Stephanie Blythe and François Racine named Seattle Opera Artists of the Year

Stephanie Blythe in Aida, 2008 © Rozarii Lynch Photo
François Racine, 2009 © Bill Mohn Photo

Last week, Seattle Opera announced that the company’s 2008/09 Artists of the Year awards went to mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe for performing the role of Amneris in Verdi’s "Aida" in August 2008, and to François Racine for his stage direction of Seattle Opera’s double bill of Bartók’s "Bluebeard’s Castle" with Schoenberg’s "Erwartung" in February and March, 2009. Seattle Opera has selected an artist of the year since 1991, and in 2004 it decided to give the award to two types of artists: the singer and the other a conductor, director, or designer.

For an interesting interview with Stephanie Blythe, click here.