2006 YAP La serva padrona

The world’s first opera buffa, toured around Washington by the Young Artists.

1976/77 Of Mice and Men Program

Explore the 1976/77 Of Mice and Men Program!

1993/94 The Turn of the Screw Program

Explore the 1993/94 Turn of the Screw Program!

Ana Lucrecia Garcia as Odabella

A memorable voice in a powerful role.

The Casting of George, Of Mice and Men

as told by Julian Patrick

2010 YAP Viva la Mamma! Program

Explore the 2010 Young Artists Program Viva la Mamma! Program!

2006 The Tragedy of Carmen Program

Explore the 2006 Young Artists Program The Tragedy of Carmen Program!

1992/93 Pelléas et Mélisande Program

Explore the 1992/93 Pelléas et Mélisande Program!

1994 Les pêcheurs de perles

Seattle Opera’s first production of the show featuring opera’s most gorgeous tenor-baritone duet!

2003/04 La fanciulla del West Program

Explore the 2003/04 Girl of the West Program!

2013 La Voix Humaine and Suor Angelica

A fascinating double-bill of dark twentieth-century masterpieces.

2003 Mourning Becomes Electra

Based on the Eugene O’Neill play, and revised by the composer for Seattle Opera’s production.

1998 Florencia en el Amazonas

A soprano turned into a butterfly at the climax of Seattle Opera’s first Spanish-language opera!

1975/76 Thais Program

Explore the 1975/76 Thais Program!

1991 Anna Bolena

Images highlighting 1991’s Anna Bolena

1983 Peter Grimes

Jon Vickers as Britten’s tragic fisherman misfit.

2007 YAP Trouble in Tahiti, Rita Program

Explore the 2008 Young Artists Program Trouble in Tahiti & Rita Program!

1966/67 Lakme Program

Explore the 1966/67 Lakme Program!

1988/89 Satyagraha Program

Explore the 1988/89 Satyagraha Program!

1984 The Ballad of Baby Doe

“Gold is a Fine Thing” and many more celebrated arias can be found in this American opera.

2007/08 I Puritani Program

Explore the 2007/08 I Puritani Program!

1965 Samson et Dalila

James McCracken brought down the house!

Artist of the Year: KATE LINDSEY as Amelia

Hear the luscious voice of a great mezzo singing the role she created.

2006 Giulio Cesare

The earliest opera yet presented by Seattle Opera.

1990 Rusalka

Renée Fleming’s debut as Dvořák’s little mermaid.

2000 Lakmé

This romantic French opera features the popular “Flower Duet” and the “Bell Song,” beloved of coloraturas of yesteryear.

1968 The Crucible

The first contemporary opera presented by Seattle Opera.

2005 The End Of The Affair

The first Jake Heggie opera performed at Seattle Opera.

2012 Attila

Seattle Opera’s stirring production of this Verdi rarity.

1971/72 Black Widow Program

Explore the 1971/72 Black Widow Program!

1990/91 Anna Bolena Program

Explore the 1990/91 Anna Bolena Program!

1970: Of Mice and Men World Premiere

Hear Archie Drake in this thrilling American premiere.

1976 The Seagull

Thomas Pasatieri’s opera based on the Checkov play.

1967 Lakmé

Joan Sutherland’s Seattle debut!

1990/91 War and Peace Program

Explore the 1990/91 War and Peace Program!

2010: Jennifer Zetlan as The Flier in Amelia

A fantastic young American soprano created the role of the heroine’s namesake in Amelia.

2008 YAP Enchanted Child, Gianni Schicchi Program

Explore the 2008 Young Artists Program Enchanted Child, Gianni Schicchi Program!

1971 Calvary Program

Glynn Ross comissioned a new Pasatieri chamber opera for a church in Medina.

2009 YAP A Midsummer Night’s Dream Program

Explore the 2009 Young Artists Program A Midsummer Night’s Dream Program!

2001/02 Rusalka

Explore the 2001/02 Rusalka Program!

1969/70 Of Mice and Men Program

Explore the 1969/70 Of Mice and Men Program!

2010 Amelia

Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.

2005/06 The End of the Affair Program

Explore the 2005/06 The End of the Affair Program!

1972 Black Widow

World Premiere of a new Pasatieri opera!

2005/06 Macbeth Program

Explore the 2005/06 Macbeth Program!

DON CARLOS Grand Inquisitor scene, with Paul Plishka and Gabor Andrasy

Two of opera’s darkest characters blend their voices.

1993 Pelléas et Mélisande

Dale Chihuly’s designs matched Debussy’s evocative, translucent music perfectly.

1967/68 The Crucible Program

Explore the 1967/68 The Crucible Program!

1992 The Passion of Jonathan Wade

Dale Duesing played a Union soldier in over his head in post-Civil War South Carolina.

Artist of the Year: CHRISTOPHER MALTMAN as Billy Budd

Hear Christopher Maltman sing his award-winning Billy Budd!

1996 Andrea Chénier

Superstar tenor required! Ben Heppner was the first Andrea Chénier at Seattle Opera since Franco Corelli in 1968.

1997/98 Florencia in the Amazon Program

Explore the 1997/98 Florencia in the Amazon Program!

1985 Jenůfa

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

1967/68 Romeo and Juliet Program

Explore the 1967/68 Romeo and Juliet Program!

2007 YAP Rita

Tenor and baritone fight—not for the soprano’s love, but to escape her!

Stravinsky Conducts His Own "Soldier's Tale"

When Stravinsky and Basil Rathbone appeared at Seattle Opera!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 89 MEISTERSINGER

Speight remembers how Nuremberg came to Seattle.

2008 YAP L’enfant et les sortilèges

An imaginative production of a wonderfully magical opera.

2007: Brett Polegato as Oreste

Hear Oreste’s mad scene from Gluck masterpiece, in a co-production created with the Met.

The Premiere: Of Mice and Men

as told by composer Carlisle Floyd

1982/83 La fanciulla del West Program

Explore the 1982/83 Girl of the Golden West Program!

2008 Les pêcheurs de perles

Bizet’s exotic bonbon returns, starring William Burden.

1989 Dialogues des Carmelites

Our only production of the Poulenc masterpiece.

2001/02 Un ballo in maschera Program

Explore the 2001/02 Un ballo in maschera Program!

Artist of the Year: ROBERT ORTH as Danilo

Hear Robert Orth sing “Da geh’ ich zu Maxims”!

1977 Le roi de Lahore

Joan Sutherland in a Massenet rarity—also starring the young James Morris!

2006 YAP Turn of the Screw

A beautifully haunting production of Britten’s ghost story.

1999/2000 Lakme Program

Explore the 1999/2000 Lakme Program!

2008 YAP Tatyana’s Letter Program

Explore the 2008 Young Artists Program Tatyana’s Letter Program!

2007 Iphigénie en Tauride

Discover Seattle Opera and Metropolitan Opera’s co-production of Iphigénie en Tauride, claimed as a rare treasure, debuted in 2007.

2011/12 Attila Program

Explore the 2011/12 Attila Program!

1988/89 Romeo and Juliet Program

Explore the 1988/89 Romeo and Juliet Program!

1974/75 Mefistofele Program

Explore the 1974/75 Mefistofele Program!

1974 Mefistofele

A sexy devil bewitched Seattle Opera in 1974.

1976 Thaïs
1988 Satyagraha

Philip Glass’s minimalist opera about nonviolent resistance.

2011 Don Quichotte

This innovative new production turned the stage into a library desktop, complete with giant books, ink wells, and feather pens.

2001 Billy Budd

Britten’s all-male nautical tragedy made its Seattle Opera debut in a spectacular production from Francesca Zambello, Alison Chitty, and Alan Burrett.

1993 The Merry Widow

Catch a glimpse of Seattle Opera’s first and only production of Lehár’s The Merry Widow.

Artist of the Year: BRIAN ASAWA as Arsamene

Hear Brian Asawa’s award-winning performance in Xerxes!

1965/66 Samson and Delilah Program

Explore the 1965/66 Samson and Delilah Program!

1982 Abduction from the Seraglio

Seattle Opera’s only production of this tuneful comedy.

Artist of the Year: MARY ELIZABETH WILLIAMS as Serena

Listen to “My man’s gone now”!

1979/80 Queen of Spades Program

Explore the 1979/80 Queen of Spades Program!

1991/92 The Ballad of Baby Doe Program

Explore the 1990/91 Ballad of Baby Doe Program!

1998/99 Vanessa Program

Explore the 1998/99 Vanessa Program!

1989: Ben Heppner as Walther von Stolzing

Hear the great Canadian tenor sing one of his most gorgeous roles.

1984/85 Jenufa Program

Explore the 1984/85 Jenufa Program!

Friendship Duet from DON CARLOS, with Vinson Cole and William Stone

Hear opera’s ultimate tenor-baritone duet.

2006/07 Julius Caesar in Egypt Program

Explore the 2006/07 Julius Caesar in Egypt Program!

1995/96 Andrea Chenier Program

Explore the 1995/96 Andrea Chenier Program!

2005 Florencia en el Amazonas

Watch scenes from this beautiful opera by Mexican composer Daniel Catán!

2005 Florencia en el Amazonas

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

1988 Orphée et Eurydice

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

1976 Of Mice and Men

The return of this great American work, first performed in Seattle in 1970.

2010 YAP Viva la Mamma!

Mamma knows best…not!

1982/83 Peter Grimes Program

Explore the 1982/83 Peter Grimes Program!

1992/93 The Merry Widow Program

Explore the 1992/93 The Merry Widow Program!

1990 WAR AND PEACE

Watch clips from Seattle Opera’s monumental production from the Goodwill Games!

JULIAN PATRICK as Beckmesser

A serenade gone hilariously wrong!

2008 I Puritani

Explore this beloved cast, full of beautiful voices and frequent Seattle Opera artists.

2007 Julius Caesar

The earliest composed opera performed by Seattle Opera.

1999 Der Freischütz

Seven magic bullets consecrated to the devil wreak havoc in this, the original German Romantic opera.

La Sonnambula 1983

The only Seattle Opera appearance of powerhouse bass Cesare Siepi.

1990/91 Rusalka Program

Explore the 1990/91 Rusalka Program!

1996/97 Xerxes Program

Explore the 1996/97 Xerxes Program!

1970 Of Mice and Men

Seattle Opera’s first original commissioned work.

PARSIFAL Enters the Grail Temple

Listen to Asher Fisch conduct overwhelming music from the first show in McCaw Hall!

2008/09 The Pearl Fishers Program

Explore the 2008/09 The Pear Fishers Program!

2006 YAP Turn of the Screw Program

Explore the 2006 Young Artists Program The Turn of the Screw Program!

2012 YAP King For A Day

Our only production of Verdi’s ‘other’ comedy.

2001 Rusalka

The last opera produced in the old Seattle Opera House.

2006 The Italian Girl in Algiers Program

Explore the 2006/07 L’Italiana in Algeri Program!

1992 The Ballad of Baby Doe

This charming folk opera returned to Seattle Opera with an all-new cast.

1999 Vanessa

Our only production of this intriguing American work.

2000/01 Billy Budd Program

Explore the 2000/01 Billy Budd Program!

1989/90 Dialogues of the Carmelites Program

Explore the 1989/90 Dialogues of the Carmelites Program!

2003/04 Mourning Becomes Electra Program

Explore the 2003/04 Mourning Becomes Electra Program!

2007 YAP Trouble in Tahiti

A touring production of Bernstein’s American masterpiece.

1969 Mantra

Seattle Opera goes psychedelic!

1993/94 The Pearl Fishers Program

Explore the 1993/94 The Pearl Fishers Program!

1987/88 Orphée et Eurydice Program

Explore the 1987/88 Orpheus and Eurydice Program!

1989/90 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Program

Explore the 1989/90 Master-Singers of Nuremberg Program!

1993/94 Hansel and Gretel Program

Explore the 1993/94 Hansel and Gretel Program!

1994/95 The Cunning Little Vixen Program

Explore the 1994/95 Cunning Little Vixen Program!

1994 The Cunning Little Vixen

Maurice Sendak designed this charming production of an opera beloved by all ages.

2007/08 Iphigenia in Tauris Program

Explore the 2007/08 Iphigenia in Tauris Program!

2008/09 Bluebeard’s Castle, Erwartung Program

Explore the 2008/09 Bluebeard’s Castle and Erwartung Program!

1981/82 The Abduction from the Seraglio Program

Explore the 1981/82 Abduction from the Seraglio Program!

1999/2000 Der Freischutz Program

Explore the 1999/2000 Der Freischutz Program!

1997 Xerxes

Beloved mezzo Frederica von Stade’s only Seattle Opera appearance!

2010 Amelia

The first commission under Speight Jenkins’ leadership.

1971/72 Un ballo in maschera Program

Explore the 1971/72 A Masked Ball Program!

1990 War and Peace

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

1972 La Périchole

Our only performance of this charming operetta.

1980 The Queen Of Spades

Seattle Opera’s only production of Tchaikovsky’s Pushkin-inspired tragedy.

1984/85 The Ballad of Baby Doe Program

Explore the 1984/85 Ballad of Baby Doe Program!

2004 La fanciulla del West

A rootin’, tootin’ barn-burner of a western with a strong Puccini cast.

1975/76 The Seagull Program

Explore the 1975/76 The Seagull Program!

2007 YAP Falstaff Program

Explore the 2007 Young Artists Program Falstaff Program!

Stravinsky’s Visit to Seattle Opera

as told by Hans Lehmann

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 03 PARSIFAL

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

1994 Hansel und Gretel

Angels aloft! And sliding down a giant playground slide in this familiar fairy-tale.

1993/94 Don Carlos Program

Explore the 1993/94 Don Carlos Program!

1971 Tommy

The world’s first ‘rock opera’ was Bette Midler’s only Seattle Opera appearance!

1992/93 The Passion of Jonathan Wade Program

Explore the 1992/93 Passion of Jonathan Wade Program!

2009 Bluebeard’s Castle & Erwartung

This fascinating double-bill won its director Artist of the Year.

2012/13 La Voix Humaine/ Suor Angelica Program

Explore the 2013/14 La Voix Humaine/ Suor Angelica Program!

1990: Ben Heppner and Renee Fleming as the Prince and Rusalka

Two spectacular voices, early in their careers, brought an unknown masterpiece to Seattle.

“La mamma morta” from ANDREA CHENIER

A great Italian American soprano in her Seattle Opera debut.

2009 YAP Midsummer Night’s Dream

Our Young Artists rise to the challenge of Britten’s Shakespeare!

2009/10 Amelia Program

Explore the 2009/10 Amelia Program!

2009 YAP Midsummer Night’s Dream

Britten’s Shakespeare, set in a magical boarding school!

2010/11 Don Quichotte Program

Explore the 2010/11 Don Quichotte Program!

1989 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

Seattle Opera’s only production to date of Wagner’s sunny comedy.