Giuseppe Pietraroia, conductor

Canadian conductor Giuseppe Pietraroia has earned a national reputation for his versatility, musicality, and leadership across both orchestral and operatic stages. Based in British Columbia, he is the Principal Conductor of Pacific Opera Victoria, where he has held leadership roles since 2003. He previously served as Associate Conductor with both Pacific Opera and the Victoria Symphony, and was Music Director of the Victoria Choral Society from 2005 to 2012.

With a career spanning over two decades, Pietraroia has conducted a wide range of repertoire, from main series, pops, and contemporary programs to full opera productions and education concerts. He has appeared as a guest conductor with leading Canadian ensembles including the Toronto Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Orchestre Métropolitain, and most recently, the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

A champion of collaboration and artistic growth, Pietraroia has been deeply involved in programming, auditions, and community outreach initiatives. He has also contributed to music education through teaching roles at the University of Victoria, McGill University, and Plattsburgh State University of New York.

He holds a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting from McGill University and is the recipient of the Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in Conducting from the Canada Council for the Arts and a Félix Award for Classical Album of the Year with Marie-Josée Lord and l’Orchestre Métropolitain.

Claire de Sévigné, soprano

Named one of CBC’s Top Young Canadian Classical Musicians, soprano Claire de Sévigné’s recent performances have been hailed as “remarkable in every way” (ResMusic). During the 204/25 season, Claire made debuts with Vancouver Opera for her signature role of Adele in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus, with Grand Philharmonic Choir for Handel’s Messiah, and with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra for Schönberg’s Die Seele die Jakobsleiter. She reprised her role of the Mother-in-law in Saariaho’s Innocence with the Adelaide Festival, after making her San Francisco Opera debut with the production for its North American premiere in 2024.

The 2023/2024 season saw a debut with Opéra de Toulon and a return to Opéra Nantes Angers, both for Adele in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. She subsequently returned to Grand Théâtre de Genève for Messiaen’s Saint François d’Assise, to great critical acclaim. On the concert stage, she sang Handel’s Messiah under the baton of Nicholas McGegan for both the Calgary Philharmonic and Edmonton Symphony Orchestras, and Hadyn’s Creation with the Elora Festival.

Recent seasons marked several role and house debuts for de Sévigné, including with Pacific Opera Victoria as the Nachtigall in their new production of Braunfel’s Die Vögel. She began the 23/24 season in concert as Henriette in Halévy’s L’Éclair with Grand Théâtre de Genève.

Members of the Pacific Opera Victoria Chorus

The Pacific Opera Chorus comprises adults of all ages and includes community singers, aspiring professionals, and vocal students at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the University of Victoria. Over the last decade, with the support of a generous anonymous grant, Pacific Opera has offered a growing range of development opportunities for the Chorus. These include workshops on dance, movement, stage combat, and more, master classes by visiting artists, and other programs designed for members of the Chorus, as well as for other students of voice, and for practising artists working in the fields of music, theatre, stage design and direction.

“First mention has to go to the chorus, which did such an extraordinary job they came close to eclipsing the rest of the production. Under the direction of Giuseppe Pietraroia, the 30-member group of young vocal students, sprinkled with more experienced singers, raised the roof of the Royal Theatre when called upon, but also played their changing roles as soldiers, factory girls, townspeople, women of questionable moral character and bandits with both skill and commitment. Their sound was cohesive and powerful, but also sophisticated and refined. Astonishing for a volunteer chorus.” (Opera Canada, reviewing Pacific Opera’s October 2022 production of Bizet’s Carmen.)

Dancers from Ballet Victoria

Ballet Victoria is a boutique professional ballet company with four yearly productions. Our performances are dramatic, technically demanding, and often laced with humour.

Our ballets are accessible and relevant to a wide range of multi-cultural audiences spanning three generations. The shows are entertaining, hold great artistic depth and satisfy both those who discover classical ballet and the expert aficionado.

Under the direction of Paul Destrooper since 2007, the company has become a national cultural asset with 12 full time dancers, and has produced over 100 new works, and toured internationally in the USA and Mexico. Ballet Victoria enjoys a wonderful relationship with the Victoria Symphony, collaborating on as many creative endeavors as possible. The artistic team is constantly exploring new territory. Music creates an uncompromising range of choreographies, from Baroque music to Rock, from Opera to folk songs. The result: pure magic. The experience: fascinating. The memories pure delight.