Arturo di Filippi, an accomplished tenor and voice teacher at the University of Miami, establishes the Opera Guild of Greater Miami with performances presented at the Miami Senior High School Auditorium.

Dr. di Filippi regularly brings leading artists from the Metropolitan Opera to South Florida, presenting them in the roles for which they garner worldwide acclaim, and earning Greater Miami Opera the nickname, “The Met South.”

Arturo Di Fillipi, founder of the Opera Guild of Greater Miami

American soprano Regina Resnick makes her Greater Miami Opera debut as Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly.

Soprano Renata Tebaldi makes her Greater Miami Opera debut as Maddalena in Andrea Chénier.

Swedish soprano Birgit Nilsson makes her company debut as the titular character in Turandot.

Italian tenor Franco Corelli makes his company debut as Radamès in Aida.

Franco Corelli in FGO’s 1966 production of Aida

Italian soprano Renata Scotto makes her company debut as Mimì in La bohème. In this production, Scotto shares the stage with Luciano Pavarotti, who performs the role of Rodolfo.

Luciano Pavarotti and Renata Scotto in La bohème, 1972. Photo by John Pineda.

Mr. Herman begins the tradition of presenting national and international casts for South Florida audiences. National casts feature younger singers and English-language performances. The finest opera singers in the world compose the international casts. OPERA America, one of the United States’ premier nonprofit opera organizations, holds its annual conference in Miami for the first time.

Luciano Pavarotti returns to join Italian soprano Mirella Freni in a historic production of La bohème.

Robert M. Heuer is appointed General Manager when Robert Herman retires. During Heuer’s tenure, Greater Miami Opera develops extensive educational and outreach programs throughout the South Florida community.

General Director Robert M. Huer on the set of Aida

Diana Soviero makes her company debut singing the role of Nedda in Pagliacci.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts opens in Fort Lauderdale and becomes the company’s new mainstage home in Broward County.

The Broward Center for the Performing Arts (c) (photo by Anton Grassl)

OPERA America returns to Miami Beach for its annual conference.

Deborah Voigt makes her Florida Grand Opera debut as Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos.

OPERA America once again returns to Miami for its annual conference, drawing opera enthusiasts from around the world to South Florida to see Florida Grand Opera’s world premiere of David Carlson’s Anna Karenina.

Launch of the Unexpected Opera in Unexpected Places series with a double-bill of Xavier Rodriguez’s Tango and Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires.

Launch of the Made for Miami series with the mainstage presentation of Nabucco. The series’ mission is to present one mainstage opera each season that resonates with the diverse communities and populations of South Florida. The Made for Miami initiative includes outreach and Community Conversation events.

FGO’s 2014 production of Nabucco, kickstarting the company’s Made for Miami series

Florida Grand Opera celebrates its 75th anniversary and receives the largest gift in the company’s history, its Doral headquarters housing the company’s administrative offices and rehearsal space, worth $7 million.

GRAMMY® Award Winning soprano Ana María Martínez makes her role debut as the title character in the company premiere of Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas, with a libretto inspired by Gabriel García Márquez (One Hundred Years of Solitude).

Ana María Martínez in FGO’s 2018 production of Florencia en el Amazonas (Photo by Chris Kakol)

American countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo makes his company debut as Orfeo in the company premiere of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice.

Anthony Roth Costanzo in FGO’s 2018 production of Orfeo ed Euridice (photo by Daniel Azoulay)

Four female directors are scheduled to make their FGO debuts, each telling the stories of the season’s operas from a woman’s perspective. Fall events are sold out. The COVID-19 pandemic strikes mid-season, forcing the cancellation of the final two productions.

FGO’s historic 80th season includes a 20th century work (André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire), a 21st century work, (Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers), a classic Verdi opera (Rigoletto), and an innovative production of a baroque opera (Handel’s Agrippina). The season includes four different theaters for the mainstage operas and over 80 events.

After 11 years of leadership, Susan T. Danis steps down as General Director and CEO. The Board of Directors appoints Maria Todaro as Interim General Director just in time for the season opener, La traviata. Against all odds, the production is a commercial success under Todaro’s leadership.

Soprano Cecilia Violetta López and tenor Pavel Petrov in FGO’s 2023 production of La traviata (photo by Edward Leal)

2025 saw continued artistic and organizational growth.

• Nearly the entire staff was revitalized, bringing new energy and expertise across departments
• Carmen, directed by Todaro and starring the Costa-Jackson sisters, earned critical acclaim
• Education programs expanded, reaching more students than ever
• A new in-house orchestra was formed and Music Director, Pablo Mielgo joins FGO solidifying FGO’s artistic foundation
• FGO established new partnerships with brands and influencers in sports, fashion, and entertainment
• Miami Voice launched, cultivating the next generation of cultural ambassadors
• A refreshed brand identity was unveiled, reflecting the FGO legacy that embraces th energy and diversity of South Florida: The Worlds Stage. South Florida’s Heart.
• The Season is positioned to continue the momentum:  Silent Night – Pulitzer Prize-winning opera of peace amid war, Die Fledermaus – A South Florida spin on Strauss’s sparkling operetta, Turandot – Puccini’s final triumph, reimagined with epic visuals.