Huang Ruo’s riveting Bound makes Seattle Opera debut

Karen Vuong (Diane Tran) and Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Khanh)

Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Khanh), Karen Vuong (Diane Tran) and Daniel Klein (Judge Moriarty)

Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ plays the đàn bầu in Bound

By Erica Miner, 11 June 2023

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“masterfully portrayed by Karen Vuong, Diane elicits the viewer’s empathy”

Reviewed at Tagney Jones Hall, Seattle on 10 June 2023

Huang Ruo, Bound

Seattle Opera

Desdemona Chiang, Director

Carey Wong, Set Designer

Deborah Trout, Costume Designer

Geoff Korf, Lighting Designer

Karen Vuong, Diane Tran

Nina Yoshida Nelson, Khan

Daniel Klein, Stanley, Judge Moriarty

A rite of spring turned inward: Strauss’ Daphne at Seattle Opera

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

African American spirituals ring out in world premiere of Jubilee

Erica Miner, 12th October

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

*****

Alcina in Seattle: captivating, flirtatious, sometimes weird

Rosie Rogers, 25th October

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

*****

Frederick Ballentine’s Loge shines in Das Rheingold

Rosie Rogers, 12th August

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

****1

Seattle natives shine in Samson et Dalila

Erica Miner, 20th January

Ludovic Morlot conducts a strong cast, led by local mezzo J’Nai Bridges, in a concert performance of Saint-Saëns' biblical opera.

****1

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Erica Miner

As a Metropolitan Opera violinist Erica performed with James Levine, Leonard Bernstein and countless opera luminaries. Now an award-winning author, screenwriter, arts journalist and lecturer, Erica’s opera presentations include Wagner Societies in California, New York, Boston, North Carolina and Sydney, Australia. Her recently released novel Aria for Murder, the first in her ‘Operatic Mystery’ series, authentically reflects her experiences in the Met Orchestra. Sequels are due in 2023 and 2024. Erica’s personal website is here.