When you're starting an opera company, it's a good idea to bring in advisors who know what they're talking—and singing—about. Opera Roanoke did exactly that when they enlisted Metropolitan Opera stars Eleanor Steber and Irene Dalis as mentors in the company's first years. With their guidance, the group gained greater artistic acclaim, and soon began staging renowned works including La Boheme, Madame Butterfly, and Beethoven's Fidelio. Today, the opera continues to produce stirring masterworks featuring acclaimed performers, lavish sets, and remarkably tuneful conversations.