There is opera for everyone!

Verdi's AIDA will be an intimate and breathtaking masterpiece featuring incredible dance from the Richmond Ballet. The opera, rich with voice, drama and dance, will begin with a bitter love triangle set in ancient Egypt where cultural oppression, war, and passion cannot all claim victory. Virginia Opera will partner with the renowned Richmond Ballet for AIDA. “We are so excited about this opportunity to once again partner with Virginia Opera. During our previous experiences together, we were inspired by the combination of truly fine singers, dancers, and orchestra members. The AIDA project will raise our collaboration to a whole new level. As The State Ballet of Virginia, Richmond Ballet is especially glad to join forces with Virginia Opera, another statewide organization, to produce this magnificent production of AIDA for the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.” said Stoner Winslett, Artistic Director, for Richmond Ballet.

Humperdinck's HANSEL AND GRETEL, in English, will feature the childhood journey of Hansel and Gretel into the woods. Just in time for the holiday season, Virginia Opera will produce this interesting and explorative opera by nineteenth-century composer Engelbert Humperdinck. Often described as the fairy tale opera of German origin, Humperdinck composed HANSEL AND GRETEL on the urging of his sister. The opera is complete with gloomy mountain woods and good lessons for Hansel and Gretel's life-changing journey. Virginia Opera last produced HANSEL AND GRETEL in 1980.

Philip Glass' ORPHÉE is not only an opera the world is buzzing about, it is an opera everyone wants to see live in person. Set in Paris, the opera will be in French with English supertitles and will offer audiences uplifting Jazz inspired musical orchestration, and dramatic themes of neglected love, inspired passion and fevered obsession. The opera artfully follows the script of Jean Cocteau’s 1949 film Orphée. Philip Glass, born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1937, is the most renowned and often produced opera composer of our time. Ring in the New Year late January 2012 with Virginia Opera's ORPHÉE.

The season finale will be the hysterically clever Gilbert and Sullivan's THE MIKADO, in English. The small print for this opera should read, "Guaranteed to laugh out loud!" Virginia Opera will end the season on a "cheeky" note! This classic will brighten the spirit and bring a much needed gift of laughter to audiences of all ages. Virginia Opera last produced THE MIKADO in 2001.

Each Virginia Opera performance will feature a free pre-opera discussion 45 minutes before curtain by Virginia Opera’s Dr. Glenn Winters.