How to enjoy Seattle Opera on a budget

There are many ways to enjoy opera in Seattle on a budget: 3-4-5 opera subscriptions, rush and standing room tickets, special discounts, live audio broadcasts from the Seattle Opera stage at McCaw Hall, performances in the community, sing-alongs, family programs, and special events. Some events are free and everyone is welcome. Find details of the current season and these various listening–and saving–opportunities below. 

Photo by kvkirillov – DepositPhotos.com

About Seattle Opera

Since 1963, Seattle Opera has built a reputation as a leading opera company, recognized in the United States as well as around the world.

The company is committed to advancing the cultural life in the Pacific Northwest with opera productions of the highest caliber, and through innovative education and community programs that take opera far beyond the McCaw Hall stage at Seattle Center.

Each year, more than 95,000 people attend Seattle Opera performances and programs designed for people of all ages.

2021/22 Seattle Opera season

Seattle Opera is excited see subscribers returning to safety and comfort in McCaw Hall for the 2021/22 season. Apparently subscribers are excited, too. Orpheus and Eurydice is sold out. There are currently three-opera packages with La bohème, Blue, and The Marriage of Figaro. With their new pricing structure many seating areas have become more affordable, particularly on the Orchestra level. 

• LA BOHÈME. October 16–30, 2021 at McCaw Hall. An audience favorite for over a century, this tale of four young Parisians who dedicate their lives to art and love is guaranteed to touch your heart.
• ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE. SOLD OUT. January 12‒30, 2022 at Tagney Jones Hall. How far would you be willing to go for true love? Firm in his faith that music is stronger than death, the devoted Orpheus descends into the underworld to rescue his wife Eurydice.
• BLUE. February 26‒March 12, 2022 at McCaw Hall. From the award-winning team of librettist Tazewell Thompson and composer Jeanine Tesori comes Blue, a portrait of contemporary African American life: of love and loss, church, sisterhood, and most importantly, family.
• LAWRENCE BROWNLEE IN CONCERT. Friday, April 29, 2022 at McCaw Hall. After captivating audiences and critics all over the world, Lawrence Brownlee, one of the world’s leading opera figures, returns to Seattle Opera, where he got his start as a Young Artist.
• THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. May 7–21, 2021 at McCaw Hall.Master and servant go head-to-head, while their crafty wives outsmart the men in one chaotic, hilarious day that ends in happiness and love.

More info: Seattle Opera – Discover the Season

2021/22 season ticket offers

Save up to 33% on main floor tickets with the Orchestra Summer Sale: 3-opera packages in Orchestra 3 and 4 are just $250—that’s less than $85 per opera! 

• Payment plans make buying season tickets easy! Just put $20 down. Interest-free payment plans are available when you buy season tickets online or over the phone. More info: Seattle Opera – Ways to Save

Under 40? Save up to 50% on tickets when you join BRAVO!—the Seattle Opera group for Seattleites 21–39. Receive exclusive benefits such as no-fee exchanges, free wine and coffee at intermissions, and more! More info: BRAVO! Overview

More info: Seattle Opera – Season ticket prices and packages

More ways to enjoy opera on a budget

Listed below are many ways to enjoy Seattle Opera even if you are on a tight budget. 

$45 Standing Room Only (SRO). Seattle Opera offers standing room tickets for all performances at McCaw Hall. For the 2021/22 main season, standing room tickets are $45 per person. Standing room is in the back of the Orchestra and you will actually stand throughout the performance. You may not sit in any unoccupied seats, but there is a padded rail to lean against. Standing room tickets become available on the day of the performance or, for Sunday performances, one day before. To purchase standing room tickets, call the Ticket Office at 206.389.7676 or visit our administrative offices at 363 Mercer St. on the day of the show starting when the ticket office opens (10 AM for weekday performance days; 1 PM for Saturday performance days). Standing room tickets are not available online. Please be aware that the English translations are not visible from the standing room location in the back of the Orchestra seating, and that availability is extremely limited.

Rush is day-of-show assigned seat tickets offered at a steep discount from remaining inventory. In the interest of making opera accessible for all, Seattle Opera has expanded this program to meet the changing needs of our community and create an equitable experience for opera-goers of all means. Rush is now available for seniors, students, non-profit employees, educators, first responders, and more. 

Teen Tix. Seattle Opera is also a proud participant in Seattle Center’s Teen Tix program. When available, enrolled teens can purchase opera tickets for $5 on the day of the performance, one ticket per member. Subject to availability and only available when Student and Senior Rush tickets are also available; so check the Student and Senior Rush availability on the Seattle Opera website. Day-of-show ticket availability at Seattle Opera is often limited, so call the ticket office in early in the day to ask whether there will be Teen Tix tickets available. Because Seattle Opera does not conduct regular box office hours on Sundays, Teen Tix members who wish to purchase tickets for a Sunday performance may call to purchase tickets on the Saturday prior to the Sunday performance they wish to see.

Family Day. At least once a year, Seattle Opera designates a Sunday “Family Day” matinee. For these specially designated performances, students 18 and under in the company of an adult in the same seating zone pay only $20 for almost any seat. Family Days also feature special student-oriented activities before the performance and/or during intermission, such as a costume dress-up station or the chance to interact with members of the chorus and orchestra. Please no babes in arms.

Military Discount. Military personnel with valid ID save 15% on single tickets purchased in advance to any Seattle Opera mainstage performance at McCaw Hall. Limit two discounted tickets per Military ID. Use promo code SODUTIFUL15 when ordering online, over the phone at 206.389.7676, or in person.

Educator Discount: Teachers with valid ID save 15% on single tickets to any Seattle Opera mainstage performance at McCaw Hall. Limit two discounted tickets per educator ID. Use promo code SOSMART15 when ordering online, over the phone at 206.389.7676, or in person. 

Corporate Discount. Many employees of Puget Sound companies are eligible to receive Seattle Opera ticket discounts via benefits provider Passport Unlimited to offer 20% discounts to employees of local companies including Microsoft, Swedish, BECU, Apple, Google, T-Mobile, Franciscan Health, and many more. 

TeenTix. Seattle Opera is a proud participant in Seattle Center’s TeenTix program. Itʻs free to enroll. Enrolled teens can purchase opera tickets for one $5 on the day of the performance, or two for $10 for Sunday matinees. TeenTix tickets are subject to availability and are only available when Rush tickets are also available. If a performance is sold out or close to sold out, TeenTix will not be available.

For more information on any of these options to save on Seattle Opera tickets, visit Seattle Opera – Ways to Save

Tune into 98.1 KING FM Classic Radio every Saturday during the season for live broadcasts from the stage of McCaw Hall. A Seattle Opera curator leads you through this marvelous listening journey. More info: Seattle Opera – Mornings on KING FM.

2021/2022 KING FM Seattle Opera broadcast schedule Saturdays Aug 21 – Oct 9

• 10 AM on Saturday, August 21: Aida, recorded August 1992. 
• 10 AM on Saturday, August 28:  Parsifal, recorded August 2003. 
• 10 AM on Saturday, September 4: Ariadne auf Naxos, recorded May 2015.
• 10 AM on Saturday, September 11: Faust, recorded October 1998.
• 10 AM on Saturday, September 18: Carmen, recorded October 1995.
• 10 AM on Saturday, September 25: Hansel and Gretel, recorded October 2016.
• 10 AM on Saturday, October 2: Werther, recorded January 1997.
• 10 AM on Saturday, October 9: Der Rosenkavlier, recorded August 1997.

If you are enjoying digital opera offerings, please make a donation to support the artists and staff that are collaborating to bring you opera in new ways: https://www.seattleopera.org/donate/

Free Seattle Opera Events

COMMUNITY SERENADES. These live vocal performances will hopefully bring healing to some of our most vulnerable neighbors, including isolated senior adults and people experiencing homelessness.

COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES. Seattle Opera hosts a variety of performances outside of McCaw Hall. From public performances of the SO school tour to panel discussions and lectures, there are community performances for all. 

More info: Seattle Opera – For Everyone