Richard Bradshaw will conduct the production Oct. 12-Nov. 28 at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., Toronto.

The cast will include Adrianne Pieczonka as Elisabeth (Joni Henson will play her Oct. 23), Terje Stensvold as Philip II, Ayk Martirossian as Grand Inquisitor, Mikhail Agafonov as Don Carlos, Guang Yang and Mary Phillips as Eboli, Scott Hendricks as Rodrigue and Nathalie Paulin as Thibault.

"Set against the chilling backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition, this COC production will present Verdi's original five-act French-language version of his theatrical masterpiece," according to the Canadian Opera Company.

The running time will be four hours and 15 minutes.

The co-production with the Welsh National Opera tells the story of jealousy and intrigue as a personal tragedy unfolds. King Philip II of Spain marries Elisabeth, a French princess, unaware that she has already fallen hopelessly in love with his son, Don Carlos. The COC's 2007-08 season will also include The Marriage of Figaro, Tosca, From the House of the Dead, Eugene Onegin, The Barber of Seville, Pelléas et Mélisande, Gazzaniga's Don Giovanni and Stravinsky's Renard..

With co-director Trevor Nunn, John Caird won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his work on Les Miz. He also directed the current Broadway revival.

His Broadway credits also include direction, book and additional lyrics for Jane Eyre, the direction of the play Stanley and the direction (again, with Trevor Nunn) of the Tony-winning Best Play of 1981-82, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

For more information about Canadian Opera Company, visit www.coc.ca.