Peter Kazaras News

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program concludes its 2012/13 season next month with a one-night-only concert celebrating one of opera's greatest composers.

Seattle Opera today announced the company's 50th Anniversary Season. Performances of Wagner's Ring kick off the festivities this summer, followed by a subscription series of four operas. Starring singers beloved by the opera-goers of Seattle, the 2013/14 season offers subscribers a healthy variety of comedy and tragedy, reality and fantasy, in a mix of different musical styles and languages. Seattle Opera's anniversary celebration then climaxes in August 2014 with the International Wagner Competition and a special celebration honoring Speight Jenkins, the company's General Director since 1983.

Under General Director Speight Jenkins' 30 years of leadership, Seattle Opera has become known as "America's Bayreuth," drawing worldwide audiences to its acclaimed productions of all of Richard Wagner's major works, especially to the company's signature work, Wagner's ambitious four-opera cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. To date, opera-goers from 22 countries and all 50 states (plus the District of Columbia) have purchased tickets for Seattle Opera's 2013 Ring.

Seattle Opera welcomes the seven artists selected for the 2012/13 season of its Young Artists Program-a season given in celebration of the Verdi bicentennial.

Seattle Opera kicks off its 2012/13 season this summer in blockbuster fashion with Turandot, Puccini's final masterpiece. Boasting "Nessun dorma," one of the world's most beloved arias, Turandot sweeps audiences away to a fairy-tale China ruled by a harsh princess. The prideful Turandot learns how to love when a life-or-death riddle game, a slave girl's sacrifice, and the passion in a prince's heart transform fear and hatred into hope. Turandot opens tonight, August 4, and runs for eight performances through Saturday, August 18.

Seattle Opera kicks off its 2012/13 season this summer in blockbuster fashion with Turandot, Puccini's final masterpiece. Boasting "Nessun dorma," one of the world's most beloved arias, Turandot sweeps audiences away to a fairy-tale China ruled by a harsh princess. The prideful Turandot learns how to love when a life-or-death riddle game, a slave girl's sacrifice, and the passion in a prince's heart transform fear and hatred into hope. Turandot opens on Saturday, August 4, and runs for eight performances through Saturday, August 18.

Puccini's searing tragedy of East and West brings down the curtain on Seattle Opera's 2011/12 season. One of opera's most beloved characters, Cio-Cio-San, tests the limits of faith and choose death over dishonor at the climax of eight performances of Madama Butterfly, tonight, May 5 through May 20, 2012. The production features the Seattle Opera debuts of five exciting artists, and the opening night performance tonight, May 5 will also be the company's first-ever simulcast.

Music by Mozart, including some works he composed as early as age five, interspersed with lively enactments of the youthful composer's letters to his father create a vivid picture of this remarkable musical wunderkind at the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's (LACO) final Family Concert of the season, "Mozart & Me," on Sunday, May 6, 2012, 2 pm, at the Alex Theatre.

Puccini's searing tragedy of East and West brings down the curtain on Seattle Opera's 2011/12 season. One of opera's most beloved characters, Cio-Cio-San, will test the limits of faith and choose death over dishonor at the climax of eight performances of Madama Butterfly, May 5 through 20, 2012. The production features the Seattle Opera debuts of five exciting artists, and the opening night performance on May 5 will also be the company's first-ever simulcast.

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program makes its Meany Hall debut later this month with an all-new production of DON PASQUALE. The show runs March 31-April 7.

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program makes its Meany Hall debut later this month with an all-new production of DON PASQUALE. The show runs March 31-April 7.

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program makes its Meany Hall debut later this month with an all-new production of DON PASQUALE. The show runs March 31-April 7.

Seattle Opera's Young Artists Program comes to the University of Washington for the first time next month with a production of Don Pasquale at Meany Hall for the Performing Arts.

Seattle Opera today announced its 2012/13 season, featuring six operas that explore the infinite variety of love: obsession, true love, false love, love at first sight, marital love, and love born of hatred.

Seattle Opera's 2010/11 Young Artists Program returns to Bellevue's Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in April with Mozart's Don Giovanni. Featuring eight Seattle Opera Young Artists and one Guest Artist, this fully staged production is directed by Young Artists Program Artistic Director Peter Kazaras and conducted by the program's music director, Brian Garman. Don Giovanni runs for four performances: April 1, 3, 7, and 9, 2011. Sets and lights are designed by Donald Eastman and Connie Yun respectively, who recently collaborated on Seattle Opera's premiere of Don Quichotte. Working with Seattle Opera for the first time is Costume Designer Candace Frank, who trained at the University of Washington and has previously worked with several Seattle-area theaters. Unforgettable characters, true-to-life emotions, and dazzling arias and ensembles make Don Giovanni the perfect showcase for Seattle Opera's up-and-coming singers. Described by many as the perfect opera, Don Giovanni blends comedy and drama to tell the tale of a womanizing nobleman who pays the ultimate price for his misdeeds. Says Kazaras: "Our production, which sets the action in and around the world of a small cafe-cinema in southern Europe, explores Don Giovanni's transformation into an iconic, mythic figure." This production follows Mozart's revision of the score, which was first performed in Vienna six months after the Prague premiere. The Vienna version features the seldom-performed duet, "Per queste tue manine," sung by Zerlina and Leporello. (Mozart cut the aria "Il mio tesoro" for the Vienna performances and added "Dalla sua pace" and "Mi tradi.") Baritone David Krohn is Don Giovanni on opening night and April 9, while Daniel Scofield takes on the role on April 3 and 7. Also double-cast is the role of Don Ottavio, which will be handled by tenor Andrew Stenson on April 1 and 9, and by Eric Neuville on April 3 and 7. Both tenors made their mainstage debuts in last fall's production of Lucia di Lammermoor, Stenson as Arturo and Neuville as Normanno. Don Giovanni also features soprano Marcy Stonikas as Donna Anna, soprano Amanda Opuszynski as Donna Elvira, bass Erik Anstine as Leporello, and bass-baritone Adrian Rosas as both the Commendatore and Masetto (roles that were also performed by the same artist in Mozart's day). Rosas and Scofield made their mainstage debuts in Seattle Opera's Barber of Seville, Rosas as the Sergeant and Scofield as Fiorello. Stonikas, Neuville, and Anstine will all appear in Seattle Opera's production of The Magic Flute in May. Joining this talented group of Young Artists is Guest Artist Jacqueline Bezek, who plays Zerlina. More than 600 singers applied for the 2010/11 season of Seattle Opera's prestigious Young Artists Program. The program is geared toward singers who have recently completed their college training and are embarking on professional singing careers. Former Young Artists have gone on to perform on Seattle Opera's mainstage and at companies around the world. The intimate nature of the 400-seat Theatre at Meydenbauer Center allows audiences to experience this opera-and its exciting young cast-in a way not possible in conventional opera houses. Tickets for Don Giovanni are $50 for adults and $20 for students, and can be purchased online at seattleopera.org/yapgiovanni, by calling the box office at 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. For more information about the Young Artists Program visit seattleopera.org/yap.

Seattle Opera's 2010/11 Young Artists Program returns to Bellevue's Theatre at Meydenbauer Center in April with Mozart's Don Giovanni. Featuring eight Seattle Opera Young Artists and one Guest Artist, this fully staged production is directed by Young Artists Program Artistic Director Peter Kazaras and conducted by the program's music director, Brian Garman. Don Giovanni runs for four performances: April 1, 3, 7, and 9, 2011. Sets and lights are designed by Donald Eastman and Connie Yun respectively, who recently collaborated on Seattle Opera's premiere of Don Quichotte. Working with Seattle Opera for the first time is Costume Designer Candace Frank, who trained at the University of Washington and has previously worked with several Seattle-area theaters. Unforgettable characters, true-to-life emotions, and dazzling arias and ensembles make Don Giovanni the perfect showcase for Seattle Opera's up-and-coming singers. Described by many as the perfect opera, Don Giovanni blends comedy and drama to tell the tale of a womanizing nobleman who pays the ultimate price for his misdeeds. Says Kazaras: "Our production, which sets the action in and around the world of a small cafe-cinema in southern Europe, explores Don Giovanni's transformation into an iconic, mythic figure." This production follows Mozart's revision of the score, which was first performed in Vienna six months after the Prague premiere. The Vienna version features the seldom-performed duet, "Per queste tue manine," sung by Zerlina and Leporello. (Mozart cut the aria "Il mio tesoro" for the Vienna performances and added "Dalla sua pace" and "Mi tradi.") Baritone David Krohn is Don Giovanni on opening night and April 9, while Daniel Scofield takes on the role on April 3 and 7. Also double-cast is the role of Don Ottavio, which will be handled by tenor Andrew Stenson on April 1 and 9, and by Eric Neuville on April 3 and 7. Both tenors made their mainstage debuts in last fall's production of Lucia di Lammermoor, Stenson as Arturo and Neuville as Normanno. Don Giovanni also features soprano Marcy Stonikas as Donna Anna, soprano Amanda Opuszynski as Donna Elvira, bass Erik Anstine as Leporello, and bass-baritone Adrian Rosas as both the Commendatore and Masetto (roles that were also performed by the same artist in Mozart's day). Rosas and Scofield made their mainstage debuts in Seattle Opera's Barber of Seville, Rosas as the Sergeant and Scofield as Fiorello. Stonikas, Neuville, and Anstine will all appear in Seattle Opera's production of The Magic Flute in May. Joining this talented group of Young Artists is Guest Artist Jacqueline Bezek, who plays Zerlina. More than 600 singers applied for the 2010/11 season of Seattle Opera's prestigious Young Artists Program. The program is geared toward singers who have recently completed their college training and are embarking on professional singing careers. Former Young Artists have gone on to perform on Seattle Opera's mainstage and at companies around the world. The intimate nature of the 400-seat Theatre at Meydenbauer Center allows audiences to experience this opera-and its exciting young cast-in a way not possible in conventional opera houses. Tickets for Don Giovanni are $50 for adults and $20 for students, and can be purchased online at seattleopera.org/yapgiovanni, by calling the box office at 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619, or by mobile phone at mobile.seattleopera.org. For more information about the Young Artists Program visit seattleopera.org/yap.

Seattle Opera opens its production of one of the funniest and most popular of all comic operas, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, on January 15, 2011. The production will run for nine performances through January 29.

Seattle Opera today announced its captivating 2011/12 season, featuring an American treasure, the greatest French opera, the company premiere of a work by Verdi, one of opera's fundamental love stories, and a beloved Puccini tragedy. The season opens with Porgy and Bess in July, followed by Carmen in the fall and Attila, Orphée et Eurydice, and Madama Butterfly in 2012.

No Song is Safe from Us, a ground-breaking new weekly radio series from NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (NYFOS), produced by the WFMT Radio Network of Chicago and hosted by legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, premieres January 2 at 8PM (CST).

No Song is Safe from Us, a ground-breaking new weekly radio series from NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (NYFOS), produced by the WFMT Radio Network of Chicago and hosted by legendary mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, premieres January 2 at 8PM (CST).