Pacific Opera Victoria is a professional Canadian opera company in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Queen Victoria (1819–1901), Queen of the United Kingdom and Empress of India * Victoria (state), a state of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, a provincial capital * Victoria, Seychelles, the capi ...

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

. It designs, builds, and stages original opera productions at the Royal Theatre with the

Victoria Symphony The Victoria Symphony is a Canadian orchestra based in Victoria, British Columbia. It is considered Vancouver Island's largest and best-known performing arts organization. Currently conducted by Danish conductor Christian Kluxen, the orchestra used ...

. The company also presents smaller scale works and community programming at the Baumann Centre.

History

Pacific Opera Victoria emerged out of the Vancouver Island Opera Society, which staged its first production, ''

The Marriage of Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienn ...

'', in November 1976. In 1979, the company adopted a new name, the Pacific Opera Association, and mounted its first production as a professional opera company – ''

The Merry Wives of Windsor ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'' or ''Sir John Falstaff and the Merry Wives of Windsor'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare first published in 1602, though believed to have been written in or before 1597. The Windsor of the play's title is a ref ...

'' by

Carl Otto Nicolai Carl Otto Ehrenfried Nicolai (9 June 1810 – 11 May 1849) was a German composer, conductor, and one of the founders of the Vienna Philharmonic. Nicolai is best known for his operatic version of Shakespeare's comedy ''The Merry Wives of W ...

. In 1987 the company was renamed Pacific Opera Victoria. By 1990 Pacific Opera Victoria had moved from two annual productions to three. After expanding to four mainstage productions each season from 2009 to 2012, it reverted to three productions in the Royal Theatre, complemented by

chamber operas Chamber opera is a designation for operas written to be performed with a Chamber music, chamber ensemble rather than a full orchestra. Early 20th-century operas of this type include Paul Hindemith's ''Cardillac'' (1926). Earlier small-scale operas ...

and concerts in other venues, including the Baumann Centre. In response to the

COVID-19 epidemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

, Pacific Opera increased its online programming and began to produce and record chamber and concert works for digital distribution, including films of ''The Italian Lesson'' and ''Bon Appétit!'' by

Lee Hoiby Lee Henry Hoiby (February 17, 1926 – March 28, 2011) was an American composer and classical pianist. Best known as a composer of operas and songs, he was a disciple of composer Gian Carlo Menotti. Like Menotti, his works championed lyricism at ...

and ''The Garden of Alice'' by

Elizabeth Raum Elizabeth Raum (born 13 January 1945) is a Canadian oboist and composer. Biography Elizabeth Raum was born in Berlin, New Hampshire in 1945, but became a Canadian citizen in 1985. She studied oboe performance with Robert Sprenkle at the Eastma ...

. Pacific Opera’s founding Artistic Director, Timothy Vernon, C.M., LL.D (Hon), DMus (Hon), led the company for 43 years until his retirement in 2023. He conducted most of the company’s productions and curated an approach to repertoire that encompassed classic favourites as well as lesser known works, ranging from Baroque to contemporary operas, plus new commissions, co-productions, and collaborations with other companies. As of 2024, Pacific Opera’s leadership includes CEO Ian Rye, Artistic Director Brenna Corner, and Principal Conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia.

Facilities

Royal Theatre

Pacific Opera’s productions were originally staged in the 772-seat

McPherson Playhouse The McPherson Playhouse, known as The Mac, is a theatre and concert hall in Victoria, British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the ...

. By the 1990s audiences had grown to the point that a larger venue was required, and the company began to move its productions to the 1400-seat Royal Theatre, which is now the main venue for Pacific Opera’s mainstage opera productions.

Baumann Centre

The opening of the Baumann Centre in 2015 provided Pacific Opera with its own venue for small-scale chamber productions as well as opera rehearsals, concerts, artist training, and community programming. The Baumann Centre’s main space is Wingate Studio, a 2,500 sq ft performance space. The studio’s ceiling features a 1000 sq ft cedar installation that functions as an acoustic canopy. The installation, called Mind, Body, and Spirit, was created and donated by Kwagiulth and Coast Salish artist

Carey Newman Carey Newman (Hayalthkin’geme) (born 1975) is a Kwakwakaʼwakw/Salish Canadian multidisciplinary artist, wood carver, filmmaker and author. Early life Newman was born to a mother of English, Irish and Scottish settler heritage. His father is o ...

(Hayalthkin’geme), a former opera singer. The Baumann Centre also houses Pacific Opera’s administration and box office and is used by other community groups, including the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra and the Victoria Children’s Choir.

The Opera Shop

Pacific Opera Victoria is notable for constructing its own sets and costumes and retaining its own production facility. In its early days the company had to construct its own sets because the small stage of the McPherson Playhouse meant that renting sets from other companies was not practicable. As it grew, the company continued to build its own productions and also began to rent its productions to other companies. Sets, costumes, and props for each production are created by a team of local theatre professionals in the company’s 10,000 sq ft warehouse space, The Opera Shop.

Notable Productions

Pacific Opera Victoria has staged more than a dozen Canadian and world premières, including four commissioned or co-commissioned operas.

Commissioned and Co-commissioned Productions

*''The Flight of the Hummingbird'', Music by

Maxime Goulet Maxime Goulet (January 28, 1855 – January 17, 1932) was a Canadian politician. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1878 to 1886 and was the Minister of Agriculture under Conservative Premier John Norquay. Life ...

, libretto by

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas is a visual artist, author, and public speaker. His work has been seen in public spaces, museums, galleries and private collections across globe. Institutional collections include the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum ...

and Barry Gilson. The opera is based on Yahgulanaas' book ''Flight of the Hummingbird: A Parable for the Environment''. :*Co-commission and co-production with

Vancouver Opera Vancouver Opera is the second largest performing arts organization in British Columbia and the largest opera company in western Canada. Its mainstage performances occur in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, other venues in Vancouver and occasionally el ...

. :*World première performances and school tour January to March 2020. Online broadcast May to August 2020. :*British Columbia School Tour March to May 2024. *''
Missing Missing or The Missing may refer to: Film * ''Missing'' (1918 film), an American silent drama directed by James Young * ''Missing'' (1982 film), an American historical drama directed by Costa-Gavras about the 1973 coup in Chile *, a Belgian film ...
''. Music by Brian Current, libretto by

Marie Clements Marie Clements (born January 10, 1962) is a Canadian Métis playwright, performer, director, producer and screenwriter. She was the founding artistic director of Urban Ink Productions, and is currently co-artistic director of Red Diva Projects, ...

. :*Co-Commission and world première co-production with City Opera Vancouver. :*World première November 2017 at the York Theatre, Vancouver, followed by performances at the Baumann Centre in Victoria. :*''Missing'' was remounted in November 2019 with performances in Victoria, Regina, and Prince George. Pacific Opera presented these performances in partnership with the Victoria Native Friendship Centre, Prince George Native Friendship Centre, Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services,

Regina Symphony Orchestra The Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) was founded by Frank Laubach, in Regina, Saskatchewan, as the Regina Orchestral Society in 1908, giving its inaugural concert December 3 of that same year. Becoming the Regina Choral and Orchestral Society in 1 ...

, and Prince George Symphony Orchestra. :*The USA première of ''Missing'' was presented by Anchorage Opera in March 2023. *''Les Feluettes''. Music by Kevin March, libretto by

Michel Marc Bouchard Michel Marc Bouchard, (born February 2, 1958) is a Canadian playwright. He has received the Prix Journal de Montreal, Prix du Cercle des critiques de l'Outaouais, the Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Play, the Floyd S. Chalmers Canadian ...

, based on his play ''Les Feluettes'' (''

Lilies ''Lilium'' ( ) is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants growing from bulbs, all with large and often prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are ...

'' in English). :*Co-commission and world première co-production with

Opéra de Montréal LOpéra de Montréal () is an opera company in Montreal, Canada. It performs at the Place des Arts theatre complex in downtown Montreal, in the borough of Ville-Marie. It was founded in 1980 as a company focused on productions in French. Hi ...

. Staged in Montreal in May 2016 and in Victoria in April 2017. :*''Les Feluettes'' was remounted at Edmonton Opera in October 2017. *''Mary's Wedding''. Music by

Andrew Paul MacDonald Andrew Paul MacDonald (born 30 November 1958) is a Canadian classical composer, guitarist, conductor, and music educator. His compositions have been performed in many countries and recorded by well-known musical ensembles. Early life and educat ...

, libretto by

Stephen Massicotte Stephen Massicotte (born April 18, 1969 in Trenton, Ontario) is a Canadian playwright, screenwriter and actor from Calgary, Alberta. Personal life Massicotte is an atheist."I thought the world would be colder when I became an atheist, but after ...

based on Massicotte's play of the same name. :*Commissioned by Pacific Opera Victoria. :*World première November 2011. :*In November 2015 Pacific Opera presented a re-imagined one-hour version for community and school performances.

Canadian Stage Premières

*February 2025: ''

The Little Prince ''The Little Prince'' (, ) is a novella written and illustrated by French writer and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was first published in English and French in the United States by Reynal & Hitchcock in April 1943 and was published po ...

'' by

Rachel Portman Rachel Mary Berkeley Portman (born 11 December 1960)), a collection of original pieces for piano, violin and cello, with Portman playing the piano. In 2023 she released a second album ''Beyond the Screen – Film Works on Piano'' which features ...

to a libretto by Nicholas Wright *February 2023: '' The Birds (Die Vögel)'' by

Walter Braunfels Walter Braunfels (; 19 December 1882 – 19 March 1954) was a German composer, pianist, and music educator. Life Walter Braunfels was born in Frankfurt. His first music teacher was his mother, the great-niece of the composer Louis Spohr. He co ...

. *February 2020: ''

Flight Flight or flying is the motion (physics), motion of an Physical object, object through an atmosphere, or through the vacuum of Outer space, space, without contacting any planetary surface. This can be achieved by generating aerodynamic lift ass ...

'' by

Jonathan Dove Jonathan Dove (born 18 July 1959) is an English composer of opera, choral works, plays, films, and orchestral and chamber music. He has arranged a number of operas for English Touring Opera and the City of Birmingham Touring Opera (now Birm ...

and

April De Angelis April De Angelis is an acclaimed British playwright known for her powerful exploration of feminist themes and women's lives. Her work spans theatre, radio, and television, blending sharp wit with deep emotional insight. De Angelis began her car ...

. *November 2017: ''Rattenbury'' by Tobin Stokes. Staged première, in collaboration with The Other Guys Theatre Company. *February 2010: ''

Capriccio Capriccio may refer to: __NOTOC__ Music * Capriccio (music), a piece of music which is fairly free in form * Fantasia in C major (Haydn), "Capriccio", a 1789 piano composition by Joseph Haydn * Capriccio (Janáček), a chamber music composition by ...

'' by

Richard Strauss Richard Georg Strauss (; ; 11 June 1864 – 8 September 1949) was a German composer and conductor best known for his Tone poems (Strauss), tone poems and List of operas by Richard Strauss, operas. Considered a leading composer of the late Roman ...

. *April 2008: '' Regina'' by

Marc Blitzstein Marcus Samuel Blitzstein (March 2, 1905January 22, 1964), was an American composer, lyricist, and Libretto, librettist. He won national attention in 1937 when his pro-Trade union, union musical ''The Cradle Will Rock'', directed by Orson Welles, ...

. *February 2007: ''

Daphne Daphne (; ; , , ), a figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in which she appears, but t ...

'' by Richard Strauss. *February 2004: ''

The Tempest ''The Tempest'' is a Shakespeare's plays, play by William Shakespeare, probably written in 1610–1611, and thought to be one of the last plays that he wrote alone. After the first scene, which takes place on a ship at sea during a tempest, th ...

'' by

*February 2001: ''

The Taming of the Shrew ''The Taming of the Shrew'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1592. The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunke ...

'' by

Vittorio Giannini Vittorio Giannini (October 19, 1903 – November 28, 1966) was an American neoromanticism, neoromantic composer of operas, songs, symphonies, and band works, and member of the Giannini family. Life and work Giannini was born in Philadelphia on Oct ...

. *February 2000: ''Erewhon'' by

Louis Applebaum Louis Applebaum (April 3, 1918April 19, 2000) was a Canadian film score composer, administrator, and conductor. Early life He was born in Toronto, Ontario, and studied at the Toronto Conservatory of Music with Leo Smith and the University o ...

and

Mavor Moore James Mavor Moore (March 8, 1919 – December 18, 2006) was a Canadian writer, producer, actor, public servant, critic, and educator. He notably appeared as Nero Wolfe in the CBC radio production in 1982. Life and work Moore was born in Tor ...

. Canadian and world première. *February 1996: '' The Love of Three Kings'' by

Italo Montemezzi Italo Montemezzi (August 4, 1875 – May 15, 1952) was an Italian composer. He is best known for his opera '' L'amore dei tre re'' (''The Love of the Three Kings''), once part of the standard repertoire. It is now seldom performed. Biography ...

. *February 1994: ''

Der Freischütz ' (Friedrich Wilhelm Jähns, J. 277, Opus number, Op. 77 ''The Marksman'' or ''The Freeshooter'') is a German List of operas by Carl Maria von Weber, opera with spoken dialogue in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Johann Fried ...

'' by

Carl Maria von Weber Carl Maria Friedrich Ernst von Weber (5 June 1826) was a German composer, conductor, virtuoso pianist, guitarist, and Music criticism, critic in the early Romantic music, Romantic period. Best known for List of operas by Carl Maria von Weber, h ...

Reference section

External links

Pacific Opera Victoria's Website
* {{authority control Canadian opera companies Culture of Victoria, British Columbia Tourist attractions in Victoria, British Columbia Musical groups established in 1980