Fonds F0380 - Calgary Opera Association fonds

In 1971 a small group of Calgarians met to discuss the creation of a fully professional opera company in the city. In April 1972 the Southern Alberta Opera Association was formed and Alexander Gray was engaged as artistic director. In March 1973 the company put on its first musical production, La Boheme. The association expanded its season to two and then three operas, and in 1976 Brian Hanson became general manager and artistic director. By the early 1980s the season was expanded to four productions, annual attendance reached 23,000 and the budget topped $1,000,000. In 1982 the name was changed to the Calgary Opera Association and soon after, as a result of a declining economy, the season was reduced to three productions. In 1987 David Speers became general manager and artistic director.