Author | Lightnews

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 3d

We're excited to announce the world premiere of The Wedding Banquet in 2027! Composed by Huang Ruo with libretto by James Schamus, the opera is inspired by the beloved 1993 film and the reimagined version that debuted earlier this year.

Learn more at seattleopera.org/weddingbanquet

Black and white headshots of a man on the left wearing glasses, a newspaper cap, cardigan and bowtie, and a man on the right wearing a white collared shirt and suit jacket. Text reads "2027 world premiere, The Wedding Banquet, Music by Huang Ruo, Libretto by James Schamus"

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 5d

This Friday, October 24 is Pay What You Wish night at The Pirates of Penzance! Learn more about how to purchase Pay What You Wish tickets at seattleopera.org/pwyw

The Pirate King stands atop a pirate ship, arms outstretched and smiling wide. Three pirates surround him, two down below and one swinging from a rope ladder on the ship. Text reads: Pay What You Wish, The Pirates of Penzance, Friday, October 24.

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 8d

Guide Dogs for the Blind - Seattle Puppy Raisers is an all volunteer puppy raising group for Guide Dogs for the Blind. If you're interested in volunteering to raise a pup, check out www.gdbseattlepuppyraisers.com

Guide Dogs for the Blind - Seattle Puppy Raisers volunteer with puppies

www.gdbseattlepuppyraisers.com

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 8d

These pups are all in the "puppy raising" stage, where they'll spend 13-15 months with a "raiser" from Seattle Puppy Raisers before heading to guide dog training in California or Oregon. We're so glad we got to be a small part of their journey!

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 8d

Live theater is a great opportunity for environmental socialization, where these future guide dog candidates can experience unusual sounds like soaring vocals and applause, and work on skills like settling for longer periods of time, ignoring distractions, polite greetings, and navigating crowds.

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 8d

PUPPIES OF PENZANCE! 🐾 We were very paw-leased to welcome 13 Guide Dogs for the Blind puppies-in-training and their raisers to the dress rehearsal of The Pirates of Penzance.

A woman in a red trench coat stands next to a golden retriever, who sits and looks up at her.

Five golden retrievers and yellow labs stand around the lobby of McCaw Hall with their raisers.

A group of puppy raisers sit on the grand staircase of the McCaw Hall lobby with their guide dog in training puppies, all yellow labs or golden retrievers and one black lab.

A golden retriever puppy flops on the ground and stretches out in front of the grand staircase.

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 11d

The queens are coming! 🦇🎃 Get ready for a night of drag artistry and Halloween antics at our annual Queens of the Night party, hosted by Seattle's own belting diva, Anita Spritzer, with performances by Queen Andrew Scott, Rowan Ruthless, and Fabi.

Get tickets at www.seattleopera.org/halloween

Headshots of four fabulous drag queens serving maximum slayage, each taking up a corner of the image. Clouds fill the space between them and the whole image is tinted purple with green accents. Lower right corner reads: Queens of the Night, October 31, 7:30 PM, at the Opera Center.

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 16d

It's vampire season and we need your blood! 🧛 In partnership with Bloodworks Northwest we're hosting a blood drive this Monday, October 13 from 10:00 AM—4:00 PM at the Opera Center.

Donors will be entered to win a trip to Tokyo + concert of your choice!

Register at seattleopera.org/bloodworks

Music's in our blood. Drop in to Tokyo. Donate Blood Sept-Oct to win. You + 1 flight + hotel + your concert of choice: Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · 23d

Our talented cast of The Pirates of Penzance is hard at work swashbuck- *ahem* ...rehearsing for a life of piracy (or a few weeks of it, at least). Photos by David Jaewon Oh.

In a rehearsal studio, 4 performers gather around a person sitting cross legged holding a birthday cake on their head. The performers have various expressions of surprise and joy with jazz hands, and one who's tasted the cake.

A woman with long black hair wearing a neon green shirt and long black skirt smiles wide as she's hugged by a man in a white shirt and khaki pants with a sword stuck through his red cumberbund.

A man in a light blue polo shirt and black pants sits on a steamer trunk, striking a dainty pose, with his sword pointed down touching the floor and holding the hilt with pinkies up.

In a rehearsal studio, a woman with long black hair wearing a neon green shirt and long black skirt uses a bouquet of flowers to take a jab as one would with a sword.

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 25

Did you know we share a building AND the airwaves with Classical KING? Operas from our current season and recordings from the archives are broadcast on the radio in full throughout the year. Check out the new schedule at seattleopera.org/classicalking and tune in! 📻

Mornings on KING FM

Each Saturday from April 25 through July 25, enjoy Seattle Opera Mornings on KING FM. Classical KING FM 98.1 will broadcast recordings of previous Seattle Opera performances on the radio and at king.o...

seattleopera.org

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 23

Anchor's away! 🏴‍☠️⚓️ This week we kick off rehearsal for The Pirates of Penzance with our amazing cast, creative, and staging teams.

The Pirates of Penzance is on stage October 18 through November 1, with audio description on October 26. Get tickets at seattleopera.org/pirates

Three rows and four columns of portraits of opera singers. Thomas Glass, Major-General Stanley, Reginald Smith Jr., The Pirate King, David Portillo, Frederic, Vanessa Becerra, Mabel, Katharine Goeldner, Ruth, Nathan Stark, Sergeant of Police, Ilya Silchukou, Samuel, Tess Altiveros, Edith, Erica Convery, Kate, Elizabeth Peterson, Isabel.

Four rows and four columns of headshots of the creative team and staging staff. David Charles Abell, Conductor, Seán Curran, Stage Director & Choreographer, James Schuette, Scenery & Costume Designer, Robert Wierzel, Lighting Designer, Robertson Witmer, Sound Designer, Ashlee Naegle, Wigs, Hair, and Makeup Manager and Designner, Lynn Baker, Language Coach, Michaella Calzaretta, Chorus Master, Bobby Collins, Associate Director, Nadja Simmonds, Assistant Stage Director, Jonathan Moore, Production Stage Manager, Quinn Chase, Assistant Stage Manager, Jamie Kranze, Assistant Stage Manager.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 9

Come visit the opera center and take a peek behind the scenes! Our annual open house, in partnership with Classical KING FM, is your chance to explore all the exciting work that happens at the Opera Center. Get details at seattleopera.org/openhouse

crowd sitting on indoor bleachers smiles and raises their hands. Text inside a blue outlined box in the lower left reads "Open house at the opera center, Saturday, October 4, 1:00-4:00 PM."

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 8

We're holding auditions for youth chorus performers for this season's production of Carmen! Youth choristers can look forward to performing in iconic scenes like the "Chorus of Street Children" and the bullfight finale, "Les voici! Voici la quadrille." Register at seattleopera.org/youthauditions

Black text on a bright yellow background reads: Call for auditions, youth chorus for Carmen, November 4, 5, & 8, 2025. Youth performers who wish to audition must: be between the ages of 9–16, have a treble or unchanged voice, have musical comprehension, be able to harmonize independently, possess good stage presence, come prepared with one song, memorized with piano (pianist provided). Youth chorus positions are volunteer, with parking and mileage reimbursement provided, and performers must be available for all performance dates, May 3–17. Registration is required. Register to audition by 5 PM, October 27, 2025.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 3

**UPDATE: Our website and ticketing system are back up and running! ✅

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 3

Our website and ticketing system are down for scheduled maintenance today 🛠️ If you need assistance with tickets during this time, please email [email protected].

Photo of a man with dark hair and a 5 o'clock shadow wearing a gray cargo jumpsuit and gray newspaper cap. He leans against a red 1940's convertible, holding a dirty rag with his arms crossed. The car is missing its front wheel and is set up to be worked on. Yellow text reads "Our website and ticketing system are down for scheduled maintenance today. Thanks for your patience."

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Sep 3

Our website and ticketing system are down for scheduled maintenance today 🛠️ If you need assistance with tickets during this time, please email [email protected].

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 28

We're on Substack! Give us a follow for behind-the-scenes looks, deep dives on opera history (old and new!), and answers to common questions about attending opera.
substack.com/@seattleoper...

Seattle Opera | Substack

A friendly, beginner's guide to the world of opera.

substack.com

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 27

We're holding auditions for 4 dancers for our upcoming production of Carmen! We're casting for 3 masculine characters and 1 feminine character. We welcome all gender identities to audition for the role they feel is right for them. Register to audition at seattleopera.org/dancerauditions

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 26

Please be vigilant about ticket resellers online, especially in our comment sections on social media. Where possible, we have limited comments to minimize resale attempts. Seattle Opera cannot honor, service, reprint, refund, or replace tickets not sold through us.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 25

*UPDATE* This event is now sold out. Door tickets will be subject to availability on the day of the sale depending on room capacity.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 18

We're teaming up with Village Theatre, Seattle Rep, Union Arts Center, and Pacific Northwest Ballet for a costume sale! A combined 2,500 pieces will be for sale in this rare public event.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 25 at 12 p.m. More info at seattleopera.org/costumesale

A rack of costumes hang from an orange, industrial clothing rack. The image is framed at a low angle looking slightly upward, as the rack angles from low on the left to high on the right. The most prominent garment is an orange short sleeved dress on the right. Behind it are various dresses and tops in peachy white, purple, blue, green and brown stripes, and black with polka dots. In the lower left corner, yellow text inside a yellow square frame reads "Costume Sale," and in white text, "September 27 at the Opera Center."

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 25

Come work with us! We have several full-time and part-time positions open across departments, including Marketing, Programs & Partnerships, Production, Audience Services, and the Amusements Gift Shop.

www.seattleopera.org/jobs

Exterior shot of the Seattle Opera offices, a rectangular building with the first two stories made of glass, and the top story covered in dark gray rectangles of various sizes. In front of the building is a low concrete wall with the words Seattle Opera in metal letters. Text on the image reads "Come work with us! Apply for open positions at seattleopera.org/jobs"

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 21

Calling all Gilbert & Sullivan fans 📣 If you still want more G&S after The Pirates of Penzance, good news! Join us for The Gilbert & Sullivan Songbook, featuring favorite G&S tunes performed by the cast of The Pirates of Penzance.

October 23 at 7:30 p.m. Get tickets at seattleopera.org/songbook

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 18

We're teaming up with Village Theatre, Seattle Rep, Union Arts Center, and Pacific Northwest Ballet for a costume sale! A combined 2,500 pieces will be for sale in this rare public event.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 25 at 12 p.m. More info at seattleopera.org/costumesale

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 7

Auditions for our Teen Vocal Studio are Aug. 25 🎶 TVS is a program for high school singers considering a future in music & opera. Members participate in workshops and masterclasses through the year, culminating in a fully-staged and produced youth opera. Register at seattleopera.org/teenvocalstudio

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Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 6

Fun fact: Our 1995 production of Carmen was so salacious it caused the Seattle Times to run a phone poll for people to sound off!

Callers were asked to vote "Bravo!" or "Shame on you!" in response to this scandalous staging. Read more to find out how the people of Seattle voted: bit.ly/4mromAb

Two men and three women are seated in blue wooden chairs around a rectangular table. The women wear heavy 1980's style makeup, low-cut corsets, silk robes, fishnet stockings, and black heels, and two of them have their feet kicked up on the table. One man on the left wears a hot pink suit jacket with black trim, and the other man wears a white collared shirt covered in small flowers and holds an apple in his hand.

Seattle Opera @seattleopera.bsky.social · Aug 5

Looking back at some Carmens from the archive while we get ready for Carmen coming up this season. Which one is your fave?

1982, Victoria Vergara, by Des Gates
1987, Isola Jones, by Matthew McVay
2004, Stephanie Blythe, by Rozarii Lynch
2019, Ginger Costa-Jackson, by Sunny Martini

Against a black background, a woman with black hair and olive skin tone faces left, looking over her left shoulder as her red dress ripples behind her to the right taking up the lower quadrant of the frame. Her hair is pinned up in a bun with white flowers, she wears a peasant style white top, red bodice covered in black lace, and an ankle length red skirt. Her eyes are focused intensely, lips parted, and cheekbones sharp. Behind her to the left and partially obscured by her figure, a man with brown hair and olive skin tone wears a light blue military uniform trimmed with yellow, and looks up to the right.

Against a black background, a woman with black wavy chest-length hair and black skin tone wears a red dress and stands with her hands flat, slightly below her hips. The dress is low cut with a flat neckline and the thick straps hang off either shoulder. The bodice is tight and short, ending high on her waist followed by a full skirt with leaf designs on the right and small ruffles around the bottom. The woman looks to the right, smiling with her mouth wide open and eyes focused. Behind her, five townspeople gather to watch.

Against a grey wall and open doorway, a woman in a red dress and a man in a toreador outfit embrace. On the left, the man faces the right with his back mostly to us. He wears a black toreador cap, a black jacket covered in gold beaded embroidery, black knee-length pants with gold foliage embroidered down the leg, white stockings, and black shoes. On the right, a woman with auburn hair pulled into a low bun and white skin tone wears an elbow length red silk bodice with black lace trim. Her full length skirt is made of three tiers of pleated red silk, with a red silk bustle trimmed with black lace.

Against the backdrop of a brick building with green window trim and shutters, and green double doors, and below an illuminated lantern on the wall, a woman sits on a motorcycle smoking a cigarette. She has black hair pulled into a low bun, and white skin tone with sharp black eyeliner and red lips. She wears a necklace of black jewels each with a diamond halo and matching earrings. Her dress is a sweetheart top with thick straps, and is black with large red roses all over. She wears black panty hose and red high heels. She holds a cigarette to the left, with her legs crossed, and looks sharply to the right. In front of her and to the right are two chairs and a round table with a black bottle sitting on it. The bottle cap sits next to the bottle.

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