2023-2024 Season Brochure

Step into a World of Wonder

2023–2024

season

In 2023–2024, we invite you to step into a world of wonder with us. We’re beyond excited to share three blockbuster productions that burst with colour and energy; classic works that speak to the profound emotions at the very core of our humanity, while transporting our imagination to somewhere far beyond the everyday. Together, the fiery passion of Bizet’s Carmen, the storybook enchantment of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and a vivid pop art reimagining of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale make for a season of grand-scale, dazzlingly immersive experiences we can’t wait to share with you.

Our subscribers are what make this community possible. Not only do you get access to the best seats at the best prices, plus insider news on special events and community initiatives, you also support our creative work both onstage and in our many outreach initiatives in schools, libraries, and anywhere and everywhere the love of opera can be fostered.

It’s a symbiotic relationship that we treasure, and we look forward to continuing to bring vibrancy to our city and magical evenings to our lives, together.

See you at the theatre!

Tom Wright, General Director Vancouver Opera

BARBE & DOUCET PRODUCTION OF DON PASQUALE. PHOTO BY KK DUNDAS COURTESY OF SCOTTISH OPERA.

FANTASTIC JOURNEY, EXTRAORDINARY FANTASY

THE MAGIC FLUTE

A fairytale within a fairytale, this playful and stylized production of The Magic Flute begins at a garden party in 1791…where a performance of Magic Flute is being staged! It’s instant magical immersion for audiences, and the start of a wild journey of high drama and whimsical delight.

Armed with an enchanted instrument, Tamino rescues the kidnapped Princess Pamina, and the pair face trials, tribulations, and the wrath of Pamina’s mother, the vengeful Queen of the Night.

But like any great fairytale—and this is among the greatest—light triumphs over darkness, and the young pair chart a path towards wisdom, truth, and love.

Be transported to a storybook world of fantastical creatures, delightfully imaginative costumes, starry skies and garden mazes, and some of Mozart’s most sublime, soul-stirring music.

CONDUCTOR: TANIA MILLER | ORIGINAL DIRECTOR: DIANE PAULUS

REVIVAL DIRECTOR: ASHLIE CORCORAN

PAPAGENO: CLARENCE FRAZER | TAMINO: OWEN MCCAUSLAND

PAMINA: KIRSTEN MACKINNON

SET & COSTUME DESIGN: MYUNG HEE CHO

WITH THE VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

PRODUCTION COURTESY OF THE CANADIAN OPERA COMPANY

up to 25%

21, 26, 28, 29M, 2023 |

OCT

QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

SUNG IN GERMAN WITH PROJECTED ENGLISH TITLES

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Mozart

A WORLD OF HAVOC AND HILARITY

DON PASQUALE

FEB 10, 15, 18M,

2024 | QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

Given a mid-20th century Technicolour makeover by the acclaimed creative duo of costume/set designer André Barbe and stage director/choreographer Renaud Doucet, Don Pasquale’s world bustles with a ramshackle vibrancy.

The aging bachelor’s scheme to marry and disinherit his rebellious nephew Ernesto is countered by a hilarious bait-and-switch caper hatched by Dr. Malatesta and Ernesto’s love, Norina, going undercover as Pasquale’s new and decidedly not-asadvertised bride.

With an all-star cast and music calibrated for virtuosity, Donizetti’s comic masterpiece of inter-generational jealousy and reconciliation, young love, and madcap machinations bursts with vivid colour and endlessly engaging melodies.

CONDUCTOR: JACQUES LACOMBE | STAGE DIRECTION, DRAMATURGY, SETS & COSTUMES: BARBE & DOUCET

DON PASQUALE: GREG DAHL | NORINA: ELIZABETH POLESE

ERNESTO: JOSH LOVELL | DR. MALATESTA: PHILLIP ADDIS

LIGHTING DESIGN: GUY SIMARD

WITH THE VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

PRODUCTION COURTESY OF SCOTTISH OPERA

SUNG IN ITALIAN WITH PROJECTED ENGLISH TITLES

Donizetti

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free ticket exchanges

EPIC PASSION, REBELLIOUS LOVE

CARMEN

APR 27, 28M, MAY 2, 4, 5M, 2024 | QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE

The blood of passion surges and spills in one of the most beloved and widely performed works in operatic history. Animated by an all-star cast and audacious stagecraft, the conflicting worlds and failed romance of the sensual, rebellious Carmen and the possessive military man Don José absolutely burst off the stage.

From the stirring Toreador Song to the tauntingly seductive aria Habanera, Georges Bizet’s enduring and richly coloured melodies transcend the hummable; they don’t just gesture towards

emotions, they embody the many shapes and shades of passion, from infatuation to violent jealousy.

Carmen wasn’t well-received when it debuted in 1875, but Bizet’s final masterpiece has since become a perennial audience favourite and a powerful artistic platform to explore class conflict and gender inequality.

CONDUCTOR: LESLIE DALA | DIRECTOR: RACHEL PEAKE

CARMEN: SANDRA PIQUES EDDY / CAROLYN SPROULE

DON JOSÉ: ALOK KUMAR / MATTHEW WHITE

MICAELA: JONELLE SILLS

WITH THE VANCOUVER OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

SUNG IN FRENCH WITH PROJECTED ENGLISH TITLES Bizet Subscribe for the best seats

WHY SUBSCRIBE?

Book your subscription package and enjoy these great benefits:

Savings of up to 25%, compared to single tickets, plus you get to skip the processing fees.

First access to tickets, so you can get the best seats in the house, and keep them each year you renew.

Tax receipt for returned tickets, if you can’t attend. Discounts on additional seats. Bring a friend and save 20% on their ticket!

The option to pay in two instalments, to help your wallet out.

Free and unlimited ticket exchanges, in case you can’t make the performance you originally booked. Personalized service with a subscriber representative.

Opportunities to win access to special events. Special offers from our partners and friends in the arts, culture, and food scenes.

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PERSONALIZE YOUR 2023-2024 SEASON Design Your Own Package The ultimate in flexibility STEP 1 Pick two or three shows STEP 2 Choose your seating section STEP 3 Order your package online at vancouveropera.ca or call the VO Ticket Centre at 604 683 0222 STEP 4 Enjoy a season of great opera! SUBSCRIBE BY JULY 12, 2023 and you could win your subscription! BALCONY

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

STAGE MEZZANINE ORCHESTRA STAGE FULL SUBSCRIPTON PACKAGES STARTING AT $145 A+ $560 A $499 B $435 C $325 D $215 E $145 2-SHOW DUET PACKS STARTING AT $99 $380 $350 $300 $230 $170 $ 99

DRESS CIRCLE

WANT MORE?

Add-ons, free events and new groups:

OPERA IN THE PARK

Sunday, July 16, 2023 | Deer Lake Park, Burnaby Activities for the whole family begin at 3PM Concert starts at 7:30PM | FREE EVENT!

Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington leads the Vancouver Opera Orchestra in an evening of duets, arias and more, featuring music from VO’s 2023–2024 Season.

Presented by

Nov 17–19, 2023 | H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

Don’t miss this world premiere of Sanctuary & Storm in the intimate confines of the H.R MacMillan Space Centre, offered as a special add-on for our subscribers. An imagined debate between the two most powerful women in Medieval Europe—Hildegard of Bingen and Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen of the Normans—frames this striking new chamber opera by award-winning composer Tawnie Olson and librettist Roberta Barker. With the omniscient Angel of History acting as commentator, the brilliant and unconventional women struggle with how to move beyond the oppression of patriarchal society, but risk losing sight of their common goal: a world reborn.

In partnership with OPERA UNDER 40

Our community of 40-and-under opera-goers. Curated digital content before each show will help you get the most out of your opera experience. At our Thursday performances, step into the Under 40 Lounge and see who you might run into! Bring a date, bring a friend, or bring yourself—we’ve designed the whole experience to welcome you into a vibrant community of like-minded music fans. Joining is easy, and starts at just $10/month. Plus, you’ll get access to a season subscription price not available to anyone else. Check out our website to learn more.

VANCOUVER OPERA IN THE COMMUNITY

Reaching out beyond the mainstage, VO works with schools, arts organizations, and community groups to support opera’s creative ecosystem at every level. Through a variety of initiatives, we connect with our community, share knowledge, and foster love for our vibrant, ever-evolving artform. Here’s just a taste of what we’ve been up to:

“The training is inspiring. The masterclasses and chances to perform are truly life altering for my career.”

INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

“Vancouver Opera has opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of the arts and given me an opportunity to get involved”

– Tanlah, high school student

Each season, Vancouver Opera in Schools brings fully staged operas— complete with sets, costumes, and glorious music—to children and their families throughout BC, regardless of income, while in the fun and interactive Project Opera, students work with VO artists and teachers to design and deliver an opera of their very own, from scratch!

PROVIDING GREATER ACCESS FOR OUR COMMUNITY

We’re bringing thousands of Lower Mainland residents to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre for the first time, while our forward-thinking programs take opera across British Columbia. Opera Adventures, a partnership with the Vancouver Public Library, offers library users free programming created around each mainstage opera; our informative and entertaining Inside Vancouver Opera podcast is available when and wherever you like; and Opera Cabarets present novel collaborations between musicians and opera artists in a range of unconventional and informal settings.

We’re always seeking new and creative ways to engage with audiences, amplify emerging creative talents, and explore the grand possibilities of opera.

FOSTERING FUTURE ARTISTS

Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program is an invaluable bridge between formal education programs and the professional opera world. In this residency program, young singers, pianists, and stage directors learn from industry leaders through master classes, one-on-one coaching, and performance opportunities.

Find out how you can support our programs at vancouveropera.ca/learn/ GIVE NOW

“Vancouver Opera is inspiring all of us.”

– Blinh, Kettle Choir

Get involved!

– McKenzie Warriner, VO Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY OF SUPPORTERS

OPERA ROUND TABLE

Want to make your evenings at the opera even more elevated? Interested in connecting with your fellow operalovers? Opera Round Table is a vibrant, welcoming network of patrons who are passionate about opera—and who love an elegant evening out. With an annual contribution of $1,500 or more, supporters enjoy exclusive benefits, including a private lounge, restrooms, and coat check; an invitation to preshow dinners and brunches; reserved VIP parking; and members-only behind-thescenes tours, events, and performances.

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS

Our audiences are amazing, and our sponsors know it! We love to tell the stories of our incredible corporate supporters, whether they’re on board for the full season, an individual production, or a special event. Think your business is a great fit? Help us grow our amazing community and education programs, nurture the next generation of artists, and keep incredible opera experiences in Vancouver. To learn more, or to explore opportunities to host your most important clients at the opera, reach out to our team.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THE WAYS TO SUPPORT VANCOUVER OPERA, email development@vancouveropera.ca, or call 604 682 2871

MORE WAYS TO GIVE

We value and celebrate every person who contributes to Vancouver Opera. Giving what you can means the world to us—and there are so many ways to give. Some of our donors give a single donation on our website or by mail, while others choose to set up a recurring monthly gift. Some prefer to support directly, while others donate securities or generously include us in their estate planning. To all of our supporters — thank you!

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Enjoy all the benefits of being a Vancouver Opera subscriber, such as first access to the best seats in the house, discounted ticket prices, and free exchanges if you can’t attend a performance.