2026-2027 Season Brochure

WELCOME TO THE 2026–2027 SEASON

Discover something new.

With a lineup of works never before seen on the Ordway stage, Minnesota Opera’s 2026-2027 season invites audiences to share in moments of revelation, desire, and transformation. Immersive drama, quiet introspection, and sparkling comedy— drawn from three centuries of music and storytelling—coalesce in a testament to this art form’s power to illuminate what it means to be human. Join us and experience opera as it was meant to be—felt deeply, and together.

SUBSCRIBERS

Being a Minnesota Opera subscriber means that you have access to the biggest savings on the best seats, unmatched flexibility, and exclusive benefits.

GUARANTEED BEST SEATS

We’ll save your seats! By subscribing, you’ll get the same great Ordway seats each year and receive priority if you wish to upgrade your location.

BIG SAVINGS OVER INDIVIDUAL TICKETS

Subscribers save 20% or more on individual tickets. Are you 21-45? Save even more with a Tempo package! Learn more at mnopera.org/tempo

UNLIMITED FLEXIBILITY

Plans change—subscribers may exchange tickets for a different performance date or for a different opera in the same season, with no additional fees.

DISCOUNT FOR FRIENDS

Subscribers can invite friends and family to select performances at 20% off the single ticket price.

OPERA PASSPORT

Whenever you travel in the U.S. or Canada, take advantage of ticket discounts of at least 10% off at participating opera companies. operaamerica.org/operapassport

RECEIVE PRIORITY ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL EVENTS

and so much more! mnopera.org/benefits

THE MANY DEATHS OF LAILA STARR

A Minnesota Opera New Works Initiative Production

Music by Kamala Sankaram

Libretto by Minita Gandhi

Based upon the BOOM! Studios graphic novel

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. and Filipe Andrade.

Reincarnated. Resolute. Revolutionary. When the avatar of Death is cast down to Earth to live as a mortal named Laila Starr, the boundaries between the divine and the human begin to blur in this vivid, transporting world premiere from Kamala Sankaram and Minita Gandhi. The Many Deaths of Laila Starr was commissioned and developed through the New Works Initiative, adapted from the acclaimed graphic novel by Ram V and Filipe Andrade. Infused with elements of Konnakol, Raga, and EDM, this fantasy on purpose and impermanence unfolds with both kinetic energy and striking clarity, as a god made mortal begins to see the world—and life itself—through fresh eyes.

Sung in English with English captions projected above the stage.

Principal Conductor: Christopher Franklin

Saturday, October 31, 7:30pm | Gala Performance Thursday, November 5, 7:30pm Saturday, November 7, 7:30pm Sunday, November 8, 2pm at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul

● MN Opera Resident Artist

For more cast and creative team information, visit mnopera.org/laila-starr

March 13–March 21, 2027

ARIODANTE

Music by George Frideric Handel

Libretto by Antonio Salvi after Ludovico Ariosto

Jealousy. Treachery. True love put to the test. Prince Ariodante is set to marry his beloved Ginevra until scheming rivals threaten their joy. Deceptions abound and honor is called into question—will betrayal and shame consume the happy couple, or will truth and love prevail? From aching, heartrending laments to dazzling displays of vocal virtuosity, Handel’s score traces a journey from devotion to heartbreak and back again.

Sung in Italian with English captions projected above the stage.

Conductor: Joseph Li

Saturday, March 13, 7:30pm

Thursday, March 18, 7:30pm

Saturday, March 20, 7:30pm

Sunday, March 21, 2pm at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul

For more cast and creative team information, visit mnopera.org/ariodante

Artwork by Bailey Meadow

May 8–16, 2027

FALSTAFF

Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Arrigo Boito

Everything in the world is a jest. Enter Sir John Falstaff, whose predilections toward excess lead him into the delusional pursuit of not one, but two married women. Thus ensues a tangled web of plots and counterplots, full of hilarious misunderstandings, as more and more parties are swept into the pandemonium. A cinematic score from an operatic master imbues this feel-good comedy with warmth and buoyancy.

Sung in Italian with English captions projected above the stage.

Principal Conductor: Christopher Franklin

Saturday, May 8, 7:30pm Sunday, May 9, 2pm

Thursday, May 13, 7:30pm Saturday, May 15, 7:30pm Sunday, May 16, 2pm at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul

● MN Opera Resident Artist ✚   MN Opera Artist in Residence

For more cast and creative team information, visit mnopera.org/falstaff

NEW WORKS INITIATIVE

The 2026–2027 season will open with The Many Deaths of Laila Starr , the 52nd world premiere in Minnesota Opera history and the third new work to grace the stage in 2026 alone.

Launched in 2008, the New Works Initiative (NWI) is a commissioning and development program designed to invigorate the operatic art form with an infusion of new works in accordance with the company’s vision to sing every story. The current creative cohort of three composers and three librettists were announced in 2022 and are working together in various pairings to collectively create nine new pieces: three large-scale operas, three chamber operas, and three song cycles.

Over the past several years, the projects have evolved through libretto readings, piano and orchestral workshops, and multiple rounds of rigorous artistic refine -

ment. This process—rarely visible to the public—reflects the deep collaboration, experimentation, and craft required to expand the American operatic canon. However, 2026 is a landmark year for the Initiative with the first several projects receiving public premieres—in January, B.E. Boykin and Harrison David Rivers’ chamber opera My Name is Florence moved critics and audiences alike as it illuminated and celebrated the life and legacy of American composer Florence Price. In February, David Hanlon and John de los Santos’ witty, inventive song cycle Liebestorte culminated in a literal pie-to-the-face moment at the Luminary Arts Center.

Supporting the creation of new opera has been central to MN Opera since its founding more than six decades ago, and the New Works Initiative proudly carries that commitment into the future.

Recent and Current Projects

My Name is Florence | Premiered January 31, 2026

B.E. Boykin, composer

Harrison David Rivers, librettist

Liebestorte | Premiered February 28, 2026

David Hanlon, composer

John de los Santos, librettist

★ The Many Deaths of Laila Starr | Premiering October 31, 2026

Kamala Sankaram, composer

Minita Gandhi, librettist

Misery | Premiering in 2028

Kamala Sankaram, composer

John de los Santos, librettist

Based on the novel by Stephen King

THIS PROGRAM AFFORDS A FREEDOM AS AN ARTIST—ONE THAT WE NEED IN ORDER TO CREATE. IT ALLOWS FOR THE TRUEST FORM OF ART TO COME OUT.”

—Minita Gandhi

ENHANCE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Opera is meant to be experienced together—live, unamplified, and in community. An exceptional orchestra, extraordinary voices, and striking visual design combine to create performances that resonate far beyond the final curtain. When you subscribe to Minnesota Opera’s 2026–2027 season, you join a vibrant community of audience members who value these shared moments— and enjoy insider benefits that enhance every visit to the Ordway.

PREPAID PARKING

Exclusive to subscribers, prepaid parking at the Lawson Commons Ramp takes the guesswork out of arrival. Plus, pre-performance emails from Minnesota Opera will keep you informed of any known traffic impacts, so you can plan with confidence.

CONCESSIONS

Enjoy a variety of beverages and snacks at the Ordway—your first round is on us if you subscribe by the early bird deadline. Insider tip: place your order as soon as you arrive to ensure a relaxed, unhurried intermission.

OPERA INSIGHTS

One hour before each performance, join a member of the Minnesota Opera Artistic team for a free, engaging 30-minute talk. These lively sessions offer insight into the story, music, and cultural context of the opera, along with moments to listen for and savor during the performance.

OFFSTAGE EVENTS

Go deeper with specially curated Offstage Events hosted by

Minnesota Opera’s Impact Department. Each gathering explores themes connected to the upcoming opera and features special guests, conversations, and musical offerings that enrich your experience beyond the stage.

ACCESSIBILITY

A wide range of accessibility services are available at every performance. Visit mnopera.org/access to learn more and plan a visit that works best for you and your guests.

A WELCOMING SPACE

Minnesota Opera is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all. Learn how we can collectively support a respectful opera community at mnopera.org/shared-values.

PERFORMANCE DATES

The

Many

Deaths

of Laila Starr Ariodante Falstaff

Opening Saturdays

Thursdays

2nd Saturdays

Sunday Matinees

OCT 31, 7:30pm MAR 13, 7:30pm MAY 8, 7:30pm

NOV 5, 7:30pm MAR 18, 7:30pm MAY 13, 7:30pm NOV 7, 7:30pm MAR 20, 7:30pm MAR 21, 2pm MAY 15, 7:30pm NOV 8, 2pm MAY 9, 2pm

Programs and schedules are subject to change.

UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD

English captions are projected above the stage for every performance.

PRICE CHART AND SEATING MAP

1 Tempo packages are for opera goers ages 21–45 and are available in seating sections B–E. * Seating section F is partial view. Stage and/or English translations may not be fully visible from seats in this section.

MISSION

Minnesota Opera connects people in the pursuit of an empathetic, equitable, and joyful life, advancing the art and experience of opera.

VISION

Minnesota Opera will sing every story.

VALUES

Curiosity, Equity, Collaboration, Integrity

“THE

WHOLE EVENING WAS MAGICAL ”

—Keith Russell, Life in Revue