* Events that are $15 or less
Nabucco
Verdi’s Biblical opera about war, power and revenge (why yes, they do make operas about such things) kicks off Seattle Opera’s new season. I’m particularly interested because 1) It features the incomparable Gordon Hawkins in the lead role 2) It’s a Seattle premiere and 3) It officially signals the Aidan Lang era (even though the general director arrived a year ago, this marks his programming debut). Lang has said he wants to shake things up, artistically-speaking; this production is being billed as a cross between a Shakespeare play and a rock concert. And in an effort to better connect the audience to the production, Seattle Opera has built a stage over the orchestra pit, moving the production 30 feet closer to patrons in the front row. Prepare to hear Oohs and Aahs or, if you’re a hater, Huhs?! on opening night. More from Lang on the production below.
[embed]https://soundcloud.com/seattle-opera/aidan-lang-discusses-nabucco[/embed]
If you go: Nabucco, McCaw Hall, August 8-22 (Tickets start at $25 )—F.D.
Work No. 360: Half the air in a given space *
