Slog - Comments on Seattle Opera Upcoming Seasons

Comment by speight jenkins

speight jenkins — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:40:33 -0800

my god, not even i read this.

Comment by Cow

Cow — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:28:46 -0800

Huh. The A�da thing is especially strange given that Portland Opera's closing out their 2007-2008 season with it. (And with what I hope is a far less ridiculous production concept...)

Comment by Cale

Cale — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:51:18 -0800

i want to see the ring cycle. is it worth it?

Comment by Original Monique

Original Monique — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 07:40:34 -0800

Thanks for posting this. It is true that I may be one of the few sloggers who enjoys the opera, but those are some interesting tidbits.

Comment by Brad

Brad — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:22:10 -0800

I think more than 3 people will find this interesting. Curious about the diss to the Ring cycle? Are you dissing it? I've never attended but from what I hear it is what puts Seattle Opera on the map. No?

Comment by Nick

Nick — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:53:51 -0800

Oh, no! Not dissing the Ring! It's quite good. The cast this coming year seems even more cohesive, vocally intelligent. It is absolutely worth it to go. I said "Let's not" because I thought it might be overwhelming for everyone (including me) for me to give my notes on a four-opera cycle�especially one about which so much has been written. I'll probably address the Ring as the dates approach.

Comment by MarkyMark

MarkyMark — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:15:54 -0800

Wow that really IS ambitious! Elektra and Pearl Fishers, hmm... I dropped my SO subscription years ago, due to increasing $$$ coupled with total boredom; I may have to rethink that.

Comment by jacicita

jacicita — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:34:18 -0800

Nick, thanks for the clarification on the Ring. I had taken it as a diss too. I'm really hoping to be able to see it.

Comment by dana

dana — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:36:04 -0800

Gradus's voice is much more than "decent"! I saw his Leporello in San Francisco with Kwiecien and he was outstanding. Did you hear his Figaro NPR broadcast from Houston - fantastic. I don't know why you would say he was only "decent"

Comment by Polka Party

Polka Party — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:39:55 -0800

I've been an SO subscriber for nearly 15 years. The quality of their productions has really improved. Often a lavish summer production would mean sub par performances later in the season but that disparity has more or less disappeared in my view.

Comment by Craig

Craig — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:47:34 -0800

this post is a profound flavor of sexy

Comment by Fnarf

Fnarf — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:15:37 -0800

I just wish it wasn't so expensive. I buy my opera at the thrift store, where I can routinely find three-disc boxed sets of the masters -- Callas, Sutherland, Price, etc. -- for a couple of dollars. I did really enjoy La Boheme last year, though.

Comment by Nick

Nick — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:43:33 -0800

Yeah, the Ring Cycle is prohibitively expensive to attend. But then again, it's a gigantic production that is expensive to put on. I'm cool with just listening to my Flagstad and Nilsson and Melchior, etc. It's just as marvelous to study with a score, a couple books, and some recordings. But I'd miss a thousand Rings for an A�da, an Elektra, and an Erwartung. I highly recommend those three.

Comment by Katelyn

Katelyn — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:44:29 -0800

Is SO still making dress rehearsal tickets available to certain populations?

Comment by Nick

Nick — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:53:44 -0800

I think the dress rehearsal tickets are made available to donors at a particular tier and more often to school for class visits through SO's Experience Opera program.

Comment by Katelyn

Katelyn — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 10:57:24 -0800

Does anyone know where I can get a fake high school id? :P

Comment by lissa

lissa — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 11:16:24 -0800

You can also get rehearsla tickest if you are a super in one of the productions. Supers are nonsinging roles performed by volunteers. Seattle Opera is always interested in attracting a younger audience, and this is a good way to check SOA out. Plus you get to be in an Opera!

Comment by Christopher DeLaurenti

Christopher DeLaurenti — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 13:59:21 -0800

Thanks for posting this preview! I hope the Bluebeard/Ewartung double bill is the Robert Lepage production that was so dazzling in Vancouver back in '99.

Comment by June

June — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:22:20 -0800

This blog is filled with nothing but mis-information. Perhaps this newspaper will find a better and more informed writer.... one who's a bit less provincial and has some perspective on the world of opera. Now that would be refreshing.