Opera in the Community is a reflection of the Israeli Opera’s commitment to bringing the art of opera to the heart of communities across Israel.
Carried out in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Sport and local authorities, the project fosters encounters that combine learning, artistic creation, and partnership with communities throughout the country.
Each year, a professional team from the Opera – including directors, musical directors, soloists, musicians, designers, and technical staff – works for several months with local artistic groups: youth choirs, conservatory students, dancers, acting students, amateur singers, and residents discovering the stage for the first time. Together they create a full-scale operatic production in Hebrew, performed by community members and featuring soloists from the Israeli Opera.
As part of the program, participants are invited to the Opera House in Tel Aviv for a behind-the-scenes tour, costume fittings, and an introduction to the professional production process. Ahead of the performance, the Opera’s full team – including makeup artists, costume and stage departments, and production staff – arrives in the community, ensuring that premiere night feels like a true opera house experience.
Over the years, the Israeli Opera has collaborated with dozens of communities – from Tel Aviv’s Hatikva neighborhood to Nof Hagalil, from Ashkelon and Ramla to Acre, Dimona, Ofakim, Megiddo, and Lod. In each place, a unique partnership takes shape, blending professional artistry with local creativity and pride.
Throughout its two decades of activity, the project has brought productions such as The Magic Flute, Cinderella, Carmen, The Elixir of Love, The Barber of Hatikva, and Alice in Wonderland – each one newly created to reflect the sound, character, and spirit of its community.
In its 40th anniversary year, the Israeli Opera is collaborating with the community of Ofakim, in Israel’s western Negev, on a special production of The Magic Flute. Created together with local residents, the production celebrates the community’s spirit of renewal, creativity, and healing. It stands as a highlight in a decades-long journey of connection, inspiration, and the transformative power of art to bridge, to heal, and to bring people together.
The project continues thanks to the partnership of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, local authorities, and the many friends and supporters of the Israeli Opera in Israel and abroad, enabling us to make opera accessible to every community and every person across the country.