Seattle Opera

Last night I attended a performance of Der Fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman). It was the fourth time I have seen this opera. This Seattle Opera version was stupendous. It was head and shoulders above a wonderful rendition put on in Chicago some years back and superior to an earlier version by Seattle Opera. It left a version I attended at the Sydney Opera House in the dust. That Sydney performance was memorable only for technical glitches.
The voices and singing last night were glorious. The set and costume design were fantastic. Really what a performance. We are so fortunate, in Seattle, to have access to such high artistic opportunities. No matter where in the world you go, Seattle Opera can match the quality. Clearly, Aidan Lang, building on the shoulders of the great Speight Jenkins, is achieving significant things here.

I just left Le Nozze, and I was not moved, as I should have been. I’ve seen this opera all over the world – and it holds a special place in my heart…
The singers were all great, though, miscast… Susanna had a big, ol’ spintoish type voice and the Countess had a delicate, almost soubrette type voice – this resulted in her not being heard during the larger ensembles… Again, beautiful voices, but poorly placed.
Chemistry on stage was lacking… And some scenes seemed forced. I think the direction was translated awkward on stage and I blame it for the lackluster stage interactions.
It seemed like Cherubino was the only person having fun (Cherubino stole the show, btw…) – she was amazing!
The orchestra had a clean sound and the tempos were faster than usually performed (and rightfully so!).
I’d go back again, but I wouldn’t pay $ 80 for a seat.

I saw The Pearl Fishers on Friday the 30^th, 2015 with what used to be called the Silver cast. The set was a magical place and the costumes were also beautifully done. The cast was not evenly talented. Anthony Kalis as Nadir sang sharp much of the evening except when he lightened up his sound. Keith Phares as Zurga has a lovely voice, but most of the time he just stood in one place with no energy in his body (which was very well built!) to convey his character. Joo Won Kang as Nourabad sang with a strong voice and presence.
Other than the dancers who added beautifully to the evening, the star of the opera was Elizabeth Zharoff. She completely inhabited her character and sang with a lovely lush tone up and down her range that I hope to hear again. All eyes were on her when she was on the stage. The orchestra and chorus were not always together at moments throughout the evening. It is not an opera that thrills me, but it was good to see what Seattle Opera could do with it. Glad that I went.

I treated myself to seasons tickets to the cultural art experience of opera! Seattle opera offers many season ticket holder incentives from free parking in the garage with skybridge to upgraded seats and discounted guest passes. I enjoy preordering my wine and having it waiting for me at intermission. What a great night out now just need an opera buddy! My favorite is still La Boheme

Edit: originally 3 stars, knocking it down to 1. THESE PEOPLE WILL. NOT. STOP. CALLING ME! It’s pretty sad when you have all of their numbers memorized and know to ignore them.
I decided to check out the opera with the promotional $ 25 dollar seats all the way in the back. It was my first time to an opera, and we were excited as we love the performing arts.
Unfortunately, I’m sorry to say that I probably won’t be going back. The singing itself was superb and I take my hat off to the vocalists who practice this form of art. I respect the level of detail, difficulty, and discipline that goes into opera.
However, I won’t be going back for two reasons.
First, the opera is an acquired taste and I certainly didn’t acquire it while watching Semele. It takes a level of patience and maturity that I will readily admit that I don’t have.
Second, WHO ON EARTH DESIGNED THE SET? IKEA would be my first bet. The set’s fireplace was a projection onto a retractable screen. The lighting was white, straight from the set of Star Trek. I actually felt like the plot was set in the year 2500.
Go if this is your thing, but it certainly wasn’t mine.

CHECK IT OUT!!! Its always a great time!

Love it! My wife and I have been to several productions and had season tickets last year.
My only complaint: once they get your phone number, they’ll call a lot for fundraising and ticket sales.

I cannot express my incredible delight and wonder at the experience I had recently with the Seattle Opera’s rendition of The Tales of Hoffman.
I’ve always enjoyed the artistry of opera, but this was actually my first chance to see it performed live, and the opulence of the costumes, the talent of the performers, the character each singer brought to the stage simply blew me away.
This opera company is a powerful victory for the arts in Seattle and I cannot imagine that any opera company in the world could’ve dazzled my senses more than the performance I was so lucky to have a seat for.
Do not hesitate to spring for the tickets for this one Saturday evening. The operas are sung in their original languages, but there are subtitles and the program explains the story, so any gaps in understanding are easily remedied.
I definitely would not recommend this for children, but as a parents night out, it’s a gorgeous treat; a chance to wear your elegant party gown and sip champagne during the intermissions while being dazzled by the elegance and superior performance of the Seattle Opera.
This opera company is definitely world class, and I will absolutely be back.

I am biased as an ex-​employee, but I do have some handy hints.
Preorder any drinks you’d want at the intermission. You pay ahead, and they have your order ready on the side bar with your order ticket under it.
The operas are performed in their original languages. The supertitle translation of the lyrics is not exact. Sometimes it’s better!
There are seat cushions available to borrow at the coat check right under the main stairs off the entrance hall. Helps if you’re short. Binoculars and hearing enhancement devices are available for $ 5 rent just around the corner from that.
If you are picking up tickets at the will call, it opens two hours before curtain. Sometimes orders get scrambled, so you might be asked some random sounding questions. Believe me, they ain’t random.
Yes, ask if you can get better seats at one of the sales windows. Nothing ventured nothing gained, and those folks know the house.
The main ticket office is on John Street, off of Denny and Fairview (if you are by the 13 Coins, you are within 100 feet). Yes, it’s a hike from the Center, and it’s a good idea to call ahead if you have to visit.
Yes, there is standing room, and those tickets go onsale the day of the show over the phone.
Sometimes the ‘second’ or ‘silver’ cast is even better than the first. Do a little reading first. Don’t be fooled by the opening night snobs.
The coffee bar is on the honor system, but you can scam a cup for water from the drinking fountains.
Yes, the women’s rooms are twice as big as the men’s. This was a major point in fundraising for McCaw Hall. And the peach lighting IS flattering.
More often than not, the general director Speight Jenkins will give a free talk/q&a after the performance. Save yourself the traffic headache and hear him deal with the hoi polloi. Hoping the new guy continues this.
The more unusual the opera, chances are the better the production will be.
Seattle Opera is staffed by folks who have taken a lot of pay cuts over the years, and filled out by volunteers who put in many hours. All of us just want you to enjoy yourself. Bring your best self, dress for fun, and see you there. It’s going to be a great show!

I’ve been a season ticket holder for several years now, and generally purchase only the classics. Seattle Opera does a wonderful job with their productions — the sets are great, the music and singing easy to hear and understand, and the facility is top notch. I grew up with the Houston Grand Opera, probably second best in the country next to the Met, and Seattle doesn’t lag terribly far behind. The best advice I can give for intermission is to pre-​order your food and beverages, which saves a lot of waiting in line.
The production of Lucia di Lammermoor a few years back was phenomenal — brought my daughter and me to tears!

My girlfriend has been working as a set painter for The Ring production and she was able to take me to the dress rehearsal for Das Rheingold last Saturday. It was pretty magnificent. I’d never been to the opera before, so it was a new experience for me. I loved it.

A great city deserves great cultural institutions. Seattle Opera is one of the shining gems in Seattle’s crown. Speight Jenkins, General Director, has built Seattle Opera into a first class company that consistently produces great opera and features both known stars and up-​and-​coming stars. Never disappointed! Can’t wait for the return of Wagner’s Ring this year!

We watched Taurodont last night. The opera house itself was great. The show was average.
We arrived about 20 minutes before the show which gave us time to use the bathroom and find our seats. We were in the third tier, but had second row middle seats. Despite being far back, the sound was clear and I could see easily.
They do rent binoculars and audio sets for $ 5. I did not realize this until after the show.
My only complaint was the concession stand. We tried to get an ice tea during both intermissions. The first one we didn’t make it. The second one we bolted to the line and the second we got our drink the bells chimed. I felt like I had to chug my drink down. The service was incredibly SLOW. When we got to the front they only had two cashiers and one many pour wine. Right as we got to the front he broke the cork. Then our cashier turned his back on the rest of the line to try to help him. After a while, the both gave up, one left and the cashier finally turned around to let us purchase bottled tea. Also right after we purchased the drink the bells chimed so we basically had to chug it down.
Another thing I realized after the show, they had a complimentary coffee station. Would have been nice to have a complementary water station or even tea station because that’s really all I needed.

It was my first opera experience, so I can’t really compare to others, but oh boy, my husband and I LOVED it. It was a beautiful house.
We flew up to see Madama Butterfly, and the production was gorgeously done.
We ordered tickets online, got e-​tickets, printed out and brought them over to the theater. Easy breezy.
We’d love to go back there for another production! :)

I was here to see Madama Butterfly with a very low expectation. I’ve seen Madama Butterfly quite a few times but I was bored on that weekend so I gave it a shot.
I HAVE 2 and HUGE COMPLAINTS.
1. The show starts at 2PM and we were there at 11:30AM to pick-​up our tickets. We didn’t care if the ticket booths are not yet open but at least there should be a waiting area. It was raining and chilly and a lot of people are standing outside waiting for the doors to open. There’s a «Prelude’ restaurant and we can see the employees are ignoring us. An old lady on a wheelchair told me that they have a 11:30 reservation at Prelude and the doors are still close at 11:30? WOW.
2. Poor signage. It says“tickets can be picked up at John St» or similar to that. Where is freaking John St!!! Seattle Center is so huge. What the heck.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK:
1. One of the best Madama Butterfly that I’ve seen. Great cast. Simple and realistic stage.
2. They are using a real boy (I’ve seen puppets before). And the boy is such a good actor.
I’m going to see a show again here. Next stop: TURANDOT.

3 years worth of season tickets.
Always good for a date night. Not nearly as fancy as you might think. Just wear a cocktail dress, and have him wear slacks and a nice shirt, maybe a jacket.
I highly recommend the Bravo club if you’re under 40. Free drinks and discounted tickets, the member ship paid for its self after 2 intermissions for my husband and I. Love it!

World class opera right here in Seattle. As a subscriber and a singer myself, I am always impressed with both the business savvy of this organization and the artistic level of greatness. MOM is a wonderful facility with really not a bad seat in the house. Great packages, too, for the under 40 crowd.
I just wish everyone would dress up a bit more!

Opera invokes very dear memories from my childhood. Growing up in Russia, both of my parents had full time careers and I had to be self sufficient at an early age. One of my mother’s close friends was the director of the theater in our city. I would watch plays, ballet and opera on a regular basis. It kept me busy in the evenings when my folks were not around ;-)
Bizet’s Carmen was instantly one of my favorites. Maybe it was the French language, maybe a free spirited female lead, or maybe the gypsy culture I was familiar with, probably all of the above captivated me.
I was very excited to purchase these tickets, since I have not had a chance to check out the Seattle Opera house and I was very eager to introduce my other half to the art of opera. To me opera was the original musical, beautiful sets, music, stories and vocals that can bring you to laughter or tears without any translation. It’s magical.
McCaw Hall is a beautiful space with fantastic acoustics. Cocktails and wine are available during intermissions and you may even pre order your next round. Complimentary coat check, programs and lovely staff.
If you have not experienced opera, create a special occasion out of it. QA area offers a plethora of dinning and cocktail options for before and after.
And ladies, do we really need an excuse to buy a new, gorgeous dress?

I have recently fell in love with the Seattle Opera and opera in general. My mother and I bought 3-​show tickets this season (Lucia di Lammermoor, The Barber of Seville, and The Magic Flute), and I now wish we also bought tickets for Don Quixote. The Seattle Opera is cultural gem.
Yes, the opera can be pricey, but it is worth it to see such high-​caliber singers. Everything is fantastic: the cast, the sets, and the orchestra. Like one previous reviewer mentioned — do go on a Saturday or Wednesday. My tickets are for opening night, but I have heard from a long-​time opera lover that the silver cast is very talented, but not as good as the main cast.
The Barber of Seville is currently playing, and if you’ve ever been curious about the opera, this is the show to see. Unlike most operas, Barber is a comedy. There is a lot of humor in the fast-​paced production. If you do go, be sure to dress up. This is one of the few events that Seattle-​ites break out the suits, tuxes, and gowns. Also, I HIGHLY recommend pre-​ordering food for intermission before the show. The lines for refreshments can be super long otherwise. This way, they will reserve a table for you with your food, and you can take your time.

We just saw Il Travatoe at the McCaw and boy were we impressed. Granted the seats were amazing, we sat next to the director of the San Diego opera, we received free wine and cheese during intermission AND the tickets were free — the show was sick. I’ve been to the Met years ago and from what I recall, this most definitely is up there with any show in NYC. So how did we get free tickets and all this VIP treatment you ask? Look up Speight Jenkins — he’s the best «in-​flight» meeting I’ve ever had on a flight back from NY. Thank you JetBlue and don’t fret, next time we’re buying tickets and going back. Loved it.