Minnesota Opera, now regarded as America's most exciting opera company, was founded as Center Opera in 1963 when the Walker Art Center commissioned an opera for its performing arts program. Known as a progressive, alternative opera company through the early 1970s, the Minnesota Opera merged with the St. Paul Opera in 1975, and through the 1980s, began to shift its focus to include more traditional repertoire. In 1985, Minnesota Opera became a founding tenant of St. Paul's Ordway Center, and in 1990, opened its own Opera Center in Minneapolis, combining scenic and costume shops, rehearsal facilities and administrative offices into three renovated warehouses on the Mississippi riverfront. In the two decades that followed, the company earned its reputation as an industry-leading producer ; articulated an artistic vision based on the Bel Canto philosophy ; developed its highly competitive Resident Artist Program ; and added artist housing to its campus in the historic Minneapolis Warehouse District. At the same time, recognition for Minnesota Opera's progressive and far-reaching educational programs grew.