Opera fans love the works of Richard Wagner. But finding singers who are up to the vocal demands of the music is a challenge.
Seattle Opera hopes to fill the gap Saturday night with the first-ever International Wagner Competition, an event that will bring eight young singers to the stage of McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. The singers, who come from around the world, will be competing for two $15,000 prizes.
Seattle Opera has, in three decades, become one of the leading presenters of operas by Richard Wagner, presenting two original productions of the complete “Ring” cycle and original productions of all 10 of Wagner’s major operas. The “Ring” performances are a summer tradition; Saturday’s competition will give Wagner fans their warm-weather Wagner fix.
The singers will perform selections from Wagner’s operas, accompanied by a full orchestra. Three judges, all major players in the world of grand opera, will make the final selections. The competition begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available.
The contestants were selected by Seattle Opera general director Speight Jenkins, who auditioned singers in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and Seattle.
The singers are: Carolyn Betty, soprano; Jason Collins, tenor; Dorothy Grandia, soprano; Paul McNamara, tenor; Miriam Murphy, soprano; James Rutherford, baritone; Andrew Lindsay Sritheran, tenor; Carsten Wittmoser, bass. Alternates are Maria Jooste, soprano, and Philip O’Brien, tenor.
Tickets are $42 at the box office, 800-426-1619, 206-389-7676, www.seattleopera.org.
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