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

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

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

Artist of the Year Winner Stephanie Blythe wows in Aida.

Sherrill Milnes’s Seattle Opera debut!

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

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

Love at first candle lighting.

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

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

Starring June Anderson as Rosina!

A 1978 production of Bizet’s thrilling opera.

Our second production of Puccini’s perennially popular tragedy.

Polish soprano Zdizislawa Donat was a memorable Lucia.

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

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

A lively production of Rossini’s great comedy.

Starring Kaaren Erickson as Susanna.

Don Giovanni as Seattle had never seen it before!

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

Dorothy Kirsten’s Seattle appearance.

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

A fantastic cast brings Bizet’s stunning opera alive.

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

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

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

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

Seattle’s first completely comic opera!

The Seattle Opera debut of Julian Patrick!

Beverly Sills sang Lucia in Seattle.

Patricia Racette starred in this heart-breakingly beautiful production.

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

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

A starry production of Verdi’s great melodrama.

An Aida featuring several RING singers.

A rare summer performance of a Verdi classic!

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

Puccini’s classic Tosca returns with Ghena Dimitrova.

Greer Grimsley stars as the perfect villain!

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

Nilsson as the Ice Princess.

YAP’s first ‘black-box’ opera tour!

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

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

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

Giovanni Martinelli’s one Seattle Opera appearance!

The first Young Artists Program opera directed by Peter Kazaras!

Mirth and madness from the master of operatic mayhem!

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

Bizet’s sexy gypsy returns to the main stage!

A beautiful Renaissance-era production of the Verdi classic.

Two alluring mezzo-sopranos gave us intensely seductive Carmens.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Met tour of a beloved opera.

An amusing production of Mozart’s beloved comedy.

This colorful and imaginative production will return in May 2014.

Starring Seattle Opera’s first African-American singer!

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

Seattle Opera opens its doors with Rigoletto.

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

The fledgling company’s first production.

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

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

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

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

A seductive production of Carmen that had it all.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roberta Peters was Seattle Opera’s first Lucia.

Beverly Sills’ only Mimì!

Seattle Opera’s beautiful world premiere from 2010.

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

Our powerful first production of this Gluck masterwork.

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

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

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

Romanian soprano Mariana Nicolesco was a beautiful Violetta.