Virginia Opera proudly announces its 2026-2027 Season, the company’s 52nd season, featuring three powerful and visually striking productions that span romance, fairy-tale adventure, and high-stakes drama. Audiences across Virginia can experience Ruggero Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot in a season that highlights the emotional intensity and theatrical spectacle of opera.
The season opens in November with Pagliacci, Leoncavallo’s gripping tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal, performed in Norfolk, Richmond, and Fairfax. This iconic opera blurs the line between performance and reality, building to one of the most famous finales in the repertory.
In early 2027, Virginia Opera presents Hansel and Gretel, Humperdinck’s enchanting fairy-tale opera, performed in Norfolk and Richmond. Sung in English, this production brings a fresh and accessible take to the beloved story, making it an ideal introduction to opera for audiences of all ages.
The season concludes with Turandot, Puccini’s grand and powerful masterpiece, performed in Norfolk, Richmond, and Fairfax. Featuring sweeping music and a story of love, courage, and redemption, Turandot delivers a thrilling finale to the season.
“We’re excited to bring together three operas that each offer something completely different for our audiences,” said Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Adam Turner. “From the raw intensity of Pagliacci, to the magic and adventure of Hansel and Gretel, to the epic scale of Turandot, this season showcases the range of all that opera can be. Whether you’re a longtime fan or experiencing opera for the first time, there’s something here that will move you to the core.”
Full season subscription packages in Norfolk and Richmond are available now and offer the best value, priority seating, and start at just $78. Packages in Fairfax will go on sale May 20, 2026. Single tickets will go on sale August 1, 2026. Casting and production details will be announced later this summer.
For more information and to purchase subscriptions, visit vaopera.org.
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About Virginia Opera
Virginia Opera, the official opera company of the Commonwealth of Virginia, is one of the finest regional opera companies in the nation and is the only company to perform regularly in three separate main stage venues: the Harrison Opera House in Norfolk, the Carpenter Theatre at the Dominion Energy Center in Richmond, and Center for the Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax. Organized in 1974, Virginia Opera is respected nationwide for the identification and presentation of the finest young artists, for the musical and dramatic integrity of its productions, and for the ingenuity and variety of its education and outreach programs.
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