Des Moines Metro Opera Featured in Opera with Opera News May 2026

Reflecting on Egel's impact, Marc A. Scorca, president emeritus/CEO of Opera America, notes: "Michael Egel has guided Des Moines Metro Opera into a new life cycle characterized by bold repertoire, excellent productions and outstanding casting. Under his leadership DMMO has emerged as a destination festival for opera-lovers from across the country. He has excellent taste and an unstoppable commitment to the community and the art form."

The article points to repertory expansion as a defining element of that leadership. As Egel explains, "A new vision was needed… Expanding the repertory was the answer." He continues, "I committed to at least one, if not two operas every season that would be company premieres."

That artistic approach is matched by a strong and engaged audience base. "The Des Moines audience is very adventuresome. That has been carefully cultivated from the beginning." Egel adds, "We are in a position now that we can program virtually anything and sell in the upper 90 per cent of house capacity… We're able to sell out houses without a 'top ten' opera in the season."