Puget Sound Concert Opera

06/19/2026

Celebrating the African Roots of Russian Literature’s Brightest Voice. Alexander Pushkin — often called the founder of modern Russian literature — carried an extraordinary family history. His great‑grandfather, Abram Petrovich Gannibal, was an African child captured by the Ottomans and brought to Russia, where he was given to the court of Peter the Great. Peter not only freed him but became his godfather, ensured his education, and launched him into a distinguished military and engineering career. Gannibal rose to the ranks of Russian nobility, and generations later his great‑grandson reshaped an entire nation’s literary voice.

It’s a remarkable lineage — a story that underscores how profoundly immigrants and people of color have shaped culture, innovation, and the arts.

Both Aleko and Mavra, the two Russian one‑acts in our June program, are based on Pushkin’s work. Experiencing these operas is witnessing the fusion of literary brilliance with musical genius.

OPENS TONIGHT IN BELLEVUE!
Tickets at www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org.

06/18/2026

We are excited for the grand finale of our season dedicated to the work of composers who immigrated to the US. Tomorrow and Sunday, we feature Rachmaninoff's Aleko and Stravinsky's Aleko. Thanks to generous donors and a grant from 4Culture, TICKETS ARE PAY WHAT YOU WISH! Friday, June 19 at 7pm - Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Bellevue and Sunday at 3pm - Broadway Performance Hall on Capitol Hill. We will be live streaming Friday night's performance which you can enjoy for free by tuning in to our Youtube channel. Come enjoy these rare operatic gems!

06/18/2026

DORA BARNES + RACHMANINOFF = PURE MAGIC
We are thrilled to have Dora starring as Zemfira, the fiery, free‑spirited heroine of Rachmaninoff’s Aleko. Zemfira believes that love is free—and Dora brings that philosophy to life with a voice that is youthful, voluptuous, and bursting with irrepressible energy.
Dora has always had a special gift for Russian repertoire. We first fell in love with her Russian back in 2021 when she sang Rachmaninoff’s songs for an LMC virtual Happy Hour concert during COVID. You can hear her featured at 1:27 and 15:13 in the video below.
Enjoy this glimpse of Dora’s artistry—and get ready to experience her unforgettable Zemfira onstage in Aleko. Performances June 19 & 21. For more information, see our website. OPENING TOMORROW NIGHT!

LMC Virtual Happy Hour Concerts- 20th Century Sweden and RussiaPro...

06/17/2026

WHEN RACHMANINOFF FLED RUSSIA IN 1918:
• He lost his home, his manuscripts, his income, his cultural network.
• He had to support his family through touring, which consumed nearly all his time.
• He composed far less in exile—only six major works in 25 years.
Opera, the most time intensive genre, became impossible. Before he became famous for his piano concertos, Rachmaninoff wrote a handful of operas—each one vivid, dramatic, and full of the voice he never got to develop further.
Aleko is the first and the most rarely heard. Experience it with us June 19 & 21. www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org for tickets and information.

06/15/2026

Thanks, Classical KING FM 98.1 for supporting local performing arts organizations!

06/13/2026

MISHA MYZNIKOV - A PSCO favorite returns!
We’re thrilled to welcome baritone Misha Myznikov back to the Puget Sound Concert Opera stage as Aleko on June 19 & 21. Misha’s rich, burnished sound and magnetic stage presence have made him an audience favorite in roles ranging from Ford (Falstaff) to Don Giovanni, Gellner (La Wally), and Alfio (Cavalleria Rusticana).
To get a taste of his artistry, enjoy this Tacoma Opera Intermezzo recital featuring Misha in a gorgeous set of romantic Russian works.
Misha’s career spans leading roles with Seattle Opera, Tacoma Opera, Bellevue Opera, and companies across the region—including Marcello, Escamillo, Emile de Becque, Figaro, Eugene Onegin, and more. We’re honored to have him bring Rachmaninoff’s passionate Aleko to life with PSCO.
Join us for this powerful performance.

Tacoma Opera is thrilled to present the ninth installment of our In...

06/12/2026

Closing our season with a rare double bill of Russian one‑acts—Aleko and Mavra, both rooted in the storytelling of Alexander Pushkin.

Join us June 19 & 21 for this blend of passion, humor, and gorgeous music, sung in Russian with English supertitles.

Tickets and information: www.pugetsoundconcertopera.org

Not nearby? Enjoy our June 19 livestream from wherever you are. https://youtube.com/live/bTyI6rWwH1k?feature=share

06/11/2026

Cast Update for Mavra!

We have an important update for next weekend’s performances of Mavra. Our wonderful Ksenia Popova has had a family emergency and will be unable to perform. We’re sending her all our love and support.

Stepping in as Parasha is the fabulous Elisabeth Williams—and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Many of you will remember Elisabeth from our Studio Artist Program last fall, where she did an absolutely outstanding job. She has been covering this role all season, and we are excited to see her shine in her first principal role with Puget Sound Concert Opera.

A bit about Elisabeth:
Elisabeth Williams (she/her) is a dynamic, passionate soprano who has already performed across four continents. She made her operatic debut in 2021 as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni in Turkey, and has since taken on roles such as Alcina, Fiordiligi, and Mařenka. She has collaborated with ensembles including the Boston Camerata, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, and Liberty Symphony Orchestra, and has performed as a soloist in Italy, South Africa, Poland, Canada, and Japan.

Performances next weekend!
We can’t wait to share this beautiful little gem of an opera with you.

06/10/2026

Stravinsky always thought fondly of his creation Mavra saying once that "Mavra seems to me the best thing I've done." It has a unique melodic and harmonic language that perfectly suits its quirky story. Parasha's song (No. 1) has been arranged for cello and piano, and recorded with Mstislav Rostropovich under the title "Russian Song".

"My dear friend, my red sun
My bright falcon, my gray-winged eagle.
Exactly seven days since sorrow found me.
So I wandered through dark forests.
In the dark forest, the canaries sing,
Girls bring sadness to my parting.
Do not sing, little canary in the garden,
Do not sing, my dear one in the garden,
Do not bring longing to my heart."

Provided to YouTube by The Orchard EnterprisesMavra: Russian Song...