Some legacies are passed down, and others must be claimed.
In the 2025/26 season, Edmonton Opera explores what it means to inherit, build, and redefine a legacy through a bold lineup of performances and special events. This season celebrates the voices that shaped the art form, the artists carrying it forward, and the ongoing evolution of opera as the living art form that continues to inspire new generations.
The Edmonton Opera has announced its 2025-26 Season.
In a statement, Edmonton Opera’s Artistic Director, Joel Ivany said, “Our 2026/26 season is really about what we inherit, what we keep, and what we redefine. From celebrating opera’s greatest moments to championing new voices and groundbreaking works, we invite
audiences to be part of this living legacy that is Edmonton Opera, 62 years in the community.”
Photo by Janice Saxon
“We wanted to think about how that story would work in a more modern setting, and we came up with the idea of: Rather than an old man and a young girl, it’s an old man and an old woman who have been married for 40 years, and behind each door is a memory of that life together. But she’s actually living with dementia, so she’s no longer able to access these memories. Bluebeard has become her carer, and he’s living with the emotion and loneliness of caring for somebody living with dementia, so it immediately becomes a much more accessible and relatable story, because it’s kind of a reflection of society as it continues to stand with an aging population and overly strained health services.”
- Daisy Evans, Stage Director & Co-Creator of Bluebeard’s Castle
Joel Ivany, the artistic director for the Edmonton Opera, says that when he first moved to this city to take the reins of that artistic organization, he looked immediately at the old RAM site and thought it was an ideal spot.
“Edmonton Opera, an arts institution in the City of Edmonton for over 60 years, has been looking for a space to innovate, welcome patrons and honour the deep legacy of community arts within the city,” Ivany says.
It’s a way to celebrate the holidays with a magical night of music and community. Mandy Maher (Edmonton Opera Chorus) and Luke Butterworth (EPIC Market) joined Global News Morning to talk about the Edmonton Opera at EPIC Market.
“The members of the cast are only in their roles when the director, Peter Monaghan (Henry/Falke) calls them up to stand and deliver one of their musical numbers. Otherwise, they are arts workers dressed in their street clothes, expressing themselves as rehearsing performers, not as the characters they will eventually play in the second act. Connor Hoppenbrouwers (Frank) wore an Oilers jersey to add some local colour to the proceedings.”
Don’t get me wrong — opera singers are basically people with a secret singing superpower walking among us, and these are some of the best in the country — it was just a delightful surprise to hear it from people doing that dance with the crooked elbows and little kicks (the Happy Prospector, maybe? I don’t know dance, either).
The show, which was written by Johan Strauss II and premiered in 1874, is an all-time classic, and its accessible frivolity is part of why director Joel Ivany wanted to stage it here.
“We thought we would get something that has wonderful melodies, great tunes, and a bit of comedy and joy,” says Joel Ivany, the artistic director of Edmonton Opera who is also taking over as the stage director for Die Fledermaus.
Ivany has taken the show in a more modern direction, setting the operetta as a play within a play and giving some of the scenes a new spin. In this new rendition, a local theatre company is putting together a production of Die Fledermaus with no money and no time, and actors who may not have the best chemistry.
In November, the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Edmonton Opera are teaming up to bring a modern flair to audiences with a new production of Die Fledermaus. Joel Ivany from the Edmonton Opera and Keith Hamm from the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra joined Global News with the details.
Emerging artists Spencer Kryzanowski, Connor Hoppenbrouwers and Rachael McAuley from the Alberta-based opera company travelled to Carmacks, Carcross, Whitehorse, and Haines Junction to lead arts-based educational programs.
First Nations and Non-First-Nations school pupils participated in classes on the intricacies of vocal production and storytelling through opera.
Our newly appointed Executive Director, Robin Whiffen, recently joined Jessica Ng on Radio Active to talk about her new position and her vision for the future of opera in Edmonton. Click the button below to listen to their conversation.
Edmonton, AB – Monday, September 9th, 2024 – Edmonton Opera is excited to announce the appointment of Robin Whiffen as its new Executive Director.
A dynamic leader with a proven track record in arts administration, Robin brings over eight years of experience in the opera sector, a passion for community engagement, and a deep commitment to creating greater representation and sustainability in opera.
Originally from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Robin most recently served as the General Director of Against the Grain Theatre (AtG) in Toronto, where she led significant growth and innovative projects. Under her leadership, AtG's JUNO-nominated Messiah/Complex garnered international acclaim and won the inaugural OPERA America Digital Excellence Award. Robin’s focus on accessibility and diversity in opera has been central to her work, including producing films such as Sāvitri, BOUND, and Identity: A Song Cycle.
"We are thrilled to welcome Robin to the Edmonton Opera family," said Joel Ivany, Artistic Director of Edmonton Opera. "Her visionary leadership and deep commitment to both artists and audiences align perfectly with our goals of making opera more accessible and relevant in today's world."
Robin also served as General Manager of Opera on the Avalon, where she played a pivotal role in expanding opera’s reach by fostering innovative collaborations that engaged new and diverse audiences in Newfoundland and Labrador.
As a strategic leader, she is recognized for her values-driven approach, fostering collaboration, belonging, and accessibility.
In addition to her artistic and managerial experience, Robin is an advocate for women in the opera sector and emerging artists. She co-chairs both the Association for Opera in Canada’s Board of Directors and the OPERA America Women’s Opera Network Steering Committee. She is also a candidate for a Master of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland, complementing her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto.
“I am honored to join Edmonton Opera and work alongside such talented and passionate individuals,” said Robin. “Together, I am confident we can continue to build on the company's rich legacy and amplify opera’s role in shaping Edmonton’s cultural landscape.”
Robin’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Edmonton Opera, as the company looks ahead to its upcoming season and beyond. Her leadership is poised to enhance the organization’s mission to create transformative opera experiences for diverse audiences across the region.
“I believe that a vibrant cultural scene is essential to the vitality of any city, and opera has a unique role to play in that,” Robin added. “Through my work at Edmonton Opera, I’m excited to contribute to fostering an inclusive and dynamic arts community that reflects and enriches the lives of its people.”
For media inquiries, please contact:
Jelena Bojic, Marketing Consultant
Edmonton Opera
Phone: 780.716.4502
Email: Jelena.bojic@edmontonopera.com
In the past, the opera has invited young people to dress rehearsals, but with the new program, youth can now attend a show at no cost unless it is completely sold out.
Ivany said the program opens the opera to people who would otherwise not experience it and could convince them to return.
