In this special episode, Jane Potter brings Verdi’s world to life through the story of Rigoletto, a work born out of controversy, courage, and the fight for artistic freedom.
Episode Credits:
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
Lyndon Ladeur - Voice of Giachino Rossini
Mihnea Nitu - Voice of Guiseppe Verdi
Richard Wolfe - Voice of Victor Hugo
Few artists have shaped Canadian theatre and opera as profoundly as Glynis Leyshon, who now brings her formidable imagination to Vancouver Opera’s new production of Rigoletto, re-set in Victorian London, a place where masks, privilege, and secrecy hold sway.
Episode Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
He's one of the city's greatest voices on stage, on air, and lately at City Hall. Today we're joined by Christopher Gaze, actor, advocate, and the visionary force behind Bard on the Beach.
Episode Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
Composer, producer, and traditional singer from the Lil’wat Nation, Russell Wallace speaks about the influence of his mother, the language inside his music, and why singing together gives him hope.
Episode Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Tim Matheson - Cover Photo
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
For nearly two decades, Doug Tuck was the voice of Vancouver Opera. Not just as Director of Marketing, but as the friendly presence who greeted audiences in the lobby and guided them through curtain speeches and pre-show chats. In this episode, Doug shares stories from La Bohème to Stickboy—and why he still believes in the art form’s power.
Episode Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
Canadian soprano Sarah Dufresne joins host Ashley Daniel Foot to talk about her journey from Niagara Falls to the world’s great stages — and her debut as Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto at Vancouver Opera.
From childhood competitions where she sometimes sang “against herself,” to major roles at the Royal Opera House and Pacific Opera Victoria, Sarah reflects on the moments that shaped her artistry. She shares what she’s learned about trusting her voice, why Gilda resonates with her as both innocent and courageous, and how singing can feel effortless when everything aligns.
✨ A conversation about growth, resilience, and the emotional power of opera — with one of Canada’s most exciting rising voices.
Our conversation today is with Madeleine Thien, Giller Prize-winning author of the novel Do Not Say We Have Nothing, as well as librettist of the opera Chinatown. Madeleine's newest novel, The Book of Records, is a sweeping and time-bending, deeply humane work that weaves together lives across centuries.
Episode Credits:
Madeleine Thien - Author, The Book of Records
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Editor
Blending Tagalog and English, film and song, Liham gives voice to the Filipino-Canadian experience. Today we are joined by two members of the team behind Liham, producer and mezzo-soprano Renee Fajardo, and baritone Danlie Rae Acebuque.
Liham is a digital art song cycle that explores Filipino-Canadian identity through contemporary classical music, poetry, and film. Created by and for the Filipino community, it uplifts personal stories that challenge stereotypes and celebrate cultural continuity across oceans. The project launches on June 12 at lihamproject.com as part of Philippine Heritage Month celebrations.
Episode Credits:
Renee Fajardo - Mezzo-Soprano and Producer, Liham
Danlie Rae Acebuque - Baritone, Liham
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host, Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer, Inside Vancouver Opera
Today we're joined by two extraordinary sopranos, Karen Chia-ling Ho. and Yasko Sato. Karen and Yasko are double cast in the role of Cio-Cio San in our upcoming production of Madama Butterfly, running April 26th to May 4th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Credits:
Karen Chia-ling Ho - Cio-Cio San April 27 & May 4
Yasko Sato - Cio-Cio San - Cio-Cio San April 26, May 1 & 3
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Today we’re stepping into the world of one of opera’s most passionate, enduring, and beloved composers.
His name is synonymous with soaring arias, impossible love stories, and music that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. This is the story of Giacomo Puccini.
Inside Vancouver Opera presents: Un bel dì, A Life Begins: The World of Puccini written and performed by Jane Potter.
So settle in, whether you're a seasoned opera lover or just Puccini-curious. This is a story of artistic fire, of human drama—and of one man’s quest to give voice to the most fragile and fierce parts of the human soul.
Credits:
Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Richard Wolfe - Voice of George Bernard Shaw
In this conversation, we explore how director Mo Zhou has re-imagined Madama Butterfly for today. In her Canadian directorial debut, Mo Zhou brings this fresh vision to Vancouver Opera from April 26 to May 4, a production that honours Puccini’s masterwork while offering audiences a chance to see Madama Butterfly in a new light.
Credits:
Mo Zhou - Director of Madama Butterfly
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Together with Amica Senior Lifestyles, Vancouver Opera shares the power of live music to inspire connection, joy, and reflection in senior living. Amica Senior Lifestyles is one of Vancouver Opera's wonderful sponsors, and today Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by Ashley Sumler, the Director of Quality of Life at Amica Senior Lifestyles.
CREDITS:
Ashley Sumler - Director of Quality of Life at Amica Senior Lifestyles
Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Host, Engagement Strategist at Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Producer
In this special International Women's Day episode, host Tabitha Brasso-Ernst is joined by two powerhouses in classical music – pianist Perri Lo, and mezzo-soprano Emma Parkinson.
Credits:
Perri Lo - Pianist
Emma Parkinson - Mezzo-Soprano
Tabitha Brasso-Ernst - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer
Cover Illustration by @barryekko
Music Credits:
A Certain Peace from Tobin Stokes' Rattenbury, performed by Emma Parkinson and Perri Lo
Quintet from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, performed by OperaBox Company with:
- Perri Lo, Pianist
- Luka Kawabata, Baritone – Dancairo
- Katie McCullough, Soprano – Frasquita
- Katie Miller, Mezzo-Soprano – Mercedes
- Nolan Kehler, Tenor – Remendado
- Emma Parkinson, Mezzo-Soprano – Carmen
Entr'acte II from Georges Bizet's Carmen, performed by Perri Lo
Today we’re thrilled to spotlight Flight, once again, Jonathan Dove’s groundbreaking opera. Leading today’s conversation is Flight’s conductor, and Vancouver Opera’s Head of Music/Associate Conductor, Les Dala. Joining him is Flight’s acclaimed Director, Morris Panych, whose vision is bringing this unique production to life. Together they dive into the themes, artistry, and creative process behind this stunning work.
Credits
Morris Panych - Director of Flight
Leslie Dala - Guest Host and Conductor of Flight
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
Illustration by @barryekko
Today’s special video-edition of Inside Vancouver Opera features two of Canada's most celebrated creative minds, Director Morris Panych and Set Designer Ken MacDonald. Partners in both life and art, their extraordinary collaboration has shaped some of the most memorable moments in Canadian theatre and opera. Leading today's conversation is Vancouver Opera's own General Director Tom Wright.
Credits:
Ken MacDonald - Set Designer, Flight
Morris Panych - Director, Flight
Tom Wright - Guest Host and General Director of Vancouver Opera
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Editor
Today we'll explore how composer Jonathan Dove turned an airport terminal into a mythic space of drama, humor, and humanity - transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. As Vancouver Opera prepares to take Flight from February 8th to 16th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, today we're thrilled to talk with the composer himself.
Credits:
Jonathan Dove - Composer of Flight
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
Jonathan Dove Illustration by @barryekko
Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) on discovering his parent's untold pain and the legacy of resilience it left behind.
Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams) is a Vancouver Opera board member, elected Councillor and spokesperson for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (the Squamish Nation). Today we explore Wilson's journey, from his childhood influences and the legacy of his family, to his reflections on truth, reconciliation, and cultural healing in today's world.
Credits:
Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams - Spokesperson & General Councillor for Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Member of Vancouver Opera’s Board of Directors
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host of Inside Vancouver Opera
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer and Editor
On today's episode, we're proud to welcome the Canadian mezzo-soprano, Mireille Lebel, who's known for her captivating performances across the globe in operas such as Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Barber of Seville. And currently, she's starring as Count Orlofsky in our production of Die Fledermaus on stage October 26 to November 3rd. I hope you enjoy the conversation.
Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mireille Lebel - Guest
Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer
We are celebrating Vancouver Opera’s 65th anniversary with a truly fabulous season. The season opens with Johann Strauss II’s beloved operetta Die Fledermaus. This charming comedy relies almost entirely on a series of pranks, trickery and disguise as plot devices to illuminate the themes of revenge, love, friendship, and forgiveness and reconciliation. Die Fledermaus runs from October 26th to November 3rd, with a masquerade party performance on Halloween.
Credits:
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host Mack McGillivray - Audio Producer Jane Potter - Writer and Narrator Bryan Tran - Miscellaneous Voices
A candid conversation about identity, queerness, and joy with UBC voice professor and baritone J. Patrick Raftery and his former student and tenor Spencer Britten. Patrick is about to launch his all-queer reimagining of Maurice Ravel's L'heure espagnole as A Spanish Hour? with two performances on July 27th in the Telus Theatre at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. Tickets will be available soon.
Credits:
J. Patrick Raftery - Guest
Spencer Britten - Guest
Ashley Daniel Foot - Host
Mack McGillivray - Producer