Glimmerglass Festival

The Glimmerglass Festival is an opera festival held each summer in Cooperstown, New York, featuring performances by established and emerging artists. The venue is a dedicated theater on the shore of Otsego Lake designed for opera and musical productions.

Founded in 1975, this festival grew into a respected destination for opera in the United States. The organization has developed over time by supporting artists and staging bold artistic choices that expanded beyond traditional opera.

The festival stages both classic operas and contemporary works with experimental approaches to storytelling. Audiences gather to encounter new music and unconventional productions that challenge how opera can be performed and experienced.

Plan your visit during the summer months when weather in central New York is pleasant and warm. The theater sits in a calm location by the lake, so arriving early to explore the surroundings and enjoy the setting makes the day more fulfilling.

The festival operates a training program for young singers, musicians, and directors, giving them stage time early in their careers. Many performers who started here have gone on to sing at major opera houses around the world.

Location: Cooperstown

Inception: 1975

Website: http://glimmerglass.org

GPS coordinates: 42.81057,-74.90048

Latest update: December 20, 2025 19:40