FIDELIO Returns to Seattle Opera, 10/13-27

Seattle Opera continues its 2012/13 season next month with Beethoven's only opera:  Fidelio, the story of a devoted wife who rescues her husband, unjustly imprisoned for his political beliefs.  Premiered in 1814, Fidelio's message of love and hope overcoming tyranny and oppression remains as relevant today as ever.  Seattle Opera's production of Fidelio, set here and now, opens on Saturday, October 13, and runs for six performances through October 27.

"Now, when political considerations affect us all, Fidelio portrays the spirit that inspired our Founding Fathers – freedom from tyrannical rule," says Speight Jenkins, Seattle Opera's General Director.  "It is an opera for this time and for all time."

Returning to the pit following this summer's sensational Turandot is Principal Guest Conductor Asher Fisch, who has conducted Wagner and Strauss with extraordinary success at Seattle Opera.  Stage Director Chris Alexander recreates a production he originally directed in 2003.  At the time, Melinda Bargreen of The Seattle Times wrote, "With the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime at the forefront of world news, the opera sounds as fresh now as its premiere, nearly 200 years ago," and went on to describe the production as "up-to-the-minute, and as poignant and timeless as the music itself."  Set design is by Robert Dahlstrom, with costumes by Catherine Meacham Hunt and lighting by Duane Schuler.  

German soprano Christiane Libor makes her U.S. operatic debut on opening night, as Leonore.  Webthea.com called her "The incredible Christiane Libor, the German soprano who is becoming a sure thing at the international box office.  Warm voice, silken legato, intimate mid-range and powerful, perfectly mastered high notes, radiant presence…she has all the makings of one of the greats" (translation by Seattle Opera).  Leonore goes undercover as a man-named "Fidelio"-to save her husband, Florestan, sung in this production by tenor Clifton Forbis.  In 2010, Forbis earned rave reviews for his portrayal of Tristan; The Seattle Times described him as "a tenor with a warm baritonal tinge to his voice, and equally adept in portraying the intermingled torment and ecstasy of his role."  Soprano Marcy Stonikas, a former Seattle Opera Young Artist who this summer stunned audiences as Turandot, sings one performance as Leonore, on October 14.  "Keep an eye on her career. It may skyrocket," wrote The Stranger of Stonikas.

Fidelio also features audience favorites Greer Grimsley as the governor Don Pizarro and Arthur Woodley as head-jailer Rocco.  Grimsley, who won Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year Award for Wotan and the Wanderer in the '05 Ring, will sing these roles in the Ring at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City next spring before taking them on again in Seattle in August of 2013.  Recent Seattle credits for Woodley include Raimondo inLucia di Lammermoor and Ferrando in Il trovatore.  Rounding out the cast of Fidelio, Canadian tenor John Tessier, Tamino in Seattle Opera's 2011Die Zauberflöte, sings Jaquino and Issaquah, WA, native and former Seattle Opera Young Artist Anya Matanovi? sings Marzelline.  

Fidelio Production Sponsor: Ann P. Wyckoff
Christiane Libor's performances are sponsored by The James and Sherry Raisbeck Lead Singers Fund.
2012/13 Season Sponsor: Gladys Rubinstein, in memory of Sam Rubinstein

Fidelio premieres Saturday, October 13, and runs through Saturday, October 27.  Tickets are available online at seattleopera.org or by calling206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619.  Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office by visiting 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview), Monday to Friday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.  Ticket prices start at $25.
Please note the following artist list for Fidelio replaces all previously announced cast lists.  Further information on the 2012/13 season and full biographies of the cast members can be found at seattleopera.org.