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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The fledgling company’s first production.

Giovanni Martinelli’s one Seattle Opera appearance!

Romanian soprano Mariana Nicolesco was a beautiful Violetta.

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

Mirth and madness from the master of operatic mayhem!

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

Two alluring mezzo-sopranos gave us intensely seductive Carmens.

YAP’s first ‘black-box’ opera tour!

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

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

Beverly Sills’ only Mimì!

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

Greer Grimsley stars as the perfect villain!

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

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

Starring Kaaren Erickson as Susanna.

Don Giovanni as Seattle had never seen it before!

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

Polish soprano Zdizislawa Donat was a memorable Lucia.

A 1978 production of Bizet’s thrilling opera.

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

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

An amusing production of Mozart’s beloved comedy.

Beverly Sills sang Lucia in Seattle.

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

Starring Seattle Opera’s first African-American singer!

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

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

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

A fantastic cast brings Bizet’s stunning opera alive.

A seductive production of Carmen that had it all.

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

Artist of the Year Winner Stephanie Blythe wows in Aida.

Patricia Racette starred in this heart-breakingly beautiful production.

The first Young Artists Program opera directed by Peter Kazaras!

A Met tour of a beloved opera.

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

Starring June Anderson as Rosina!

Seattle Opera opens its doors with Rigoletto.

Seattle’s first completely comic opera!

Love at first candle lighting.

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

This colorful and imaginative production will return in May 2014.

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

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

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

Our second production of Puccini’s perennially popular tragedy.

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

A starry production of Verdi’s great melodrama.

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

Nilsson as the Ice Princess.

A rare summer performance of a Verdi classic!

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

The Seattle Opera debut of Julian Patrick!

An Aida featuring several RING singers.

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

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

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

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

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

Sherrill Milnes’s Seattle Opera debut!

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

Roberta Peters was Seattle Opera’s first Lucia.

Puccini’s classic Tosca returns with Ghena Dimitrova.

Bizet’s sexy gypsy returns to the main stage!

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

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

Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.

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

A lively production of Rossini’s great comedy.

A penguin-crocodile, floating coloratura queen, and befeathered Nathan Gunn delighted audiences in this final production of the millenium.

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

Dorothy Kirsten’s Seattle appearance.

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

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

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

A beautiful Renaissance-era production of the Verdi classic.

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

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