ArtZone with Nancy Guppy
This week, ArtZone with Nancy Guppy welcomes musical guests The Cave Singers! Be sure to tune in to Seattle Channel for tonight’s episode, which will also feature a profile of 2010 Mayor’s Arts Award recipient, Juan Alonso and an interview with Bass-baritone hunk, John Relyea, who will drop by the studio to chat about his role in the Seattle Opera’s production of Don Quichotte. ArtZone airs every Friday on Seattle Channel (Channel 21) at 8:00 pm, and is also streaming and podcasting.
JOIN IN ON THE FUN OF “QUIXOTE’S QUEST” WITH THE SEATTLE OPERA
Seattle Opera
Starting today, February 7, Seattle Opera kicks off “Quixote’s Quest,” a series of week-long scavenger hunts that will reward local fans with prizes including free tickets to the company’s upcoming production, Massenet’s Don Quichotte. Taking a page from Cervantes’ celebrated novel—wherein titular anti-hero Don Quixote embarks on a “quest” to retrieve the stolen necklace of his beloved Dulcinea—Seattle Opera will hide a necklace at a different spot in the Seattle metropolitan area every Monday for four weeks. Clues to the hidden necklace’s location will be posted on the Opera’s blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and the first person to find the necklace each week can redeem it for tickets to the March 9 performance of Don Quichotte. In addition, each of the “Quixote’s Quest” weekly winners will be placed in a drawing for a romantic grand prize package for two, which will include dinner at a Seattle restaurant and other special items. Follow the above link for the full scoop on the “Quest.”
SEATTLE OPERA HOSTS “BARBER OF SEATTLE” CONTESTS TOMORROW
Seattle Opera
In anticipation of Seattle Opera’s upcoming production of Rossini’s comic masterpiece The Barber of Seville, the company presents “The Barber of Seattle,” a free event this Saturday, January 8, featuring live music, opportunities to explore McCaw Hall, and a trio of competitions pitting stylists, barbers, and hairy Seattleites against each other in a battle for some amazing prizes. The search is still on for competitors for this hair-raising contest: Five talented stylists, five barbers skilled in close shaving, five bearded beauties and 10 adventurous hair models are needed to take part. Be sure to follow the link for more details about the event, and don’t miss The Barber of Seville, which runs January 15-29.
SEATTLE OPERA SEEKS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Artist Trust
The nationally and internationally renowned Seattle Opera announces a senior opportunity for the position of Director of Development. The Director of Development is the chief fundraising officer for the Company with overall responsibility for annual fundraising efforts including planned giving, endowment, major gifts, special events and a projected capital campaign. The Director is responsible for expanding and improving current development programs and working collaboratively. The Director of Development must possess a genuine interest, passion, and commitment for opera, its mission, and core values. A minimum of 5 years of experience overseeing fundraising programs in organizations with operating budgets of over $10 million and experience raising contributed revenue of over $6 million is required. For more information, including further qualifications and instruction to apply, follow the link.
MARGARET JANE WRAY OF SEATTLE OPERA
Seattle Magazine
Get a sneak preview with this exclusive video of Margaret Jane Wray singing a portion of “Brangäne’s Ruf” in the lobby of McCaw Hall. The opera singer discusses her role in the current show at Seattle Opera, Tristan und Isolde, which runs through August 21, after the link.
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SEATTLE OPERA PREVIEW
Seattle Opera
Start getting excited about the upcoming 2010/2011 Seattle Opera season with a night of previews and performances. This year begins with Wagner’s “Tristan und Isolde,” and the season’s schedule includes “Lucia di Lammermoor,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Don Quixote,” and “The Magic Flute.” The evening includes a season preview emceed by Speight Jenkins and features performances by former Seattle Opera Young Artist Marcus Shelton and current Young Artist Marcy Stonikas. Doors open tonight at 7:00pm at Seattle City Hall. Click on the link for more information about the event as well as the Seattle Opera’s upcoming season.
SEATTLE OPERA PREVIEW LECTURE: “TRISTAN AND ISOLDE”
Seattle Opera
Members of the Seattle Opera’s education staff will lead an informal opera discussion designed to give the community orientation to the upcoming opera, “Tristan and Isolde.” The lecture is informal and will include musical excerpts. The free event will take place at the Frye Art Museum on Sunday, July 11 and 2:00pm. For more information about this event as well as the Seattle Opera’s calendar, please click on the above link.
SEATTLE OPERA’S ONCE AND FUTURE ‘RING’
Seattle Times
The Wagnerian faithful are gathering at the Seattle Center for the ultimate in opera experiences: the “Ring,” more formally known as Richard Wagner’s “Der Ring des Nibelungen.” And while the “Ring” may seem more German than the Volkswagen, this four-opera epic also is an indelible part of Seattle culture. A Seattle Opera fixture since 1975, the “Ring” is now in its third incarnation here — a hugely popular production, directed by Stephen Wadsworth and designed by Thomas Lynch. What makes this “Ring” (first staged here in 2001) special? In many respects, it is an emotional synthesis of the elements in both the first, ultratraditional “Ring” production of ’75, and the second, more avant-garde postmodern “Ring,” completed in 1986. It has the best of both approaches: It’s creative, imaginative and audience-stretching, but it also has the storybook beauty and the attention to Wagner’s own stage directions that satisfy the traditionalism dear to many Wagnerites.
A WAGNER LASER-LIGHT SHOW AT THE PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER
Seattle Times
Zeppelin and Floyd getting a little old? As part of Seattle Opera’s Ring Cycle this week, opera general director Speight Jenkins’ favorite selections from the “Ring,” plus his live commentary, will be set to a laser show in the Pacific Science Center’s Laser Dome. Snacks, beer and wine will be available for purchase. 6:00 pm Thursday, 200 Second Ave. N.
Former Seattle Opera Young Artist Named as Finalist in Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
Seattle Opera:
Noah Baetge, a former Seattle Opera Young Artist, has been named as a finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Baetge, a native of the Puget Sound region, was a Young Artist with Seattle Opera for two seasons, from 2006/07 through 2007/08. On February 15, Baetge was named one of eight finalists who will sing on the Metropolitan Opera Stage on February 22 at 3:00 p.m. EST, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra conducted by Patrick Summers. All eight finalists are considered winners in the Metropolitan Opera competition. In the semi-finals on Sunday, Baetge sang “Dies Bildnis ist bezaubernd schön” from Mozart’s Magic Flute and Edgardo’s aria from Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor.
