Seated next to my date and me, Technical and Facilities Director Robert Shaub opened up about plans for Seattle Opera’s new offices, which will be located right next to their performance venue, McCaw Hall in Seattle Center. Though the Opera already has a rich history of bringing their art to schools around Puget Sound, they are strategizing ways to expand their reach to where it’s needed most–low-income schools and retirement communities, who would otherwise have no access or exposure to the art.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Education Director Barbara Lynne Jamison, who has big plans for the future of Seattle Opera’s community engagement. Though I felt that Davis was rather low-energy and started the bidding lower than he could have (a few items were sold for below the estimated value), the gala was still able to raise $280,000 for the opera’s Education Department due to its rowdy crowd and generous paddle-raising. Noted wine auctioneer Michael Davis led the live auction, enticing guests with twelve large-scale events and a rousing raise-the-paddle. (It was a strange choice, given the occasion, the organization, and that it was performed during dinner…but I suppose no one can say no to Sondheim).

Reminding operagoers of his classic role of Wotan with a sensitively sung “Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge” from Das Rheingold, Grimsley was then joined again by Bybee to finish the entertainment with a selection from Sweeney Todd. The gala’s main attraction, bass-baritone and Seattle Opera favorite Greer Grimsley (playing the eponymous character in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman, opening May 7) made a grand entrance, butting into the quartet’s Toreador Song from the second floor mezzanine and descending to the stage, joined by his wife and Dutchman co-star Luretta Bybee. with altered libretti) and a charming rendition of Abendlied (from Hansel and Gretel, up for production in Seattle Opera’s 2016-17 season) by members of the Youth Opera Chorus, which left the audience smitten.

Dinner was punctuated by the quartet’s opera parodies (selections from Carmen, Die Walküre, etc.

Seattle opera gala