CALGARY, AB – Calgary Opera proudly announces its 2026/27 season, a bold and emotionally charged journey featuring three grand operas on the Southern Alberta Jubilee stage, a beloved family production, and a wide array of immersive experiences that bring opera into the heart of the community.
The season opens with Puccini’s Tosca (October 2026), a pulse-pounding political thriller where passion and power collide in one of opera’s most emotionally explosive masterpieces. In winter, audiences are swept into the shimmering fantasy of Massenet’s Cinderella (January–February 2027), a radiant tale of transformation, true love, and escape. Spring brings Verdi’s searing Otello (April 2027), an unflinching exploration of jealousy and manipulation inspired by Shakespeare’s most psychologically devastating tragedy. Rounding out the season, Seymour Barab’s Pied Piper offers theatrical charm and unforgettable melodies for younger audiences and families, with multiple performances at the Mamdani Opera Centre in November 2026 and an on-the-road Southern Alberta school and community tour in February 2027.
“Opera is meant to be felt — viscerally, together, in the moment. We’ve chosen works that make hearts race, may bring unexpected tears, and remind us why nothing compares to the power of the human voice in live performance. These are stories that reveal something new about the characters and about us,” said Jonathan Brandani, Calgary Opera’s Artistic Director.
“Every season, I get to ask: what do we need right now? What will move us, challenge us, stay with us? For 2026/27, the answer felt clear—we need stories of breathtaking beauty and raw honesty, performed by voices that stop you in your tracks. Whether this is your first opera or your fiftieth, you’re going to discover something here. That’s the power of grand opera,” added Brandani.
Audiences are invited to witness timeless stories of love, sacrifice, magic, and profound truth — brought to life by world-class artists, Calgary Opera Chorus, Cantaré Children’s Choir, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and emerging talents of tomorrow.
“This season reflects our responsibility not only to present extraordinary art, but also to make opera welcoming, accessible, and meaningful for our community. From expanded youth pricing and new performance times to immersive experiences beyond the theatre, we’re meeting audiences where they are and inviting them into something powerful. Calgary Opera exists to bring people together — across generations, backgrounds, and experiences — and our 2026/27 season is a celebration of that connection,” said Sue Elliott, Calgary Opera’s General Director & CEO.
The 2026/27 season shifts opening nights to Friday evenings, and continues with the now popular Sunday afternoon matinees. Tickets for youth ages 18 and under are 50% off for all seats and all shows.
TOSCA
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Words by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Friday October 16, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Sunday October 18, 2026 – 2:00 PM
Saturday October 24, 2026 – 7:30 PM
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
A singer. A painter. A police chief. An impossible bargain. How far would you go to save the person you love?
Puccini’s Tosca is a gripping political thriller fuelled by ravishingly beautiful music and devastating choices. Passion collides with power in one of opera’s most beloved and emotionally explosive masterpieces.
Conductor: Jonathan Brandani
Stage Director: Joshua Borths
Sung in Italian with projected English translations; with Calgary Opera Chorus, Cantaré Children’s Choir, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
CINDERELLA
Music by Jules Massenet
Original words by Henri Cain
Friday January 29, 2027 – 7:30 PM
Sunday January 31, 2027 – 2:00 PM
Saturday February 6, 2027 – 7:30 PM
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
A glass slipper. A true love found. One night to change everything.
Massenet’s Cinderella is pure escape fantasy—shimmering, romantic, and filled with wonder. Experience the thrill of transformation in a breathless race against the clock, set to music as magical as the ballroom itself.
Conductor: Jacques Lacombe
Stage Director: Mieko Ouchi
Sung in English with projected English captions; with Calgary Opera Chorus and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
OTELLO
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Words by Arrigo Boito
Based on William Shakespeare’s Othello
Friday April 16, 2027 – 7:30 PM
Sunday April 18, 2027 – 2:00 PM
Saturday April 24, 2027 – 7:30 PM
Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
A general and his wife. His scheming friend. A whispered lie.
In Shakespeare’s most psychologically brutal tragedy, a single lie unravels everything. Verdi’s Otello is opera at its most devastating—an unflinching exploration of jealousy, manipulation, and the fragility of love.
Conductor: Jonathan Brandani
Stage Director: Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan
Sung in Italian with projected English translations
With Calgary Opera Chorus, Cantaré Children’s Choir, and Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra
PIED PIPER
Music and words by Seymour Barab
Mamdani Opera Centre
Multiple performances; *Sensory-friendly performance included
A town. A tune. And a surprising twist.
Pied Piper delivers adventure, magic, and a timeless lesson about keeping promises—packed with theatrical charm and melodies that linger long after the piper leaves town.
Performed by members of Calgary Opera’s McPhee Artist Development Program; Sung in English
Performance Dates & Times
Friday November 13, 2026 –7:00 PM
Saturday November 14, 2026 –11:00 AM & 3:00 PM
Sunday November 15, 2026 –3:00 PM
Friday November 20, 2026 –3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Saturday November 21, 2026 –11:00 AM* & 3:00 PM
Sunday November 22, 2026 –3:00 PM
*Sensory-friendly performance on Saturday November 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM
February 2027: On-the-Road Southern Alberta School & Community Tour
OPERA BEYOND THE STAGE
Calgary Opera invites audiences to experience opera through intimate, interactive, and social events that bring artists and audiences closer together.
Highlights include:
- Opera Brunch – Star singers with a side of eggs.
- Arias + Ales – Casual arias over craft beer at Best of Kin Social.
- Cabarets – Opera’s party night. McPhee Artists let loose in intimate, festive performances.
- Serious Family Fun – Create-your-own opera adventure at our free, interactive open houses.
- Get Acquainted – Start with a free Opera Talk in the lobby before every show. Go deeper with Unpacking Opera (free with registration) or peek behind the curtain at our Spotlight Series where we illuminate the planning, design, and problem-solving that brings opera to life.
- Dive Deeply – For the truly curious: attend Masterclasses with visiting artists or join Opera Buddies for ongoing learning and community.
- Dress Rehearsals – For students, schools, choirs, universities, and lifelong learning groups. Polished but not perfect, where you might catch the fascinating moments when things go slightly off-script.
- Exclusive Donor Events – Engage with artists, craftspeople and kindred opera lovers at Around the Piano, Prelude at Piano Dress, and VIP Receptions.
McPhee Artist Development Program: Calgary Opera’s Talent Launchpad
Each season, Calgary Opera provides emerging professional singers with the opportunity to study and perform under a professional staff of teachers and performers, led by Dr. Tara Laberge. The program serves as a bridge between academic programs and the professional world of opera, offering the experience and practical skills necessary to succeed as a self-employed artist in a highly competitive international environment.
The 2026/27 season marks the 20th Anniversary of the McPhee Artist Development Program, which welcomes Matthew Bermudez – tenor; Zoe McCormick – soprano; Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega – bass; and returning artists Katelyn Bird – soprano; Maria Milenic – mezzo-soprano; and George Theodorakopoulos – baritone.
TICKETS AND INFORMATION
Three-show season ticket packages start at $129 and individual tickets will be released for sale in April 2026. Subscribers get the best seats and save money! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.calgaryopera.com or contact Calgary Opera Audience Services at [email protected] or 403-262-7286.
