 The first season began in 1985 with David DiChiera as General Director (until 1996), though the company traces its roots to 1962 and the annual "Festival of Opera Association" in Laguna Beach, where productions were performed in late summer at the Irvine Bowl, in English.In order to promote expansion, the "Opera League of Laguna Beach" was established to "encourage, support and sustain interest in the Festival of Opera.