Seattle Opera has announced the full lineup of performances in their 2023/24 season. The upcoming season will mark Seattle Opera’s 60th anniversary. In honor of the event, Seattle Opera is presenting a selection of works that span almost the entire history of opera, from the 18th century through the 1980s.
The season includes works never before presented in Seattle with classics, ranging from intimate character portraits to fantasy epics. These tales will be brought to life by a cast of some of the most renowned opera composers, including more than 20 company debuts. Season subscriptions are on sale now.
“I am thrilled to be able to celebrate 60 years of Seattle Opera with this first-rate lineup of artists and titles,” said General Director Christina Scheppelmann. “60 years is a significant milestone for any American opera company, and it’s a testament to the strong tradition of opera and the performing arts in this city. This season will be both a reminder of that history and a promise of many more years to come.”
Das Rheingold
Would you renounce love to become all-powerful? The Nibelung Aldrich steals enchanted gold to craft a ring which allows him to do just that. Brother kills brother, the innocent are enslaved, and the King of Gods must decide where his power truly lies. Bass-baritone and Wagner veteran Greer Grimsley returns as Wotan alongside Frederick Ballentine, Michael Mayes, and the Seattle Opera debut of internationally celebrated mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves.
Alcina
On a remote island, the powerful sorceress Alcina lures men with her seductive magic. When a young woman disguised in armor comes to free her fiancé from the sorceress’s grip, relationships are entangled, passions are revealed, and, with the help of an enchanted ring, the strength of love is restored. This production features the return of soprano Vanessa Goikoetxea and mezzo-soprano Ginger Costa-Jackson, and marks the first time Alcina has been experienced by Seattle Opera audiences.
X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X
One of the most misunderstood figures in US history, Malcolm X was an icon of the civil rights movement. Get to know the man through a series of biographical vignettes that follow him from his tragic childhood in Lansing, Michigan, to his assassination in Harlem. Kenneth Kellogg and Joshua Stewart return to McCaw Hall in this “riveting and uncompromising work” (The New Yorker) that is being restored to the operatic canon in a coproduction with Detroit Opera, Opera Omaha, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and The Metropolitan Opera.
The Barber of Seville
The wheeling and dealing Figaro plays matchmaker between the savvy Rosina and the lovesick Count Almaviva, while Rosina’s vulturous guardian does everything he can to keep the lovebirds apart. Stage director Lindy Hume’s “bright hilarious production” (The Stranger) is an audience favorite with magnificent sets and colorful costumes. Combined with familiar and show-stopping tunes, this production is a treat for ears and eyes alike!