Top-notch opera on tap

  • By Jackson Holtz Herald Writer
  • Wednesday, August 11, 2010 7:46pm
  • LifeGo-See-Do

Last year’s Seattle Opera season featured three Verdi performances and the world premier of “Amelia,” Daron Aric Hagen’s stunning story of flight and loss.

This year’s line up couldn’t be more different. It begins with the Wagner classic “Tristan und Isolde” and continues with a blend of the comic, romantic and fantastic. There are operas sung in Italian, French and German, and together they span three centuries.

In October, the company presents Donizetti’s tragic romance “Lucia di Lammermoor.” Then Rossini’s popular comedy “The Barber of Seville,” an opera chock full of recognizable melodies, comes to McCaw Hall in January.

February marks the Seattle Opera premiere of Massenet’s “Don Quixote,” Miguel de Cervantes’ iconic literary hero.

And finally, the season culminates with Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” an opera favorite since it first was staged in Vienna in 1791.

The curtain already rose in August on the nearly five-hour opera, “Tristan und Isolde,” the first Wagner since last year’s highly successful staging of “The Ring.”

This production exploits an otherworldly, etherial and almost hallucinogenic side of the tragedy. Some opera scholars argue whether the potion the pair shares in Act One really is a love elixir, or, instead, a deadly poison. Inspired by Ambrose Bierce’s short story “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge,” the production this year follows the notion that once the potion meets the characters lips, the rest of the drama unfolds in the fleeting moments before the characters die.

Wagner extends those moments over three acts and hours of music — setting time in play along with his lush score.

To underscore the “Twilight Zone” weirdness of the opera, this production’s set design looks like something from the TV show “Star Trek” and the costumes reminded me of the first round of “Star Wars” movies.

It all seemed a bit ambitious and took away from the lush, soaring and gorgeous orchestral music.

The third act of “Tristan und Isolde” opens with a soulful, almost jazzy, singing English horn. The company went to great lengths to find a holztrompete, a rare wooden trumpet designed by Wagner himself. It was well worth the hunt. The rich notes of the wooden horn herald the arrival of Isolde’s ship, reuniting her with her dying lover. While the horn plays just a few notes, it was a highlight of the evening.

Texas tenor Clifton Forbis and Swedish soprano Annalena Persson sing the lead roles, but are outshined in many ways by the supporting cast, including Margaret Jane Wray as Brangane and Stephen Milling’s King Marke.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.

Seattle Opera’s 2010-11 Season

“Tristan und Isolde” by Richard Wagner, 2 p.m. Aug. 15; 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16 and 21.

“Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti, Oct. 16 to 30.

“The Barber of Seville” by Gioachino Rossini, Jan. 15 to 29.

“Don Quixote” by Jules Massenet, Feb. 26 to March 12.

“The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, May 7 to 21.

For more information or to buy tickets, go to www.seattleopera.org.

Talk to us

More in Life

Everett comedian Taylor Clark performs stand-up in 2023 at The Triple Door in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Mike Bryk)
Comedian Taylor Clark to film first special Friday in Everett

The skateboarding funny-man will record an hour of his stand-up at the Historic Everett Theater.

Local musician Alex Johnston, whose newest album "Daylight Fooldream" pairs with short film he made with help from his partner Mikaela Henderson, sits with his morning coffee on Friday, Sept. 15, 2023, at Narrative Coffee in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Folktronica musician shoots 37-minute visual album on iPhone in Everett

Alex Johnston, 31, describes his music as ”if Coldplay and Bon Iver had a love child.”

Flowering knotweed Persicaria amplexicaulis firetail in the morning light.
Save for one infamous variety, fleece flowers are easy to fall in love with

This long-blooming, easy-to-grow perennial comes in many desirable varieties. But watch out: One is an invasive knotweed.

A view of King Street Station in Seattle, Washington from an Amtrak Cascades train to Portland, Oregon from Everett, Washington on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Ride the rails on Amtrak Cascades from Everett to Portland

Make new friends and let Amtrak do the driving on this 5-hour trip past sea, city and forest.

Daniella Beccaria / for The Herald

15-month-old Kantu attempts to climb a pumpkin at Stocker Farms in Snohomish on Sunday, September 20th, 2015. Stocker Farms offers a U-pick patch, farm animals and a corn maze.
Best pumpkin patch in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied, here are the results.

From left, Elora Coble, Carol Richmond, David Hayes, Karli Reinbold, Giovanna Cossalter Walters, Landon Whitbread in a scene from Edmonds Driftwood Players' production of "Murder on the Orient Express." (Dale Sutton / Magic Photography)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Edmonds Driftwood Players opens its 65th season with Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express.”

Some collectibles are found in nature; some imitate them. If it weren’t for the attached figure, this Royal Dux porcelain vase might pass for a real conch shell.
This shell-shaped vase would make a fine souvenir of summer fun

It may not be a real shell, but this art nouveau piece could still evoke fond memories of days at the beach.

Arlington Garden Club celebrating its 90th anniversary

The club has monthly programs for north Snohomish County gardeners and awards scholarships to area students.

Spouses Franchesca and Don Simpson talk about their baby girl’s “chubby cheeks” and “button nose” as Kelly Fox RDMS RVT performs a live-view 3D ultrasound on the expecting mother Saturday, August 26, 2023, at Wonder Baby Ultrasound Studio in Everett, Washington. The Simpsons are expecting their first child in October. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Glamour shots in utero? Everett studio offers HD ultrasound keepsakes

For curious parents, these glimpses are exciting, but not medically endorsed.

Most Read