Richard Strauss's Daphne is a hidden gem in the canon; a one-act opera that blends Greek myth with a love of the natural world. Working with librettist Joseph Gregor, Richard Strauss reimagined the story of the mountain nymph who shuns human romance, finding her deepest joy among forests and fields. Seattle Opera presents the work in concert featuring members of the Seattle Symphony, allowing the music's brilliance and the drama's mythic poetry to shine without distraction.

The heightened sense of suspicion during the McCarthy era is the background of this subtle story of forbidden love from Gregory Spears and Greg Pierce, based on the novel by Thomas Mallon. Seattle Opera presents this biting jewel of contemporary opera, conducted by Patrick Summers and with stage direction by Kevin Newbury.