Since its inception, under the direction of Dr. James J. Soluri in 1978, Oswego Opera Theater has produced annual fully staged musical productions, involving hundreds of local musicians, technicians, designers, costumers, and lighting engineers. From the first “full scale” offering of Gilbert and Sullivan’s operetta, The HMS Pinafore, Oswego Opera Theater has performed the classics of Mozart, romantic works by Puccini, Bizet and Verdi, and contemporary compositions by Carlisle Floyd, Leonard Bernstein, and Kurt Weill. In addition to featuring local talents, the company has helped aspiring young singers start and further their careers by giving them the experience of performing leading roles not available to them in larger opera houses.