Seattle Opera Podcasts

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 2000 Lakmé, conducted by Patrick Fournillier, with Vinson Cole (Gérald) and Harolyn Blackwell (Lakmé); and the 1998 recording conducted by Michel Plasson, starring Natalie Dessay (Lakmé), Gregory Kunde (Gérald), and José Van Dam (Nilakantha); plus a clip from Rameau’s Les Indes Galantes, “Les Sauvages,” with Les Musiciens du Louvre conducted by Mark Minkowski.

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 (Schaunard), Arthur Woodley (Colline), Michael Fabiano (Rodolfo), Keith Phares (Marcello), and Jennifer Black (Mimì), conducted by Carlo Montanaro.

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 Chicago performances of this magic realist opera, coming to Seattle Opera January 2027. Michaela Calzaretta, chorus master and head of music staff, discussed FRIDA & DIEGO with Alex Minami, co-director of programs and partnerships, and Alicia Moriarty, director of production.

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 Nina Warren, Richard Paul Fink, Peter Kazaras, and Joyce Castle; a Salome conducted by Marek Janowski at the Met in 1989; a 1978 recording starring Hildegard Behrens, conducted by Herbert von Karajan; and (bonus!) music from The Rocky Horror Picture Show.