Opera Duo puts two beloved classics in your calendar

A message from Edmonton Opera:

If you've been thinking about getting into opera — or if you already love it and just want more — Edmonton Opera has a package that makes it easy to experience both productions next season.

The Opera Duo bundles tickets to both mainstage productions in the 2026-27 season: Rossini's The Barber of Seville offers comedy, chaos, and romance in November, and Mozart's The Magic Flute brings a spectacular fantasy full of wonder and adventure to the stage in February.

The Barber of Seville premiered in 1816, and The Magic Flute in 1791. And yet, centuries later, they remain extraordinary pieces of music and storytelling that artistic director Joel Ivany is excited to bring back to Edmonton.

Getting your tickets now not only gives you 20% off the single ticket price, but it also means you'll have two delightful evenings to look forward to.

"It can be a wonderful kind of date night, where perhaps you have dinner before, you have a drink afterwards, and you talk about what you saw," Ivany said. "It's a great chance to hit that cultural moment that perhaps you've missed for a while, or you're interested in experiencing."

Both operas will be performed at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium, a venue well-suited to big shows like this.

"I've sat in rehearsals at the front row, and then I've gone to the very back, just to say, 'What is that user experience like?' And there are no bad seats," Ivany said. "I've heard this from singers as well. It's a great hall to sing in."

While Edmonton is known as a bit of a last-minute town, subscribing now shows support not only for Edmonton Opera but also for the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, which accompanies the singers. And with two of opera's most enduring classics on the schedule, there's plenty to look forward to.

"It's going to be a really exciting year of opera in the city," Ivany said.