Edmonton Opera is a professional Canadian opera company in Edmonton, Alberta. In the past they regularly performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, but in recent years have been branching out and performing at a variety of stages throughout the city of Edmonton. The Edmonton Opera office is home to a box office, production space, and costume workshop, and is located at #102, 11442 1168 Street NW, Edmonton AB. Last year, in their 2023/24 season, they celebrated their 60th anniversary season.
Approximately six amateur opera companies pre-date the Edmonton Opera’s founding in 1963. After Mrs. J.B. Carmichael’s death in 1964, singers who had been involved with the Edmonton Operatic Society approached local pianist and voice teacher Jean Letourneau about working with them.[1] After a number of successful productions, the group changed its name to the Edmonton Professional Opera Association, with David Ker as the first president and Letourneau as the music director. "Professional" was dropped from the company’s name in August 1966, as the then-artistic director, Irving Guttman,[2] argued that it should be obvious to all if a company is professional.
The first season, 1963/64, featured two productions: Madama Butterfly in October 1963, and Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci in April 1964. In 1966, Letourneau convinced Guttman, then at the Vancouver Opera, to come to Edmonton. The artistic director from 1966 to 1998, Guttman would be a part of all four Western Canadian opera companies — Vancouver (founded 1958), Edmonton (founded 1963), Manitoba (founded 1969) and Calgary (founded 1972).
Until 2008, the opera guild was one of many forms of support for the opera. Founded by Thelma Gregg, the group held many successful fundraisers and ensured everyone backstage was well-fed.
The number of productions showed each year varies, ranging from two productions to as many as five operas. Although 5 operas have only been presented twice in the companies history in 1992/93 and 1993/94.
Repertoire includes the classic operatic works, as well as a handful of more contemporary pieces, especially in more recent years. The 2024/25 season offers 4 main shows and other satellite events and productions alongside their season. The main productions will be:
1. Die Fledermaus2. Bluebeard's Castle3. Aquarius: Songs of the Stars4. Die Walküre
This history may be incomplete, but is based on of a timetoast page hosted by the company here.
| Season | Production Name | Dates | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1963/64 | Madama Butterfly | Oct 1963 | ||
| Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci | Apr 1964 | |||
| 1964/65 | Rigoletto | Oct 1964 | ||
| Carmen | Apr 1965 | |||
| 1965/66 | La Traviata | Oct 965 | ||
| La Bohéme | May 1966 | |||
| 1966/67 | Tosca | Oct 1966 | ||
| Faust | Jan 1967 | |||
| 1967/68 | Barber of Seville | Nov 1967 | ||
| La Traviata | Apr 1968 | |||
| 1968/69 | Carmen | Oct 1968 | ||
| Lucia di Lammermoor | Jan 1969 | |||
| The Consul | Apr 1969 | |||
| 1970 | La Bohéme | Jan 1970 | ||
| Rigoletto | Apr 1970 | |||
| 1970/71 | Il Trovatore | Nov 1970 | ||
| Madama Butterfly | Feb 1971 | |||
| Les contes d'Hoffmann | Apr 1971 | |||
| 1971/72 | Un Ballo in Maschera | Oct 1971 | ||
| The Marriage of Figaro | Feb 1972 | |||
| Aida | Apr 1972 | |||
| 1972/73 | Lucrezia Borgia | Nov 1972 | ||
| Tosca | Feb 1973 | |||
| Montserrat Cabell in Concert | Mar 1973 | |||
| Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci | Apr 1973 | |||
| 1973/74 | Faust | Nov 1973 | ||
| La Traviata | Jan 1974 | |||
| Turandot | Mar 1974 | |||
| 1975/75 | Carmen | Oct 1974 | ||
| The Merry Widow | Jan 1975 | |||
| Manon Lescaut | Mar 1975 | |||
| 1975/76 | Die Fledermaus | Sep 1975 | ||
| Norma | Nov 1975 | |||
| Cosi fan tutte | Feb 1976 | |||
| La Bohéme | Apr 1976 | |||
| 1976/77 | Barber of Seville | Sep 1976 | ||
| Madama Butterfly | Dec 1976 | |||
| Salome | Feb 1977 | |||
| Daughter of the Regiment | May 1977 | |||
| 1977/78 | The Mikado | Sep 1977 | ||
| Leotyne Price in Recital | Nov 1977 | |||
| Don Giovanni | Dec 1977 | |||
| Il Trovatore | Feb 1978 | |||
| Atilla | Apr 1978 | |||
| 1978/79 | Tosca | Nov 1978 | ||
| Macbeth | Feb 1979 | |||
| Lucia di Lammermoor | Apr 1979 | |||
| 1979/80 | Rigoletto | Sep 1979 | ||
| Der Fliegende Hollander | Nov 1979 | |||
| The Most Happy Fella | Jan 1980 | |||
| Manon | Jan 1980 | |||
| Aida | May 1980 | |||
| 1980/1981 | South Pacific | Sep 1980 | ||
| Otello | Nov 1980 | |||
| Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci | Mar 1981 | |||
| Nabucco | May 1981 | |||
| 1981/82 | Turnadot | Oct 1981 | ||
| Carmen | Mar 1982 | |||
| The Masked Ball | May 1982 | |||
| 1982/83 | La Traviata | Nov 1982 | ||
| The Tales of Hoffmann | Feb 1983 | |||
| Il Puritani | Mar 1983 | |||
| 1983/84 | Lucia di Lammermoor | Oct 1983 | ||
| Lohengrin | Nov 1983 | |||
| The Gondoliers | Dec 1983 | |||
| Norma | Jan 1984 | |||
| La Bohéme | Mar 1984 | |||
| Faust | Mar 1984 | |||
| 1984/85 | Il Trovatore | Sep 1984 | ||
| The Marriage of Figaro | Nov 1984 | |||
| Die Fledermaus | Jan 1985 | |||
| 1985/86 | Madama Butterfly | Sep 1985 | ||
| The Barber of Seville | Nov 1985 | |||
| Christmas with the Edmonton Opera | Dec 1985 | |||
| Coward à la carte - New Years | Dec 1985 | |||
| The Magic Flute | Jan 1986 | |||
| The Merry Widow | Mar 1986 | |||
| 1986/87 | Gilbert & Sullivan Opera and Dance | Sep 1986 | ||
| Rigoletto | Oct 1986 | |||
| Cosi fan tutte | Nov 1986 | |||
| Salome | Jan 1987 | |||
| Tosca | May 1987 | |||
| 1987/88 | La Traviata | Sep 1987 | ||
| Don Giovanni | Nov 1987 | |||
| Pirates of Penzance | Jan 1988 | |||
| Manon Lescaut | Mar 1988 | |||
| 1988/89 | Romeo et Juliette | Nov 1988 | ||
| Carmen | Jan 1989 | |||
| L'elisir d'amore | Mar 1989 | |||
| Aida | May 1989 | |||
| 1989/90 | La Bohéme | Sep 1989 | ||
| The Dialogues of the | Nov 1989 | |||
| Die Fledermaus | Jan 1990 | |||
| The Flying Dutchman | Mar 1990 | |||
| 1990/91 | Madama Butterfly Benefit Fashion Show | Oct 1990 | ||
| A Masked Ball | Nov 1990 | |||
| Eugene Onegin | Jan 1991 | |||
| The Marriage of Figaro | Mar 1991 | |||
| Madama Butterfly | May 1991 | |||
| Irving Guttman Tribute | May 1991 | |||
| 1991/92 | The Mikado | Nov 1991 | ||
| The Barber of Seville | Jan 1992 | |||
| Adriadne auf Naxos | Mar 1992 | |||
| La Traviata | Apr 1992 | |||
| 1992/93 | Don Pasquale | Nov 1992 | ||
| The Magic Flute | Jan 1993 | |||
| Turn of the Screw | Mar 1993 | |||
| Porgy and Bess | Mar 1993 | |||
| Tosca | May 1993 | |||
| 1993/94 | The Pearl Fishers | Sep 1993 | ||
| La Bohéme | Nov 1993 | |||
| Jenufa | Jan 1994 | |||
| June Anderson Recital | Feb 1994 | |||
| Julius Caesar | Mar 1994 | |||
| Rigoletto | May 1994 | |||
| Kiri Te Kanawa in Recital | May 1994 | |||
| 1994/95 | Don Giovanni | Oct 1994 | ||
| The Rape of Lucrezia | Jan 1995 | |||
| La Cenerentola | Mar 1995 | |||
| Carmen | May 1995 | |||
| 1995/96 | Cecilia Bartoli in Recital | Sep 1995 | ||
| Turandot | Nov 1995 | |||
| Lucia di Lammermoor | Jan 1996 | |||
| Die Fledermaus | Mar 1996 | |||
| A Gala Tribute to Irving Guttman | May 1996 | |||
| 1996/97 | Nabucco | Nov 1996 | ||
| The Abduction from the Seraglio | Feb 1997 | |||
| Madama Butterfly | Mar 1997 | |||
| Daughter of the Regiment | Apr 1997 | |||
| 1997/98 | Romeo et Juliette | Nov 1997 | ||
| The Barber of Seville | Jan 1998 | |||
| H.M.S Pinafore | Mar 1998 | |||
| Il Trovatore | May 1998 | |||
| Denyce Graves in Recital | May 1998 | |||
| 1998/99 | The Marriage of Figaro | Nov 1998 | ||
| La Bohéme | Jan 1999 | |||
| The Elixir of Love | Mar 1999 | |||
| The Tales of Hoffmann | Apr 1999 | |||
| 1999/00 | Aida | Nov 1999 | ||
| The Pirates of Panzance | Jan 2000 | |||
| The Rake's Progress | Mar 2000 | |||
| Tosca | April 2000 | |||
| 2000/01 | Hansel and Gretel | Nov 2000 | ||
| Cosi fan tutte | Feb 2001 | |||
| Carmen | Mar 2001 | |||
| 2001/02 | Rigoletto | Oct 2001 | ||
| The Magic Flute | Nov 2001 | |||
| Of Mice and Men | Mar 2002 | |||
| The Merry Widow | Apr 2002 | |||
| 2002/03 | Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci | Oct 2002 | ||
| Don Pasquale | Nov 2002 | |||
| The Mikado | Feb 2003 | |||
| Some Enchanted Evening | Mar 2003 | |||
| 2003/04 | Turnadot | Nov 2003 | ||
| Madama Butterfly | Mar 2004 | |||
| South Pacific | Apr 2004 | |||
| 2004/05 | Lakme | Oct 2004 | ||
| The Emperor of Atlantis | Nov 2004 | |||
| Sallyy Dibblee in Recital | Mar 2005 | |||
| Porgy and Bess | May 2005 | |||
| 2005/06 | Launch of the Opera coat Project | Oct 2005 | ||
| Gala Bohéme | Nov 2005 | |||
| Filumena | Nov 2005 | |||
| Bluebeard's Castle & Erwartung | Feb 2006 | |||
| La Bohéme | Mar 2006 | |||
| 2006/07 | Don Giovanni | Nov 2006 | ||
| The Barber of Seville | Feb 2007 | |||
| Macbeth | Apr 2007 | |||
| 2007/08 | Carmen | Oct 2007 | ||
| H.M.S. Pinafore | Feb 2008 | |||
| Requiem | Apr 2008 | |||
| Falstaff | Apr 2008 | |||
| 2008/09 | The Flying Dutchman | Oct 2008 | ||
| Daughter of the Regiment | Feb 2009 | |||
| The Pearl Fishers | Mar 2009 | |||
| La Traviata | Apr 2009 | |||
| 2009/10 | Rigoletto | Oct 2009 | ||
| The Seven Deadly Sins and Songs of a Wayfarer | April 2010 | |||
| Otello | Apr 2010 | |||
| 2010/11 | La Bohéme | Oct 2010 | ||
| Valentine's Gala | Feb 2011 | |||
| The Abduction from the Seraglio | Feb 2011 | |||
| 2011/12 | Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci | Oct 2011 | ||
| The Mikado | Feb 2012 | |||
| Fidelio | April 2012 | |||
| 2012/13 | Aida | Oct 2012 | ||
| The Tales of Hoffmann | Feb 2013 | |||
| Eugene Onegin | Apr 2013 | |||
| 2013/14 | Salome | Oct 2013 | ||
| Die Fledermaus | Feb 2014 | |||
| Madama Butterfly | Apr 2014 | |||
| 2014/15 | The Barber of Seville | Oct 2014 | ||
| The Magic Flute | Jan 2015 | |||
| Lucia di Lammermoor | Apr 2015 | |||
| 2015/16 | The Merry Widow | Oct 2015 | ||
| Carmen | Jan 2016 | |||
| Mary Stuart | April 2016 | |||
| 2016/17 | Turandot | Oct 2016 | ||
| Cinderella | Feb 2017 | |||
| Elektra | Mar 2017 | |||
| 2017/18 | Lilies (Les Feluettes) | Oct 2017 | ||
| 2018/19 | ||||
| 2019/20 | ||||
| 2020/21 | ||||
| 2021/22 | ||||
| 2022/23 | Tosca | Oct 2022 | ||
| Orphée+ | Jan 2023 | |||
| Stabat Mater | Mar 2023 | |||
| 2023/24 | Carmen | Oct 2023 | ||
| Don Giovanni | Feb 2024 | |||
| Ayre | Apr 2024 | |||
| Das Rheingold | May 2024 |
With the aid of technology, the company is able to share operatic resources across northern Alberta, including educational guides, programs and other resources. Field trips for students in Edmonton are arranged for the second dress rehearsal, when they can visit the Northern Alberta Jubilee, watch the performance, and often, chorus and cast members come out to the lobby to chat during intermissions.
Between 1973 and 1984, Edmonton Opera on Tour brought opera to children in schools across Alberta, from bigger centres such as Grande Prairie to smaller communities such as Holden. Through this program, there were approximately 200 performances per year.
The Edmonton Opera has partnered with many other arts organizations in Edmonton, including the Alberta Craft Council and the Shumka Ukrainian Dancers. The Edmonton Opera is also the largest employer of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.