Patricia Racette starred in this heart-breakingly beautiful production.

Local favorites Vinson Cole, Sally Wolf, and Dale Duesing took on Puccini’s bohemians.

Nilsson as the Ice Princess.

The ultimate tale of obsession unfolds in Bizet’s Carmen.

A 1978 production of Bizet’s thrilling opera.

Both comedy and tragedy are found in Pagliacci, but laughter turns to tears in this Seattle Opera production 2008.

A lovely Tosca faced off against a vile Scarpia in this fine production.

The first Young Artists Program opera directed by Peter Kazaras!

Three of Seattle’s favorite superstar singers braved the Nisqually earthquake during the run of this Puccini thriller.

“Death with honor before life with dishonor!” A strong production of Puccini’s great tragedy.

A rare summer performance of a Verdi classic!

Dorothy Kirsten’s Seattle appearance.

Seattle Opera’s first home-grown production of the greatest American opera.

Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.

Beverly Sills sang Lucia in Seattle.

Young love triumphs over aged tyranny in this most popular of opera comedies.

A Met tour of a beloved opera.

Don Giovanni as Seattle had never seen it before!

The fledgling company’s first production.

Romanian soprano Mariana Nicolesco was a beautiful Violetta.

Two alluring mezzo-sopranos gave us intensely seductive Carmens.

Puccini’s iconic tragedy, a staple of operatic performance, is performed for eager audiences.

Polish barihunk Mariusz Kwiecien triumphed as Mozart’s seductive bad boy.

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

Not a dry eye in the house at the end of this gorgeous production.

Greer Grimsley stars as the perfect villain!

A multi-national cast brought Verdi’s tuneful melodrama to Seattle.

Seattle Opera’s first production of Puccini’s beloved tragedy.

Seattle Opera opens its doors with Rigoletto.

Mirth and madness from the master of operatic mayhem!

Starring Kaaren Erickson as Susanna.

The Young Artists played Puccini’s beloved tragedy against Impressionist imagery.

Aida set in a 19th century Museum of Egyptology? This Rochaix/Israel production intrigued some and baffled others.

A beautiful Renaissance-era production of the Verdi classic.

An Aida featuring several RING singers.

A lively production of Rossini’s great comedy.

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

Enter a frozen world ruled by a harsh ice princess–at your own risk!

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

Photos from Seattle Opera’s first production of the decade.

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

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

Check out the production which caused the first-ever Seattle Times opera-related phone-in poll!

A Fellini-style Don Giovanni starring a hot group of young artists.

A seductive production of Carmen that had it all.

Beverly Sills’ only Mimì!

Gordon Hawkins became Seattle’s Verdi baritone of choice with this production.

This colorful and imaginative production will return in May 2014.

Starring June Anderson as Rosina!

The first performance of Bizet’s classic tale in Seattle Opera history!

Archie Drake’s first outing as Benoit/Alcindoro–a role he owned for decades at Seattle Opera.

Puccini’s classic Tosca returns with Ghena Dimitrova.

Italian baritone Matteo Manuguerra shines in Seattle Opera’s second staging of Rigoletto.

Seattle’s first completely comic opera!

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

The playboy is punished! This Don G featured a heroic Ottavio and a despicable Giovanni.

Our second production of Puccini’s perennially popular tragedy.

Artist of the Year Winner Stephanie Blythe wows in Aida.

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

Giovanni Martinelli’s one Seattle Opera appearance!

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

Starring Seattle Opera’s first African-American singer!

An attractive young cast was terrific in this beloved opera about tragic young love.

A starry production of Verdi’s great melodrama.

Bizet’s sexy gypsy returns to the main stage!

Sherrill Milnes’s Seattle Opera debut!

A fantastic cast brings Bizet’s stunning opera alive.

YAP’s first ‘black-box’ opera tour!

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

A stunning production of Puccini’s grandest opera with an all-star cast.

Wagner News: “An opera experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

An amusing production of Mozart’s beloved comedy.

Korean soprano Sung-Sook Lee was Seattle Opera’s second Butterfly.

More than 8,000 Seattelites enjoyed Madama Butterfly on the night of our first-ever Simulcast!

Roberta Peters was Seattle Opera’s first Lucia.

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

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

The Seattle Opera debut of Julian Patrick!

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

Love at first candle lighting.

Starring future Artist-of-the-Year winners Lawrence Brownlee and Mary Elizabeth Williams!

Sally Wolf won Artist of the Year this season for her extraordinary Lucia.

Colorful production of audience favorite featuring new sets by Seattle Opera and memorable costumes from Zandra Rhodes.

The greatest American opera came to Seattle in a production organized by Houston Grand Opera.

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

Polish soprano Zdizislawa Donat was a memorable Lucia.