Detroit Opera expands programming, receives $3M grant

Detroit Opera is launching a new initiative called Detroit Opera House Presents to offer a wider variety of live events.
The new series aims to activate the venue year-round alongside its traditional opera and dance productions.
The company also received a $3 million grant from the Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation to support operations and new programming.
Upcoming events include “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony” and a tribute to Whitney Houston.

Detroit Opera is broadening its profile as a presenter with Detroit Opera House Presents, a new initiative designed to bring a wider mix of music, dance, storytelling and other live events to its historic downtown venue.

The series will run alongside the company’s acclaimed opera and dance productions and aims to keep the opera house more fully activated year-round.

“For thirty years, this opera house has been home to great entertainment beyond its spectacular opera and dance programming,” said Patty Isacson Sabee, Detroit Opera’s president and CEO. “It has hosted Broadway tours, major concerts, community celebrations — this building has always been a cultural destination for Detroit.

“Detroit Opera House Presents formalizes our commitment to actively programming this incredible venue year-round. Like the city of Detroit and the people who call it home, Detroit Opera refuses to be put into just one box. We’re committed to welcoming people for a variety of exceptional experiences, bringing the Opera House to life more often and inviting new audiences to experience its magic.”

The move builds on decades of varied programming at the opera house since its 1996 renovation — from Broadway tours and major TV tapings to civic events. Detroit Opera has already piloted the new format this season with a run of high-profile events, including Raphael Saadiq’s “No Bandwidth Tour,” a conversation with author Margaret Atwood, and a sold-out symphonic tribute to Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton and the Detroit Opera Orchestra.

The company continues to push artistic boundaries in its core offerings. This season opened with “Highways and Valleys —Two American Love Stories,” a double bill directed by Kaneza Schaal, and will feature Poul Ruders’ “The Handmaid’s Tale” next month, led by an all-female creative team.

Situated next to Detroit’s major sports venues, the opera house is positioned to tap into the city’s deep musical heritage — from Motown to techno — through Detroit Opera House Presents. More programming announcements will appear on detroitoperahouse.com.

Upcoming Detroit Opera House Presents events include:

Bugs Bunny at the Symphony: April 18 at 7:30 p.m. and April 19 at 2:30 p.m.
Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán: May 9 at 7:30 p.m.
GameSymphonic with Éímear Noone: June 13 at 7:30 p.m.
The Voice of Whitney Houston: October 10 at 8 p.m.

Opera receives $3 million grant from Erb Foundation

Detroit Opera has secured a $3 million grant from the Fred & Barbara Erb Family Foundation, funding that will bolster day‑to‑day operations and underwrite a new initiative aimed at broadening the artistic offerings and audience experiences at the Detroit Opera House.

“On behalf of Detroit Opera, I’d like to thank the Erb Family Foundation for its tremendous support and investment,” said Sabee. “Detroit Opera House is more than just a stage for opera — it is a community asset for downtown Detroit that must evolve to meet modern audience needs and financial realities. This funding will give us the flexibility to reimagine and reinvest in the potential of the Opera House and our company as a whole, as we continue our mission to serve the Detroit community in new and exciting ways.”

The Erb Family Foundation, known for its work advancing environmental stewardship, cultural institutions, Alzheimer’s research, and sustainable business practices, has long been a supporter of Detroit Opera. Including the new award, the foundation has provided $1,481,050 to the organization since 2009.

“Fred and Barbara were deeply committed to investing in the people in their community,” said Melissa Damaschke, president of the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation,“ and Detroit Opera is a perfect example of that principle in action. From its early days as an underdog in downtown Detroit to its recent reinvention as a national destination for progressive opera, Detroit Opera has continuously found new ways to give a voice to the community. The Erb Family Foundation is happy to play a role in its next phase, and we’re eager to see how this company continues to enrich the cultural fabric of southeast Michigan.”