Opera Montana Stages First World Premiere: 'A River Runs Through It'

Opera Montana has presented its first world premiere: an opera based on "A River Runs Through It," one of Montana's most beloved stories.

The production marks a milestone for the small company, which has grown significantly in recent years. Choosing Norman Maclean's story — set in Montana and deeply woven into the state's identity — the company brought the material home to the place that produced it.

A world premiere is a rare event for any regional opera company, and rarer still for one of Opera Montana's size. The decision to anchor its first original staging in a locally cherished narrative signals the company's ambition to grow not only in scale but in artistic scope.

The premiere underscores how smaller regional companies are increasingly commissioning and producing new work rooted in their own communities, rather than relying solely on standard repertoire. For Opera Montana, the production of "A River Runs Through It" establishes a precedent for future premieres as the company continues to expand.