Seattle Opera Announces Magical 2010/11 Season

Seattle Opera today announced its compelling 2010/11 season. The line-up features a Wagnerian masterpiece, a dark tragedy, a hilarious romp, a poignant retelling, and a magical fantasy, all wrapped into one thrilling season. Tristan und Isolde kicks off the season in July, followed by Lucia di Lammermoor in October. In 2011, audiences will see The Barber of Seville, Don Quixote, and The Magic Flute.

"We launch the season with a new production of one of the greatest operas ever composed, Richard Wagner's Tristan und Isolde," said General Director Speight Jenkins. "We have assembled great casts, conductors, and directors in a wide variety of operas-none of which has been seen in Seattle for at least ten years, and one which has never been done here. I can promise you that the season will live up to the traditions of Seattle Opera."

A tale of intense longing, Tristan is one of the composer's most breathtaking and influential works. This new production marks the first pairing of director Peter Kazaras (the artistic director of Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program) and designer Robert Israel (Parsifal, Israel-Rochaix Rings). The single cast performing Tristan-under the baton of Seattle Opera's Principal Guest Conductor Asher Fisch-includes Swedish soprano Annalena Persson, who will bring a stunning, intense stage presence to her American debut as Isolde, and noted Wagnerian Clifton Forbis as Tristan. Ring veterans Margaret Jane Wray, Greer Grimsley, and Stephen Milling round out the cast as Brangäne, Kurwenal, and King Marke, respectively. Tristan und Isolde runs July 31 to August 21, 2010.
In October, the company presents Donizetti's tragic romance Lucia di Lammermoor. This dark tale runs from October 16 to 30, 2010, featuring everything from a secret rendezvous and hidden romance to a family feud, a duel at dawn, and the most famous mad scene in opera. Luminous Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak sings Lucia in her company debut. Seattle-favorite William Burden (The Pearl Fishers, Iphigenia in Tauris) returns to the company as Edgardo, Lucia's forbidden lover. The Sunday/Friday cast features Leah Partridge in the title role with Scott Piper as Edgardo. Charles Taylor and Philip Cutlip alternate as Enrico, and Arthur Woodley sings Raimondo. Maestro Bruno Cinquegrani will make his Seattle Opera debut as conductor. Tomer Zvulun, a regular on the Metropolitan Opera's directing staff and associate director for Seattle's 2009 Ring, makes his company directorial debut with this production featuring sets designed by Robert A. Dahlstrom (I Puritani), costumes designed by Deborah Trout (The Marriage of Figaro), and lighting by Robert Wierzel (Aida).

Rossini's rollicking comedy The Barber of Seville comes to McCaw Hall from January 15 to 29, 2011. Possibly the most popular opera comedy ever created, this lively opera-the prequel to Mozart's Marriage of Figaro-is packed with familiar tunes. Lawrence Brownlee, a former Seattle Opera Artist of the Year, returns to Seattle as Count Almaviva in the opening night cast. Brownlee, the first artist ever to win both the Marian Anderson and the Richard Tucker awards in the same year, is internationally acclaimed as one of opera's bel canto tenors. Audiences will be treated to the rare experience of hearing Brownlee perform a challenging aria in the last scene (this aria is typically cut because of its vocal difficulties). Sarah Coburn is featured as Rosina in the opening night cast, with Patrick Carfizzi as Dr. Bartolo, and José Carbó in his company debut as the quick-witted Figaro. Former Seattle Opera Young Artist David Adam Moore will sing the role of Figaro on Sundays and Fridays. Nicholas Phan and Kate Lindsey, who makes her company debut this spring in the title role in Amelia, sing the lovers in the alternate cast. Conductor Dean Williamson and stage director Peter Kazaras, who were so successful in last season's Marriage of Figaro, are reuniting for this energetic and vivacious production.

February marks the Seattle Opera premiere of Massenet's Don Quixote. Cervantes' iconic literary hero comes to McCaw Hall from February 26 to March 12, 2011. Bass-baritone John Relyea sings the Don, a chivalrous knight determined to prove his love for the unattainable Dulcinea (Malgorzata Walewska). This brilliant dramatic pair received critical acclaim for Seattle Opera's 2009 production of Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle, and Walewska will soon sing Azucena in Verdi's Trovatore with the company. Eduardo Chama, who will be seen this season in the title role in Verdi's Falstaff, is the Don's faithful companion Sancho Panza. The alternate cast features Nicolas Cavallier and Daniela Sindram (The Marriage of Figaro) as Don Quixote and Dulcinea, and Richard Bernstein as Sancho. Linda Brovsky (I Puritani) directs the opera with Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro making his Seattle Opera debut. The production is intended to evoke the illustrations of Gustave Doré, and will feature sets designed by Donald Eastman with costumes designed by Missy West.

Seattle Opera's 2010/11 season concludes with Mozart's Magic Flute. This mythical fairy tale has been popular since its premiere in Vienna in 1791. Filled with the kind of enchantment beloved to the young at heart, the production features John Tessier as Tamino, Christine Brandes as Pamina, former Young Artist Emily Hindrichs as the Queen of the Night, Philip Cutlip as Papageno, and Ilya Bannik as Sarastro. The Sunday/Friday cast includes Jonathan Boyd as Tamino, Hanan Alattar as Pamina, Mari Moriya as the Queen of the Night, Keith Miller as Sarastro, and Leigh Melrose as Papageno. Gary Thor Wedow (Iphigenia in Tauris) conducts with two-time Artist-of-the-Year-winner Chris Alexander (Ariadne auf Naxos, The Tales of Hoffmann) directing.

To learn more about the 2010/11 season, including ticket information and full artist biographies, visit seattleopera.org/operas. Following are fact sheets, ticket information, and instructions for accessing Seattle Opera's Image Library.

 

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