News Releases
To request additional materials or if you have any questions, please contact Scott Arens, Director of Marketing and Public Relations, at sarens@dmmo.org.
Blog
Bass-baritone Simon Estes and philanthropist Linda Koehn Honored by OPERA America
New York, NY – Iowa native and Bass-Baritone Simon Estes and Des Moines Philanthropist Linda Koehn will be among those honored as leaders in opera as part of OPERA America Salutes; an event honoring...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces 2023 Festival Season
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, has announced the complete repertory for the company’s 2023 Festival Season. The productions include mainstage performances of Georges Bizet’s beloved classic, Carmen, Bartók’s...
Read moreInternational opera star Simon Estes returns home to say goodbye
International opera star Simon Estes returns home to say goodbye Des Moines Metro Opera hosts Mr. Estes’ final operatic performance in honor of the company’s 50thanniversary season Indianola, IA –...
Read moreDr. Naomi André to serve as Scholar-in-Residence during 2022 Festival Season
Indianola, IA – Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) names Dr. Naomi André as Scholar-in-Residence for the 2022 summer festival season. The residency is made possible through a Humanities Iowa Grant from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. André is...
Read moreThe Wine, Food & Beer Showcase returns to downtown Des Moines on April 28
Des Moines, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s annual food and beverage fundraiser, the Wine, Food & Beer Showcase, will be held on Thursday, April 28 at the downtown Des Moines Marriott from 5:00-8:00pm. Featuring over...
Read moreGroundbreaking production of Mozart's The Magic Flute kicks off DMMO's 50th Season
Groundbreaking production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute kicks off Des Moines Metro Opera’s 50th Anniversary SeasonTwo performances: March 5-6 at the Des Moines Civic Center with the Des Moines Symphony in the pitLeadership funding...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera names Allen Perriello as Director of Artistic Administration
Photo by Karli Cadel Photography Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) announced today that Allen Perriello has been named to the position of Director of Artistic...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces 50th Season repertory and 50 Next campaign
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s General and Artistic Director Michael Egel announced today the repertory for the company’s 50th Anniversary Season alongside the launch of the public phase of a $15 million fundraising campaign, 50 Next: Giving Voice to the Future. “I believe that every...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Awarded $50,000 Legacy Grant from Prairie Meadows
Legacy Grant will help fund the opera’s world premiere production of Kuster/Campbell’s A Thousand Acres Indianola, IA - Prairie Meadows recently awarded Des...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces $2 Million Gift in support of The Magic Flute and 50th Anniversary
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) today announced a $2 million leadership gift from Des Moines-based philanthropists Nix and Virginia Lauridsen in support of a ground-breaking production of Mozart’s The...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Receives $1 Million Gift from Frank R. Brownell III
Des Moines Metro Opera Receives $1 Million Gift from Frank R. Brownell III The Company’s acclaimed 47-year-old young artist training program will become the Frank R. Brownell III Apprentice Artist ProgramIndianola, IA — Des...
Read moreDMMO receives $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts for OPERA Iowa Initiative
Des Moines Metro Opera Receives $20,000 Grant From the National Endowment for the Arts for OPERA Iowa Initiative INDIANOLA, IA – Des Moines Metro Opera was named one of three Iowa...
Read moreDMMO announces world premiere opera and $1.5 million gift
April 29, 2021 Contact: Scott Arens, Director of Marketing and Public Relations (515) 209-3255 | sarens@dmmo.org Des Moines Metro Opera Announces World Premiere Opera and Leadership Gift of $1.5 Million Indianola, IA — On July 9, 2022, Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) will add...
Read moreDMMO announces repertory and safety protocols for 2021 Festival Season
Des Moines Metro Opera Announces Repertory and Safety Measures for 2021 Summer Festival Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) has unveiled the repertory for its 2021...
Read morePlatée Casting Updates
Des Moines Metro Opera Announces Cast Updates for Rameau's Platée Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) today announced casting updates for the company’s upcoming...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Passing of Founder Robert L. Larsen
Des Moines Metro Opera Announces Passing of Founder Robert L. Larsen Indianola, IA —Des Moines Metro Opera’s General & Artistic Director, Michael Egel, today announced the passing of the...
Read moreDMMO presents Zachary James on Broadway on March 19
Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Zachary James on Broadway on March 19 INDIANOLA, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s (DMMO) Virtual Concert Series continues next month with Zachary James on Broadway, which premieres...
Read moreDMMO's Anniversary Projects Director, Ellen Diehl, to Retire January 31
Pictured: Ellen Diehl and Michael Egel at the Lauridsen Opera CenterIndianola, IA —Des Moines Metro Opera’s General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, announced...
Read more"Des Moines Metro Opera presents Bon Appétit!" receives Upper Midwest Emmy
UPDATE: "Des Moines Metro Opera presents Bon Appétit!" has won the 2020 Upper Midwest Regional Emmy! At their awards ceremony on Saturday, November 14th, Iowa PBS's broadcast was announced...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces 2021 Summer Festival Repertory
Indianola, IA – Des Moines Metro Opera’s General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, announced today the repertory for the organization’s 2021 Summer Festival, which will run July 2 through July 25, 2021. After an overwhelming response...
Read moreDMMO and Iowa PBS to stream four productions through Virtual Festival
Indianola, IA — Following the cancellation of the 2020 Festival Season, Des Moines Metro Opera and Iowa PBS have formed a unique partnership to bring the opera season into a digital format with online streams and televised broadcasts of...
Read moreA statement from the General & Artistic Director regarding COVID-19
UPDATE (4/7/2020) We are family at Des Moines Metro Opera. A family of artists, donors, volunteers and audience members who understand the value of shared artistic experiences....
Read moreDMMO Announces Grand Opening of The Lauridsen Opera Center
Photo by Mark Davitt/Indianola Independent Advocate INDIANOLA, IA (June 24, 2019) — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) is pleased to announce completion of The Lauridsen Opera Center, a...
Read moreDMMO Announces Casting Update for Candide
Indianola, IA – Des Moines Metro Opera announces a casting update for the upcoming production of Leonard Bernstein’s Candide. Bass-baritone Kyle Albertson will assume...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Staff Transitions
(seated from L-R: Ellen Diehl, Timothy McMillin; standing from L-R: Michael Egel, Adam Bogh) Indianola, Iowa - Des Moines Metro Opera announced today that Ellen Diehl of...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Additional Performance of Bon Appétit!
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) General and Artistic Director Michael Egel announced today that an additional performance of Lee Hoiby’s Bon...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Casting for 47th Festival Season
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s (DMMO) General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, is pleased to announce the full casting for the Company’s 47th Festival Season, which runs from June 28 through July 21, 2019, and offers 18...
Read more"Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Billy Budd" receives 2018 Upper Midwest Emmy!
Indianola, IA — Iowa Public Television’s broadcast of “Des Moines Metro Opera Presents Billy Budd” has won the 2018 Upper Midwest Emmy in the Arts/Entertainment Program division. The 2018 Upper...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera and Iowa National Guard to Present Glory Denied at Camp Dodge
Indianola, IA — After a sold-out run of the rock-infused opera Soldier Songs in 2017, Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) is set to present the second installment of a unique collaboration with the Iowa National Guard and Camp Dodge this November. DMMO opens its 47th Season this fall with a production of Tom Cipullo’s poignant and emotionally charged opera Glory Denied for three performances running November 16-18. As part of Des Moines Metro Opera’s 2nd...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Repertory for 2019 Season
Indianola, IA – Michael Egel, General and Artistic Director of Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO), has announced the complete repertory for the Company’s 2019 Season, which includes its 47th Summer Festival and 2nd Stages Series. The...
Read moreInternationally acclaimed countertenor John Holiday to perform in Des Moines on April 8
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO) is thrilled to announce an exciting concert and reception featuring internationally acclaimed countertenor John Holiday on Sunday, April 8 at 7:00pm. Featuring an eclectic mix of opera, jazz and gospel selections,...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Announces Casting for 46th Festival Season
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s (DMMO) General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, is pleased to announce the full casting for the Company’s 46th Festival Season, which runs from June 22 through July 15, 2018, and offers 17...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera's OPERA Iowa troupe kicks off 32nd annual tour
Indianola, IA – The OPERA Iowa Educational Touring Troupe, an educational program of Des Moines Metro Opera, hits the road for its 32nd annual tour on February 26, 2018....
Read more2018 Wine & Food Showcase Scheduled for Friday, February 16
Indianola, IA — Des Moines Metro Opera’s (DMMO) annual Wine & Food Showcase will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018, from 5:30pm to 8:30pm in the Des...
Read moreDes Moines Metro Opera Capital Campaign Exceeds Goal
INDIANOLA, IA (Nov. 20, 2017) — Des Moines Metro Opera’s (DMMO) Words and Music at the Carnegie Capital Campaign has raised over $4 million, exceeding its original...
Read more"World Class Opera Grows Tall and Proud in the Corn Belt" - Chicago Tribune
JULY 11, 2017, 1:55PM | INDIANOLA, IOWA By John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune As you leave Des Moines and head south for about 18 miles along U.S....
Read more