Founded in 2010, Northern Ireland Opera is Northern Ireland’s award winning national opera company, widely acclaimed as one of the most exciting operatic start-ups in UK and Irish history. With a philosophy of artistic excellence and risk-taking, underpinned by a bold and imaginative approach to programming and productions, Northern Ireland Opera is committed to the idea of opera as a uniquely enriching ‘total’ art form and one which should be open to everyone. Through a modern but accessible production style, an emphasis on local participation and young people, and inexpensive ticket prices, the company has broadened the audience for opera in a region where there has been historic under-provision and where the arts are uniquely placed to foster relations between communities. In only nine years, the company’s energy, ideas and high artistic standards have led to both national critical acclaim and an international profile.