The Canadian Opera Company is ready to commence their winter season, which will feature two passionately romantic productions, Fidelio and Rusalka.

These intense love stories are sure to heat up the cold winter months, and we've got a pair of tickets for one lucky reader to attend the Jan. 27th performance of Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio, at the magnificent Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts.

The Canadian Opera Company's fall season opened with Don Giovanni and War & Peace, which focused on the intensity of the human spirit facing struggle. With mixed reviews of these performances, the Winter session looks to bring romance and fantasy back to the Four Seasons' Stage.

Dvorak's masterpiece Rusalka will open January 31st. This Czech opera combines Erben's A Garland of National Tales, Hans Andersen's The Little Mermaid and Friedrich de la Motte Fouque's Undine, weaving a fantastical love story about a nymph who falls in love with a human. This COC presentation will also feature an Appetite for Opera event at the Tundra restaurant on January 22nd.

The production of Fidelio opens on January 24th, presenting Beethoven's only opera about a love strong enough to conquer all odds and adversity. Beethoven preferred the title Leonore, in honor of the heroine forced to disguise herself as a man to save her lover, but it was decided to put her male name Fidelio up on the marquee. The rich history of this opera will also be open to attendees through the pre-performance opera chats which allow the audience to better understand the details behind this great composer's only opera.

CONTEST:

Whether you have been to the opera before or have yet to share in the experience, we want to make sure you don't miss out! So, blogTO is giving away one pair of tickets to the January 27th, 7:30pm performance of Fidelio.

To Enter: Leave a comment telling us what you *love* about the holiday season. There's so much to love... you just have to pick one good thing.

We will select one winner at random from all comments left before 5pm Boxing Day. Please make sure to leave a valid email address when you comment, so we can contact you for prize claim details.

Happy holidays and keep spreadin' the love!