'The Shining' set for Minnesota Opera's 2015-16 season

Minnesota Opera, which opens "The Manchurian Candidate" this weekend, will host another world premiere in its 2015-16 season.

"The Shining," adapted from the Stephen King novel, with a score by Paul Moravec and libretto by Mark Campbell, debuts May 7, 2016.

Campbell also wrote the libretto for "Candidate" and the Pulitzer Prize-winning 2011 Minnesota Opera-commissioned "Silent Night," both with composer Kevin Puts. Moravec won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 2004. Music director Michael Christie will conduct and Eric Simonson returns to direct the staging.

The company will open the season with Richard Strauss' "Ariadne Auf Naxos," Sept. 26-Oct. 4. Soprano Amber Wagner makes her Minnesota debut in the comic Viennese story. The cast features tenor Brian Jagde and Polish mezzo Hanna Hipp, making her U.S. debut.

In the "greatest hits" department, the opera will bring back "The Magic Flute" for six performances Nov. 14-22. This is a production of the Komische Oper Berlin and LA Opera. Baritone Andrew Wilkowske is in the cast and Christie conducts this encore performance of the Minnesota Opera's best-attended show ever.

Minnesota-born soprano Kelly Kaduce returns to sing the title role in "Rusalka" Jan. 23-31, 2016. Dvorak's opera uses the story of the Little Mermaid as the basis for his well-loved composition. Mezzo Marianne Cornetti and bass Ben Wager are also in the cast. Simonson directs.

"Tosca" returns for eight performances March 12-26. Recognized as one of the great Puccini works, the piece was last performed by the Minnesota Opera in 2006. Soprano Csilla Boross makes her Minnesota debut with tenor Rafael Davila as Mario and Stephen Powell as Scarpia. Christie conducts the orchestra.

All productions will be at Ordway Center in St. Paul. Subscription packages are on sale now, with single-show tickets available in July. Information is at www.mnopera.org or 612-333-6669.

Graydon Royce • 612-673-7299