We use to be a full season subscribers for ten years. We’ve noticed that we’re leaving after the first act 90% of the time for all performances! We took a break for a while. Yesterday we went to see Barber of Seville I can’t tell you how disappointing it was!It started with a live orchestra or (what ever is left of it ) and then it was a circus non stop! The vulgar interpretation of the humorous opera turned into a disaster!The composer is turning in his grave !Plus I’m use to listening this opera in Italian not English that doesn’t rhyme and the singers are doing nothing, but trying to catch up to the melody! The singers are bunch of clowns with mediocre vocals may be one main lead (the role of Rosina) was half way ok, but constant caricaturing didn’t do any good to this classic!This is my last attempt to this establishment!St Louis cultural scene is dying!

We went to St Louis specifically to experience this opera company; both my husband and I were impressed. Highly professional opera performed by excellent performers in a modern theater with terrific acoustics: what more could one want? What about beautifully landscaped grounds set up for picnicking on the grounds with a full service bar on premises? Well, that is there also. On the premiere of a production, a champagne toast is enjoyed by attendees on the grounds after the performance, all set amid candlelight. If you want to order one of their picnics, do so 24 hours in advance. As to the performers, they were a mix of young artists and internationally renown performers. Simply wonderful.

Saw 'Harvey Milk' with front row seats. They did a great job!It was the premiere performances since that opera was revised/edited.Conductor, Pit, Chorus, and Leads all did great.Clever scenery, good lighting.There were some adult situations, sensitively enacted.Great venue.The Company offers Free seats for each show, starting the Monday before the show.Several different box meals offered, and many great restaurants nearby.I look forward to returning!

I went to St. Louis for something else and chose the opera as an afterthought. I was quite amazed. It's located at Webster University, and there's a lovely garden in back of the theatre. I ordered a picnic dinner, and there was a full bar inside the main tent. Some people just pack picnic baskets and have their dinner and drinks outside. I went to the preview for Carmen, and learned a lot. I happened to get a single seat front and center, right behind the conductor. So I had a simultaneous view of the symphony in the pit and the performers on the stage. This was one of the best musical experiences of my life. They also featured drinks and dessert back in the garden afterward (I think only for the first performance), but I couldn't stay for that.

St, Louis Opera Theater has been around for 30 plus years; they currently perform 4 operas over a period of around 6 weeks. Last weekend they performed all 4 operas over 3 days, including Verdi’s Rigoletto, Monteverdi’s Coronation of Poppea, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro and a new opera based on an autobiographical book by Charles Blow with a fabulous score by Terrance Blanchard. The singers were all excellent and they could act too! All performances had a free preconcert lecture and a free postconcert dessert and meet with cast members. Music was provided by the St. Louis Symphony Or in the case of Monteverdi professional musicians. If you’ve never seen an opera check one or more out.