It’s quite an experience to see the one and only opera by that master of sweeping musical thought: Beethoven’s “Fidelio.” It’s even better when the key role is played by a masterful soprano making her U.S. debut: Christiane Libor. Those two experiences outweigh any minor complaints of staging (and Beethoven’s own inability to write well for voice) to make Seattle Opera’s “Fidelio” – which just opened at McCaw Hall and continues through Oct. 27 – a musical treat you shouldn’t miss.

Of course, it’s not Libor alone who carries this opera, though as Leonore – a devoted wife who disguises herself as a male prison employee to rescue her husband Florestan from political imprisonment and death – the German soprano gives the role both strength and truly convincing emotion with a voice that flows like molten gold through Beethoven’s every register change, octave leap and endless phrase.

No, like any good production this “Fidelio” is strong on almost all sides. Read more »

One of the fallouts from Seattle Mayor McGinn’s announcement last week of the new Seattle Chihuly Museum is the proposed Northwest Native Cultural Center. Supported by various local professionals, the center would have given a Native American presence to the new developments at the Seattle Center, where the current Fun Forest is soon to be torn down. Instead, if the mayor’s proposal makes it through council, the Center will get a playground, green space and a 50,000 square foot tribute to glass icon Dale Chihuly, including an indoor exhibition space, glasshouse, garden and outdoor glass art. …

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