“Death with honor before life with dishonor!” A strong production of Puccini’s great tragedy.

Three of Seattle’s favorite superstar singers braved the Nisqually earthquake during the run of this Puccini thriller.

Rigoletto continues to be a fan favorite with this luxurious 1982 production.

A stunning production of Puccini’s grandest opera with an all-star cast.

Dorothy Kirsten’s Seattle appearance.

Puccini’s iconic tragedy, a staple of operatic performance, is performed for eager audiences.

A beautiful Renaissance-era production of the Verdi classic.

Composed in 1996, this evocative production debuted in Seattle in 1998. It proved so popular it was revived only 7 years later.

The ultimate tale of obsession unfolds in Bizet’s Carmen.

YAP’s first ‘black-box’ opera tour!

The playboy is punished! This Don G featured a heroic Ottavio and a despicable Giovanni.

An Aida featuring several RING singers.

Local favorites Vinson Cole, Sally Wolf, and Dale Duesing took on Puccini’s bohemians.

Greer Grimsley stars as the perfect villain!

The greatest American opera came to Seattle in a production organized by Houston Grand Opera.

Wagner News: “An opera experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Seattle Opera opens its doors with Rigoletto.

Puccini’s classic Tosca returns with Ghena Dimitrova.

A starry production of Verdi’s great melodrama.

Mirth and madness from the master of operatic mayhem!

Archie Drake’s first outing as Benoit/Alcindoro–a role he owned for decades at Seattle Opera.

Not a dry eye in the house at the end of this gorgeous production.

The Young Artists played Puccini’s beloved tragedy against Impressionist imagery.

Colorful production of audience favorite featuring new sets by Seattle Opera and memorable costumes from Zandra Rhodes.

A penguin-crocodile, floating coloratura queen, and befeathered Nathan Gunn delighted audiences in this final production of the millenium.

Giovanni Martinelli’s one Seattle Opera appearance!

A splendid production of Verdi’s masterpiece–complete with live horses!

Barbara Daniels impresses in this production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

Roberta Peters was Seattle Opera’s first Lucia.

A Fellini-style Don Giovanni starring a hot group of young artists.

A seductive production of Carmen that had it all.

Polish soprano Zdizislawa Donat was a memorable Lucia.

The first performance of Bizet’s classic tale in Seattle Opera history!

Carol Vaness takes on the role of Violetta in Verdi’s classic.

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

Enter a frozen world ruled by a harsh ice princess–at your own risk!

Patricia Racette starred in this heart-breakingly beautiful production.

Don Giovanni as Seattle had never seen it before!

Bizet’s sexy gypsy returns to the main stage!

Check out the production which caused the first-ever Seattle Times opera-related phone-in poll!

Korean soprano Sung-Sook Lee was Seattle Opera’s second Butterfly.

Romanian soprano Mariana Nicolesco was a beautiful Violetta.

Mozart’s beloved comedy performed by an adorable young cast.

Our second production of Puccini’s perennially popular tragedy.

This cast of singers play Puccini’s bohemians in the classic tale of young love and despair.

Starring June Anderson as Rosina!

Polish barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien triumphed as Mozart’s seductive bad boy.

Our unforgettable War and Peace celebrated the end of the Cold War.

Photos from Seattle Opera’s first production of the decade.

The Seattle Opera debut of Julian Patrick!

Famed translator and music critic Andrew Porter made his directorial debut.

Seattle Opera’s first production of Puccini’s beloved tragedy.

Artist of the Year Winner Stephanie Blythe wows in Aida.

Sherrill Milnes’s Seattle Opera debut!

A 1978 production of Bizet’s thrilling opera.

Starring future Artist-of-the-Year winners Lawrence Brownlee and Mary Elizabeth Williams!

Seattle Opera’s first home-grown production of the greatest American opera.

This colorful and imaginative production will return in May 2014.

Gordon Hawkins became Seattle’s Verdi baritone of choice with this production.

A multi-national cast brought Verdi’s tuneful melodrama to Seattle.

Beverly Sills’ only Mimì!

Gershwin’s fan favorite comes to life for the first time on the Seattle Opera stage.

Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.

Italian baritone Matteo Manuguerra shines in Seattle Opera’s second staging of Rigoletto.

A Met tour of a beloved opera.

A rare summer performance of a Verdi classic!

Young love triumphs over aged tyranny in this most popular of opera comedies.

Starring Seattle Opera’s first African-American singer!

Love at first candle lighting.

Starring Kaaren Erickson as Susanna.

Glynn Ross’s third and final Turandot–a production worthy of an MGM Bible epic spectacular!

More than 8,000 Seattelites enjoyed Madama Butterfly on the night of our first-ever Simulcast!

A lovely Tosca faced off against a vile Scarpia in this fine production.

A fantastic cast brings Bizet’s stunning opera alive.

Both comedy and tragedy are found in Pagliacci, but laughter turns to tears in this Seattle Opera production 2008.

An amusing production of Mozart’s beloved comedy.

Nilsson as the Ice Princess.

A lively production of Rossini’s great comedy.

The fledgling company’s first production.

Despair, madness, and revenge fill the stage in Donizetti’s classic Lucia di Lammermoor.

Back on the mainstage, Verdi’s Il Trovatore impresses again.

Sally Wolf won Artist of the Year this season for her extraordinary Lucia.

Aida set in a 19th century Museum of Egyptology? This Rochaix/Israel production intrigued some and baffled others.

Beverly Sills sang Lucia in Seattle.

An attractive young cast was terrific in this beloved opera about tragic young love.

The first Young Artists Program opera directed by Peter Kazaras!

Seattle’s first completely comic opera!

Two alluring mezzo-sopranos gave us intensely seductive Carmens.