Pacific Opera’s 24/25 season presents Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s timeless masterpiece La Clemenza di Tito in October 2024, The Little Prince by Rachel Portman in February 2025, and Giuseppe Verdi’s iconic Rigoletto in April 2025.
“[It’s] a lineup that promises to enchant, inspire, and transport you to realms of sublime artistry,” said Pacific Opera artistic director, Brenna Corner.
Also announced for this season is the inaugural Luminary Series at the McPherson Playhouse, showcasing one-night-only classical concerts brought forth by artists including Barbara Hannigan and Bertrand Chamayou, Lawrence Brownlee, and the Gryphon Trio.
Here is more on the upcoming operas.
La Clemenza di Tito
This production of intrigue and the complexities of leadership follows Vitellia, daughter of the previous emperor of Rome, and her attempts to return to her place on the throne through marriage to the new popular emperor, Tito. After she is unsuccessful, she plots his assassination while enlisting the help of her young admirer, Sesto.
“On one side, it is a tale of political intrigue, or plots, and manipulation and on the other side, it challenges audiences to think about forgiveness, and the cost of clemency on a human level,” Corner said.
Major Canadian artists will be welcomed to the stage, including tenor Andrew Haji as Tito. The all-Canadian, all-female creative team has Jennifer Tarver at the helm, who makes her Pacific Opera premier as stage director.
The Little Prince
Many will remember this story from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s original text. The Little Prince comes to Earth from a distant lonely planet, on which his only friend is a rose. The tale transports audiences from the desert sands of Africa to asteroid B-162, exploring the world through his young eyes while sparking joy and wonder along the way.
Working together for the first time on a main stage production will be Pacific Opera principal conductor, Giuseppe ‘Joey’ Pietraroia, alongside artistic director, Brenna Corner, making her Pacific Opera directorial debut. Returning cast members are tenor Ben Butterfield and soprano Melody Courage.
Rigoletto
Rigoletto unveils a tragic tale of love, betrayal, and redemption based on Victor Hugo’s play. “It is grand opera which at its heart is the story of a father and his daughter, and the ultimate cost of revenge, often paid mostly by the people we love,” said Corner.
This classic will introduce singers baritone Grant Youngblood, soprano Sarah Dufresne, and tenor Matthew Pearce to Pacific Opera audiences.
Tickets
Tickets for single performances to the Royal Theatre shows start at $35. A subscription package that includes all three operas starts at $84. Tickets for the Luminary Series at the McPherson start at $65 (with a special price of $50 for Pacific Opera subscribers).
To keep Pacific Opera accessible to students, families, and community organizations, Community Preview tickets are available for $15.
Visit pacificopera.ca.