Speight’s Wagner Memories: 2000 Half-RING

Speight remembers how the “Green” RING began its life.

The Road to Valhalla Part 3: Sets and Props

The Making of the Ring

Phil Kelsey at Seattle Opera

Phil Kelsey has been at the heart of Seattle Opera’s music department since 1983.

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 84 RING

Speight’s story of saving his first-ever RING from disaster.

National and International Casts

How Glynn Ross organized the two casts necessary for presenting opera in Seattle.

“His energy and ideas built Seattle Opera”

R. M. Campbell’s obituary recaps the remarkable career of Glynn Ross.

Turandot’s Hair & Makeup Challenge

See Seattle Opera’s Hair & Makeup crews at work..

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 86 RING

How the first go-around of “Ring 2” had some strengths and some weaknesses.

Seattle Opera Chorus

Ever bringing the voice of humanity to our stage!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 95 RING

Speight finds a new Siegfried–after the final dress rehearsal!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 01 RING

Speight finds a new Siegfried–with two days notice!

THE LARK OF GREAT YARMOUTH

A 2001 interview with Archie Drake, by Jonathan Dean.

2010 Tristan and Isolde

Watch Director’s Talk Video with Peter Kazaras

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 85 WALKÜRE

Speight remembers when the “Shiite Wagnerites” demanded his head.

“How to Make Fake Blood” Workshop

A special Halloween treat from fall 2010!

“Experience Opera”

Seattle Opera’s flagship education program has been introducing young people to opera for almost 30 years.

2009 The Road to Valhalla Part 2 – Costumes

The making of the Ring

The Road to Valhalla Part 4: Special Effects

The Making of the Ring

Artists’ Aides

Meet the invaluable volunteers who help visiting artists live in Seattle.

Rhinedaughter Laid Low By Bad Fish

When a vocal cover is not enough…

“Gold” and “Silver” Casts

The twin casts of Speight Jenkins’ Seattle Opera.

Stage Management

The unseen heroes who bring it all together!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 03 PARSIFAL

Speight remembers consecrating McCaw Hall with Wagner’s most Wagnerian opera.

1985 Jenůfa

Featuring the Seattle Opera debuts of Stephen Wadsworth and Peter Kazaras!

The Road to Valhalla Part 5: Orchestra & Chorus

The making of the Ring

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 98 TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

Speight’s dreams come true with a match made in operatic heaven.

Quick-Change from The Magic Flute

Seattle Opera transforms 8 blue-skinned slaves into yellow-robed priests in 90 seconds!

HENRY HOLT On Opera In English

Hear the voice of Seattle Opera’s first Music and Education Director!

Costume Shop

History of our costume shop!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 87 RING

Speight remembers his first great success with the RING.

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 89 MEISTERSINGER

Speight remembers how Nuremberg came to Seattle.

2010 Tristan and Isolde

Watch Video: Music with Maestro Asher Fisch

Seattle Symphony

The extraordinary musicians who wring our emotions dry at every opera.

Siegfried’s Bear

Perhaps the wildest animal ever to appear on our stage…

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 91 RING

The once-controversial “Ring 2” finally earns complete acceptance.

2009 RING – Road to Valhalla Part I: Rehearsals and Artists

Part one of our series previewing 2009 RING Cycle focused on the artists involved and their rehearsal process.

Seattle Opera Scenic Studios

Visit the Renton facility where the magic begins!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 05 RING

Speight: “A remarkably easy RING!”

The Cecilia Schultz Auditions

A precursor of Seattle Opera’s Young Artists Program.

“Seattle Opera took gamble on the grand scale to launch Wagner epic”

A 1982 article about Glynn Ross and Seattle’s Ring.

Perry Lorenzo at Seattle Opera

A great teacher who turned many in our community on to the beauty and power of opera.

1982: Speight Jenkins Meets Seattle Opera

Speight lectures on the Ring in the summer of 1982.

25 Years of Backstage Passes

25 Years of Backstage Passes collected by soprano Donna Baldwin, a member of our chorus.

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 84 TANNHÄUSER

Speight remembers how supertitles came to Seattle Opera.

THOMAS PASATIERI at SEATTLE OPERA

A favorite young composer of ours in the 1970s!

2009 "Speight Jenkins Day" on April 25

Mayor Greg Nickels honored Speight’s 25th with a proclamation.

Joseph Horowitz on Wagner in Seattle

From the book, “Classical Music in America”

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 89 DUTCHMAN

Speight learns to listen to young people at final dress rehearsals.

PERRY LORENZO on Wagner’s “Ring”

Listen to a clip from Perry Lorenzo’s famous RING lectures!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 94 LOHENGRIN

Speight gets the swan just the way he likes it!

Two Languages in the ’76 WALKÜRE Death-Announcement Scene

A cast substitution with unexpected results.

The “Lakmé” Tag-Team Tenor Triumph

One performance, one role, two tenors!

GLYNN ROSS Welcomes You To The RING

Hear the voice of Seattle Opera’s founding General Director!

Ernesto Alorda at Seattle Opera

Seattle Opera’s Community and Artist Relations Manager has been with the company since the late ’70s.

Seattle Opera’s Heroic Prop Master

Pete Olds’ quick-thinking saves the day.