Jeremy Berkman

Brent MacKenzie

Janelle Nadeau

Michael Rush

Josué Tacoronte

Adriana Zaharijevic

Vancouver Opera

If you’ve heard of Figaro, chances are you’ve heard of him a number of times in a row (Figaro...Figaro...Figaro...Fiiiiiiiiiiiigaro!!!). Figaro is something of a fixer, and not just of hair. In this adventure, the industrious barber works to unite two young lovers, Count Almaviva and Rosina, but to do so, he must also thwart Dr. Bartolo’s plan to make Rosina his bride, thereby pocketing her considerable dowry.

Arguably the most buffa opera of all opera buffas, The Barber of Seville is a joyful, high energy romp that delights the eyes and ears while offering a much-needed counterbalance to the deep, dark doldrums of a Vancouver midwinter.

In a colourful reimagining by the dynamic Canadian creative duo of director Morris Panych and designer Ken MacDonald, Barber’s fast-paced plot is kept aloft by the unrivalled comedic chemistry between Cesare Sterbini’s libretto and Rossini’s energetic, endlessly inventive melodies, steered here by Maestro Leslie Dala.

Admittedly, opera can lean a bit towards the tragic, so it may surprise some that in a story full of trickery, scheming, and lovers separated by a despicable villain…everything ends well! Save that pit in your stomach for another day and enjoy a sparkling, laugh-out-loud comedy ride packed with irresistible melodies, scissor-sharp scheming, and Rossini’s most famous tunes.

The Barber of Seville

Queen Elizabeth Theatre

Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata premiered in 1853 and has since become one of opera’s most beloved works. Today, it stands as the second-most-presented opera worldwide since 2022—an enduring favourite whose popularity shows no signs of slowing.

A sweeping story of impossible love, set to some of Verdi’s most emotionally-charged music, La Traviata tells of Violetta, a courtesan desired, elevated, and ultimately undone by the society that fixes its gaze on her. Alfredo sees her through the soft blur of infatuation, believing he alone can capture her truth. Alfredo’s father, however, sees Violetta as a “fallen woman” and demands that she break off her relationship with Alfredo for the sake of his family’s reputation. Heartbroken sacrifice made, her health worsens. Alfredo rushes to her side, but is it too late to undo what’s done?

Helmed by internationally acclaimed Vancouver-based director Idan Cohen, this new co-production with Pacific Opera Victoria closes out 2026–2027 with a striking stage design that draws from Pop Art, classic Hitchcock aesthetics, and mass media culture, while Vancouver Opera’s esteemed Music Director Jacques Lacombe steers Verdi’s score through the intoxicating desire lines of romance, high drama, and exquisite melody.

La Traviata

Simply Lyrical is an intimate and wonderfully eclectic celebration of Spanish music. From the soaring voices of opera singers to the warmth of flamenco guitar, the rhythm and movement of flamenco dance, the richness of bass, the colour of trombone and harp, and the artistry of piano—this concert brings together a surprising combination of sounds and traditions.

What connects it all is the beauty of the melody. Music that is passionate, lyrical, soulful, and deeply expressive. Each artist brings their own musical world to the stage, creating something greater than the sum of its parts. Come expecting to be surprised, moved, and swept away.