A visually stunning Aida at Seattle Opera

By Jason Victor Serinus, 09 May 2018

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“big-voiced soprano Leah Crocetto projected with ease”

Reviewed at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, Seattle on 5 May 2018

Verdi, Aida

Seattle Opera

John Fiore, Conductor

Francesca Zambello, Director

Michael Yeargan, Set Designer

Anita Yavich, Costume Designer

Milijana Nikolic, Amneris

Brian Jagde, Radamès

Gordon Hawkins, Amonasro

Leah Crocetto, Aida

Daniel Sumegi, Ramfis

Clayton Brainerd, King of Egypt

Marcy Stonikas, Priestess

Jessica Lang, Choreography

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Thomas May, 16th January

Presented without staging, Seattle Opera’s concert Daphne places Strauss’ extreme vocal demands and saturated orchestral writing in sharp relief, offering a high-risk encounter with a rarely heard late opera.

****1

Mozart meets Vaudeville in Seattle's silent movie Magic Flute

Erica Miner, 22nd February

Eye-popping, hand-drawn animation melds with Mozart's fantastical world and the silent film era to create a colorful and energetic new-to-Seattle production.

***11

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Erica Miner, 12th October

A world premiere opera about the Fisk Jubilee Singers, the intrepid troupe of African American singers who changed music history.

*****

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Rosie Rogers, 25th October

Thoughtful cuts, an extremely skillful orchestra and active, inventive staging made this sexy dark comedy engrossing and highly watchable.

*****

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Rosie Rogers, 12th August

Despite some confused visual elements, an excellent musical performance makes Seattle Opera's production well worth watching.

****1

Huang Ruo’s riveting Bound makes Seattle Opera debut

Erica Miner, 10th June

Bound tells of a second generation of Asian immigrants, born and raised in the US, their problematic association with their cultural heritage, and the difficulties and challenges they face, bound to their culture but trying to be wholly accepted as American.

*****

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Jason Victor Serinus

Jason Victor Serinus is a US-based music and audio critic who has contributed to Stereophile, Seattle Times, Opera Now, Opera News, Classical Voice North America, San Francisco Classical Voice, American Record Guide, Carnegie Hall Playbill, Stanford Live!, San Francisco Examiner, and so much more. He was also “The Voice of Woodstock” whistling Puccini in an Emmy-nominated Peanuts cartoon. He lives in Port Townsend, WA with his husband and three canine terrorers. http://www.jasonserinus.com.