at LA Opera.

The World Opera Forum is a collaboration of Opera Europa, OPERA America, Ópera Latinoamérica, and the Canadian Opera Association.