Inside Vancouver Opera

In this special episode, Jane Potter brings Verdi’s world to life through the story of Rigoletto , a work born out of controversy, courage, and the fight for artistic freedom. Learn More Episode Credits: Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera Lyndon Ladeur - Voice of Giachino Rossini Mihnea Nitu - Voic...

Few artists have shaped Canadian theatre and opera as profoundly as Glynis Leyshon , who now brings her formidable imagination to Vancouver Opera’s new production of Rigoletto , re-set in Victorian London, a place where masks, privilege, and secrecy hold sway. Learn More Episode Credits: Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera

He's one of the city's greatest voices on stage, on air, and lately at City Hall. Today we're joined by Christopher Gaze, actor, advocate, and the visionary force behind Bard on the Beach. Learn More Episode Credits: Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera

Composer, producer, and traditional singer from the Lil’wat Nation, Russell Wallace speaks about the influence of his mother, the language inside his music, and why singing together gives him hope. Learn More Episode Credits: Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera Tim Matheson - Cover Photo Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera

For nearly two decades, Doug Tuck was the voice of Vancouver Opera. Not just as Director of Marketing, but as the friendly presence who greeted audiences in the lobby and guided them through curtain speeches and pre-show chats. In this episode, Doug shares stories from La Bohème to Stickboy —and why he still believes in the art form’s power. Learn More Episode Credits: Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, I...

Canadian soprano Sarah Dufresne joins host Ashley Daniel Foot to talk about her journey from Niagara Falls to the world’s great stages — and her debut as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto at Vancouver Opera. From childhood competitions where she sometimes sang “against herself,” to major roles at the Royal Opera House and Pacific Opera Victoria, Sarah reflects on the moments that shaped her artistry. She...

Our conversation today is with Madeleine Thien , Giller Prize-winning author of the novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing , as well as librettist of the opera Chinatown . Madeleine's newest novel, The Book of Records , is a sweeping and time-bending, deeply humane work that weaves together lives across centuries. Learn More Episode Credits: Madeleine Thien - Author, The Book of Records Ashley Danie...

Blending Tagalog and English, film and song, Liham gives voice to the Filipino-Canadian experience. Today we are joined by two members of the team behind Liham , producer and mezzo-soprano Renee Fajardo , and baritone Danlie Rae Acebuque . Learn More Liham is a digital art song cycle that explores Filipino-Canadian identity through contemporary classical music, poetry, and film. Created by and for...

Today we're joined by two extraordinary sopranos, Karen Chia-ling Ho . and Yasko Sato ⁠ . Karen and Yasko are double cast in the role of Cio-Cio San in our upcoming production of Madama Butterfly , running April 26th to May 4th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Learn More Credits : Karen Chia-ling Ho - Cio-Cio San April 27 & May 4 Yasko Sato - Cio-Cio San - Cio-Cio San April 26, May 1 & 3 As...

Today we’re stepping into the world of one of opera’s most passionate, enduring, and beloved composers. His name is synonymous with soaring arias, impossible love stories, and music that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. This is the story of Giacomo Puccini. Inside Vancouver Opera presents: Un bel dì, A Life Begins: The World of Puccini written and performed by Jane Potter. So settle in,...

In this conversation, we explore how director Mo Zhou has re-imagined Madama Butterfly for today. In her Canadian directorial debut, Mo Zhou brings this fresh vision to Vancouver Opera from April 26 to May 4, a production that honours Puccini’s masterwork while offering audiences a chance to see Madama Butterfly in a new light. Learn more. Credits: Mo Zhou - Director of Madama Butterfly Ashley Dan...

Together with Amica Senior Lifestyles, Vancouver Opera shares the power of live music to inspire connection, joy, and reflection in senior living. Amica Senior Lifestyles is one of Vancouver Opera's wonderful sponsors, and today Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by Ashley Sumler, the Director of Quality of Life at Amica Senior Lifestyles. Learn More CREDITS: Ashley Sumler - Director of Quality of Lif...

In this special International Women's Day episode, host Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by two powerhouses in classical music – pianist Perri Lo, and mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson. Read the full article . Credits: Perri Lo - Pianist Emma Parkinson - Mezzo-Soprano Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Host Mack McGillivray - Producer Cover Illustration by @barryekko Music Credits: A Certain Peace from Tobin Sto...

Today we’re thrilled to spotlight Flight , once again, Jonathan Dove’s groundbreaking opera. Leading today’s conversation is Flight’s conductor, and Vancouver Opera’s Head of Music/Associate Conductor, Les Dala. Joining him is Flight’s acclaimed Director, Morris Panych, whose vision is bringing this unique production to life. Together they dive into the themes, artistry, and creative process behin...

Today’s special video-edition of Inside Vancouver Opera features two of Canada's most celebrated creative minds, Director Morris Panych and Set Designer Ken MacDonald. Partners in both life and art, their extraordinary collaboration has shaped some of the most memorable moments in Canadian theatre and opera. Leading today's conversation is Vancouver Opera's own General Director Tom Wri...

Today we'll explore how composer Jonathan Dove turned an airport terminal into a mythic space of drama, humor, and humanity - transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. As Vancouver Opera prepares to take Flight from February 8th to 16th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, today we're thrilled to talk with the composer himself. Read the full article . Credits: Jonathan Dove - Composer of Flight...

Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) on discovering his parent's untold pain and the legacy of resilience it left behind. Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) is a Vancouver Opera board member, elected Councillor and spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (the Squamish Nation). Today we explore Wilson's journey, from his childhood influences and the legacy of his family, to his reflections on truth, reconciliation...

On today's episode, we're proud to welcome the Canadian mezzo-soprano, Mireille Lebel , who's known for her captivating performances across the globe in operas such as Carmen , The Marriage of Figaro , and The Barber of Seville . And currently, she's starring as Count Orlofsky in our production of Die Fledermaus on stage October 26 to November 3rd. I hope you enjoy the conversation. Full Article C...

We are celebrating Vancouver Opera’s 65th anniversary with a truly fabulous season. The season opens with Johann Strauss II’s beloved operetta Die Fledermaus . This charming comedy relies almost entirely on a series of pranks, trickery and disguise as plot devices to illuminate the themes of revenge, love, friendship, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Die Fledermaus runs from October 26th to Nov...

A candid conversation about identity, queerness, and joy with UBC voice professor and baritone J. Patrick Raftery and his former student and tenor Spencer Britten . Patrick is about to launch his all-queer reimagining of Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole as A Spanish Hour? with two performances on July 27th in the Telus Theatre at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts . Tickets will be a...

In honour of Asian Heritage Month, we are in conversation with curator, writer, public art consultant and the newly appointed executive director of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, Henry Heng Lu. Henry shares insight on art, heritage, and the power of cultural collaboration to confront racism. Read the full article . Credits: Henry Heng Lu - Guest Ashley Daniel Foot - Host Mack McGill...

We always say that Vancouver Opera is a family, but today's guests actually are family. Eve-Lyn de la Haye and Clara Griesdale are real life mother and daughter, and they're both in our upcoming production of Carmen . For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca . Read the full article here . Credits: Clara Griesdale - Guest Eve-Lyn de la Haye - Guest Ashley Daniel Foot - Host...

In anticipation of our upcoming production of Carmen we are rebroadcasting our 7-part series on the composer’s life as one episode. Originally aired in October of 2022 ahead of our production of The Pearl Fishers . Vancouver Opera presents Carmen at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from April 27th to May 5th. For tickets and more information visit VancouverOpera.ca . CREDITS Written and edited by Kris...

Canadian opera icon Judith Forst and Yulanda M. Faris Young Artist Simran Claire share the experiences of being a mezzo-soprano and wearing the pants onstage. Read the full article here . Credits : Simran Claire - Guest Judith Forst - Guest Ashley Daniel Foot - Host Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Associate Producer Mack McGillivray - Producer

In a rollicking and candid conversation, Jim Wright reflects on his storied career and his 17 years leading Vancouver Opera and spills the beans on long-held desire to be a senator from Indiana. Read the full story here . Credits Ashley Daniel Foot - Host Jim Wright - Guest Mack McGillivray - Producer