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JULIAN PATRICK as Beckmesser

A serenade gone hilariously wrong!

1984/85 The Elixir of Love Program

Explore the 1984/85 Elixir of Love Program!

1988/89 Romeo and Juliet Program

Explore the 1988/89 Romeo and Juliet Program!

1982 Madama Butterfly
1988/89 La Traviata Program

Explore the 1988/89 La Traviata Program!

1980/81 The Tales of Hoffmann Program

Explore the 1980/81 Tales of Hoffmann Program!

1984 Elektra

Janice Yoes, then Seattle’s Brünnhilde, took on the fearsome title role.

1981/82 Madama Butterfly Program

Explore the 1981/82 Madama Butterfly Program!

1988/89 Satyagraha Program

Explore the 1988/89 Satyagraha Program!

1986 Tosca

Puccini’s classic Tosca returns with Ghena Dimitrova.

1985/86 Manon Program

Explore the 1985/86 Manon Program!

1987/88 Die Fledermaus Program

Explore the 1987/88 Die Fledermaus Program!

1980 RING

By 1980, Seattle’s Ring was a well-known west coast cultural phenomenon.

1988 Orphée et Eurydice

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

1980 Les contes d’Hoffmann

Ashley Putnam took on all three heroines in this production of Offenbach’s masterpiece.

1988 Die Fledermaus

Starring Dale Duesing as Eisenstein!

1985/86 Lucia di Lammermoor Program

Explore the 1985/86 Lucia di Lammermoor Program!

1987/88 Rigoletto Program

Explore the 1987/88 Rigoletto Program!

1983 Peter Grimes

Jon Vickers as Britten’s tragic fisherman misfit.

1981 Manon Lescaut

Carol Neblett made her debut as Puccini’s coquette.

1989 The Flying Dutchman
1985/86 Salome Program

Explore the 1985/86 Salome Program!

1984/85 Tannhäuser Program

Explore the 1984/85 Tannhäuser Program!

1985 Lucia di Lammermoor

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

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 87 RING

Speight remembers his first great success with the RING.

1985 Manon

The Seattle debut of Carol Vaness, a favorite soprano of the Seattle audience.

1987: Leonie Rysanek as Sieglinde

The great Viennese soprano’s only Seattle appearance!

1988/89 Flying Dutchman Program

Explore the 1988/89 Flying Dutchman Program!

1987 Faust

Francesca Zambello’s production boasted “theatrical virtues equaled only by a vintage MGM spectacular.”

La Sonnambula 1983

The only Seattle Opera appearance of powerhouse bass Cesare Siepi.

1982/83 Carmen Program

Explore the 1982/83 Carmen Program!

1987 Carmen

Bizet’s sexy gypsy returns to the main stage!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 89 DUTCHMAN

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

1980 Aida

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

1984 La forza del destino

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

1980 La traviata

Romanian soprano Mariana Nicolesco was a beautiful Violetta.

1988 Satyagraha

Philip Glass’s minimalist opera about nonviolent resistance.

1979/80 Faust Program

Explore the 1979/80 Faust Program!

1986 Don Pasquale

Donizetti’s cautionary tale about an old man with a young wife.

1989 Il Trovatore

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

1985/86 Cosi fan tutte Program

Explore the 1985/86 Cosi fan tutte Program!

1988 Rigoletto

A beautiful Renaissance-era production of the Verdi classic.

1989 Marriage of Figaro

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

Siegfried’s Bear

Perhaps the wildest animal ever to appear on our stage…

1986/87 Faust Program

Explore the 1986/87 Faust Program!

1982 Ring Program

Explore the 1982 Ring Program!

1981 Tristan und Isolde

Our first production of Wagner’s great song of love and death.

1989 Madama Butterfly

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

1985 Elixir of Love

Donizetti’s charming comedy about a magic bottle of wine.

1987 Otello

Starring the young Carol Vaness as Desdemona.

1983 Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci

One of the more successful productions from Speight Jenkins’ first season.

1980/81 Manon Lescaut Program

Explore the 1980/81 Manon Lescaut Program!

1987 Magic Flute

Maurice Sendak’s beautiful production of Mozart’s fairy-tale.

1986/87 Tosca Program

Explore the 1986/87 Tosca Program!

1982 Carmen

A seductive production of Carmen that had it all.

1984/85 La Boheme Program

Explore the 1984/85 La Boheme Program!

1983 Ring

The final cycle produced by Glynn Ross.

1986 RING

The first complete presentation of the imaginative Rochaix/Israel Ring 2.

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 84 RING

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

1982/83 Il Trovatore Program

Explore the 1982/82 Il Trovatore Program!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 85 WALKÜRE

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

1985 Jenůfa

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

1979/80 La Traviata Program

Explore the 1979/80 La Traviata Program!

1987/88 Carmen Program

Explore the 1987/88 Carmen Program!

1986 Eugene Onegin

Starring Dale Duesing, Peter Kazaras, Judith Haddon, and Geri Decker.

1988 Roméo and Juliette

Vinson Cole and Kathryn Gameroni were affectingly romantic as the star-crossed lovers.

1983/84 La forza del destino Program

Explore the 1983/84 Force of Destiny Program!

1981/82 Rigoletto Program

Explore the 1981/82 Rigoletto Program!

1986/87 Otello Program

Explore the 1986/87 Otello Program!

1989/90 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Program

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

1979/80 Queen of Spades Program

Explore the 1979/80 Queen of Spades Program!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 86 RING

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

1984: Dale Duesing as Wolfram

Duesing implores the Evening Star to bear his love to the lady of his heart.

1989/90 Marriage of Figaro Program

Explore the 1989/90 Marriage of Figaro Program!

1989 Werther

Seattle favorite Dale Duesing starred in the ‘baritone’ version of Massenet’s tragedy.

1984/85 The Ballad of Baby Doe Program

Explore the 1984/85 Ballad of Baby Doe Program!

1982/83 Peter Grimes Program

Explore the 1982/83 Peter Grimes Program!

1982 Il trovatore

A starry production of Verdi’s great melodrama.

1987 Ring

Leonie Rysanek’s unforgettable Seattle appearance!

1981 Ring & Tristan Program

Explore the program for our Summer 1981 Wagner festival, featuring the Ring and Tristan and Isolde.

1989 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

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

1986/87 Porgy and Bess Program

Explore the 1986/87 Porgy and Bess Program!

1979/80 Lucia di Lammermoor Program

Explore the 1979/80 Lucia di Lammermoor Program!

1981/82 Die Fledermaus Program

Explore the 1981/82 Die Fledermaus Program!

1980/81 Tristan and Isolde Program

Explore the 1980/81 Tristan and Isolde Program!

1989: Ben Heppner as Walther von Stolzing

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

Seattle Opera’s Heroic Prop Master

Pete Olds’ quick-thinking saves the day.

1982 Rigoletto

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

1986 Ring Program

Explore the 1986 Ring Program!

1986 Così fan tutte

Mozart’s problem comedy—with a time machine!

1987/88 The Magic Flute Program

Explore the 1987/88 Magic FluteM Program!

1989/90 Il Trovatore Program

Explore the 1989/90 Il Trovatore Program!

1987 Porgy and Bess

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

1982/83 The Barber of Seville Program

Explore the 1982/83 Barber of Seville Program!

1989/90 The Daughter of the Regiment Program

Explore the 1989/90 Daughter of the Regiment Program!

1984 The Ballad of Baby Doe

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

1983/84 Elektra Program

Explore the 1983/84 Elektra Program!

1983 Marriage of Figaro

Starring Kaaren Erickson as Susanna.

1980/81 Aida Program

Explore the 1980/81 Aida Program!

1982 Barber of Seville

Starring June Anderson as Rosina!

1986/87 Don Pasquale Program

Explore the 1986/87 Don Pasquale Program!

1982/83 La fanciulla del West Program

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

1983/84 The Marriage of Figaro Program

Explore the 1983/84 Marriage of Figaro Program!

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 89 MEISTERSINGER

Speight remembers how Nuremberg came to Seattle.

1983 La fanciulla del West
1980/81 Don Pasquale Program

Explore the 1980/81 Don Pasquale Program!

1985/86 Eugene Onegin Program

Explore the 1985/86 Eugene Onegin Program!

Geraldine Decker as Erda

Hear the voice of Seattle’s original Ur-Mutter.

1983 Ring Program

Explore the 1983 Ring Program!

1982 “Hollywood Die Fledermaus!”

The world’s favorite operetta, starring several popular television stars of the day.

1989/90 The Tales of Hoffmann Program

Explore the 1989/90 The Tales of Hoffmann Program!

1982 Ring

A game of musical chairs ensued when several Ring singers switched parts.

1984 Tannhäuser

For Seattle Opera’s only production of this masterpiece, we projected titles above the stage for the first time.

1980 Ring Program

Explore the 1980 Ring Program!

1985 La Bohème

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

1981 Ring

A new Siegfried added to the excitement of Seattle Opera’s most ambitious summer program yet.

1986 Salome

Josephine Barstow was “a soprano of pantherlike grace and searing intensity.”

1985-1995 RING 2

Watch clips from our imaginative second production of Wagner’s Ring.

1979/80 Fidelio Program

Explore the 1979/80 Fidelio Program!

1987/88 Orphée et Eurydice Program

Explore the 1987/88 Orpheus and Eurydice Program!

1984 Ring Program

Explore the 1984 Ring Program!

1987 Ring Program

Explore the 1987 Ring Program!

1985/86 Die Walküre Program

Explore the 1985/86 Die Walküre Program!

1988 La Traviata

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

1980 The Queen Of Spades

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

1981/82 Turandot Program

Explore the 1981/82 Turandot Program!

1981 Turandot

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

1985 Die Walküre

The moment when the difference between Speight Jenkins and Glynn Ross became apparent!

1981/82 The Abduction from the Seraglio Program

Explore the 1981/82 Abduction from the Seraglio Program!

1980 Fidelio

Starring Seattle’s Siegfried and Brünnhilde, Herbert Becker and Ute Vinzing.

1983/84 La Sonnambula Program

Explore the 1983/84 La Sonnambula Program!

1982 Abduction from the Seraglio

Seattle Opera’s only production of this tuneful comedy.

1988/89 Madama Butterfly Program

Explore the 1988/89 Madama Butterfly Program!

1984 Ring

The last summer for Ring 1!

1983/84 Cavalleria Rusticana, Pagliacci Program

Explore the 1983/84 Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliaci Program!

Roger Roloff as Wotan

Hear the bass-baritone who often sang Wotan in Seattle in the ’80s.

Speight’s Wagner Memories: 84 TANNHÄUSER

Speight remembers how supertitles came to Seattle Opera.

1981 Don Pasquale

Sir Geraint Evans returns!

1984/85 Jenufa Program

Explore the 1984/85 Jenufa Program!

1988/89 Werther Program

Explore the 1988/89 Werther Program!