Even if it doesn’t carry the prestige of its neighbor the Met, the New York City Opera has been renowned for providing NYC with adventurous and affordable opera seasons and programs. City Opera, in addition to producing traditional operas, presents concerts introducing audience members to popular works within the opera art form and educating audiences on the historical origins of opera.

In conjunction with the New York City Ballet, City Opera undertook a $200 million renovation of their shared home, the David H. Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater), in Lincoln Center, which was completed for the 2009–2010 season. In May 2011, City Opera announced that it would leave that venue, for financial reasons.  Where it will appear for its next season, 2011-2012, is currently unknown.