Seattle Opera takes a modern approach to its season opener

Seattle Opera kicks off its 2005-06 season on a modern note, with the West Coast premiere of Jake Heggie's "End of the Affair," an opera based on Graham Greene's novel about the breaking up of a love affair between a writer and his friend's wife in World War II London.

Then the season, announced today, reverts to the familiar with Johann Strauss Jr.'s "Die Fledermaus," Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" and Verdi's "Macbeth."

In a first for the company, it announced the addition of a second Sunday afternoon performance for the four productions. It will replace a less popular Friday night presentation. The current Sunday matinees have long been popular with audiences.

Heggie came to national prominence with his opera "Dead Man Walking," premiered by San Francisco Opera five years ago. His setting of "End of the Affair" was premiered by Houston Grand Opera last season and received widespread acclaim. He's revising it for the Seattle production. The libretto is by Heather McDonald.

The conductor for Seattle Opera's production is Yves Abel and the stage director is Leonard Folgia, in his company debut. Singers include Mary Mills and Philip Cutlip. The dates are Oct. 15-29.

Following the angst of "End of the Affair" is the champagne of Strauss, scheduled Jan. 14-28. Jane Eaglen takes on the role of Rosalinde and Richard Berkeley-Steele sings Eisenstein. Both are appearing in the opera's performances this summer of Wagner's "Ring." Gerard Schwarz, music director of Seattle Symphony, returns to the podium, with Chris Alexander as the stage director. The production, designed by Zack Brown, is from Washington Opera.

After an absence of six years, Mozart returns to Seattle Opera in the form of his comedy "Cosi fan tutte," Feb. 25-March 11. The production was created for Covent Garden in London in 1995 with Jonathan Miller as the stage director. It has been seen in New York at the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the Lincoln Center Festival. The cast includes Alexandra Deshorties and Christine Rice as the fickle sisters, both in their company debuts, and Matthew Polenzani and Christopher Maltman as their would-be lovers. Richard Stilwell sings Don Alfonso and Kimberly Barber performs Despina.

The season closes, May 6-20, with Verdi's "Macbeth." It is the first time Seattle Opera has produced this example of early Verdi since 1979. The production, designed by Robert Israel, is new, with Bernard Uzan as the stage director. Andrea Gruber returns to Seattle to sing the role of Lady Macbeth and Gordon Hawkins will sing Macbeth. Others in the cast include Turkish bass Burak Bilgili and Italian tenor Joseph Calleja, both in their local debuts. Nicola Luisotti, the conductor, also will be making his debut.

Normally, Seattle Opera opens its regular season in the summer. However, this year is the exception because of the revival of Wagner's "Ring," which encompasses four operas and is not part of the subscription season. All three cycles already are sold out and a waiting list of 200 is closed.

Season tickets go on sale to subscribers today and to the public Feb. 14 at 206-389-7676 or www.seattleopera.org Subscriptions to the four-opera season range from $124 to $3,052, which includes a preferred seating donation and $2 per ticket facility fee required by the city of Seattle to help cover costs of the McCaw Hall renovation.

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