Turkish bass sensation Burak Bilgili - whose return has been anticipated by Virginia Opera audiences since his sinister portrayal of Méphistophélès in 2005's FAUST - sings the roles of Coppelius, Dapertutto, Dr. Miracle and Lindorf. Directed by Lillian Groag (ELEKTRA, 2001; DIE WALKÃœRE, 2002; FIDELIO, 2004; TRISTAN & ISOLDE, 2005; and AGRIPPINA, upcoming) and conducted by Virginia Opera Artistic Director Peter Mark. Designs for the new production include the set by Erhard Rom, costumes by Martha Hally, and lighting by Mark McCullough. Performed in French with English Supertitles.

"I think that Manon Strauss Evrard is one of the most extraordinary talents I have ever heard," says Maestro Mark, who has introduced to Virginia Opera audiences over the years sopranos such as Diana Soviero, Renée Fleming, Sujung Kim, Jane Redding, and more recently Cristina Nassif, who sang her first leading role as last season's Violetta in LA TRAVIATA. "There is no question in my mind that Manon has everything it takes for a major and remarkable international career in opera: extraordinary beauty, musicianship, vocal technique, dramatic integration, confidence, and the uniqueness of her own personality - all galvanizing attention wherever she appears."

In November, Virginia Opera ushers in the holiday season with the silliness of Gilbert and Sullivan's THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, the swashbuckling comedic masterpiece that has had audiences laughing for more than a century. Returning to direct a traditional G&S production is William Theisen (H.M.S. PINAFORE, 1998; THE MIKADO, 2001; MAGIC FLUTE, 2003). Assistant Artistic Director and Associate Conductor Joseph Walsh conducts. Sung in English with Supertitles.

Virginia Opera rings in the 2008 New Year with the Virginia Premiere of Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's heart-rending EUGENE ONEGIN in February - the company's first Russian opera. Russian-born Israeli stage director Julia Pevzner directs a traditional production in her company debut. Stunning Russian soprano Veronica Mitina, who like Tchaikovsky hails from St. Petersburg, debuts with Virginia Opera as Tatiana. Baritone Michael Todd Simpson (THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, 2006; I PAGLIACCI, upcoming) returns in the title role as the aristocrat whose tragic relationship with Tatiana, compounded by his youthful arrogance, leads him to murder his best friend, Lenski, sung by tenor Patrick Miller (SUSANNAH, 2006). Conducted by Peter Mark. New designs for the production include a set by scenic designer Alexander Lisiyansky and lighting by Mark McCullough. Performed in Russian with English Supertitles.

Manon Strauss Evrard returns to close the season with another tour-de-force assignment, this time to thrill audiences with her extraordinary bel canto technique in the title role of Gaetano Donizetti's LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, last staged in 1996. Dashing Spanish tenor Israel Lozano makes his company debut as Lucia's love, Edgardo, in an opera best known for its famous "mad scene," which features a crazed, unhinged Lucia in a swirl of vocal delirium on the night of her forced wedding to a man she does not love. Making his company debut as her brother, Enrico, is Metropolitan Opera veteran baritone Sebastian Catana. A traditional production directed by Dorothy Danner (THE MERRY WIDOW, 2004; DIE FLEDERMAUS, 2003; LA TRAVIATA, 2005; CARMEN, 2006; SUSANNAH, 2006) and conducted by Peter Mark. Performed in Italian with English Supertitles. -- www.vaopera.org