Bluebeard's Castle & Erwartung

Prepare for an evening of searing psychological intensity as the Canadian Opera Company presents a double bill of two of the 20th century's most harrowing operatic masterpieces. Béla Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle and Arnold Schoenberg's Erwartung share the stage in a pairing that plunges deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche — exploring obsession, dread, and the unknowable mysteries that exist between two people. Together, these works create a single, immersive theatrical experience unlike anything else in the operatic repertoire. Performed at the breathtaking Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in the heart of Toronto, this production benefits from one of North America's finest purpose-built opera houses. With its soaring glass facade, world-class acoustics, and intimate sightlines, the venue transforms every note into something visceral and unforgettable. The Canadian Opera Company — celebrated internationally for bold, artistically fearless programming — brings its full creative power to bear across five performances running from May 8 through May 16, 2026. Whether you are a seasoned opera devotee or a curious first-timer drawn by the promise of something extraordinary, this double bill rewards on every level. Erwartung's lone soprano navigates a fever-dream monodrama through a moonlit forest, while Bluebeard's Castle unravels its gothic secrets door by door in devastating fashion. Together, they offer two hours of music theatre that will linger in your imagination long after the final curtain falls.