Mieko Ouchi wishes you a Happy International Women’s Day!
Mieko Ouchi made her operatic debut with Calgary Opera this past fall with Little Red Riding Hood, our family-friendly opera that just wrapped an Alberta-wide tour for young audiences.
Ouchi is among our all-women roster of stage directors in our 2025/26 season, and we can’t wait to welcome her back next year, for Massenet’s shimmering Cinderella (JAN 29–FEB 6, 2027). We caught up with Ouchi about storytelling with music and her new favourite opera:
What is your favourite part of the opera production process?
Mieko Ouchi: “I love exploring the music from a character perspective and see what beautiful little hints and clues we can find about who the character is and how they navigate through the emotional world of the story! And, how we can highlight those moments for audiences. It’s a lovely process that requires us all to put on our sleuthing hats and dig in!”
George Theodorakopoulos (the Wolf) and Katelyn Bird (Little Red) in Mieko Ouchi’s production of Little Red Riding Hood, Calgary Opera, 2025. Photo: Benjamin Laird.
What would be your opera "elevator pitch" for someone who's never been before?
MO: “If you like to experience a story powerfully through all your senses, take a chance and attend an opera! There is something so powerful about the size and scale of an operatic work: vocally, visually, vibrationally and emotionally… it is a beautiful event that brings together a large group of people and something you will never forget.
What's an opera that's on your “bucket list” to direct?
MO: “As I’m so new to opera… can I say Jules Massenet’s Cinderella, which I get to direct for Calgary Opera next season? I’m in love with the music and the characters, especially the duets. And it’s so funny! I can’t wait to dive in and share it with audiences. What a treat!”