Wagner in Seattle Performers Announced

Seattle Opera to Transform Seattle into the “Ring City” with a Month of Citywide Ring Cycle Events in August 2009 Under the leadership of General Director Speight Jenkins, Seattle Opera has become known as “America’s Bayreuth,” drawing worldwide audiences to its acclaimed productions of all of Richard Wagner’s major works, especially sold-out performances of Der Ring des Nibelungen, the composer’s cycle of four epic operas—Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. Seattle Opera’s last Ring cycle performances in 2005 drew audiences from 49 states and 19 countries and sold out many months in advance. Seattle Opera and the City of Seattle are now making preparations for Seattle Opera’s next three Ring cycles, to take place from August 9 through 30, 2009. Tickets are currently on sale to Seattle Opera subscribers. Tickets go on sale online to the general public beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 12, 2008. Tickets for the general public will be available by phone or in person beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2008. Read the full article by clicking here.

Montreal Impact 3 : 1 Seattle Sounders

Down and Out. Seattle's USL Story Ends Amidst Red Card Flurry Impact Advance to Semis as Seattle Prepares for the Arrival of MLS Red cards, late goals and a retaken penalty contributed to an evening of high drama at the Saputo Stadium, Montreal. Going into the game trailing by one goal, Montreal equalized the aggregate score in in the 56th minute with a strike from David Testo just inside the 18 yards box which Sounders keeper Chris Eylander only managed to fingertip. The scoreline didn't stay tied long, however, as the Sounders all-time leading goalscorer in the playoffs, Roger Levesque, scored three minutes later putting Seattle back up by one goal in the series. The goal was his seventh ever in the playoffs and came off an assist from recent substitute, Sanna Nyassi. Nyassi had come on at half time for the injured Leighton O'Brien and played to ball to Levesque from the left after having received a terrific back heel pass from Le Toux. Seattle adopted a more defensive posture after the goal to hold their lead but were dealt a serious blow in the 74th minute when they were reduced to ten men after Roger Levesque was sent off for a violent tackle on Impact defender Adam Braz. On the ensuing free kick, the ball bounced around in the box eventually coming to the feet of Rocco Placentino whose shot deflected in off the post. Full Match Report

Seattle Sounders 2 : 1 Montreal Impact

Fiery, Frothy and Far from Over Sounders Travel to Quebec with Slim Advantage but without Sakuda Seattle Sounders edged out the Montréal Impact 2-1 in the first leg of this play-off game which saw overworked referee Edvin Jurisevic issue red cards to Seattle’s Kevin Sakuda and Montréal’s Stefan Pesoli. Goals from Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and a Leighton O’Brien penalty secured the home side a narrow lead to take to Montréal on Sunday. Jurisevic could have issued more cards as personal battles broke out across the field in a chaotic final fifteen minutes. Adam Braz and Felix Brillant can count themselves fairly lucky to have remained on the pitch. Nevertheless, there was a lack of finger pointing from a calm Brain Schmetzer after the match with the Seattle coach commenting “My players should know better. A championship team doesn’t make mental mistakes like that. That they tried to play physical was a positive in my eyes.” Impact coach John Limniatis saw it differently. Asked if he was happy with the 2-1 reverse in the away leg, he said, Full Match Report with Quotes from Both Managers

Eurydice at the ACT Theater

This play was written in 2000 by Sarah Ruhl and was inspired by the death of her father in 1994. Ruhl is considered to be “the most exciting young playwright to emerge from the American theatre in more than a decade” by ACT Artistic Director Kurt Beattie. The stage which appeared to be more like the bottom of a pool or a public restroom was composed of weathered blue tile with elements of the productions props scattered about – dead leaves, brown paper, a rusty piped makeshift water fountain and intriguingly strings attached on both ends from the ceiling to the stage floor that when plucked emitted an ensemble of various guitar movements. Full Review by Ileana Vasquez Click Here

All Tharp at the Pacific Northwest Ballet

The PNB season opened with a bang as a three part program produced the unusual spectacle of standing ovations at each interval as well as at the end. The program consisted of two world premieres by renowned choreographer Twyla Tharp, “Opus 111” and “Afternoon Ball”, followed by her adaptation of Frank Sinatra classics called “Nine Sinatra Songs”. Tharp spent two months in Seattle working with the company to bring her two new pieces to life, and that intense period of hard work and focus has definitely paid off. For “Opus 111”, Tharp set her choreography to the music of Johannes Brahms, in what PNB’s Education Programs Manager Doug Fullington informed us was Brahms’ last piece, a lushly romantic string quintet. Simple costumes of brown, orange, and lavender allowed the dance to flow without drawing the eye as twelve dancers participated in the Opus, mostly in two or three pairs at a time but all onstage at the stirring finale. The vocabulary was classical, with elements of folk dancing, and the swaying arm movements that are a Tharp standard. The piece featured several dancers who had been promoted since last season, most prominently Lucien Postlewaite, who has been promoted to principal rank at the PNB and seemed to revel in the new status as he performed with confidence and verve. Also performing in “Opus 111” were former corps de ballet members James Moore and recently married Rachel Foster, who are both new PNB soloists. Full Review

Seattle Sounders v Montreal Impact

Old Friends Meet Again and Both Have Reasons to be Confident But Could This Be "Sayonara" Starfire? The Sounders now enter the play-off finale to the season and some would say their existence. They approach the quarter final match with Montréal Impact in a less than hearty mood with recent performances baffling coach Brian Schmetzer and fans alike. Goals have been shipped by experienced defenders making basic errors, but as a frustrated Schmetzer pointed out after the last game, the errors seem to emanate from a different player every time. But just as it seems to have broken itself, it may well fix itself and traditionally the play-offs have brought the best out of Schmetzer’s sides. Add to that the incentive that for the first time this season a loss poses the risk that it may cost Seattle their Champions title, and you get the feeling that a rejuvenated Sounders may show up on Friday for the first leg against Montréal Impact. That, at least, is the hope for the home side. Full Match Preview Click Here

Seattle Sounders to Play Montreal Impact

Sounders to Face Montreal in Play-offs First Leg at Tukwila Starfire Friday 26th In the first playoffs round, the Seattle Sounders will face the Montreal Impact in a home-and-away aggregate goals series. The first game will be played this Friday, September 26, in Tukwila. The kick off is 7pm as has been the norm for home games. The return game will be played Sunday, September 28, at Saputo Stadium, at 2 pm kick off west coast time. Details click here

Seattle Sounders 2 : 3 Vancouver Whitecaps

Whitecaps Take Cascadia Cup Home after 3 Goal Blitz Four Goals in Fourteen Minutes in Second Half Decide "Friendly Derby" The last Vancouver/Seattle derby for the foreseeable future ended with a 3-2 win for the Vancouver. The visiting Whitecaps had nothing to play for in the USL after Puerto Rico clinched first place last night but there was no doubting their desire to finish this rivalry with a victory on a memorable night in Tukwila. Goals from Nick Addlery, Justin Moose and Jeff Clarke all within a 14 minute period in the second half gave a lively Vancouver Whitecaps side a deserved victory in this final Cascadia Derby. Sounders had earlier taken the lead through Seb le Toux in the first half and a beautifully worked Kevin Sakuda goal brought them back to 3-2 in the second. But it was to be Vancouver's night. Now everyone must wait for the conclusion to the USL regular season to learn their dates if not their fates. What we can say is that Seattle Sounders will play Montreal with the Impact having choice of home or away first, and Vancouver will play Minnesota Thunder whose surprise 3-1 win over Montreal earlier in the evening secured their play-off place. Dates are yet to be confirmed. The night started promisingly for a Seattle side missing Taylor Graham who pulled a hamstring in training on Thursday. Full Report

Shrek the Musical

Shrek - the Musical 5th Avenue Theater August 14 - September 21 By Janet Luhrs Who’d think that a silly, crazy cast of swamp-dwelling ogres, gremlins, and fairy tale creatures could inspire an opening night audience to give a standing ovation? I’ll admit it – I was surprised. When given this assignment, I was skeptical. I hadn’t seen the movie, and didn’t see how some green monster could hold my attention. Wrong. Shrek the Musical is sheer delight for all ages and types. We saw plenty of kids, suits, middle-aged ladies, prom queen types, 20-and 30 somethings, hipsters and parents. We sat in front and felt like we were in the middle of a fairy tale ride through Disneyland. The set was elaborately first-class and for the most part so were the costumes. The acting was superb, especially by Sutton Foster who played Princess Fiona, and Christopher Sieber, who played Lord Farquaad. Chester Gregory, who played the donkey, brought uninhibited, wide-ranging humor to his character – and he really brightened the stage. Shrek himself, played by Brian D’Arcy, was loveable. Full Review of Shrek

Seattle Dance Project - Orpheus Project

Project Orpheus - Seattle Dance Project ACT Theater - Bullitt Cabaret In an unusual and inspired concept, Seattle Dance Project enlisted three choreographers - Wade Madsen, Eva Stone and Olivier Wevers – to collaborate on its’ version of the Greek Myth Orpheus and Eurydice in a work, entitled Project Orpheus. Perhaps most striking were two scenes; Orpheus’ (Joseph Anderson) “Request for Euridice” in which Madsen lined up two tables behind which the dancers sat and rattled a battery of questions in deep, halting breaths, asking how his request for Eurydice “would affect his art.” The scene, reminiscent of the antics of the New York-based Wooster Group, was hysterical and highly effective at simultaneously evoking Orpheus’ desperation for Eurydice at the unwelcome impediment. Orpheus Project

Chuanyun Li - Seattle

Chuanyun Li Benaroya Hall September 16 Orchestra Seattle's Fall Gala presented Chuanyun Li who delighted the audience at Benaroya Hall last night with a performance that not only brought smiles to the crowd in front of him, but the orchestra behind. After receiving rave reviews from the Seattle Times and countless other American critics, Li returned to Seattle for one night only with George Shangrow and Orchestra Seattle. Full Review: Chuanyun Li

Vancouver Whitecaps v Seattle Sounders- Death of a Rivalry?

Farewell in the Nicest Sense to One of North America’s Oldest Derbies Whitecaps Head South for One Last Time Amidst all the hullaballooo of two general elections, another chapter in the history of both countries is about to end. A sporting chapter. For when Vancouver Whitecaps head to Starfire for the last regular season game of the 2008 season, it will bring down the curtain on one of the most storied rivalries in North American soccer history. David Falk, Seattle soccer historian and webmaster of GOALSEATTLE.com, commented "Seattle Sounders have always been the filling in the middle of the Cascadia 'sandwich.' Whom do Vancouver want to beat the most? Seattle. Whom do Portland relish conquering above all else? The Sounders. In this triangle derby over the years a certain admiration has developed between Sounders and Whitecaps supporters and officials. " Full Story: We'll Meet Again

Win Pacific Northwest Ballet Tickets

WIN PACIFIC NORTHWEST BALLET TICKETS Win two tickets to the Pacific Northwest Ballet's production of All Tharp (September 25-October 5) . Just email your name and phone number to competitions@prostamerika.com and remember to put "New Works" in the subject line. Competition Closes September 17th. More details of this and more competitions, please visit Seattle Competitions

Seattle Sounders 1 : 1 Atlanta Silverbacks

One Defensive Lapse Robs Seattle of Win But Not Play-off The Sounders secured the point required to qualify for the play-off stage of the 2009 USL season but there was little other reason for euphoria at the Starfire Sports Complex tonight. Against an average Silverbacks side who boasted the worst defensive record in the league and who hadn't beaten Seattle for over two years, a draw was hardly the pinnacle of achievement. Yet Sebastien le Toux scored his twentieth goal of the season and became the first Sounder since Mark Baena in 1998 to do so and Kenji Treschuk provided the assist and had perhaps his best game for quite a while signaling a welcome return to form. Coach Schmetzer was clearly irritated at the defensive lapse however which allowed Atlanta their equaliser especially as it was two of the normally most secure and reliable defenders, Danny Jackson and Taylor Graham who were involved. Macoumba Kandji returning after a five game absence netted the 55th minute equaliser. "Letting in another soft goal after we worked on defending on our only training day, Friday. We worked on defenders with two lines of four. I hauled the guys up for a meeting, watched film, made it pretty clear to them that they're a veteran group, they don't make mistakes like that, you understand that if you make them it's worse than when the forwards don't score, you're mentally tough. We had a pat on the back meeting and said this is where we need to do better and then we end up giving away another soft goal." Full Report Seattle Sounders 1 : 1 Atlanta Silverbacks

Shrek - the Musical

5th Avenue Theater August 14 - September 21 By Janet Luhrs Who’d think that a silly, crazy cast of swamp-dwelling ogres, gremlins, and fairy tale creatures could inspire an opening night audience to give a standing ovation? I’ll admit it – I was surprised. When given this assignment, I was skeptical. I hadn’t seen the movie, and didn’t see how some green monster could hold my attention. Wrong. Shrek the Musical is sheer delight for all ages and types. We saw plenty of kids, suits, middle-aged ladies, prom queen types, 20-and 30 somethings, hipsters and parents. We sat in front and felt like we were in the middle of a fairy tale ride through Disneyland. The set was elaborately first-class and for the most part so were the costumes. The acting was superb, especially by Sutton Foster who played Princess Fiona, and Christopher Sieber, who played Lord Farquaad. Chester Gregory, who played the donkey, brought uninhibited, wide-ranging humor to his character – and he really brightened the stage. Shrek himself, played by Brian D’Arcy, was loveable. Full Review: Shrek the Musical

Seattle Sounders 1 : 2 Montréal Impact

Happy 400th Birthday for Montréal as Smash and Grab Raid Floors Seattle Sounders Still Require a Point for Play-offs Montréal Impact continued a very successful run against West Coast sides adding three points from Seattle to the three collected from Portland earlier in the week. Second half goals from Tony Donatelli and Antonio Ribeiro were split by an equalizer by Seattle midfielder Yousuff Kante. The win guarantees Montreal their play-off place but Seattle have to wait until Saturday’s visit from Atlanta, although intervening results from other games could give them a gentle shove. Coach Brian Schmetzer left Sanna Nyassi on the bench as the returning Zach Scott was the only change from the victory over Miami. Montréal left a slew of players in Quebec for their West Coast tour, victims of injury, suspension or an increased schedule due to their CONCACAF Champions League heroics. Keeper Matt Jordan sat out the game allowing Andrew Weber only his fourth start of the season in what was the Impact’s 400th game in their history. Full Story: Seattle Sounders 1 : 2 Montréal Impact

Sounders FC Sign Third Player

Gambia Youth International Becomes 3rd Signee Teenage Midfielder Sanna Nyassi Played in 2007 FIFA Championships But is Immediately Available to USL Side Seattle Sounders FC today announced the identity of their third signing for their inaugural MLS. Sanna Nyassi, a member of the Gambia U-20 National Team at the 2007 FIFA Championships is a 19-year-old midfielder, and becomes the third player signed by Sounders FC. He joins American goalkeeper Kasey Keller and French forward Sebastien Le Toux. Like Le Toux, Nyassi is now being loaned to the Sounders of the USL First Division for the remainder of this season. He is expected to be available for Seattle’s next match, at home to Miami FC on Saturday night. Full Story: Sounders Add Ghanaian Star

Elza van den Heever Wins Wagner Contest

South African Soprano Scoops Wagner Prize Elza van den Heever delights audience and judges but Orchestra favours Nadine Weissman. August 16 The Annual International Wagner competition took place at Seattle Opera and the expected titanic battle between Europe and the USA, a kind of Operatic Ryder Cup, was shattered when delightful South African soprano Elza van den Heever claimed the judges and audience accolades after performing “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser and “Einsame in trüben Tagen” from Lohengrin. Germany’s mezzo-soprano Nadine Weissmann was voted Orchestra Favourite. She sang "Weiche, Wotan, Weiche" (Das Rheingold) and Waltraute's Narrative (Götterdämmerung). Wagner in Seattle Full Report

Bye Bye Bayern - New European Weekly Article

With the 2008-2009 Bundesliga campaign already in full force, Bayern Munich remain the favorite to repeat as champions of Germany. Having won the domestic double last season, edging Borussia Dortmund 2:1 after extra time in the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) and winning the Bundesliga a clear 10 points ahead of second-place Werder Bremen, Bayern are, once again, the team to beat. Full article: Bundesliga Preview