(This story is sponsored by Vancouver Opera.)

Vancouver Opera’s 2018-19 season consists of a full year of adventurous and breathtaking opera, and the third annual Vancouver Opera Festival.

Get ready to indulge in Vancouver Opera’s season opener, the Viennese torte known as Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe). This wonderfully lavish art nouveau production directed by Canadian Kelly Robinson—last at Vancouver Opera as director of the hit production of Evita—is set in the heart of vibrant fin de siècle Paris.

The story unfolds on a stage packed with elegant ladies, eligible bachelors, and Maxim’s famous can-can dancers. Lehár’s charming score, last performed at VO in 1990, is filled with lush waltzes and ballads. Rising star conductor Ward Stare will direct the Vancouver Opera Orchestra (October 20, 25, 27, 28, 2018) at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton Street).

The new production of La Bohème is—literally—an enormous vintage picture postcard of Paris. Canadian designer and director duo André Barbe and Renaud Doucet—the team behind Turandot in 2017—have created a gloriously extravagant production. Set in the interwar years when artists and writers flocked to Paris to live the bohemian life, Café Momus is full of flamboyant jazz-era figures. And Canadian conductor Judith Yan makes her Vancouver Opera debut. Offering a refreshing look at a much-loved opera, the show takes place  at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (February 14, 16, 19, 21, 24, 2019).

In the spring of 2019 (from April 27 to May 5), the third annual Vancouver Opera Festival celebrates the theme of Fairytales & Fables. Enjoy two mainstage operas, special events, speakers, family events, and more.

Charles Gounod’s Faust is the pinnacle of 19th-century French opera—it’s full of rich characterization, it’s dramatically exciting, and it’s exuberantly evocative. Gounod’s sensuous and sublimely melodic masterpiece will be presented in a production not seen before in Vancouver, with an all-Canadian cast. Jonathan Darlington returns to conduct the Vancouver Opera orchestra and chorus (April 27 and May 2, 5, 2019).

Rossini’s masterpiece, La Cenerentola (Cinderella), is a magical journey from rags to riches. Led by Maestro Leslie Dala, the orchestra will perform the re-orchestration of Rossini’s score. A refreshingly youthful cast will be directed by JessieAward winner Rachel Peake, who directed Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro for Vancouver Opera in 2017. This popular opera hasn’t been seen at Vancouver Opera since 1981 and takes place at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton Street) (April 27, 30 and May 1, 2, 4, 7-9, 11, 12, 2019).

“Our new season and the third annual Opera Festival will showcase a well-known repertoire reimagined for the modern audiences,” Vancouver Opera general director Kim Gaynor said. “I have invited a number of very talented conductors who have never directed for us before, as well as welcoming back Jonathan Darlington to conduct Gounod’s Faust.”

Single tickets are now available for all operas starting from $50 at 604-683-0222 or online at vancouveropera.ca. Four-opera, three-opera, and duet subscription packages are available for all operas starting at only $97. Or enter below for your chance to win two tickets to Vancouver Opera’s season opener, Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow.