1.   Gordon Gietz, a dashing Canadian tenor, has the bright, warm sound for a fine Count Almaviva, though his technical control was uneven.

2.   It was similarly the first stage performance of Tristan by the Canadian tenor Ben Heppner, who is already a noted interpreter of Tannhauser, Lohengrin and Walther.

3.   The Canadian tenor Alan Woodrow was making his Seattle Opera debut in the famously demanding title role.

4.   The Canadian tenor Ben Heppner is ideal as Walther von Stolzing, the young knight who comes to town and presumes a place among the mastersingers.

5.   The Canadian tenor Richard Margison sang the role of Calaf with equal heft, but little grace in his musical phrasing.