Opera Theatre of St. Louis

After 16 years as artistic director of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis, James Robinson is headed west to lead Seattle Opera.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis is producing a Philip Glass opera for only the second time. ‘‘Galileo Galilei” tells the story of the legendary astronomer’s pursuit of scientific fact and the resulting conflict with the Roman Catholic Church.

Nominees for St. Louis’ best theater performances and productions of 2023 are out from the St. Louis Theater Circle. Winners will be unveiled in March.

Richard Gaddes merely intended to advise some opera lovers about starting a new company. He wound up founding Opera Theatre of St. Louis. The visionary opera producer died Tuesday at 81.

The charitable arm of PNC Bank awarded $250,000 in grants to Dance St. Louis, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Black Rep and St. Louis ArtWorks.

Scott Joplin, the king of ragtime music, wrote an opera that lay dormant for decades. A new adaptation of “Treemonisha” at Opera Theatre of St. Louis shows that the composer blended influences from European opera and Black culture.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis will present three short operas, all by artists of color who’ve worked largely outside the opera world. The works address the roots of Black, queer ballroom culture; three important inventors who were Black women, and the Supreme Court battle over a rock band’s attempt to reappropriate a racial slur.

Third graders from Jefferson Elementary wrote an original libretto with support from Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis will produce three short operas by artists of color who seek to expand the boundaries of American opera by incorporating new sounds and stories. A community panel of artists, most of whom work outside the opera field, selected the pieces.

“Music as the Message: Sing on, Sing on!” will include homegrown opera singer Adrienne Danrich, local musicians and singers from Opera Theatre of St. Louis.