After having to cut its final season short, the Utah Opera returns to the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theater for live performances during the 2021-22 season.

“One of the things I miss the most about live theater is our audience,” said Christopher McBeth, artistic director of Utah Opera, during a live Facebook broadcast announcing the season at come. “I miss the common feeling of seeing something spectacular on stage.”

The Utah Opera will begin the season in October with Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville”. This opera was to be performed during the 2020-21 season. However, in March 2020, the Utah Opera had to cancel the show the day before its last dress rehearsal due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I can’t think of a better production to start coming back to the theater,” said Sarah Coit, who plays Rosina in the production. “It’s so colorful and so much fun.”

Kathleen Sykes, social media manager for the Utah Symphony and the Utah Opera, said people on Twitter were upset that no one could see the production. She said she was thrilled that the opera could finally turn up the production for a live audience.

Along with more well-known operas, Utah Opera hopes to begin including lesser-known and recently composed operas. In January 2022, the opera will premiere the contemporary opera “Flight” from 1998 by Jonathan Dove and April De Angelis. It will be directed by guest conductor Robert Tweten, with Kristine McIntyre as director.

“Presenting contemporary works is both important and necessary for the health of opera and the interests of our patrons,” said McBeth. “If you look at the beloved classics performed regularly, you see that the music and the stories were relevant to their audience. “

McBeth compared “Flight” to Mozart’s “Marriage of Figaro,” saying that while both operas are comedies, they also explore real-life issues.

“While entertaining, this opera also shows how this art form can help us understand the people around us,” McBeth said.

Even if live performances return, the season will not be the same as in the past. Seating is limited, social distancing will be enforced, and masks are always required during performances.

After “The Barber of Seville” in October and “Flight” in January, Utah Opera plans to present “Tosca” by Puccini in March and “Les Pirates de Penzance” by Gilbert and Sullivan in May.

Tickets for a performance go on sale June 15.