Following Odyssey Opera’s 2017-18 season, which was dedicated to works inspired by Joan of Arc, Artistic and General Director Gil Rose has announced that the company’s 2018-19 season will showcase a two-part journey with the first half memorializing the 200th anniversary of French composer Charles Gounod’s birth and the second inspired by Helen of Troy.

The company will showcase a total of five operas, including three fully-staged works, two concert performances, and one U.S. premiere. 

Gounod

The season opens with Gounod’s “La Reine de Saba.” The performance will mark the U.S premiere of the work, which was inspired by Gérard de Nerval’s book “Le voyage en Orient.” Gil Rose conducts the premiere.

Performance Dates: Sept. 22, 2018

The second Gounod opera of the season will be “Le Médecin Malgré Lui,” which is the Boston premiere of the work Berlioz proclaimed “Gounod is at his best!” The work is scheduled to be fully staged and a comic opera based on the play by Molière

Performance Dates: Nov. 9 & 11, 2018

Helen of Troy

Gluck’s rarely performed “Paride ed Elena” gets a fully staged production in the opera’s Boston premiere. Gil Rose conducts.

Performance Dates: Feb. 15 & 17, 2019

Strauss’ “Die ägyptische Helena” gets a concert performance. The opera, with a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, shows a rare point of view on Helen.

Performance Dates: April 19, 2019

The Odyssey Opera concludes its season with the Boston premiere of the beloved operetta by Offenbach “La Belle Hélène.” The fully staged production will be conducted by Gil Rose and is set to be sung in English.

Performance Dates: June 14 & 16, 2019