Tosca by Giacomo Puccini is regarded the world over as a perennial favourite with opera lovers and it’s no wonder: the political thriller is packed with romance and drama, combining the very best of spectacle and sound. In the COC’s signature production of the opera, gorgeous sets and costumes abound, giving audiences plenty to take in as the story unfolds in the Italian capital.

Making its world premiere this June, Kye Marshall and Amanda Hale’s Pomegranate transports audiences between ancient Pompeii and 1980s Toronto, revealing a transcendent love for the ages. This groundbreaking love story follows two women seeking to express their love for each other freely in the face of impossible odds.

Read on to learn the 10 things you should know about Pomegranate!

The Canadian Opera Company welcomes four new cast members for its spring season, stepping in for sopranos Sondra Radvanovsky and Olga Busuioc who must regrettably withdraw for personal and health reasons, respectively. Bulgarian soprano Alexandrina Pendatchanska and Ukrainian soprano Liudmyla Monastyrska will now share the role of Lady Macbeth in the COC’s production of the classic Verdi opera. In addition, Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell-Wallace and American soprano Keri Alkema will share the title role in Puccini’s Tosca.