Founded in 1997 as the San Antonio Pocket Opera, the organization led by its Founder, Mark A. Richter, began producing modest,-act opera at the San Pedro Playhouse. The first opera accompaniment was a piano, the first singers were local. After 4 operas at the 400-seat Playhouse, the company moved into a larger McAllister Auditorium, with 1,000 seats.

After three years at the venue, the company had to increase its numbers of performances to three per opera. After a few years these performances again began to sell-out. By this time, San Antonio Opera had evolved into a fair size regional company with visiting opera singers from large houses from around the county, a professional orchestra of 28 musicians, lavish sets from regional companies, and a season ticket base of 800 ticket holders.

Today, the opera is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the city, providing professional opera to over 10,000 patrons annually. It also provides employment for our orchestra of 38-46 symphony musicians, dozens of local technical professionals, performance opportunities for hundreds of adults and children, an educational program that continues to create awareness of opera through various outreach programs, and lastly serves as a collaborator with many of the local performing arts organizations. The opera continues to produce 3 major works annually with some of the biggest names in opera performing in each. The educational program touches the lives of thousands of children each season.