Seattle Opera Unveils 2019/20 Season

With a mix of new and traditional takes on opera, Seattle Opera unveils a 2019/20 Season that offers something for everyone. Audiences will experience new-to-Seattle productions of Rigoletto, Cinderella, and Eugene Onegin; the company premiere of Charlie Parker's Yardbird; and the return of a beloved classic, La boh me.

Seattle Opera is committed to work that resonates with people in the Pacific Northwest, said General Director Aidan Lang. In addition to creating transcendent music and theater, we're excited to have conversations with our community about abuse of power, misogyny, representation in art and entertainment, and more themes illuminated in our upcoming works.

The 2019/20 Season will also include People of Color in a number of prominent principal roles. The company is being more intentional in seeking a racially diverse talent pool. Racial equity aside, Seattle Opera has earned a reputation for its casting, and its ability to identify some of the industry's next big stars.

One such rising-star is Angel Blue, who returns in 2020 to sing Mim in La boh me. Seattleites may recognize the American soprano from last summer's Porgy and Bess, a performance (as Bess) which earned her a feature in The Stranger's Best Performances of 2018 article. Blue, a former Miss America Organization titleholder, also starred in a viral social-media video called Kids Meet An Opera Singer. To date, the six-minute video produced by The Cut has garnered more than 11 million views on Facebook.

Lester Lynch, another star of Porgy and Bess and Il trovatore, helps kick off the company's 2019/20 Season as the title character in Verdi's action-packed melodrama, Rigoletto (August 10-28, 2019). Even people who have never attended an opera have likely heard Rigoletto's most popular aria La donna mobile from playing Grand Theft Auto, watching Alvin and the Chipmunks, or that Doritos Super Bowl ad where a baby is slingshotted to steal his brother's chips. Since its 1851 debut, Rigoletto has been reimagined over and over again. And now, through the vision of Director Lindy Hume, the violence against women in Rigoletto will offer unflinching comparisons to newsmakers of today.

Hume has created thoughtful and entertaining productions for Seattle audiences in the past, including The Wicked Adventures of Count Ory and The Barber of Seville. Following Rigoletto, she'll return to Seattle yet again to direct Rossini's Cinderella, Oct. 19 Nov. 1, 2019. With costumes and dances reminiscent of a Tim Burton film, multi-level sets, and a dash of stage magic, this fairy-tale opera includes performances by famous singing siblings Ginger Costa-Jackson (Cinderella) and Miriam Costa-Jackson (Clorinda).

A third sister, Marina Costa-Jackson (Fiordiligi, Cos fan tutte) joins her kin for a special, one-night-only Three Singing Sisters concert on Nov. 2 after Cinderella closes. The mixed-genre program will include opera arias, Broadway melodies, popular music, and Neapolitan songs, the sisters' specialty.

Fast-forward to the New Year: Seattle Opera will present Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin (Jan. 11 25, 2020) for the first time in nearly 20 years. The legendary Nutcracker composer returns to McCaw Hall with an elegant Russian romance based on Alexander Pushkin's novel. Starring John Moore (Steve Jobs, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs) and Michael Adams (Guglielmo, Cos fan tutte) alternating in the title role, Seattle Opera's traditional production brings opulent nineteenth-century Russia to life.

From a story about 1820s St. Petersburg, Seattle Opera moves to 1950s New York with the company premiere of Charlie Parker's Yardbird Feb. 22 March, 2020. Still a work of classical music, the opera pulses with jazz-infused melodies created by saxophonist/composer Daniel Schnyder, who tells the story of the legendary tormented jazz and bebop innovator. Finding himself in a sort of purgatory, the ghost of Charlie Yardbird Parker (sung by alternating tenors Joshua Stewart and Frederick Ballentine) struggles to complete one last masterpiece. In a series of freeform flashbacks, he revisits the demons, inspirations, and women who have fueled and hindered his creative genius. This intimate portrait of the legendary saxophonist was hailed by audiences and critics alike at its 2015 East Coast premieres.

Finally, the 2019/20 Season concludes with opera's quintessential love story, La boh me, on May 2 16, 2020. When Rodolfo, a penniless poet, meets Mim , a seamstress, they fall instantly in love. But their happiness is threatened when Rodolfo learns that Mim is gravely ill. Puccini's romantic depiction of bohemian Paris, with wonderful music and a love story drawn from everyday life, has captivated audiences around the world. La boh me includes the return of Will Liverman (Figaro, The Barber of Seville), Brandie Sutton (Clara, Porgy and Bess) and Ginger Costa-Jackson (following her performance as the title character in Cinderella).

Seattle Opera Ticket Information: Subscriptions on sale now. Subscription ticket prices start at $215. Opera Ticket Office: 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619. Online orders: seattleopera.org/subscribe2019 or in person at the box office located at the Opera Center, 363 Mercer Street. Mainstage performances take place at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer Street. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. *Prices include a $3-per-ticket facility fee and (in some locations) a preferred seating donation. Young professionals ages 21 39 who join BRAVO! and students under 18 save 50 percent on tickets.

Rigoletto

Music by Giuseppe Verdi

Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave

In Italian with English captions

Premiere: Venice, Teatro La Fenice, March 11, 1851

Previous Seattle Opera Performances: 1965, 1973, 1982, 1988, 1995, 2004, 2013

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performances: Aug. 10, 11, 14, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, & 28, 2019

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including one intermission

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m

Cast:

Rigoletto Lester Lynch (Aug. 10, 17, 23, 25, & 28)

Giuseppe Altomare* (Aug. 11, 14, 18, & 24)

Gilda Madison Leonard (Aug. 10, 17, 23, 25, & 28)

Soraya Mafi (Aug. 11, 14, 18, & 24)

Duke of Mantua Liparit Avetisyan* (Aug. 10, 17, 23, 25, & 28)

Yongzhao Yu* (Aug. 11, 14, 18, & 24)

Maddalena Maya Lahyani

Sparafucile Ante Jerkunica

Count Monterone Clayton Brainerd

Conductor Carlo Montanaro

Director Lindy Hume

Production Designer Richard Roberts*

* Company Debut

Production Sponsor: Kreielsheimer Remainder Foundation

Cinderella

Music by Gioacchino Rossini

Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti

In Italian with English captions

Premiere: Teatro Valle, Rome, Italy, January 25, 1817

Previous Seattle Opera Performances: 1977, 1996, 2013

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performances: Oct. 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 30 & Nov. 1, 2019

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, 55 minutes including one intermission

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m

Cast:

Cinderella Ginger Costa-Jackson (Oct. 19, 25, 27, & Nov. 1)

Wallis Giunta* (Oct. 20, 23, 26, & 30)

Don Ramiro Michele Angelini* (Oct. 19, 25, 27, & Nov. 1)

Matthew Grills (Oct. 20, 23, 26, & 30)

Dandini Joo Won Kang (Oct. 19, 25, 27, & Nov. 1)

Jonathan Michie* (Oct. 20, 23, 26, & 30)

Don Magnifico Peter Kalman* (Oct. 19, 25, 27, & Nov. 1)

Clorinda Miriam Costa-Jackson*

Tisbe Maya Gour*

Alidoro Adam Lau

Conductor Gary Thor Wedow

Director Lindy Hume

Production Designer Dan Potra

* Company Debut

Production Sponsor: Marks Family Foundation

Three Singing Sisters

A special one-night-only concert featuring Ginger Costa-Jackson, Marina Costa-Jackson, and Miriam Costa-Jackson.

Performance Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes with no intermission

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performance: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 2, 2019

Eugene Onegin

Music by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky
Libretto by Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky and Konstantin S. Shilovsky

In Russian with English captions

Premiere: Teatro Valle, Rome, Italy, January 25, 1817

Previous Seattle Opera Performances: 1975, 1986, 2002

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performances: Jan. 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22, 24, & 25, 2020

Approximate Running Time: 3 hours, 10 minutes including two intermissions

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m

Cast:

Eugene Onegin John Moore (Jan. 11, 15, 19, & 25)

Michael Adams (Jan. 12, 18, 22, & 24)

Tatyana Marjukka Tepponen (Jan. 11, 15, 19, & 25)

Marina Costa-Jackson (Jan. 12, 18, 22, & 24)

Lenski Colin Ainsworth

Olga Melody Wilson*

Madame Larina Margaret Gawrysiak

Prince Gremin David Leigh*

Monsieur Triquet Martin Bakari

Conductor Aleksandar Markovi *

Original Production Tomer Zvulun

Designer

Scenic Designer Erhard Rom

Costume Designer Isabella Bywater

* Company Debut

Production Sponsor: Seattle Opera Foundation

Charlie Parker's Yardbird

Music by Daniel Schnyder

Libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly

In English with English captions

Premiere: Perelman Theater, Philadelphia, June 5, 2015

Seattle Opera premiere

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performances: Feb. 22, 23, 26, 29; Mar. 1, 4, 6, & 7, 2020

Approximate Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m

Cast:

Charlie Parker Joshua Stewart* (Feb. 22 & 26 | Mar. 1 & 6)

Frederick Ballentine (Feb. 23 & 29 | Mar. 4 & 7)

Addie Parker Angela Brown*

Doris Parker Jennifer Cross

Rebecca Parker Chrystal E. Williams*

Dizzie Gillespie Jorell Williams*

Conductor Kelly Kuo*

Original Production Ron Daniels*

Director

Scenic Designer Riccardo Hernandez*

Costume Designer Emily Rebholz

* Company Debut

Production Sponsors:

Tagney Jones Family Fund at Seattle Foundation

Office of Arts & Culture | Seattle

La boheme

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

In Italian with English captions

Premiere: Feb. 1, 1896, Turin, Italy

Previous Seattle Opera Performances: 1965, 1971, 1979, 1985, 1991, 1998, 2007, 2013

Marion Oliver McCaw Hall

Performances: May 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16, & 19, 2020

Approximate Running Time: 2 hours, 36 minutes including two intermissions

Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m

Cast:

Rodolfo Jonathan Tetelman* (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Yosep Kang* (May 3, 6, 9, & 15)

Mim Angel Blue (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Vanessa Vasquez* (May 3, 6, 9, & 15)

Marcello Will Liverman (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Adrian Timpau* (May 3, 6, 9, & 15)

Musetta Ginger Costa-Jackson (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Brandie Sutton (May 3, 6, 9, & 15)

Colline Ashraf Sewailam (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Schaunard Eugene Villanueva* (May 2, 8, 10, 13, 16, & 19)

Theo Hoffmann* (May 3, 6, 9, & 15)

Conductor Joseph Colaneri*

Set Designer Erhard Rom
Costume Designer Martin Pakledinaz

* Company Debut

Production Sponsors;
Ann P. Wyckoff
ArtsFund
C.E. Stuart Charitable Trust
Additional support from 4Culture

About Seattle Opera

Established in 1963, Seattle Opera is committed to serving the people of the Pacific Northwest with performances of the highest caliber and through innovative educational and engagement programs for all. Each year, more than 95,000 people attend Seattle Opera performances, and more than 400,000 people of all ages are served through school performances, radio broadcasts, and more. By drawing our communities together, and by offering opera's unique fusion of music and drama, we create life-enhancing experiences that speak deeply to people's hearts and minds. Connect with Seattle Opera on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and on Classical King FM. 98.1.

###

Gabrielle Nomura Gainor