In her only Seattle Opera appearance, the great Regina Resnik provided an unforgettable, larger-than-life Countess, dominating the stage with her voice (still a riveting instrument), her stage savvy, and her sheer presence. “The strength of her character pervades the entire production,” The Seattle Times wrote. Seattle mainstay Dennis Bailey sang Hermann with convincingly romantic-hero fervor. Radmila Smiljanic was a late but efficient replacement for the originally announced Raina Kabaivanska in the role of Lisa. The production had a convincing Slavic feel, with Seattle’s Radost Folk Ensemble dancers and impressive sets (from the Metropolitan Opera).