Seattle Opera Online Fall 2020

Over the summer, Seattle Opera did a lot of interesting online programming, but I was stupid and missed most of it because I didn’t realize the videos were only posted for a limited time. So when they posted their fall programming, I was determined not to miss out, and did something I haven’t done since I aged out of the Bravo Club – I bought season tickets. Even though the season only runs through the end of the year, it contains more opera than a regular full season. Only it’s all online.

What Did I Miss?

This summer I got to see Quarantini, a comedic recital by The Drunken Tenor (aka Robert McPherson) with straightwoman Jennifer Bromagen and pianist David McDade. That performance is no longer available, but this preview gives you an idea what it’s like.

I also got to see an at-home recital by baritone John Moore (who was so good as Figaro and Eugene Onegin and Steve Jobs and you get the picture). But the Songs of Summer recital series generated more than 200 hours of digital content, and I missed nearly all of it, because I wasn’t paying attention to the dates. The videos, although free, expired after a couple of weeks.

Free Fall

The free programming continues into the fall, and this time around I’m determined not to miss out. So I’ve already marked my calendar with these digital performances. I set a reminder to pop up a week before the event, so that as the posting date approaches, I can check my schedule and block out time to watch the performance. These recitals will be available to view on Seattle Opera’s Facebook, YouTube, and website.

Frederick Ballentine in Recital

A free online recital available Oct. 2–Oct. 23.

Most recently Seattle saw Frederick Ballentine as Charlie Parker in Yardbird, the last live opera performed in Seattle. Yardbird is a remarkable opera in many ways, and its success hangs on the title tenor. But Ballentine had already won me over when he subbed in as Don Jose in Carmen and not only nailed the Flower Song but generated incredible onstage chemistry with Ginger Costa-Jackson after only two days’ rehearsals.   

Marcy Stonikas in Recital

A free online recital available Oct. 9–Oct. 30.

I almost skipped the first time I saw Marcy Stonikas. She played the lead role in The Consul, an opera about bureaucracy that I assumed would be painfully boring. I only went because it was already paid for as part of my season subscription. And that’s why subscribing is so valuable. In this opera I nearly skipped, Marcy Stonikas gave one of the most moving performances I’ve ever seen. Stonikas has appeared in Seattle several times since then (the High Priestess in Aida comes to mind), The Consul is reason enough for me to seek her out. The recital was filmed at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall on the Florida State University College of Music campus featuring pianist Valerie Trujillo. 

Jorell Williams in Recital

A free online recital available Oct. 23–Nov. 13.    

Baritone Jorell Williams sang the role of Dizzie Gillespie in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and I did not get to hear enough of his voice then. Now I’ll get to hear more.

Season Subscription

Seattle Opera was already selling tickets for the 2020-2021 season when the pandemic hit. Planned performance dates of Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci have already passed; The Elixir of Love and a Jamie Barton recital were also planned for the fall. Seattle Opera hasn’t officially abandoned hope for live performances of Don Giovanni, Flight, and Tosca after the new year. But they have put together fall offerings exclusively for season subscribers.

It’s a bit of a confusing process, but you can still buy a fall season subscription on the Opera’s website as if live performances were still happening. Their ticketing system still requires you to pick dates and seats, but what you actually get is access to exclusive online content. This is what you get:

Cavalleria Rusticana Highlights Recital

exclusively for subscribers Friday, Sept. 25-Oct. 16

Many of the artists originally scheduled to perform in the August double bill are participating in a highlights reel from the opera. Featured singers include Gregory Kunde, Sarah Larsen, Alexandra Lo Bianco, and Nerys Jones. I have never seen Cavalleria Rusticana, and I’m not familiar with the music or the composer. I’ve seen Alexandra Lo Bianco as Aida, and Nerys Jones in smaller roles in Il Trovatore and Rigoletto. But for me, this experience will really be about discovering opera digitally. I’ve been so spoiled having access to Seattle Opera; I’m used to having my first experience of a composer/opera/performer be the ideal circumstance of a live opera. I watched a recording of Norma (an opera I’d never seen before) earlier this year and it was still powerful. Hopefully this experience will be too.

Pagliacci Highlights Recital

exclusively for subscribers Friday, Oct. 16-Nov. 6

Gregory Kunde, Michael Mayes, Vanessa Goikoetxea, and Will Liverman—artists originally scheduled to perform in the August double bill—are performing highlights from the opera Pagliacci, which was to have been a live double bill with Cavalleria Rusticana. TBH, I have my doubts about both of these operas because of their plots’ Carmen-like normalization of misogyny. But Vanessa Goikoetxea gave Carmen’s milquetoast Micaela substance, and I’ve been a fan of crushworthy barihunk Will Liverman since Count Ory, so I’m looking forward to this anyway.

Angela Meade & Jamie Barton in Concert

exclusively for subscribers Friday, Oct. 30,

Fresh from acclaimed performances at the Met and Carnegie Hall, these two world-renowned singers (who are both new to me) offer a mixed-genre program with pianist John Keene. I think this online recital will be pretty close to what was originally planned, at least content-wise.

The Elixir of Love

exclusively for subscribers, Friday, Nov. 13-Dec. 4

This looks interesting. Madison Leonard (Steve Jobs, Rigoletto), Michael Adams (Eugene Onegin), Patrick Carfizzi, Andrew Stenson (a former Seattle Opera Young Artist), and Tess Altiveros (O+E) will be joined by pianists and several instrumentalists in a staging by David Gately, conducted by Carlo Montanaro, especially for online streaming. Seattle Opera is describing this as semi-staged, and the stream is being filmed at McCaw Hall. I’m not really sure what to expect, but it seems like we can expect the full opera. Hopefully “especially for online streaming” means that it won’t just try to replicate the “real thing” but takes advantage of the circumstances to create something innovative and new – like the specially choreographed dances Seattle Dance Collective produced this summer.