The 2025 Festival Season
Experience sung stories brought to life by extraordinary artists in a theatre that brings you within arm’s reach of the action on the stage—sit any closer and you’ll need a costume! Every seat in our intimate 467-seat arena-style theatre is closer to the center of the stage than the first row at the Metropolitan Opera, giving the audience a truly immersive theatrical experience.
With the return of Richard Wagner's epic masterwork, an imaginative and dazzling Czech fairytale by Janáček, and Stravinsky's light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek homage to Mozart, the 2025 Festival Season is not-to-be-missed. After back-to-back seasons of record-setting ticket sales, we encourage you to secure your seats early this season before performances begin selling out.
TICKETS
Season subscriptions are now available for purchase. Select a 3-opera package to take advantage of savings off individual ticket prices. Plus, earn benefits like free date exchanges, monthly payments plans and more! Subscribe now.
Individual tickets are now available for The Flying Dutchman, The Cunning Little Vixen and The Rake's Progress. Secure your tickets.
The Flying Dutchman
by Richard Wagner
June 27, 29, July 4, 12, 15, 17, 20
Blank Performing Arts Center
Sung in German with English supertitles
From its stormy overture to climactic finale, Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman lures you into its mysterious depths. The Dutchman, a ghostly sailor, is condemned to wander the waves for eternity. But every seventh year he disembarks to find a bride who can break his curse. In a small Norwegian fishing village, he fatefully encounters Senta, a young woman who is obsessed with the Dutchman’s legend. Can the power of love break the curse? How much must we sacrifice to bring about salvation?
The Cunning Little Vixen
by Leoš Janáček
June 28, July 6, 8, 11, 19
Blank Performing Arts Center
Sung in Czech with English supertitles
A company premiere and new Des Moines Metro Opera production
Production artwork by Oyoram
The tale of a quick-witted fox and her escape from confinement for a life in the forest is by turns joyful, witty, romantic and tragic. The Cunning Little Vixen follows the cycle of death and rebirth through the instinctive and immediate world of nature—animal and human, which Janáček loved so dearly. In this celebrated score, singers and orchestra embody the sounds of the forest, the feel of sunshine on your face and the thrill of a starlit sky.
The Rake's Progress
by Igor Stravinsky, W. H. Auden and Shester Kallman
July 5, 10, 13, 18
Blank Performing Arts Center
Sung in English with English supertitles
A new Des Moines Metro Opera production
Photo by Ben Easter and Kimberly Dragelevich
Inspired by William Hogarth’s famous series of paintings, Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress charts one man’s path from pleasure to ruin. When the mysterious Nick Shadow appears, Tom Rakewell abandons his sweetheart, Anne Trulove, and leaves behind his country life for the temptations of the city. But London’s glittering promise soon dissolves as love, money and sanity slip farther and farther from his grasp. Can true love save him, or will
the devil get the last laugh?
Goodbye, Mr. Chips
An opera reimagined for film by Gordon Getty
July 12, 18
Varsity Cinema
In partnership with Des Moines Film, Des Moines Metro Opera is excited to present two screenings of American composer Gordon Getty’s new opera, reimagined for film, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, as an add-on for festival season audiences. The screenings of Goodbye, Mr. Chips will be held in the beautifully restored Varsity Cinema in Des Moines.
Stars of Tomorrow
Discover opera’s rising stars at one unforgettable concert! The members of our Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist Program take the stage for one night only to perform opera’s greatest duets, trios and ensembles alongside DMMO's acclaimed festival orchestra.
2025 Stars of Tomorrow Concert
Saturday, July 19 at 2pm
Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University
This concert is free and open to the public. To reserve your free tickets, click the link below or call our Box Office at 515-209-3257.