Vancouver Opera

Record-breaking 2023-2024 season

Vancouver Opera just closed a record-breaking 2023-2024 season, and we’re incredibly proud of the mainstage performances, community outreach initiatives, and extraordinary shared experiences that helped make it memorable. Some highlights spring to mind: - Carmen was the highest grossing production in our 64-year history. - 30,000 patrons attended in-person performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre – the highest ticketed attendance number in 8years, and a 33% increase over the 2022-2023 season. - Another 33,000 people (mostly children) joined us for free musical events, including our Vancouver Opera in Schools production of Flight of the Hummingbird. Based on an indigenous parable, the production toured throughout BC, reaching young minds and ears in major centres and underserved communities alike. We also partnered with the City of Burnaby to present Opera in the Park, which drew more than 10,000 people to Deer Lake Park for a free event full of opera grandeur and family fun. - 23,000 students attended our Education & Outreach performances. - 25% of our performances at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre completely sold out. - 1000 young patrons attended a performance for just $19 a ticket. - Overall, our subscriber base has almost tripled in the past two seasons. 2023-2024 also marked the beginning of a new era of artistic leadership, as the internationally renowned Maestro Jacques Lacombe was introduced as Vancouver Opera Music Director. His association with VO spans two decades as a visiting conductor, and now he’ll help set the tone for great productions for years to come. The season was also a critical success in traditional and new media, and we saw enthusiastic engagement on our social media channels. But - like all opera and arts organizations - rising expenses have put new pressures on our operations. While revenues have climbed, production costs have skyrocketed. Donor support will be essential for the continued resilience of our company, and for maintaining the exceptional quality of our productions. As we get set for a celebratory 65th anniversary season, we’ll continue to advocate for the role that opera plays in shaping the character and driving the heartbeat of our diverse city. The success of the 2023-2024 season has us feeling very optimistic that ticket buyers and donors will continue to show their support for our larger-than-life productions and grassroots initiatives, and join us in raising a glass to the promising future of opera in Vancouver, built on 65 years of visionaries, virtuosos, and vibrant community. Your donation before June 30 will help make the coming season a celebratory success. Donate Now