The company was founded by impresario Alfred Salmaggi (later founder of the Salmaggi Opera Company) in the spring of 1920 under the name the Italian Lyric Federation. The second company to be known as the PGOC was actually a company based out of New York City that was active in both NYC and Philadelphia. Salmaggi's Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1920-1921 Short lived, the company produced one more opera in December 1916, Giuseppe Verdi's Il trovatore, before disbanding.

Its first production, Gaetano Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, opened on December 18 of that year at the Academy of Music with Regina Vicarino in the title role, Forrest Lamont as Edgardo, and Ettore Martini conducting. The first company to be known as the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company (PGOC) was founded in 1916. The first Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1916

4 The last Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1954-1974.

3 The Hammer's Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1926-1932.2 Salmaggi's Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1920-1921.1 The first Philadelphia Grand Opera Companies:1916.

Carmen opera philadelphia