In January 2015 comes Tosca, Puccini’s crowd-pleasing masterpiece about a fiery diva, an idealistic painter, and a corrupt police chief. Chris Alexander directs, with costumes by Marie-Therese Cramer and sets by Robert Dahlstrom. Gary Thor Wedow conducts a stylish production, first created by Seattle Opera in 2007. Elizabeth Caballero and Christine Brandes share the role of Donna Elvira, with Erin Wall and Alexandra LoBianco making their respective Seattle Opera debuts as Donna Anna. Lawrence Brownlee, Seattle Opera’s Artist of the Year for 2008, returns for his first mainstage Mozart role at Seattle Opera as Don Ottavio. French bass Nicolas Cavallier returns to Seattle as the dangerously charming title character. Since first fascinating audiences at its 1787 premiere, this masterpiece continues to be opera’s ultimate cautionary tale about the human cost of unbridled lust. Kicking the season off is Mozart’s multifaceted portrait of an unrepentant casanova: Don Giovanni. For a lovely discussion of the proceedings, see (review). Many of Seattle Opera’s best-loved singers, including Greer Grimsley, Stephanie Blythe and Kate Lindsey, joined the Seattle Opera Chorus and the Seattle Symphony Orchestra in paying tribute to this much revered icon. The Speight Celebration Concert and Dinner took place on August 9, coinciding with the International Wagner Competition that Jenkins has pioneered since 2006. During this important anniversary season, leadership will pass from Speight Jenkins, who has been General Director of Seattle Opera for a remarkable 31 years, to Aidan Lang, who was announced as Jenkins’ successor in June, 2013. Photo © Rozarili Lynchįrom the depths of hell to the heights of paradise, the four great operas of Seattle Opera’s 2014/15 season will take operagoers on a fantastic journey. Right: Greer Grimsley returns to the role of Scarpia in Tosca.

Tosca seattle opera