In a kind of willful flirtation with death, the Vancouver Opera Company alternates between obscure or new (and Canadian!) works and older, more popular perennials, often sung by international stars such as Plácido Domingo and Bryn Terfel. The formula seems to work, as the company is over 35 years old and still packing 'em in. The season runs October through May, with performances normally in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. In 2004, the program offers Brecht's The Threepenny Opera (Mar 20-27), a one time only performance of Mozart's lesser-known Abduction from the Seraglio (Mar 5), and the Verdi favorite La Traviata (May 1-12). The fall 2004 performances had not been announced as of press time. The box office is open Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm.