The Canadian Opera Company’s 2025/2026 season closes with Massenet’s Werther, the company’s first staging of the opera in an all-new co-production with Opéra de Montréal and Vancouver Opera. Based on Goethe’s classic tragedy, this rare operatic gem tells the story of a young man’s romantic infatuation and the spiral of despair that consumes him when his love goes unrequited. Renowned tenor Russell Thomas returns as the title character with Victoria Karkacheva making her COC debut as his love interest Charlotte. COC Music Director Johannes Debus leads the cast and COC Orchestra through Massenet’s sumptuous score, which includes the famous stirring tenor aria “Pourquoi me réveiller.”
