Seattle Opera Digital Spring Season

From left: Sarah Larsen, Andrew Stenson, Jasmine Habersham and Karen Vuong will offer free recitals for Seattle Opera.  

Seattle Opera is excited to reveal our digital Spring Season today, which includes new streaming operas for subscribers and plenty of free opera fun for all. The company will build off the success of free content produced during the pandemic. Thus far, free recitals have garnered more than 20,000 views from around the world, and more than 150,000 listeners have tuned in to enjoy free broadcasts on Seattle Opera Mornings on KING FM. 

These broadcasts will continue, as well as free recitals: Sarah Larsen performs in “Ode to Beethoven,” as part of the city-wide digital Beethoven Festival on Dec. 16. Also in the winter, Andrew Stenson (from The Elixir of Love) performs on Jan. 29 and Jasmine Habersham (Don Giovanni) will offer a recital on Feb. 19. Karen Vuong (Flight) rounds out free recitals on May 7. Featured pianists will include David McDade (Jan. 29 and Feb. 19) and John Keene (Dec. 16 and Feb. 19). 

Another opportunity to enjoy free content will come during the Big Opera Show, the company’s virtual fundraising event, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 11. Special guests will be announced in early 2021.

In 2020, Seattle Opera youth camps have been meeting online via Zoom.

If you are looking to increase your knowledge of opera in the new year, Opera 101 and Opera in the Making: Libretto Writing will have new sessions in 2021. (Modern History through the Opera Glass, presented by Dramaturg Jonathan Dean is sold out, but a waist list is available). Looking for ways to keep children learning and engaged in the new year? A new session of Youth Opera Online (ages 7–18) begins January 21 and meets twice a week. During this eleven-week program, our teaching artists will lead your youth through a performance of the 1944 Jewish-Czech opera Brundibár. Seattle Opera is pleased to partner with the Holocaust Center for Humanity to deepen participants’ understanding of the context and significance of the opera.

“We’ve found new ways to tell stories through opera, despite what a painful and challenging time this has been,” said Seattle Opera General Director Christina Scheppelmann. “Most recently, we produced a new Elixir of Love specifically for streaming, and the wonderfully positive audience reaction has given us momentum to keep innovating for Don Giovanni, Flight, and Tosca.”

One of the only American opera companies continuing to deliver works originally scheduled for 2020/21, Seattle Opera will produce new streaming versions of Don Giovanni, Tosca and Flight—which will be filmed at The Museum of Flight, amongst 39 historic aircrafts.

Matt Hayes, Museum President and CEO, said the two organizations coming together makes him want to break out into song: 

"But I will leave that to the professionals and instead sing praises for this collaboration! Flight is a dynamic reflection of the kind of personal stories we tell and cherish at the Museum, and we are honored to do what we can to help another cultural attraction in the community. Seattle Opera is offering a wonderfully creative re-imagining of the arts, and it's an inspired fit for us both."

Seattle Opera will create a new streaming opera Flight at The Museum of Flight. Image credit: Philip Newton & Shutterstock. 

Beginning with Don Giovanni, subscribers can once again look forward to hearing the Seattle Symphony Orchestra with every opera. As more artists are added to Seattle Opera’s recording process, strict COVID-19 health and safety protocols remain in place in every area of the operation. 

Spring Season Schedule 
Every Saturday, Seattle Opera Mornings on KING FM—Free
Broadcasts of previous Seattle Opera performances offered at Classical KING FM 98.1 or king.org. Full schedule at seattleopera.org/kingfm

Wednesday, Dec. 16, Ode to Beethoven recital—Free
An online recital starring mezzo-soprano Sarah Larsen and pianist John Keene available on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website Dec. 16–Jan. 6. Learn more at seattleopera.org/beethoven.

Wednesdays, Jan. 13–March 3, Opera 101—$150
Class offered weekly online via Zoom weekly for eight weeks by Alex Minami, Community Engagement Manager. Learn more at seattleopera.org/operaclasses.

Tuesdays, Jan. 12–March 16, Modern History Through the Opera Glass—$175
Class offered weekly online via Zoom weekly for ten weeks by Jonathan Dean, Seattle Opera Dramaturg. Learn more at seattleopera.org/operaclasses.

Sundays, Jan. 24–March 14, Opera in the Making: Libretto Writing—$350
Class offered weekly online via Zoom weekly for eight weeks by Jessica Murphy Moo. Learn more at seattleopera.org/operaclasses.

January–April, Youth Opera Online—$264–$396; financial assistance available
Programming begins January 21, and meets twice a week. Financial assistance is available. Offerings include Artful Explorers for ages 7–9 ($264), Maestros for ages 10–13 ($396), and Advanced for ages 14–18 ($396). Learn more at seattleopera.org/youthonline.

Friday, Jan. 29, Andrew Stenson Recital—Free
An online recital also starring pianist David McDade available on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website Jan. 20–Feb. 18.

Friday, Feb. 19, Jasmine Habersham Recital—Free
An online recital also starring pianist John Keene available on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website Feb. 19–March 12.

Feb. 26–March 21, Don Giovanni—Available to Seattle Opera Subscribers 
Maestro Lidiya Yankovskaya and stage director Brenna Corner come together to create a new production of Mozart’s classic. Learn more at seattleopera.org/giovanni.

April 3–21, Flight—Available to Seattle Opera Subscribers  

Recorded at The Museum of Flight, this Seattle Opera premiere stars Randall Scotting, Karen Vuong, and Margaret Gawrysiak among others. Learn more at seattleopera.org/flight.

Sunday, April 11, Big Opera Show—Free
The company’s virtual fundraising event begins at 4 p.m. Special guests will be announced in early 2021.

Friday, May 7, Karen Vuong Recital—Free
A free, online recital also starring pianist John Keene available to enjoy on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website May 7–May 28.

June 4–27, Tosca—Available to Seattle Opera Subscribers 
Maestro Kazem Abdullah and stage director Dan Wallace Miller will create a production starring Karine Babajanyan and Lucio Gallo. This performance is available to Seattle Opera subscribers June 4–27, and can also be purchased as an individual opera stream starting June 25. Learn more at seattleopera.org/tosca.