Seattle Opera has appointed Shannon Rolbiecki to the position of Director of Development, effective Dec. 12, 2022. “I’m thrilled to join the team at Seattle Opera,” said Rolbiecki in an official press statement. “To work in support of an art form I love for an organization of such quality and integrity is beyond exciting. The arts are still in recovery, {…}
Seattle Opera will present the world premiere of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” by composer/librettist team Sheila Silver and Stephen Kitsakos and directed by Roya Sadat, one of the first female filmmakers in Afghanistan. The show will run from Feb. 25-March 11, 2023. Based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, the opera relates the story of Mariam and Laila, two Afghan {…}
(Credit: Sunny Martini) From the second bar of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” in the hands of conductor Jordan De Souza, it was clear Seattle Opera’s production (which opened Saturday night and runs through Oct. 29) would be sonically something special. It turned out to be special in several ways, in fact. In that second bar, the famous “Tristan chord”—which {…}
The Seattle Opera has announced a new program to make opera more accessible. The company noted that “in an effort to make opera accessible for all, the Sunday’s performance of ‘The Elixir of Love’ will be Pay What You Wish.” Audiences will pay a minimum of just $5 and will pay what they wish, which will allow operagoers to purchase {…}
Seattle Opera has announced that Michaella Calzare will be the company’s new Chorus Master and Head of Music. Calzare will prepare the Seattle Opera Chorus for the upcoming season, where it will appear in productions of “L’Elisir d’Amore,” “Tristan und Isolde,” “Samson et Dalila,” and “La Traviata.” Calzare will succeed John Keene, who is headed to San Francisco Opera this {…}
Seattle Opera has announced that Dennis Robinson Jr. has been appointed as its next Director of Programs and Partnerships, effective June 20, 2022. An alumnus of Carnegie Melon University, where he studied Opera Directing, Robinson has served has served such administrative roles as Manager of Artistic Administration at Palm Beach Opera, Director of Education and Accessibility at City Theatre Company, {…}
Seattle Opera is teaming up with the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra to present “UNITY: A Concert for Ukraine.” The showcase, which will take place on May 16, 2022 at Seattle Center’s Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, will be conducted by Emil de Cou and Alevtina Ioffe. All proceeds will be donated to the Pegaz Cultural Association to provide housing, food, rehearsal {…}
Seattle Opera will be presenting three family-focused events as part of its 2021/22 season. First up in the family-friendly programming is a performance of the children’s opera, “The Very Last Green Thing” performed by the 2022 Youth Opera cast, taking place April 1-3 at the Tagney Jones Hall. During the main stage run of “The Marriage of Figaro,” SO will {…}
Seattle Opera has produced a riveting production of the new opera “Blue,” composed by Jeanine Tesori to the libretto of Tazewell Thompson, who also directed. “Blue” shines a searing light on issues of racism, violence, and the loss that result. Everthing comes together for this West Coast premiere to create a gripping, enlightening, and moving experience. Originally commissioned by The {…}
The Seattle Opera has announced its 2022-23 season featuring a number of debuts, new productions, and a world premiere. Salome Jicia and Amitati Pati star in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” with Rodion Pogossov and Luca Pisaroni. Stephen Lawless directs the production with Giampaolo Bisanti conducting. Performance Dates: August 6-20, 2022 Stefan Vinke, May Elizabeth Williams, and Alexandra LoBianco take on the {…}
(Credit: Karli Cadel) Seattle Opera is set to continue its 2021-22 season with a number of performances and events. Leading the season’s lineup is Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s “Blue,” named the 2020 winner of Best New Opera by the Music Critics Association of North America. The story follows a family and their community coming together in the wake of {…}