Des Moines Metro Opera is an opera company in Indianola, Iowa, a town of approximately 14,000 inhabitants which lies some 19 km (12 mi) south of Des Moines, Iowa. It was founded by Robert L. Larsen and Douglas Duncan in 1973.[1] The director is Michael Egel.[2]
During its annual summer opera festival, the company performs three mainstage operas in rolling repertory during June and July.[3]
Most of the company's opera productions are performed at the Blank Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Simpson College.[citation needed]
In 1986 the company presented a new opera based on Shakespeare's The Tempest, with music by Lee Hoiby and a libretto by Mark Shulgasser.[4]
The company's first performance of an opera in a language other than English was Tosca in 1998, at the Civic Center in Des Moines.[5]
Singers who had their start with the company include Kimm Julian.[6]