PODCAST · arts
Seattle Opera Podcasts
by Seattle Opera
Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is a leading American opera company. The company presents the classics of the European repertoire as well as new works of American opera. Frequent productions of Wagner's RING, beginning in 1975, established the company's worldwide reputation. Seattle Opera usually presents five opera productions each year.
Episodes
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SASHA COOKE as Carmen
Sasha Cooke returned to Seattle Opera for her role debut as CARMEN. In her famous Act 1 “Seguidilla,” this cigarette-smoking temptress promises Don José they’ll drink manzanilla and dance the Seguidilla when he accompanies her to the outskirts of town, to her friend Lillas Pastia’s place. Ludovic...
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RYAN CAPOZZO as Don José
American tenor Ryan Capozzo made his Seattle Opera debut as Don José in CARMEN. José objects to Carmen’s Act 2 attempt to seduce him into deserting the army and joining her way of life with a passionate “Adieu pour jamais!” Farewell, forever, Carmen! Might have worked out better for both of them…
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CARMEN Quintet
The lively quintet in Act 2 of CARMEN was sung at Seattle Opera this season by Navasard Hakobyan (Dancaire), Meredith Wohlgemuth (Frasquita), and Daniel O’Hearn (Remendado), all making their debuts; and returning singers Melody Wilson (Mercédès) and Sasha Cooke (Carmen). As the quintet begins…
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MATTHEW CAIRNS as Don José
American tenor Matthew Cairns made his Seattle Opera debut as Don José in CARMEN. In his Act 2 Flower Song, he tells Carmen about discovering the truth of his own heart while languishing in prison, kissing the flower she gave him and thinking obsessively of her. Ludovic Morlot conducted the…
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KATHLEEN O’MARA as Micaëla
American soprano Kathleen O’Mara made her Seattle Opera debut as Micaëla in CARMEN. In her Act 3 aria this well-bred young lady prays for the strength to confront Carmen and wrest Don José away from her wicked wiles. Ludovic Morlot conducted the chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by…
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J’NAI BRIDGES as Carmen
Tacoma-born mezzo soprano J’Nai Bridges returned to Seattle Opera for one of her signature roles, Carmen. In her famous “Habanera” this femme fatale announces her perverse philosophy of love: “Love is a wild bird that cannot be tamed. If it doesn’t come when you call it, you’re out of luck. You...
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CHRISTIAN PURSELL as Escamillo
American baritone Christian Pursell made his Seattle Opera debut as Escamillo in CARMEN, a role he’s sung many times. In his famous “Toreador Song” he first describes the thrill and excitement of the bullring before letting us all in on how he himself is cool as a cucumber, singing his saucy…
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BENJAMIN TAYLOR as Escamillo
American baritone Benjamin Taylor made his Seattle Opera debut as Escamillo in CARMEN. In the build-up to their Act 3 duel, this amorous bullfighter explains to Don José (Ryan Capozzo), without knowing who he is, that Carmen must have dumped her deserter boyfriend by now; Carmen’s love affairs...
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MARILYN ZSCHAU as Elektra calls on Agamemnon
American soprano Marilyn Zschau sang several memorable Seattle Opera performances in the ‘80s and ‘90s, climaxing with her 1996 appearance in the title role of Strauss’s ELEKTRA. In her dramatic entrance monologue, this deeply traumatized young woman relives, as she does every day, her father...
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ELEKTRA: Sisters, Rejoice! and Dance of Death
At the climax of Strauss’s ELEKTRA, after Orest has avenged Agamemnon by killing Klytämnestra and Aegisth, Orest’s two soprano sisters Elektra and Chrysothemis blend their voices in a wildly ecstatic duet, with lines like: ELEKTRA: “I am the fire of life, my flame will burn away the darkness of…
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ELEKTRA: Enter Klytämnestra
One of the great entrances in all opera is surely that of the haunted Klytämnestra in Strauss’s ELEKTRA. According to stage directions by librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal, “Klytämnestra appears in the window. Her sallow, bloated face appears in the lurid glare of the torches, still paler over her...
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ELEKTRA: Chrysothemis’ Maternal Urge
Andrea Gruber returned to Seattle Opera in the role of Chrysothemis, Elektra’s less vengeful sister, for our 1996 ELEKTRA. Elektra’s obsession with avenging their dead father is preventing Chrysothemis from living the life she desires: “[All the other women my age swell with pregnancy. They labor...
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DER ROSENKAVALIER – Vinson Cole as the Italian Tenor
Vinson Cole didn’t want to miss his old friend Carol Vaness’s farewell performance at Seattle Opera, as the Marschallin in DER ROSENKAVALIER in 2006. So Cole took on the cameo role of the Italian Tenor who sings for the Marschallin in Act One, when she’s receiving visitors and having her hair…
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DER ROSENKAVALIER Prelude
Strauss’s lively prelude to Act 1 of DER ROSENKAVALIER vividly depicts the lovemaking of Octavian and the Marschallin; he’s the horns, she’s the strings. Following this music the curtain will rises to reveal them in bed one morning, exhausted. In 2006, Asher Fisch conducted the orchestra of…
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DER ROSENKAVALIER: Baron Ochs and the Luck of the Lerchenaus
The second act of DER ROSENKAVALIER concludes with the delightful “Luck of the Lerchenaus” waltz sung (and, usually, danced) by the vile and lecherous Baron Ochs von Lerchenau, a vain but impoverished country bumpkin who’s come to Vienna to sell his aristocratic name to some unlucky girl. While...
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DER ROSENKAVALIER Trio
In the gorgeous trio that climaxes the final scene of Strauss’s DER ROSENKAVALIER, the Marschallin graciously encourages her former lover, Octavian (who’s half her age), to unite with young Sophie, who’s an ideal match for him. At Seattle Opera in 2006 Carol Vaness sang the Marschallin, Alice…
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DER ROSENKAVALIER: Sophie Meets Octavian
It’s the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to young Sophie von Faninal when the Cavalier of the Rose arrives to present her with traditional silver rose, a gift and greeting from her fiancé. But young Octavian is so adorable himself, Sopie is overwhelmed. Stars sparkle in the eyes of the…
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LAKMÉ 101
A podcast introducing Seattle Opera’s opera in concert for 2026/27, LAKMÉ, a glorious French romantic fantasy with music by Léo Delibes. Musical examples from Seattle Opera’s 1967 Lakmé, conducted by Richard Bonynge, with Dame Joan Sutherland (Lakmé) and Huguette Tourangeau (Mallika); and our…
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LA BOHÈME 101
A podcast introducing LA BOHÈME, narrated by Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean. Musical examples from Seattle Opera’s archival recordings of La bohème; from 2007, with Rosario La Spina (Rodolfo) and Nuccia Focile (Mimì), conducted by Vjekoslav Sutej; and from 2013, with Andrew Garland...
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EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DE FRIDA Y DIEGO 101
A podcast introducing the exciting new Spanish-language opera with music by Gabriela Lena Frank to a libretto by Nilo Cruz: what would happen if the myth of Orpheus and Euridice were reenacted by the famous Mexican painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo? Some Seattle Opera personnel attended the...
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SALOME 101
A podcast introducing SALOME, narrated by Seattle Opera Dramaturg Jonathan Dean and considering the timely and timeless contributions to this shocker made by Oscar Wilde and Richard Strauss. Musical examples from Seattle Opera’s 2002 production of Salome, conducted by Gerard Schwarz and starring...
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Seattle's Queer Community Reacts to FELLOW TRAVELERS
Last month Seattle Opera (finally!) presented its first-ever queer opera on the mainstage. Fellow Travelers, with its historical setting, offered the queer folks of Seattle an opportunity to look back at how things used to be, see how far we’ve come, and to talk about where we may be headed. This...
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DAPHNE Alphorn
Although Richard Strauss called for an onstage Alphorn to play the summons (inviting the shepherds to Peneios’ feast) that begins DAPHNE, it’s typically played by trombone. At Seattle Opera’s January 2026 DAPHNE IN CONCERT Mark Robbins (famous at Seattle Opera for many performances of Siegfried’s...
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DAPHNE Weeps for Leukippos
American soprano Heidi Stober made her Seattle Opera debut January 2025 as the title character in DAPHNE. Mourning her dead playmate, Leukippos, she tells him “And all the flowers I ever loved…I bring them to you, my hands bring with them, I offer you flowers, beloved, to celebrate you at this…
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MILES MYKKANEN as Leukippos
American tenor Miles Mykkanen made his Seattle Opera debut in January 2026 as Leukippos, the lovelorn shepherd sacrificed in DAPHNE IN CONCERT. Moments before Apollo kills him, Leukippos takes off his disguise and begs Daphne to choose him over his rival. “I don’t need this idle veil, this mask…
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HEIDI STOBER as Daphne
American soprano Heidi Stober made her Seattle Opera (and role!) debut as Daphne in our January 2026 concert presentation of Strauss’s beautifully ‘green’ opera. In her entrance aria she sings of her love for a tree outside her home: “Oh, how gladly would I stay with you, beloved tree…they…
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MELODY WILSON as Gaea
Mezzo soprano Melody Wilson returned to Seattle Opera to sing Daphne’s mother Gaea in DAPHNE in January 2026. When Daphne tells Gaea she has zero interest in the drunken orgy of that evening’s Dionysus Festival, Gaea tries to comfort her: “I know you are frightened. All living things experience...
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DAPHNE the Laurel
Richard Strauss concludes his magnificent opera DAPHNE with a glorious orchestral metamorphosis in which the heroine, transformed into a tree, becomes one with nature. David Afkham conducted Heidi Stober and the orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Sunny Martini.
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DAVID BUTT PHILIP as Apollo
British tenor David Butt Philip made his Seattle Opera debut in January 2025 as Apollo, the lovelorn sun-god, in DAPHNE. At the end, having slain his rival Leukippos and learned better than to seek sexual love from Daphne, Apollo begs his father Zeus to transform Daphne into a tree: “Fulfill her...
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MERYL RODRIGUEZ & SARAH COIT as The Maids
Soprano Meryl Rodriguez made her Seattle Opera debut, and Sarah Coit returned to Seattle Opera, as the mischievous maids in DAPHNE. When Daphne rejects the love of the young shepherd Leukippos, they suggest he disguise himself in Daphne’s clothing and try again; perhaps she’ll like him better…
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MATTHEW ROSE as Peneios
British bass Matthew Rose made his Seattle Opera debut singing Peneios, Daphne’s fisherman/river-god father, in DAPHNE. Welcoming all the local shepherds to the Feast of Dionysus he and his wife Gaea are hosting, Peneios draws their attention to a dazzling mountain sunset: PENEIOS: See that view?…
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DAPHNE Feast of Dionysus
DAPHNE centers on a celebration of Dionysus, god of wine. The orchestra plays some vigorous Richard Strauss dance music for revellers clad as rams and Maenads. David Afkham conducted Matthew Rose as Peneios plus the chorus and orchestra of Seattle Opera. Photo by Sunny Martini.
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JARRETT OTT as Hawkins Fuller
Baritone Jarrett Ott makes his Seattle Opera debut as Hawkins Fuller, successful Washington DC diplomat and closet case in FELLOW TRAVELERS. In his Act Two aria “Our very own home,” he convinces himself that his relationship with Tim (whom he calls ‘Skippy’) is not sustainable and must be...
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FELLOW TRAVELERS: Orchestral Introduction
One of the most popular and successful new American operas of the last decade, FELLOW TRAVELERS, with music by Gregory Spears to a libretto by Greg Pierce, comes to Seattle Opera February 2026. In 1950s Washington, DC, an intense love affair between two men plays out against the backdrop of...
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FELLOW TRAVELERS Quartet
In the Act Two quartet of FELLOW TRAVELERS, Tim, stationed in France with the US Army, communicates by letter with his friend Mary and his ex-boyfriend Hawk. Mary has gone home to New Orleans to get an abortion in secret; Hawk has married Lucy and moved to the suburbs of Washington DC. His wife…
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RANDALL MCGEE as Tommy McIntyre
Baritone Randall McGee makes his Seattle Opera debut as Tommy McIntyre, the unexplained politico who turns out to be pulling Senator Potter’s strings in FELLOW TRAVELERS. In the opera’s second scene young Tim, who was hired by Potter because Hawk (who has a crush on Tim) called in a favor from...
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MARCUS DELOACH as Senator Joseph McCarthy
Baritone Marcus Deloach returns to Seattle Opera and to the roles he created in the 2016 world premiere of FELLOW TRAVELERS: Senator Joseph McCarthy, Estonian Frank, and the Interrogator Fred Traband. At the top of Act 2, McCarthy explodes with fury at the suggestion that he sacrifice his...
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KYLE PFORTMILLER as Senator Charles Potter
Baritone Kyle Pfortmiller makes his Seattle Opera debut as Senator Potter in FELLOW TRAVELERS, plus several other roles. Potter, based on a real-life Michigan Senator who was originally allied with McCarthy, hires Tim as a speechwriter in the opera’s second scene. His promise to “Straighten out...
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FELLOW TRAVELERS Trio
Act Two of FELLOW TRAVELERS climaxes with a trio around and about the betrayal of Tim by Hawk. Hawk, wanting to end his relationship with Tim, asks Mary to tell Tim how Hawk ‘named names’ and turned Tim in to the Interrogator rooting out homosexuals in the government—preserving Hawk’s own job…
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FELLOW TRAVELERS Christmas Party
Act One of FELLOW TRAVELERS turns on a Christmas Party at DC’s Hotel Washington: “secrecy, paranoia, and holiday cheer,” according to the stage directions. The party opens with a 7-person madrigal of forced holiday mirth and gossip: MEN: “All seem to say, throw cares away!” WOMEN: Did you hear?…
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JOSEPH LATTANZI as Hawkins Fuller
Baritone Joseph Lattanzi returns to Seattle Opera as Hawkins Fuller, the role Lattanzi created at the 2016 world premiere of FELLOW TRAVELERS. As Act 1 concludes, Hawk—who’s just been interrogated by the government for suspicion of being queer—lets his boyfriend Tim find out more about Hawk’s...
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ANDY ACOSTA as Timothy Laughlin
Andy Acosta returns to Seattle Opera in the role of Timothy Laughlin, protagonist of FELLOW TRAVELERS. A devout Catholic and conservative Republican, Timothy falls in love with the seductive Hawkins Fuller. In Act Two, Hawk begins to find Tim’s idealism and inability to hide himself and his...
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AMBER MONROE as Mary Johnson
AMBER MONROE as Mary Johnson Soprano Amber Monroe makes her Seattle Opera debut in the role of Mary Johnson, Tim’s friend and Hawk’s colleague in FELLOW TRAVELERS. In her florid Act Two aria she expresses the warm, protective love she feels for Tim, whose heart—Mary knows—will inevitably be…
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COLIN AIKINS as Timothy Laughlin
Tenor Colin Aikins makes his Seattle Opera debut as Timothy Laughlin in FELLOW TRAVELERS. A devout Catholic and conservative Republican, Timothy falls in love with the seductive Hawkins Fuller. After their first night of passion, Timothy goes to St. Peter’s Church, where he processes his…
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Duet from EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DI FRIDA Y DIEGO
Gabriela Lena Frank’s new opera, EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DI FRIDA Y DIEGO, stars Daniela Mack as Frida Kahlo and Alfredo Daza as Diego Rivera. In Act Two they sing about reuniting, a year after Frida’s death. “To return, to come back…letting my feet create the road. With the red that sketches your mouth....
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Catrina Calls Frida Back from Death
As Gabriela Lena Frank’s new opera, EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DI FRIDA Y DIEGO, begins, the Mexican goddess of death, Catrina, takes pity on the grieving Diego Rivera and summons his dead wife Frida Kahlo back for one day on the Day of the Dead. “Mictlan, have mercy on Diego. Bring back Frida Kahlo de…
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DANIELA MACK as Frida Kahlo
Gabriela Lena Frank’s new opera, EL ÚLTIMO SUEÑO DI FRIDA Y DIEGO, features mezzo soprano Daniela Mack as the painter, summoned back from death by her lonely widower Diego Rivera. In Act One, Frida is reluctant to return: “For me the world was torture: wounds, anguish, wires, thorns, needles, the...
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Blessing of the Kindly Goddesses from LAKMÉ
One of the most gently touching passages in all French opera comes in Act 3 of LAKMÉ. Our heroine has concealed her lover (stabbed by her jealous father, but not killed) in a remote jungle bower, where she’s nursing him back to health. They hear offstage singing; he asks what it is, and she...
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LAKMÉ Comic Quintet
LAKMÉ Act One is set in a Hindu temple in nineteenth-century India. After all the locals exit, five dopey British explorers blunder in—two sisters, their soldier fiancés, and the sisters’ governess (who should probably be played by Maggie Smith). The five of them sing a lively quintet speculating...
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LAKMÉ Love Duet
A wonderfully romantic nineteenth-century opera, LAKMÉ features compelling love duets in all three acts. In this duet at the climax of Act One, a sheltered girl’s world opens up when she has a terrifying, thrilling encounter with a complete stranger. (In Act Two, his love for her endangers his...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is a leading American opera company. The company presents the classics of the European repertoire as well as new works of American opera. Frequent productions of Wagner's RING, beginning in 1975, established the company's worldwide reputation. Seattle Opera usually presents five opera productions each year.
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Founded in 1963, Seattle Opera is a leading American opera company. The company presents the classics of the European repertoire as well as new works of American opera. Frequent productions of Wagner's RING, beginning in 1975, established the company's worldwide reputation. Seattle Opera usually...
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