Seattle Opera season: 3 by Verdi and a world premiere

Three classics by Giuseppe Verdi — and one world premiere by American composer Daron Aric Hagen.

That's the unusual lineup for Seattle Opera's 2009-2010 season, which will be preceded by three full cycles of Wagner's "Ring des Nibelungen" in August.

The Verdi operas are "La Traviata" (Oct. 17-31), "Il Trovatore" (Jan. 16-30) and "Falstaff" (Feb. 27-March 13). Why so much from one composer in one year?

Seattle Opera General Director Speight Jenkins explains: "We haven't presented a lot of Verdi in the past decade, mainly because there are not as many Verdi voices. For these performances, we have found artists who I believe to be ideal for their roles, and I am very excited to present them."

The world premiere is Hagen's "Amelia" (May 8-22). The libretto by poet Gardner McFall is taken from her book "The Pilot's Daughter," about the disappearance of her father, a military pilot, in the Vietnam War. The opera, directed by Stephen Wadsworth (who also is credited with the story), incorporates elements of the Icarus myth and spans a 30-year period, with scenes set in both the United States and Vietnam (some of the singing will be in Vietnamese).

Jenkins says "Amelia" has been at least seven years in the works. It is, he believes, "a major new opera, one with a lot of wonderful melodies and a great, moving story."

Operagoers wanting to explore Hagen's music can go to his Web site, www.daronhagen.com, where a generous sampling of his work is posted. Along with the melodicism Jenkins cites, there's a shadowy, gossamer quality to some of Hagen's orchestrations that should have a potent effect onstage.

Some Seattle Opera favorites will star in the Verdi works, including Nuccia Focile in "La Traviata" and Lisa Daltirus in "Il Trovatore." Stephanie Blythe will sing the role of Dame Quickly in all eight performances of "Falstaff," while bass Peter Rose and bass-baritone Eduardo Chama alternate in the title role.

"Amelia" features tenor William Burden, baritone Nathan Gunn, mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee and soprano Jane Eaglen. Soprano Kate Lindsey will make her Seattle Opera debut in the title role.

Subscriptions go on sale today. All performances take place at Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, 321 Mercer St., Seattle. Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and matinees at 2 p.m.

Four-opera renewal subscription prices run $154 to $3,179, while four-opera new subscriptions are available for $167 to $3,179. Call 206-389-7676 or 800-426-1619, or go to www.seattleopera.org for more information.

Michael Upchurch: mupchurch@seattletimes.com