All About Attila

As Seattle sits snow-bound, northern Italy is currently being invaded. Invaded by a barbarian whose name is pronounced more than one way: uh-TILL-uh in English, and AH-teel-uh in Italian. OK, so not an actual military invasion, but rather, an operatic one.
For Attila – whichever way you choose to pronounce it – is currently enjoying its [...]

Kick It With Carmen

Strong women can really kick it. Geroges Bizet knew it, back in the late 1800s. Or, I at least like to think he knew it.
Carmen is an opéra comique – a type of French opera that includes both arias and spoken dialogue – that premiered at the Paris Opéra-Comique on 3 March 1875; exactly three [...]

Seattle Opera’s 2011-2012 Season

Ah, Juneuary – the time when people get a little “season-crazy.” Just take a look at the post-game hockey riots in Vancouver last night. Seriously, though, these hooligans – whether opportunistic, anarchistic, or both – would have no doubt rioted whether the Vancouver Canucks had won or lost last night’s game.
Then there’s “season-crazy” of a [...]

Last Week for the Spanish Barber

As good hedonists, we all need lots of laughter in our lives … and it’s so rare that one sees an opera that’s more comedic than tragic. But this week is your chance, dear hedonists, for the barber is in town.
The Barber of Seville, that is – for The Barber of Seville by the Seattle [...]

Savor … Tristan und Isolde

What to say about Richard Wagner? That contentious guy certainly knew how to put on an opera – er, “music drama” (for Wagner set out to change the way operas were made). Both composer and librettist (a rare dual talent) not to mention also a conductor and essayist, Wagner’s music in [...]