Editing Seattle Opera

{{short description|Opera company in Seattle, Washington, U.S.}}
{{use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
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| formation = 1963
| type = [[Opera company]]
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| headquarters = 363 Mercer Street<br>[[Seattle]], Washington, U.S.
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| leader_title = General director
| leader_name = James Robinson
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| name = Seattle Opera
| logo_size = 150px
| founder = [[Glynn Ross]]
| tax_id = 910760426
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| website = {{URL|http://www.seattleopera.org/|seattleopera.org}}
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[[File:McCaw Hall Kreielsheimer Promenade.JPG|thumb|right|Façade of Marion Oliver McCaw Hall at [[Seattle Center]], seen from [[Kreielsheimer Promenade]] with the [[Space Needle]] in the background]]

'''Seattle Opera''' is an American [[opera]] company based in [[Seattle]], Washington. The company's season runs from August through late May, comprising five or six operas of eight to ten performances each, often featuring double casts in major roles to allow for successive evening presentations.

Since August 2003, Seattle Opera has performed at [[McCaw Hall|Marion Oliver McCaw Hall]] (capacity: 2,967), which was built on the site of the old Seattle Opera House at [[Seattle Center]]. The company's current general director is James Robinson.

==History==
[[Glynn Ross]] founded the company in 1963, and served as its first general director until 1983.<ref>{{cite news | title=Glynn Ross, 1914–2005: His energy and ideas built Seattle Opera | url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/glynn-ross-1914-2005-his-energy-and-ideas-built-1178886.php |newspaper=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]| author=R.M. Campbell | date=2005-07-21 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> From the outset, Ross saw opera as something that had to be sold using similar techniques to those used to sell popular entertainment:
<blockquote>To sell opera…you have to get their attention with a little razzle-dazzle. You've got to be simpatico. You have to be able to communicate, and you have to deliver your message with the best possible product you can manage.<ref name=Jones>Quoted in {{Harvnb|Jones|1972|p=254}}.</ref></blockquote>

In 1970, [[Harold C. Schonberg]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' contrasted Seattle Opera's approach to marketing to the then-still staid marketing of New York's [[Metropolitan Opera]]:
<blockquote>Out there, you see campaign buttons with the legend ''Opera Lives''. It is in Seattle where you can look at the sky and find an airplane skywriting the virtues of Seattle Opera. There are even auto [[bumper sticker]]s about opera.</blockquote>

Further, Schonberg remarked favorably on the "air of freshness and experimentation that contrasts vividly with the dull, tried and true, tired professionalism in other opera houses one could mention."<ref name=Jones />

The company named Speight Jenkins as its next general director in December 1982,<ref>{{cite news | title=Speight Jenkins Named Seattle Opera Director | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/20/arts/music-view-an-intrepid-opera-house-ripe-for-bigger-things.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]| author= | date=1982-12-21 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> an unusual appointment in that Jenkins did not have prior administrative experience with arts organisations prior to his appointment.<ref name="Henahan">{{cite news | title=Speight Jenkins Named Seattle Opera Director | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/21/arts/speight-jenkins-named-seattle-opera-director.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=[[Donal Henahan]]| date=1989-08-20 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> Jenkins formally took up the post with the 1983–1984 season, during which the company ran its first-ever fiscal deficit.<ref name="Henahan"/> Early in his tenure, Jenkins stated a goal of producing all ten of the major Wagner works in Seattle. This project began with ''[[Tannhäuser (opera)|Tannhäuser]]'' in 1984, which was the first Seattle Opera production with supertitles. The project culminated with the August 2003 production of ''[[Parsifal]]'', the first company production in its new venue, Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.<ref>{{cite news | title=Opera Gets a New Home a Few Blocks From Rock | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/27/arts/music-opera-gets-a-new-home-a-few-blocks-from-rock.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=[[David Schiff]]| date=2003-07-27 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> Jenkins concluded his tenure as general director of Seattle Opera in 2014.

Aidan Lang became general director of the company as of the 2014–2015 season.<ref>{{cite news | title=Seattle Opera Names a General Director | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/arts/music/seattle-opera-names-a-general-director.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|author=[[Allan Kozinn]]| date=2013-06-19 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> His tenure included productions of contemporary operas such as ''As One'' (Laura Kaminsky) ''{{ill|An American Dream (opera)|de|An American Dream (Oper)|lt=An American Dream}}'' (Jack Perla).<ref>{{cite news | title=Aidan Lang Is Moving On from Seattle Opera | url=https://www.seattleweekly.com/arts/after-just-five-seasons-aidan-lang-is-moving-on-from-seattle-opera/ |newspaper=[[Seattle Weekly]]| author=Gavin Borchert | date=2018-09-06 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> Lang stood down as general director of the company at the close of the 2018–2019 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2019/06/thank-you-aidan.html | title=A fond farewell to Aidan Lang | publisher=Seattle Opera | date=20 June 2019 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref>

In March 2019, the company announced the appointment of [[Christina Scheppelmann]] as its next general director, the first woman to be named to the post, effective with the 2019–2020 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2019/03/meet-next-leader-of-seattle-opera.html | title=Meet the Next Leader of Seattle Opera | publisher=Seattle Opera | date=21 March 2019 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> Her tenure at Seattle Opera overlapped with the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], and her work at Seattle Opera included presentation of a filmed virtual season of productions.<ref>{{cite web | title=Christina Scheppelmann Takes Her Leave from Seattle Opera with a ''Barber'' | url=https://www.postalley.org/2024/05/16/christina-scheppelmann-takes-her-leave-from-seattle-opera-with-a-barber/ | work=Post Alley | author=James C. Whitson | date=2024-05-16 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> In June 2023, Seattle Opera announced the scheduled conclusion of Scheppelmann's tenure as general director at the close of the 2023–2024 season.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2023/06/general-director-christina-scheppelmann-to-depart-seattle-for-brussels.html | title=Seattle Opera general director Christina Scheppelmann to depart Seattle for Brussels' La Monnaie/De Munt in 2025 | publisher=Seattle Opera | date=21 June 2023 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref>

In August 2024, the company announced the appointment of James Robinson as its next general director and artistic director, effective 4 September 2024, with an initial contract of five seasons.<ref name="SeattleRobinson20240808PR">{{cite press release | url=https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2024/08/general-director.html | title=James Robinson named General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera | publisher=Seattle Opera | date=8 August 2024 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.seattleoperablog.com/2024/08/meet-our-next-general-director.html | title=Meet Seattle Opera's Next General and Artistic Director | publisher=Seattle Opera | date=8 August 2024 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref> His previous work at Seattle Opera included a 2004 production of ''Carmen'' that was the largest ticket-seller in the company's history.<ref name="SeattleRobinson20240808PR"/>

Seattle Opera currently does not have a full-time music director. In October 2007, the company announced the appointment of [[Asher Fisch]] as its principal guest conductor.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/7214.html | title=Seattle Opera Appoints Asher Fisch Principal Guest Conductor | work=Playbill Arts | author=Matthew Westphal | date=16 October 2007 | access-date=2024-09-06}}</ref>

===Richard Wagner at Seattle Opera===
For many years, the company was noted for its performances of the works of [[Richard Wagner]], including the ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen|Ring]]'' cycle. In 1975, it was the first American company to perform the cycle in its entirety over the space of a week since the Metropolitan Opera in 1939. The Seattle Opera's last ''Ring'' was in August 2013, and they have stated that they have no plans to produce the ''Ring'' in the future.<ref>{{cite web |title=Seattle Opera – The Ring Cycle |url=https://www.seattleopera.org/tickets/the-ring-cycle/ |website=www.seattleopera.org |access-date=3 May 2022}}</ref>

====''Ring'' 1, 1975–1984====
Beginning with a production of ''[[Die Walküre]]'' one year, and following successively each year with ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]'' and, finally, ''[[Götterdämmerung]]'', Ross announced in 1975 that ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' would precede the others to make up the first consecutive ''Ring'' cycle over six days in July. In spite of the modernization of the opera productions which Ross found at the [[Bayreuth Festival]], Seattle's were to be traditional productions and appeal to the lovers of the traditional.

Two back-to-back cycles of the ''Ring'', one each in German and English, were presented annually between 1975 and 1983. [[Andrew Porter (music critic)|Andrew Porter]]'s English adaptation which was prepared for the [[English National Opera]] and which was priced below the German language cycle, introduced many new listeners to Wagner. Originally directed by [[George London (bass-baritone)|George London]] with designer John Naccarato, later presentations were directed by Lincoln Clark between 1976 and 1983, and by the tenor, [[Ragnar Ulfung]] in 1984. Henry Holt conducted all the cycles. The performances were well attended and received good press.

By 1982, the cycle was drawing opera lovers from all over the United States, as well as many other countries of the world, and Seattle appeared to be a serious rival to Bayreuth.

====''Ring'' 2, 1985–1995====
Following his appointment as general director, Jenkins immediately set about creating a new ''Ring'' production. ''Die Walküre'' appeared first, in 1985, followed by complete cycles in 1986, 1987, 1991, and 1995. (Jenkins determined that the company could achieve higher quality performances by presenting the ''Ring'' every four years.) The new production was directed by Francois Rochaix, with sets and costumes designed by Robert Israel, lighting designed by Joan Sullivan, and supertitles (the first ever created for the ''Ring'') by [[Sonya Friedman (translator)|Sonya Friedman]]. The production set the action in a world of nineteenth-century theatricality. Initially controversial, it sold out in 1995. Conductors included [[Armin Jordan]] (''Die Walküre'' in 1985), [[Manuel Rosenthal]] (1986), and [[Hermann Michael]] (1987, 1991, and 1995).

====''Ring'' 3, 2000–2013====
Jenkins engaged a new creative team to conceive Seattle Opera's third ''Ring'' production, which was unveiled in 2000 (''Das Rheingold'' and ''Die Walküre'') and 2001 (full cycle) and returned in 2005, 2009, and 2013. Director [[Stephen Wadsworth]], set designer Thomas Lynch, costume designer [[Martin Pakledinaz]], lighting designer [[Peter Kaczorowski]] created a production which became known as the "Green" ''Ring'', inspired in part by the natural beauty of the [[Pacific Northwest]]. Armin Jordan returned to conduct in 2000, Franz Vote in 2001, and [[Robert Spano]] in 2005 and 2009. The 2013 production, conducted by Asher Fisch, was released as a commercial recording on compact disc and on iTunes. The productions starred singers such as [[Greer Grimsley]], [[Stephanie Blythe]], [[Ewa Podleś]], [[Jane Eaglen]], Richard Paul Fink, [[Margaret Jane Wray]], and [[Stephen Milling]].

==Performers==
Seattle Opera draws some of the world's best opera singers to its stage. Some of the notable performers who have appeared in productions include:
*[[Harolyn Blackwell]] – a regular figure on the Seattle Opera stage during the 1990s and 2000s, her credits with the company include the title roles in [[Donizetti]]'s ''[[Lucia di Lammermoor]]'' and [[Léo Delibes|Delibes]]'s ''[[Lakmé]]''.
*[[Lawrence Brownlee]] was a participant in Seattle Opera's Young Artist program. Since then, he has appeared with the company as Ernesto in [[Donizetti]]'s [[Don Pasquale]], Arcadio in [[Catan]]'s [[Florencia en el Amazonas]], Arturo in [[Vincenzo Bellini|Bellini]]'s'' [[I puritani]]'', Almaviva in [[Rossini]]'s ''[[Il barbiere di Siviglia]]'', Tonio in [[Donizetti]]'s ''[[La fille du régiment]]'', Don Ottavio in [[Mozart]]'s ''[[Don Giovanni]]'', and Count Ory in [[Rossini]]'s [[Count Ory]].
*[[Kevin Burdette]] debuted with the company in 2006 as Mustafà in [[Rossini]]'s ''[[L'italiana in Algeri]]''.
*[[Richard Cassilly]] made his debut with the company as Manrico in April 1967 opposite [[Eileen Farrell]]'s Leonora and [[Sherrill Milnes]]'s Count DiLuna.
*[[Diane Curry]] – From 1981 until 1986 Curry performed annually in Seattle Opera's Wagner's ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' under director [[Speight Jenkins]], portraying Fricka in ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' and ''[[Die Walküre]]'' and Waltraute/Second Norn in ''[[Götterdämmerung]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://seattleopera50.com/tag/diane-curry/|title=Diane Curry|work=Seattle Opera Performance Archives|access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref>
*[[Geraldine Decker]] – From 1974 until 1987 Decker performed annually in Seattle Opera's Wagner's ''Der Ring des Nibelungen'' under director Speight Jenkins, as Erda in both ''Das Rheingold'' and ''[[Siegfried (opera)|Siegfried]]'', Schwertleite in ''Die Walküre'', and the First Norn ''Götterdämmerung''.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2013/10/Departments/Obituaries.html|title=Obituary: Geraldine Decker|journal=[[Opera News]]|date=October 2013|volume=78|number=4|author=F. Paul Driscoll}}</ref>
*[[Jane Eaglen]] made her American debut as well as her Seattle Opera debut in the company's 1994 production of [[Vincenzo Bellini|Bellini]]'s ''[[Norma (opera)|Norma]]''. A previous unknown, she was cast personally by Speight Jenkins to replace [[Carol Vaness]] when the latter was unable to sing due to medical issues. She went on to sing Turandot, Isolde, Brünnhilde, Ariadne, Ortrud, Senta, and other roles with the company.
*[[Joyce El-Khoury]] sang all the 2016 performances of [[Maria Stuarda]] due to a colleague's indisposition.
*[[Renée Fleming]] made her debut with the company singing the title role in the 1990 production of [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]]'s ''[[Rusalka (opera)|Rusalka]]''.
*[[Nuccia Focile]] has appeared in many productions, including the title role in the 2007 production of ''[[Gluck]]'''s ''[[Iphigenia in Tauris]]'' and Susanna in 2016's ''[[Le nozze di Figaro]]''. The company named her "Artist of the Year" for her 2013 performances of [[La voix humaine]].
*[[Greer Grimsley]] made his debut as Telramund in ''[[Lohengrin (opera)|Lohengrin]]'' in 1994 (revived 2004), then returned for Escamillo (1995), Mephistopheles (1997), Kurwenal (1998 and 2010), Scarpia (2001, 2007, and 2015), Donner and Gunther (2001), Amfortas (2003), Jack Rance (2004), Wotan (2005, 2009, and 2013), the Flying Dutchman (2007 and 2016), and Don Pizarro (2012).
*[[Andrea Gruber]] has sung numerous roles with the company including the title role in [[Verdi]]'s ''[[Aida]]''
*[[Ben Heppner]] performed his first ever Tristan in Wagner's ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]'' with Seattle Opera in 1998. Other roles in Seattle include Walther von Stolzing, Lohengrin, and Andrea Chenier.
*[[Bette Midler]] played the Acid Queen in Seattle Opera's production of [[The Who]]'s ''[[Tommy (The Who album)|Tommy]]'', the first time it was ever performed in a theater format.
*[[Brett Polegato]] made his debut with the company as Henry Miles in the 2005 production of [[Jake Heggie]]'s ''[[The End of the Affair (opera)|The End of the Affair]]''.
*[[Alberto Remedios]] appeared as Siegfried in the ''Ring'' with the company in the 1970s.
*[[Gidon Saks]] has appeared in several Wagner productions with the company.
*[[Beverly Sills]] made her debut with the company in 1965 as Mimi in [[Puccini]]'s ''[[La bohème]]''. It was the only time she ever sang that role on stage.
*[[Joan Sutherland]] portrayed [[Lakmé]] for the company in 1967, then returned as [[Don Giovanni|Donna Anna]], the three heroines in ''[[Les contes d'Hoffmann]]'', and Sita in ''[[Le roi de Lahore]]''.
*[[Carol Vaness]] performed frequently with the company in the 1980s and 1990s.

==Conductors and directors==
George Fiore was Seattle Opera's choral director from 1983 through 2000.

Seattle Opera often invites guest directors and conductors to take part in its productions. Notable conductors and directors include:
*[[Christopher Alden (director)|Christopher Alden]] made his debut with the company in 1990<ref>[http://christopheralden.net/Production%20History.htm List of productions on Christopher Alden's website]</ref> directing Mozart's ''[[Don Giovanni]]''.
*[[Asher Fisch]] made his debut opening McCaw Hall with ''[[Parsifal]]'', and returned to conduct ''Lohengrin'', ''[[Der fliegende Holländer]]'', ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]'', ''[[Fidelio]]'', and ''[[Der Ring des Nibelungen]]'' (released as a commercial CD recording). He won "Artist of the Year" for conducting both ''[[Der Rosenkavalier]]'' (2006) and ''[[Turandot]]'' (2012).
*[[Richard Pearlman]] conducted the first professional theatrical production of [[The Who]]'s [[rock opera]] ''[[Tommy (rock opera)|Tommy]]'' featuring [[Bette Midler]] with the company in 1971.
*[[Bartlett Sher]] made his opera directing debut with the company's production of Marvin David Levy's ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra]]''.{{when|date=August 2013}}
*[[Robert Spano]] conducted the 2005 and 2009 productions of ''The Ring Cycle''.
*[[Werner Torkanowsky]] conducted the 1974 production of Boito's ''[[Mefistofele]]''.
*Stephen Wadsworth directed the Ring Cycle in 2005, 2009 and 2013. In 2007 he directed the first ever co production of Seattle Opera with the Metropolitan Opera, ''[[Iphigénie en Tauride]]''.
*[[Tomer Zvulun]] started as an assistant director in the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons. He then returned as an associate director for the ''Ring'' cycle in 2009 and directed new productions of ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' in 2010, ''La bohème'' in 2013 and ''[[Semele (Handel)|Semele]]'' in 2015.

==New operas==
Seattle Opera supports the creation of new operas and has commissioned several works throughout its history. New operas performed by the company include:
{{Div col|colwidth=30em|rules=yes}}
*[[Carlisle Floyd]]'s ''[[Of Mice and Men (opera)|Of Mice and Men]]'' (1970)
*[[Thomas Pasatieri]]'s ''[[Calvary (opera)|Calvary]]'' (1971)
*[[Thomas Pasatieri]]'s ''[[Black Widow (opera)|Black Widow]]'' (1972)
*[[Daniel Catán]]'s ''[[Florencia en el Amazonas]]'' (1998)
*[[Marvin David Levy]]'s ''[[Mourning Becomes Electra (opera)|Mourning Becomes Electra]]'' (2003, premiere of revised version)
*[[Daron Hagen]]'s ''[[Amelia (opera)|Amelia]]'' (2010)
*[[Sheila Silver]]'s ''[[A Thousand Splendid Suns (opera)|A Thousand Splendid Suns]]'' (2023)
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Opera}}
* [[Pacific MusicWorks]]

==References==
'''Notes'''
{{reflist}}
'''Sources'''
* {{Cite book
 | last =Jones
 | first =Nard
 | author-link =Nard Jones
 | year = 1972
 | title =Seattle
 | place =Garden City, New York
 | publisher =Doubleday
 | isbn =0-385-01875-4
 | oclc =532396
}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official|https://www.seattleopera.org/}}
* [https://www.seattleopera.org/performances-events/archive/ Official performance archive of Seattle Opera]
* [http://www.bruceduffie.com/drake.html Interview with Archie Drake], August, 1987
* [http://www.bruceduffie.com/ross.html Interview with Glynn Ross], August 4, 1987
* [http://www.bruceduffie.com/holt.html Two interviews with Henry Holt], March, 1980 & March 1990

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Musical groups established in 1963]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Seattle]]
[[Category:American opera companies]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Seattle]]
[[Category:1962 establishments in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Performing arts in Washington (state)]]