ByGD
I have a confession to make. I was a little bit afraid to watch “Blue” at Seattle Opera. Often described as “the race opera,” “Blue” tells the story of a Harlem family losing their son to police violence. It sounded pretty heavy during a time when the more escapist aspect of opera has a lot of appeal. But I know that the ability to tune out racial violence is a privilege, so I went anyway. And there was nothing to be afraid of.
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ByGD
A year and a half later than expected, La Bohème will finally reappear at Seattle Opera. La Bohème was supposed to conclude the 2019/2020 opera season with a run of performances in May 2020. Well, we all know how that May turned out. Seattle Opera heroically transformed into a film company and put together a season unlike any other last year. But now they’re back on stage at McCaw Hall with the long-delayed La Bohème. I got to see it on the second weekend.
ByGD
It’s kind of a no-brainer for an opera company based in Boeing’s hometown (and sponsored by that company) to take on the production of an opera set in an airport. When the pandemic shut down travel, it made the opera even more timely. Although set at an airport, Flight is not a story about mobility but of confinement, as a bunch of travelers are stranded by storms, temporarily sharing the circumstances of a refugee who can neither travel on nor go back. A year ago, that was an interesting concept. Today, it’s the story of all of us.
ByGD
Don Giovanni is what a lot of people would call a “problematic fave.” On the one hand, Mozart’s music is incredible. On the other hand, the title character is a rapist. I understand if you want to stop reading now. It’s impossible for contemporary viewers to gloss over or ignore Giovanni’s crimes, which are still too often ignored today. But art is supposed to ask questions, and there is a lot to unpack in Don Giovanni, especially in a nuanced production. Fortunately, Seattle Opera’s new film version of the opera faces the contradictions in Don Giovanni head on while also experimenting with format. The result is a complex and intriguing show that keeps you thinking long after you’ve hit the power button.
ByGD
Like K-dramas, opera recitals have shot from “not a thing I watch” to “primary form of entertainment” for me during the pandemic. I watched everything Seattle Opera put out last fall. I think I might have missed some things around the holidays, but I’m back on the opera recital bandwagon with Andrew Stenson’s late January performance.
