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Seattle Opera Blog: Seattle Opera appoints Shannon Rolbiecki Director of Development
Seattle Opera has selectedShannon Rolbiecki, a seasoned development professional and Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE), as its new Director of Development. As a classically trained singer and opera performer, Rolbiecki brings a rich musical background to Seattle Opera. She begins in the role on
Seattle Opera Blog: Seattle Opera appoints Dennis Robinson, Jr., Director of Programs and Partnerships
Seattle Opera has selectedDennis Robinson, Jr.,a seasoned theater administrator with extensive experience as a stage director, as its nextDirector of Programs and Partnerships. Robinson brings a keen eye for community partnerships to the department, which reaches over 100,000 patrons every year with
Seattle Opera Blog: A CONVERSATION WITH YONGHOON LEE
Widely acclaimed as one of the best lyric tenors of our time, Yonghoon Lee has been praised worldwide by audiences and critics. From the Royal Opera House Covent Garden to Bayerishe Staatsoper to Opera Australia, he has captured the hearts of many with his portrayals of Calaf inTurandot, Luigi inIl
Seattle Opera Blog: SAMSON & DELILAH: Why in concert?
Up next, Seattle Opera presents the beautiful, evocative music Saint-Saëns composed to tell the story ofSamson et Dalila. But why present it as a concert, instead of an opera complete with scenery, costumes, hair and make-up, and special effects? Concert presentations are actually in keeping withSam
Seattle Opera Blog: How You Can Support Afghan Refugees
© Bloomberg NewsAfter the early withdrawal of US troops and the takeover of the Afghan government by the Taliban in August 2021, the US evacuated 80,000 Afghans who were at risk for their roles in helping the US and NATO missions in Afghanistan. Many of these evacuees were Special Immigration Visa c
Seattle Opera Blog: Converge Media's TraeAnna Holiday on storytelling, accessibility, and learning to love opera
TraeAnna Holiday is an Emmy Award-winning artist, activist, and community leader. She is a founding member and media director ofKing County Equity Now, an advocacy and policy non-profit committed to realizing measurable markers of equity for Washington’s Black community. Weekday mornings at 11am she
Seattle Opera Blog: New Podcast: MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS Discusses Isolde
American soprano Mary Elizabeth Williams, beloved in Seattle for performances such as Tosca, Abigaille inNabucco, and Serena inPorgy and Bess, just made her role debut as Isolde, the first time she’s ever sung a Wagner opera. She discussed the character, the singing, and her two-and-a-half year jour
Seattle Opera Blog: Praise for Tristan and Isolde
The reviews are in forTristan and Isoldeand it's a hit! Read what critics had to say about this beautiful production.Mary Elizabeth Williams (Isolde) and Stefan Vinke (Tristan) inTristan and Isolde. © Sunny Martini.“If you live in Seattle and you’ve never been to the Seattle Opera, you’ve been wasti
Seattle Opera Blog: TRANSPORTING IT TO A NEW PLANE
Mary Elizabeth Williams has a habit of stealing the show when she appears at Seattle Opera. Her uncanny ability to fuse sound, sense, and stage action has made her a company favorite—not to mention the kind of singer Wagner fantasized about when he dreamed up his “total work of art." Preparing Isold
Seattle Opera Blog: Five Ways Wagner Changed Opera Forever
German composer Richard Wagner (1813–1883) was tremendously influential on the development of opera. With his groundbreaking music dramas and extensive theoretical writings about art and theater, Wagner changed not only the way people wrote opera, but also the way audiences engaged with the art form
Seattle Opera Blog: A PATH TO HEALING
Seattle Opera’s Veterans Choir Keeps SingingBy Glenn HareSeattle Opera’s Veteran Choir performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” and “Hallelujah” at the Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center on Memorial Day, 2022.Three years ago, Kim Christensen and her small famil
Seattle Opera Blog: A CONVERSATION WITH TENOR MICHAEL FABIANO
THE FOUNDER OF ARTSMARTPhoto credit: Jiyang Chen.American tenor Michael Fabiano is the recipient of the 2014 Beverly Sills Artist Award and the 2014 Richard Tucker Award, the first singer to win both awards in the same year. This season he will perform at the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, Gran Teatr
Seattle Opera Blog: A Super Milestone
Longtime Seattle Opera supernumerary reaches 100th productionLuther Hintz backstage at Seattle Opera's 1998 production ofTristan and Isolde. Courtesy of Luther Hintz.Luther Hintz has seen more shows at Seattle Opera than just about anyone else in the world. And he’s had a unique vantage point: a vie
Seattle Opera Blog: Conductor Giampaolo Bisanti in Conversation
Italian conductor Giampaolo Bisanti has been praised for his musical knowledge and passion. In this interview, Giampaolo shares his affection for Donizetti’s music, the influence of his grandmother, working with Christina Scheppelmann, and a new passion—earning his pilot’s license. This is his US op
Seattle Opera Blog: A Conversation with The Elixir of Love Director Stephen Lawless
English stage director Stephen Lawless was 19 years old when he started his career. He has worked all over the world on the most prestigious stages. This is his first production at Seattle Opera. Learn how Stephen got his start, what he remembers about 9/11, which titles he has not directed, and if
Seattle Opera Blog: Seattle Opera Appoints Michaella Calzaretta Chorus Master & Head of Music Staff
Seattle Opera announced today its new chorus master & head of music staff isMichaella Calzaretta, an experienced conductor acclaimed for her high standards and superb preparation skills. Calzaretta will prepare the 36-member Seattle Opera Chorus, which will be featured during the 2022/23 season inTh
Seattle Opera Blog: Black Opera
The Afro FutureBy Naomi André, Ph.D.In 2017, Opera Philadelphia presentedWe Shall Not Be Moved, a new work by composer Daniel Bernard Roumain and librettist Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The opera follows five North Philadelphia teens as they find refuge at the headquarters of the MOVE organization, where a
Seattle Opera Blog: Praise for Blue
Read some of the reviews for Seattle Opera’s current production ofBlue, from critics and audiences alike.Photo credit: Philip NewtonBlueis the 2020 winner of Best New Opera from the Music Critics Association of North America, created by librettist Tazewell Thompson (five NAACP Awards, plus two Emmy
Seattle Opera Blog: Black Opera
The Golden AgeBy Naomi André, Ph.D.Will Liverman as Charles M. Blow in The Metropolitan Opera's premiere ofFire Shut Up in My Bonesby Terence BlanchardMusic scholar Naomi André describes the current state of Black Opera as the “Golden Age.” This is her second essay onBlack Opera. André accounts the
Seattle Opera Blog: A CONVERSATION WITH MEZZO-SOPRANO J’NAI BRIDGES
Photo by Todd RosenbergJ’Nai Bridges is among the world’s leading mezzo-sopranos performing today. She has been heralded and praised by critics atThe New York TimesandLos Angeles Times, to name only a few. J’Nai is a principal cast member of the 2022 Grammy Award-winning recording of Philip Glass’sA
Seattle Opera Blog: A Conversation with Sheila Silver
The Composer ofA Thousand Splendid SunsSheila Silver is an important voice in American music today. An award-winning composer, she has written for solo instruments, large orchestra, opera, and feature film. Audiences and critics praise her music as powerful, emotionally charged, accessible, and mast