Opera Notices

Here it is! The announcement you've all been waiting for....







Vancouver, BC ~ A visually striking production of a beloved classic, two legendary performers in a hilarious masterpiece of satire, the return of one of the most distinctive productions in Canadian opera history, and an extraordinary fusion of western opera and eastern myth are just some of the highlights of Vancouver Opera's 2012-2013 season.

In order of presentation, VO's 53rd season will include Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème (October 20 - 28, 2012), Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance (December 1 - 9, 2012), VO's First Nations-inspired production of W.A. Mozart's The Magic Flute (March 9 - 17, 2013) and the Canadian premiere of Academy Award®-winning composer Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul (May 4 - 11, 2013). Three of the four productions will include matinée performances.

Christopher Gaze will play Major-General Stanley and Judith Forst will sing Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance. Mr. Gaze will also stage-direct the production, with assistance from associate director and choreographer Allison Grant. "The piece is a jewel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s crown and in the right hands, the wit in both the libretto and the music can still bring the house down," says Jonathan Darlington, Vancouver Opera's music director, who will conduct both The Pirates of Penzance and Tea: A Mirror of Soul. "VO has assembled a great team of personalities who have contributed so much over the years to Vancouver’s cultural life and I’m sure the end result will be a riot.”

In announcing the season, VO’s General Director, James W. Wright, said, “We are proud to present four productions of great variety, excitement and surprise. The strong receptions for our recent productions of West Side Story, Lillian Alling and Nixon in China have shown us that our audiences want compelling, innovative options along with traditional operas. I believe that the 2012-2013 offerings will display Vancouver Opera’s versatility, our artistic strengths, and our ability to connect widely and deeply with our community."


For casting details and to learn more, read the entire press release here!

We have two more exciting productions left in the 2011-2012 season... but that doesn't mean we're not thinking ahead! Watch this space next week, when we will announce the lineup for 2012-2013!

No hints, but we can say that there will be something old, something new, something unique...and something really really fun.

Get yer app for YAP! If you're singer, pianist or stage director looking for mentorship and training with opera industry leaders, the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program may be for you.

This new program begins during the 2012-13 season. It will engage, enrich, mentor and train rising young Canadian opera artists and offer a bridge between formal academic programs and the professional world, in a supporting and encouraging environment. The program will include master classes, one-on-one coachings and performance opportunities as part of a residency program.


Click here for more details and a downloadable information package and application form.