Meet the Artist: Randall Scotting

Countertenor Randall Scotting returns to Seattle Opera as The Refugee in Flight following his debut in Semele ('15). Later this year, he performs the title role in Cavalli’s Eliogabalo with San Francisco’s West Edge Opera, and then he records a solo album of castrato arias with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in London. The Colorado native studied vocal performance at the Juilliard Opera Center and the University of Colorado. He was also awarded a PhD from London’s Royal College of Music for his thesis on 18th century Italian opera.

We last saw you here for your role as Athamas in Semele (‘15) with Stephanie Blythe, Brenda Rae, and Alek Shrader among others. This was also your SO debut. What was that experience like?
It was great! I love that piece, and what an amazing production and colleagues. My role in Semele was much smaller; by contrast, I get to sing quite a bit in Flight. It’s wonderful to be back in Seattle.

Flight takes wing in the press

Kyle Seago films Randall Scotting as 

"At a time when the pandemic has laid waste to innumerable travel plans, Jonathan Dove’s 1998 comic opera, Flight, is an inspired choice for a new streaming film by Seattle Opera ... Brian Staufenbiel directs a talented (and socially distanced) ensemble cast, and Viswa Subbaraman conducts a rousing performance."  — The New Yorker 

"The Seattle Opera has produced an amazing show in Flight—and during a pandemic no less. Make your reservation for this destination soon." — Eclectic Arts

"A unique streaming treat for both AvGeeks and fans of opera." —The Runaway Girl Network 

"Before seeing this production, I was already of the view that Flight is a masterpiece. This film does the opera full justice: hats off to Seattle Opera for delivering it in such style. And if anyone thinks the plot is too fatuous and improbable, they should look up the name Mehran Karimi Nasseri, whose real-life story is at its heart – and in this case, truth is even stranger than fiction."—Bachtrack 

"We know we’re in for an acting treat when we see Sharleen Joynt’s overpoweringly supercilious, impeccably turned out Controller, prowling her control tower and pulling the strings; we see her arched eyebrows and penetrating stare in close-up as she delivers stratospheric coloratura." —Bachtrack

Meet the Artist: Maestro Viswa Subbaraman

Maestro Viswa Subbaraman 

Internationally acclaimed American conductor, Viswa Subbaraman makes his Seattle Opera debut conducting Flight. The West Texas native recently served as the Artistic Director/Music Director of the Skylight Music Theatre in Milwaukee. During his tenure at the Skylight, he has expanded the company’s repertoire and placed it at the forefront of the industry in producing contemporary opera and reimaging traditional works. Prior to Skylight, he was the Artistic Director/Founder of Opera Vista, Houston’s innovative contemporary opera company.

What most excites you about this upcoming production of Flight? What has the process been like?
Having the opportunity to create an opera film. We are not simply creating a stage production for camera. We’re envisioning this work as if you’d be seeing it at a movie theater rather than an opera house.