Victoria, BC – Pacific Opera Victoria is delighted to present their 2025/26 Opera Season, a season of thrills, passion, and timeless legends, bringing three extraordinary operas to life at Victoria’s Royal Theatre. Pacific Opera looks forward to presenting; Benjamin Britten’s chilling psychological thriller, The Turn of the Screw, in October 2025; Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, a roller coaster story of love, lust, murder and political intrigue, in February 2026; and in April 2026, Christoph Willibald Gluck’s timeless journey through love and loss in the depths of the underworld, Orpheus & Eurydice, will take centre stage.
Pacific Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw, is directed by Michael Shamata and features a Canadian cast, including Pacific Opera favourites – tenor Isaiah Bell, as Peter Quint, who is remembered for his 2023 solo show The Book of Shames and Jake Apricity Hetherington, who charmed audiences in the title role of last season’s The Little Prince, as Flora.
Pacific Opera Artistic Director Brenna Corner says of the piece, “Based on Henry James’ haunting novella, The Turn of the Screw, tells the story of a young governess who believes the children in her care are being corrupted by ghosts haunting the house. The opera masterfully weaves melodic vocal lines with alternating themes and keys, mirroring the tightening “screw” of the story. You’ll be left questioning: Are there truly ghosts, or is it all in her mind? This Victorian ghost story, re-examined through a psychological lens, explores the loss of innocence with eerie and thought-provoking depth and musical complexity.”
Canadian soprano Meghan Lindsay, who made her Pacific Opera debut in Die Walküre, returns as Floria Tosca in Puccini’s classic masterpiece Tosca, a breathtaking opera where love burns bright against the dark tides of tyranny. Remembered by Pacific Opera audiences for his role in the 2018 production of Puccini’s La bohème, Canadian-Italian baritone Brett Polegato takes on the role of Baron Scarpia.
“The idea of truth—truth from political and religious leaders, truth through art, and the struggle to trust ourselves— is at the heart of Puccini’s masterpiece. Tosca is a gripping tale of love, lust, murder, and political intrigue. With Puccini’s richly romantic score, this new production (a co-production with Vancouver Opera) revisits the timeless story of Floria Tosca, a beautifully tragic opera singer caught between love and the machinations of power. A masterpiece of the operatic canon, Tosca resonates deeply with its exploration of art versus authority, delivering visceral drama and lyrical beauty,” said Corner, who will direct Tosca.
In April 2026, Pacific Opera brings Orpheus & Eurydice, a timeless retelling of one of mythology’s most haunting romances, to Victoria audiences. Tenor Christian Sanders returns to Pacific Opera in the role of Orpheus, last seen in Victoria as Snake/Vain Man in last season’s The Little Prince. Italian-Canadian choreographer and director Amanda Testini is making her Pacific Opera directorial debut as Stage Director.
“Based on the famous Greek myth of the musician Orpheus who conquers the spirits of hell using the power of music to bring his love back from the underworld, this production will take Victoria opera lovers into the world of French baroque music and dance. Partnering with Ballet Victoria, and welcoming back celebrated soprano Suzanne Rigden, this production not only brings to the Royal Stage a new genre of opera to experience, it also will see world renowned Ukrainian-Canadian soprano Andriana Chuchman making her debut with Pacific Opera Victoria as Eurydice,” said Corner.
Tickets for single performances to the Royal Theatre shows start at $35, with a subscription package that includes all three operas starting at $87. To keep Pacific Opera accessible to students, families, and community organizations, Community Preview tickets are available for $15.
For more information visit pacificopera.ca
