Overtures to the Opera

Before the curtain rises on the Seattle Opera stage, patrons have the opportunity to attend an hour-long, pre-performance lecture. In these witty and fast-paced introductions before every performance, members of the Education department discuss each opera's composer, story, and cultural context. Those attending leave with a deeper understanding for the work they are about to encounter. Pre-performance lectures take place 90 minutes before curtain time (generally at 6:00 p.m. for evening performances and 12:30 p.m. for matinee performances).