Vancouver Opera puts on multiple mainstage shows each year and is regarded as one of the finest opera orchestra companies in Canada.
Productions lined up for the 2024/2025 season include Die Fledermaus (in late October and early November), Flight (in February) and Madama Butterfly (in late April and early May).
For tickets and full details about the operas, see the vancouveropera.ca website.
This article contains the following information about Vancouver Opera:
What to Expect | 2024/25 Season | Die Fledermaus | Flight | Madama Butterfly | Schools and Other Programs | Tips and Advice | Other Information
The Vancouver Opera Company
Vancouver Opera is the second biggest opera company in Canada, the first being the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto. Vancouver Opera started in 1958 and has since grown into one of the premier performing arts organizations in both the Lower Mainland and all of Canada.
For the most part, all of the mainstage productions for Vancouver Opera are held at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The theatre is located at 630 Hamilton Street downtown and seats nearly 3,000 people.
In addition to the standard performances, Vancouver Opera also runs various other programs. There is Vancouver Opera in Schools which tours throughout BC with professional quality opera performances for students. As well, there are summer camps and other youth programs on offer.
For tickets and the company’s official website see vancouveropera.ca.
What to Expect
Vancouver Opera puts on three different productions most years. They are usually in Italian, but sometimes French or German. Often one of them is in English. The shows involve operatic singing (of course), and beautiful costumes and sets.
Regardless of the language of the performance, there are English surtitles (like subtitles or closed caption text) projected above the theatre’s stage. This is very helpful, especially when the singing is in a language you don’t understand. In the fall of 2024 Die Fledermaus is in German, but with English surtitles. In early 2025 Flight is sung in English and Madama Butterfly is in Italian (but again with English surtitles).
At productions by Vancouver Opera, expect the singing to be amazing! They are an exceptional opera company and Vancouver is very lucky to have them!
There is usually an intermission of 25 or so minutes in the middle of each performance, but also a pre-show talk before and a post-show talk after. Both of the talks are short and very interesting. We recommend them, especially if you are new to opera.
The pre-show talk lasts for about 15 minutes or so. Two speakers provide background to the show and describe its history. The talks usually take place upstairs in the Mezzanine an hour before the main performance begins.
The post-show talk takes place shortly after the opera’s finale, after most of the audience has left the auditorium. Those who wish can stay and go down to the seats at the front of the stage. The main actors come out and are interviewed. Audience members are also invited to ask questions.
For tickets and full details about the shows, see the Vancouver Opera‘s website.
The 2024/25 Season
Performances in the 2024/25 season include Die Fledermaus, Flight and Madama Butterfly. Show dates and descriptions are below.
Die Fledermaus
Composed by Johann Strauss II, Die Fledermaus opera is sung in German with English surtitles projected. The story is about several characters and a New Year’s Eve ball. Eisenstein’s friend plans a practical joke on him that leads to acting and worries of infidelity at the masquerade. Performances happen at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on October 26th and 31st, as well as on November 2nd and 3rd in 2024.
Flight
Sung in English and written by Jonathan Dove, Flight is a funny opera set at an airport. It’s based on the true story of an Iranian refugee who lived at an airport for 18 years. In the opera, flights are grounded because of inclement weather. Characters split up and drama ensues, including a childbirth, cheating and other scandalous activities. The opera is at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on February 8th, 13th and 16th in 2025.
Madama Butterfly
Composed by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly is an Italian opera with English surtitles. It’s a tragic tale of a young Japanese girl who marries an American naval officer. Shortly after their marriage, the American leaves and returns a few years later, but with a new wife. The show is at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 26th and 27th, and again on May 1st, 3rd and 4th in 2025.
For tickets and the company’s official website see vancouveropera.ca.
Vancouver Opera in Schools and Other Programs
Vancouver Opera in Schools provides professional opera performances in schools throughout BC. It stands as one of the biggest programs of its kind in the country. These shows are sung in English (as opposed to Italian or French like the mainstage productions) and serve as a way to help introduce students to opera as an art form.
Vancouver Opera also offers specific programs for youth of various school ages. There is Project Opera for elementary students which offers teachers different ways to bring in Vancouver Opera artists to their classrooms. There are also mentorship programs for high school students and summer camps.
Finally, there are programs for adults as well like Opera 101. This is a five-part course taught over Zoom that serves as an introduction to the history and modern world of opera.
Tips and Advice
Below are some suggestions and extra information to help you make the most out of your opera experience.
Things to Know In Advance
TIP #1: Arrive early. Don’t risk arriving late because of traffic!
TIP #2: Consider joining the pre-show talk before the main performance begins, especially if you are new to opera or not familiar with the particular production. The background information is very interesting and can be helpful in understanding the story.
TIP #3: Except for the fact that you have to look up extra high to see the screen with the surtitles, the best seats in the house, arguably, in our opinion, are at the very front of the theatre, and in the middle of the auditorium. Here you can see the full stage, and the actors up close (which is a wonderful and amazing experience).
Things to Know about the Show
TIP #1: If the production is in Italian, French or German, and you aren’t fluent in that particular language, and you aren’t already familiar with the story, consider reading up on it in advance (like on Wikipedia). This will help you understand and follow the story better and enhance your experience.
TIP #2: Don’t forget that the words of the singing are projected (in English) on a screen above the stage. Consequently, even if you don’t understand Italian, you can still understand the story and what the actors are singing. Even when the production is in English, the surtitles can still be helpful.
TIP #3: The surtitles are easy to see from pretty much everywhere in the theatre. If you plan to rely on them heavily, however, you might not want to sit in the first few rows, especially if you have a bad neck.
TIP #4: Photos and video are not permitted during the performance. At the very end, however, when the actors are taking their bows, the audience is invited to take out their cameras and phones to take pictures.
Other Information
For more information about the company, visit the Vancouver Opera website.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Opera in the Park
- Vancouver Choirs and Music Organizations
- VAM Symphony Orchestra
- Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
- Symphony at Sunset
- Early Music Vancouver
- Vancouver Shows and Entertainment Calendar
- Entertainment in Vancouver