The Spirituals in JUBILEE

In October 2024, Seattle Opera presents the world premiere of Jubilee, a new opera telling the story of how the Jubilee Singers of Fisk University popularized African American spirituals in the years following the Civil War. These traditional songs, created, refined, and shared anonymously by enslaved Americans, are the foundation on which all American music has been built. The music is wild and intense; beautiful and painful; full of despair, hope, and uplift. African American opera singers have long championed the spirituals, often concluding concerts and recitals with these beloved songs. Jubilee makes of the spirituals a full evening’s entertainment. 

Meet Seattle Opera's Next General and Artistic Director

James Robinson is Seattle Opera’s next General and Artistic Director, beginning September 4, 2024. Learn more about our dynamic new leader in this short Q&A interview, where he discusses why he’s eager to come to Seattle Opera, his philosophy for creating new works and his approach to the standard repertory, his drive for artistic excellence, and what he enjoys doing in his free time.

Seattle Opera's next General and Artistic Director, James Robinson. © David Jaewon Oh

James Robinson named General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera

Robinson begins September 4, 2024,
following 16 years at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Seattle Opera's next General and Artistic Director, James Robinson. © David Jaewon Oh

James Robinson is the next General and Artistic Director of Seattle Opera, and the fifth person to lead the company in its 61-year history. Robinson begins his tenure on September 4, 2024, replacing Christina Scheppelmann, who takes over as General and Artistic Director of Brussels’ La Monnaie/De Munt in January 2025 following the completion of her contract with Seattle Opera.

When Puccini's Rival Came to Seattle

Pagliacci has been one of the world’s favorite operas since its 1892 premiere. Here at Seattle Opera we’ve given it five times now (1966, 1974, 1983, 2008, and now 2024), sometimes on its own, sometimes as part of a double-bill with operas such as Cavalleria rusticana or Gianni Schicchi. But among the opera “classics” performed repeatedly in Seattle there’s something unique about Pagliacci: this opera’s creator once visited our fair city.

Initially collaborators, Puccini (left) and Leoncavallo (right) became arch-rivals when both made operas about La bohème.