We make, and help others to make opera, with love, for anyone.

With a playful yet pathfinding approach, our sights are set far into the future, scanning the vast unexplored possibilities of what opera could be. Artists and audiences embark on adventures with us that can touch them forever in a way they’ll never forget. As we travel together, we always listen and observe, taking the greatest care of each other.

Though our work often happens under the radar, it’s now hard to find artists working in new opera who haven’t grown, at least a little, under our wing and so now carry something of Tête à Tête with them.

We’ve commissioned, produced and premiered over 100 operas, giving work to many hundreds of opera makers. We’ve also hosted, mentored, and empowered others to make almost 600 new operas in our annual Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival.

We are based in Cornwall, currently operating in Cornwall, Tyneside, London and online, where we’ve reached over a million people in 64 nations.

We share as much as we can of our knowledge and experience on our website, including the largest archive of new opera in the world, all free of charge.

We’ve got a delightful selection of shows for you this coming year, showing off pioneering opera projects in schools, conservatoires, and festivals.

The Rain Show, 22-27th April 2026

A collaboration between British and Kenyan artists, Tête à Tête is teaming up with Across Arts and Baraka Opera Kenya to bring a series of workshops to schools across North Tyneside and Cornwall. You can read more here.

Fantasy & Fairytale, 3rd-6th July 2026

Our eighth collaboration with the Royal College of Music brings a selection of 5 new operas for children of more ages. While you wait for more details, why not check out past iterations like Revolutions, Odysseys, Crime & Punishment, Frankenstein – The Modern Prometheus, Hogarth’s Stages, and Great Expectations?

Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival 2026, 8th-20th September 2026

Our annual festival of new opera is coming back to London, with pioneering new works from around the UK and the world.

Website: tete-a-tete.org.uk

Email: [email protected]