A Few Questions for Mabel

We open our 2025/26 season with Gilbert and Sullivan’s nautical farce, The Pirates of Penzance. Soprano Vanessa Becerra is singing the role of Mabel and is making her Seattle Opera debut. 
Photo © Andrew Morstein

Soprano Vanessa Becerra is eager to make her Seattle Opera debut in The Pirates of Penzance in the coming months. She’s equally eager to sing the part of Mabel for the first time…well, sort of. In this conversation, Vanessa clears the air about this role debut, talks about her childhood quest for pop stardom, and explains her desire to sing Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro. And you’ll have the opportunity to hear Vanessa again this season; she’s also appearing in Fellow Travelers in 2026.

Seattle Opera: When did you become interested in music?

Vanessa Becerra: In fourth and fifth grade I was addicted to pop music—Selena, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, and Spice Girls. I listened to the radio all the time and dreamed of being a pop star! I loved the idea of singing, but I didn't know how to go about being a pop star. I imagined sold out concerts and hearing my voice on the radio! My mom—my poor mom—just had to listen to me sing pop tunes all day. Then she found an afterschool children's choir for me. The choir was an opening for me.

Seattle Opera: Your selection of roles is wide—from one end of the opera spectrum to the other. Why the variety?

Vanessa Becerra: My repertoire reflects that I like all styles of opera. But there's nothing like singing a big French opera like Romeo and Juliet. It is just so luscious, very grand, and beautiful. I really like bel canto. My instrument (voice) does that well. My favorite roles are the ones where I get to be silly, play pranks, and find opportunities to be human.

Although unlikely to happen, Soprano Vanessa Becerra dreams of performing in Faust as Mephistopheles. Seen here is Greer Grimsley as the Devil in Seattle Opera’s 1998 production of Faust.
Photo © Gary Smith

Seattle Opera: While we’re on subject of roles, which ones are on your bucket list to sing?

Vanessa Becerra: I haven’t thought about this in so long, but I have several. The fact that I will probably not get to sing some of these parts is something to consider, but these roles are definitely on my list. Anne Trulove from The Rake's Progress is one. Then all four heroines in The Tales of Hoffman. That would be really cool. Another is Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos. This next one might be out of the question: what about Mephistopheles from Faust? He's so evil. My all-time dream role is Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro. Crazy, right? Yes. I love Susanna, but I am obsessed with the play that the opera is based on. Figaro, the character, is my favorite opera character. Singing Figaro is number one on the list.

Seattle Opera: The Pirates of Penzance is produced by community theatres, youth performers, colleges departments and professional companies. Have you performed Pirates before?

Vanessa Becerra: The answer is yes and no.

Seattle Opera: Oh, explain.

Vanessa Becerra: Yes, as a professional this is role a debut. But in high school, my senior year, I sang Mabel. I still have the score from that performance. It has my notations from when I was 18 years old.

Seattle Opera: In what ways are you approaching the role differently from when you were in high school?

Vanessa Becerra: In high school, I was mainly concerned with getting everything right, making sure I didn't make any mistakes. I don't think I understood just how fun and playful Gilbert and Sullivan's repertoire is. This time, I am really excited to sink my teeth into the silliness of it all. It's so silly! And I love being funny. Comedy is hard. It's hard to make people laugh. I'm having fun looking for the little jokes and funny moments that are in this show. This cast is great. It’s going to be silly, silly, silly.

Love Island, the reality show, is one of Vanessa Becerra’s guilty pleasures.
Photo © Peacock

Seattle Opera: What are you currently binge-watching?

Vanessa Becerra: Oh my gosh, there's so much TV out there. Okay. Well, it's going to be kind of dated, but I watched all of Love Island when that was on. I really liked Your Friends and Neighbors on Apple TV, and then I think I might restart The Studio.

Coco is Vanessa Becerra’s four-legged companion. Unfortunately, Coco is not traveling to Seattle with Vanessa this fall.
Photo © Vanessa Becerra

Seattle Opera: What is the one item that you love taking with you on the road?

Vanessa Becerra: If I could, I would bring Coco, my dog. I wish I could bring her with me to Seattle. But I would have to drive. She’s a big dog. I’m going to miss her. But I always pack my yoga mat.

The Pirates of Penzance is on stage October 18–November 1, 2025 at McCaw Hall. Learn more and buy tickets at seattleopera.org/pirates.