The Minnesota Opera has announced its 2017-18 season, a celebration for the company’s 55th anniversary.

The season opens with Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” on Oct. 7 and runs through the 15.

It will be followed in November with a new production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” The opera will premier on Nov. 11 and will run through the 19.

The 2018 calendar year begins with five performances of Jake Heggie’s modern masterpiece “Dead Man Walking.” The run begins on Jan. 27 and runs through Feb. 3

It will be followed by a new production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” which will be performed  on March 17 through the 31 in seven performances.

The season will conclude with the Minnesota Opera premiere of Massenet’s “Thaïs.” The opera will be presented for five performances and with the premiere on May 12.

In a release President and General Director Ryan Taylor said, “We have selected five mainstage shows in the upcoming season that are designed to entertain and engage our community members, whether you are brand-new to Minnesota Opera or a long-time fan of the company. At its best, opera offers a terrific exploration of different cultures and experiences, and encourages a deeper understanding about our shared human experience. We believe that this artful, lively experience is increasingly important in the modern world. For that reason, I couldn’t be more excited to share this new collection of powerful performances with our Minnesota audience.”

The upcoming season will mark the  return of some artists familiar to Minnesota Opera audiences including tenor David Walton, bass-baritone Craig Colclough and soprano Kelly Kaduce, who will portray the title role of “Thais.” Meanwhile baritones Olafur Sigurdarson and Jacques Imbrailo will make their Minnesota debuts.