Lighting Designer

Inspired by William Hogarth’s famous series of paintings, Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress charts one man’s path from pleasure to ruin. When the mysterious Nick Shadow appears, Tom Rakewell abandons his sweetheart, Anne Trulove, and leaves behind his country life for the temptations of the city. But London’s glittering promise soon dissolves as love, money and sanity slip farther and farther from his grasp. Can true love save him, or will the devil get the last laugh.

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The Rake's Progress

Simpson College

Fresh off his “captivating” (Bachtrack) performance as Loge in our 2023 Das Rheingold, Freddie Ballentine (Das Rheingold ’23, Charlie Parker’s Yardbird ’20, Carmen ’19) returns to Seattle Opera for a one-night-only concert. One of America’s leading tenors and the 2021 winner of the Kennedy Center’s Marian Anderson Award, Ballentine has rocketed to the top stages of the world with performances at the Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera, and Washington National Opera this year alone.

Freddie & Kunal in Concert

Seattle Opera

**Pelléas & Mélisande at Des Moines Metro Opera**

Join us for a mesmerizing journey into the heart of Impressionist opera with Claude Debussy's only completed opera, "Pelléas & Mélisande." This exquisitely nuanced masterpiece shimmers with the color and texture of a Monet painting, captivating audiences with its hypnotic score and a tale of forbidden love that blossoms in a dreamlike world. 

**Performance Dates & Times:**
- **Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 PM** - Best prices available
- **Friday, July 12 at 7:30 PM** - SOLD OUT
- **Wednesday, July 17 at 7:30 PM**
- **Sunday, July 21 at 2:00 PM** - SOLD OUT

**Venue:** The Lauridsen Opera Center, presented by the Des Moines Metro Opera. 

**Featuring:**
- **John Moore** as Pelléas, making a role debut
- **Sydney Mancasola** as Mélisande
- **Brandon Cedel** as Golaud, in his company debut
- Conducted by **Derrick Inouye**, in his company debut
- Directed by **Chas Rader-Shieber**, marking his seventh DMMO production

**About the Opera:**
Music and Libretto by Claude Debussy, adapted from Maurice Maeterlinck's play, "Pelléas & Mélisande" premiered on April 30, 1902, at Opéra-Comique, Paris. Sung in French with English supertitles, the opera runs approximately 3 hours and 10 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission. This production marks its company premiere at DMMO.

**The Story:**
Debussy's masterpiece unfolds a tale of tragic love between Pelléas and Mélisande, set against a backdrop of familial strife and ancient curses. Its music defies the traditional forms of opera, flowing directly from the drama and the words, creating an unparalleled emotional and auditory experience.

**Tickets:**
Tickets are available for purchase online. With limited performances, early booking is recommended to secure your seats for this rare and enchanting opera experience. For sold-out dates, please fill out the Ticket Request Form or call 515-209-3257 for potential availability.

Don't miss this opportunity to experience Debussy's "Pelléas & Mélisande," a production that promises to cast a spell of beauty and melancholy, leaving an indelible mark on your heart and memory.

Pelléas & Mélisande

Experience the electrifying intensity of Richard Strauss's masterpiece, "Salome," brought to life by the Des Moines Metro Opera. This new production captures the sensational drama of Oscar Wilde’s play, featuring the princess Salome and her perilous obsession with the imprisoned prophet, John the Baptist. The story unfolds with music that is both colossal and dazzling, promising to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Making her anticipated role debut as Salome, soprano Sara Gartland leads a talented cast under the baton of DMMO Marshall and Judy Flapan Music Director and Principal Conductor David Neely. Directed by Nathan Troup, this production showcases a blend of intense vocal performances and dramatic characterizations, set against Strauss's wildly imaginative orchestral palette.

Performances are scheduled for June 29 at 7:30pm, July 7 at 2:00pm, July 13 at 1:00pm, and July 19 at 8:00pm. Each performance offers a unique opportunity to experience Strauss's original contribution to the art form, nearly 120 years after its premiere, in a production that remains as musically shocking and astonishing as ever.

Sung in German with English supertitles, the opera has an estimated run time of 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission. This production marks a return of "Salome" to the DMMO stage, following its previous staging in 2002.

Join us for a night of unparalleled opera at the Des Moines Metro Opera, where "Salome" promises to be a highlight of the season. Secure your tickets now for an unforgettable journey into the depths of desire, power, and destiny.

Salome

A poor girl comes to Buenos Aires and is drawn into a life of prostitution by the sound of the tango. She dies, her shadow continuing to stalk the city. Astor Piazzolla’s sultry and passionate nuevo tango fuels the surreal story of María, born “one day when God was drunk.” Explore this drama of seduction, depravity, redemption, and rebirth in Buenos Aires’ urban underbelly. This sensual tango, told in the fading beauty of Turner Hall, will knock you over with its powerful storytelling and singing.

María de Buenos Aires

Milwaukee Turners

In this new production of Madame Butterfly, director Aria Umezawa constructs – and deconstructs – Puccini's fantasy of Japan, infusing the typical Westernized portrayal with Japanese history, culture, and artistry, while giving Cio-Cio-San a new sense of agency over her own story.

Madame Butterfly

Academy of Music

The adventures of Figaro and Susanna unfold with wit and delight in this satire about nobility and power. Count Almaviva is determined to woo Susanna, who is engaged to Figaro—a servant in the household. The betrothed will do whatever it takes to navigate the Count’s advances; and the Countess—fed up with her husband’s infidelities—joins in the chaos, too. This empathetic comedy of twists and turns features sublime musical moments, a healthy dose of irreverence, and is a joyful reminder of our shared humanity.

The Marriage of Figaro

Keller Auditorium

Louis Armstrong Park

This zesty love story is a fairytale about a sweet young prince, cursed by a sour witch and forced to voyage into distant lands in search of three oranges, each of which contains a princess. Will he run out of juice or can he concentrate on his mission to find true love?

100 years after composer Sergei Prokofiev wrote this endlessly inventive opera, best known for its famous “March,” the time is ripe for The Love for Three Oranges to make its Des Moines Metro Opera debut in a refreshing new production by director Chas Rader-Shieber and scenic and costume designer Jacob A. Climer, led by Maestro David Neely.

The Love for Three Oranges

Obsession. Lust. Revenge. Old Testament politics and a timeless power struggle. This ancient tale of strength, vengeance, lust, and seduction is one of the most popular operas in French repertoire. Famous for its sensual "Bacchanale" and the aria "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix," experience the lust of one woman and the downfall of countless men.

Lighting Designer

Connie Yun

Events

Past events

5 - 18 Jul, 2025

The Rake's Progress · Des Moines Metro Opera

Apr 27, 2025

Freddie & Kunal in Concert · Seattle Opera

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