Catapult Opera

Catapult Opera projects a more dynamic future for opera; we seek to broaden the art form and its audience, launching innovative productions that celebrate the classically trained voice. We believe that the American opera industry, as we have known it, is no longer sustainable. In order for opera to survive, institutions must become more nimble, more inclusive, and more innovative at every level. The disruption of the pandemic granted us an opportunity to envision an exciting and sustainable future for a classic art form. From its inception, opera was conceived as multi-media art. Today we continue that tradition, engaging new media—film and streaming—with the timeless goal of delivering the sublimity and emotionality of the classically-trained voice, supported by a range of instrumentation, both unconventional and traditional, and complemented by arresting visuals. This new hybrid medium will involve the creation of original repertoire, with fresh ideas for production and delivery and uncompromised quality. Catapult Opera innovates to accomplish this goal by providing grants to singer-songwriters outside the classical realm to create short works at the intersection of their genre and opera. One goal of this program is to build a repository of innovative recorded material to which each grantee contributes by allowing access on the Catapult website.