Patricia Racette in her Seattle debut.
The production that began it all.
Seattle Opera’s first season!
The fledgling company’s first production.
The first Wagner production at Seattle Opera!
It’s love at first sight (and hearing!) when Seattle Opera meets Richard Wagner.
Seattle Opera’s first original commissioned work.
with Glenn Ross in 1970
Hear Archie Drake in this thrilling American premiere.
The world’s first ‘rock opera’ was Bette Midler’s only Seattle Opera appearance!
Program for 1972/73 Manon Lescaut–the production that launched our Scenic Studios and Costume Shop.
Glynn Ross begins introducing his favorite opera tetralogy to Seattle.
The first Ring performed complete within a week in the U.S. in a generation.
“Ride of the Valkyries” — sung in English!
The world’s favorite operetta, starring several popular television stars of the day.
Speight lectures on the Ring in the summer of 1982.
For Seattle Opera’s only production of this masterpiece, we projected titles above the stage for the first time.
Duesing implores the Evening Star to bear his love to the lady of his heart.
Explore the 1984/85 Jenufa Program!
Explore the 1984/85 Tannhäuser Program!
The moment when the difference between Speight Jenkins and Glynn Ross became apparent!
Featuring the Seattle Opera debuts of Stephen Wadsworth and Peter Kazaras!
Watch clips from our imaginative second production of Wagner’s Ring.
Explore the 1985/86 Die Walküre Program!
The great Viennese soprano’s only Seattle appearance!
Explore the 1987/88 Orpheus and Eurydice Program!
Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.
Seattle Opera’s only production to date of Wagner’s sunny comedy.
Hear the great Canadian tenor sing one of his most gorgeous roles.
Explore the 1989/90 Master-Singers of Nuremberg Program!
Renée Fleming’s debut as Dvořák’s little mermaid.
Our unforgettable War and Peace celebrated the end of the Cold War.
Watch clips from Seattle Opera’s monumental production from the Goodwill Games!
Two spectacular voices, early in their careers, brought an unknown masterpiece to Seattle.
Explore the 1990/91 Rusalka Program!
Explore the 1990/91 War and Peace Program!
Explore the 1992/93 Pelléas et Mélisande Program!
Dale Chihuly’s designs matched Debussy’s evocative, translucent music perfectly.
None who were there will ever forget Jane Eaglen’s stunning Seattle Opera debut!
Explore the 1993/94 Norma Program!
A soprano turned into a butterfly at the climax of Seattle Opera’s first Spanish-language opera!
Wagner News: “An opera experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Images from the first few years of our Young Artists Program!
Explore the 1998/99 Tristan and Isolde Program!
The people of Russia acclaim their new Tsar–but strange harmonies in the clanging bells warn us that all is not well.
The unforgettable opera that opened McCaw Hall!
Watch scenes from this beautiful opera by Mexican composer Daniel Catán!
This colorful and imaginative production will return in May 2014.
Hear the winners of our International Wagner Competitions!
A spectacular cast and walls that dripped blood made for a thrilling night of Verdi and Shakespeare.
“The jaws of hell gape wide and swallow all of creation” in some of Verdi’s most powerful music.
Discover Seattle Opera and Metropolitan Opera’s co-production of Iphigénie en Tauride, claimed as a rare treasure, debuted in 2007.
The earliest composed opera performed by Seattle Opera.
Hear Oreste’s mad scene from Gluck masterpiece, in a co-production created with the Met.
Explore the 2007/08 Iphigenia in Tauris Program!
Mayor Greg Nickels honored Speight’s 25th with a proclamation.
Explore the 2009/10 Amelia Program!
The first commission under Speight Jenkins’ leadership.
Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.
A fantastic young American soprano created the role of the heroine’s namesake in Amelia.
Seattle Opera’s first home-grown production of the greatest American opera.
Explore the 2011/12 Porgy and Bess Program!
More than 8,000 Seattelites enjoyed Madama Butterfly on the night of our first-ever Simulcast!
The announcement of Seattle Opera’s third General Director.
Our Young Artists saluted Giuseppe Verdi in style for his bicentennial!
Hear two of the great Wagner voices of our time, at the peak of their powers.
Hear the luscious voice of a great mezzo singing the role she created.
The award-winning performance in the first opera in the renovated McCaw Hall.
Hear the voice of Seattle Opera’s founding General Director!
A serenade gone hilariously wrong!
Listen to Asher Fisch conduct overwhelming music from the first show in McCaw Hall!
Renee Fleming made her Seattle Opera debut in one of her greatest roles.
Speight remembers consecrating McCaw Hall with Wagner’s most Wagnerian opera.
Speight remembers how the “Green” RING began its life.
Speight remembers how Nuremberg came to Seattle.
Speight’s dreams come true with a match made in operatic heaven.
Listen to excerpts from Seattle Opera’s English-language RINGS!
