Praise for The (R)evolution

Seattle Opera presents The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. Jacob Lucas photo

"(R)evolution’s sonic and visual surface—what Jobs might call a user interface—is expertly and thrillingly presented." - Seattle Weekly

"John Moore, the baritone who portrays Jobs, deserves special mention. Moore is present in nearly every scene and is terrific throughout, expansively encompassing Jobs’s complex personality, hopes, desires, and fears. Also strong are Adam Lau as spiritual advisor Kobun, and Garrett Sorenson as Woz ... Emily Fons masterfully balances Jobs’s intensity as his wife Laurene. Chrisann, Jobs’s girlfriend in his youth, is performed sympathetically by Madison Leonard." - Seen and Heard International

"I love it when big institutions take real artistic risks. Even better when they pay off. Case in point: (R)evolution of Steve Jobs @SeattleOpera. I might have to go back and watch it again." - @gemmadeetweet, Twitter

"But it isn’t just Bates’ music which makes this opera so compelling, it’s the shape of the libretto fashioned by Mark Campbell (people may remember him as the librettist of As One, the chamber opera coming-of-age story about a transgender woman mounted by Seattle Opera in 2016)." - The Sybaritic Singer

"You shouldn’t expect to glean startup tips from “The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs,” the one-act opera staged by the Seattle Opera this week and next ...  But you can expect to see and hear the tangled tale of Apple’s enigmatic co-founder, told on a literally operatic scale." - GeekWire

"Opening night was INCREDIBLE! I laughed, I cried, I had fun, I felt pain and sadness... True art!." – Nicole S., Facebook 

John Moore (Steve Jobs) and Emily Fons (Laurene Powell Jobs). Jacob Lucas photo

"And we have to talk about the ridiculously gorgeous production design, which uses projection and lighting cues to transform a spare set of white-screened rectangular boxes into all of the locations and moods the story needs ..." - The Seattle Times

"The role of Jobs himself, who is never offstage more than a few seconds, is a tour de force for John Moore." - Seattle Weekly

"I was blown away by the set and the lighting, the entire opera was mind blowing. It made me want to see it again!!" – Elizabeth V., Facebook

"Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons, especially, brought range (both vocal and emotional) to a character (Laurene Powell Jobs) who isn’t much more than an archetype in the libretto ... That Laurene is more fully fleshed out than her initial appearance suggests is thanks entirely to Fons’ performance; it’s reason alone to buy a ticket." - The Seattle Times

Adam Lau (Kōbun Chino Otogawa). Jacob Lucas photo

"(Composer Mason Bates) is fearless in embracing extremes of beguiling prettiness and dramatic grit, of Zen quiescence and hurtling, go-go-go frenzy." - Seattle Weekly

"Blown away by the brilliant and mesmerizing Steve Jobs Opera. It was riveting, emotionally engaging and very relevant for today’s times. Outstanding on all levels and a near total triumph! Get tickets while you can. They will go fast now!" @Kradleb, Twitter

"...conductor Nicole Paiement who, in her Seattle Opera debut, is excellent at keeping the various musical elements together and under the voices while keeping the entire work moving along." - The Sybaritic Singer

"Wozniak is a key player in any story about Steve Jobs, and Garrett Sorenson, reprising his role from the Santa Fe production, makes him a likable scamp, a friendly foil to John Moore’s elegantly restrained portrayal of a man in a workaholic fugue state."  - The Seattle Times

"Story line, singing, the SET (incredible) and acting were all great. I was apprehensive about seeing it but it totally exceeded my expectations!" – Quinton M., Facebook

Sarah Mattox (Teacher, center), John Moore (Steve Jobs, left), and members of the Seattle Opera Chorus. Jacob Lucas photo

"I've found a new favorite! This opera was everything I want new opera be: fresh, moving, musically intriguing, and a fantastic piece of theater as well. Bring us more of this!" – Kelli M., Facebook

"Visually, the production is both minimalist and beautiful: Vita Tzykun designed moving panels which combine and recombine (the anonymous movers got a deserved curtain call) and onto which images both representational and abstract are projected ... It’s by some distance Seattle Opera’s most extensive, effective, and eye-filling use of video." - Seattle Weekly

"This opera is beyond spectacular, don't miss it!" – Mark K., Facebook

More RSJ News & Media  

"Included in this opera is the character of Kobun Chino Otogawa, portrayed by opera performer Adam Lau ... But Otogawa did more than that. 'Digging deeper into this character, I actually discovered that without Kobun we might have been living in a world void of all Apple products,' Lau said. 'In fact, it was Kobun who dissuaded Steve from becoming a monk.'" - International Examiner 

Video  

Watch baritone John Moore's performance and interview on KING5 TV's New Day Northwest. 

Click here to watch  

Audio

Listen to the Seattle Opera podcast for behind-the-scenes insights into The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, including interviews with composer Mason Bates; librettist Mark Campbell, director Kevin Newbury, and John Moore (Steve Jobs), and Costume Director Susan Davis. 

Composer Mason Bates was also featured on the podcast Classical Classroom. 

The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs plays Feb. 23-March 9, 2019 at McCaw Hall. Learn more about this opera on our Spotlight Guide.