Seattle Opera to stage dark tragedy, hilarious romp, magical fantasy in 2010-11

Seattle Opera’s 2010/11 season will feature a Wagnerian masterpiece, a dark tragedy, a hilarious romp, a poignant retelling, and a magical fantasy.

Tristan und Isolde kicks off the season in July, followed by Lucia di Lammermoor in October. In 2011, audiences will see The Barber of Seville, Don Quixote, and The Magic Flute.

“We launch the season with a new production of one of the greatest operas ever composed, Richard Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde,” said General Director Speight Jenkins. “We have assembled great casts, conductors, and directors in a wide variety of operas — none of which has been seen in Seattle for at least 10 years, and one which has never been done here. I can promise you that the season will live up to the traditions of Seattle Opera.”

A tale of intense longing, Tristan is one of the composer’s most breathtaking and influential works. It will run July 31 to August 21.

In October, the company presents Donizetti’s tragic romance Lucia di Lammermoor. This dark tale runs from Oct. 16 to 30, featuring everything from a secret rendezvous and hidden romance to a family feud, a duel at dawn, and the most famous mad scene in opera. Rossini’s rollicking comedy The Barber of Seville comes to McCaw Hall from Jan. 15 to 29, 2011. Possibly the most popular opera comedy ever created, this lively opera — the prequel to Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro — is packed with familiar tunes.

February marks the Seattle Opera premiere of Massenet’s Don Quixote. Cervantes’ iconic literary hero comes to McCaw Hall from Feb. 26 to March 12, 2011.

Seattle Opera’s season concludes with Mozart’s Magic Flute. This mythical fairy tale has been popular since its premiere in Vienna in 1791.

Tickets are available at the Seattle Opera Ticket Office: 206-389-7676 or onlline at www.seattleopera.org.

All performances take place at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle.