Who we are

Manitoba Underground Opera presents a festival each August that includes mainstage operas, concerts, and free outreach events. Opera was originally an artform that resonated with people from all walks of life, and our goal is to continue that tradition by making classical works relevant to the modern world. Whether we’re reimagining Don Giovanni as a #metoo era parable, examining the issue of social media bullying with Dido and Aeneas, or presenting an original operatic digital miniseries at the height of the pandemic, you always know that an MUO production will be like nothing you’ve seen before.

We’re also active outside of our annual festival. MUO’s Opera for Children Tour brought live opera to over 1000 children and parents in Southern Manitoba in 2019, and we’re planning on expanding the tour to include Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan once it again becomes safe to travel between remote communities. Our Opera Around Town initiative (OAT for short) brings pop-up opera performances to locations around Winnipeg throughout the year, with intimate concerts presented in local museums, businesses, and even farmers’ markets!

MUO began in 2008 as a group of students who simply wanted to share their love of opera, and today we’ve grown into an established fixture of Winnipeg’s arts scene. Thank you for being a part of our journey! We can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Through unique and immersive experiences in unconventional venues, Manitoba Underground Opera follows opera’s historical tradition telling stories that matter today. 

Manitoba Underground Opera's audience is diverse and engaged. As members of this audience experience the world in different ways, so does our company continue to grow and evolve.  

• As a company whose reach spans 5 Numbered Treaties, we believe that our roots help to orient us in our current time and place. 
• We are advocates for opera’s ability to speak to the modern day in innovative ways, and reflect the diversity of our communities.
• We are supporters of local artistic talent by working towards offering competitive compensation. 
• We are partners with charities, artists, and organizations working towards the future of accessible and inclusive arts in Manitoba. 
• As a charitable organization, we believe that outreach, education, and audience development activities reap benefits above and beyond an appreciation of opera.