There’s something very satisfying about Seattle Opera’s 2010-11 season, which includes Wagner and Mozart, Don Quixote and Sancho Panchez, satire, murder, madness, and a Swedish soprano. What’s not to like?

The full lineup was released yesterday:

Tristan und Isolde
Last performed by SO in 1998.
Wagner’s drama has been called one of the greatest operas of all time. Of all time. Peter Kazaras, artistic director of the company’s Young Artists Program, helms this new production, with Swedish soprano Annalena Persson making her American debut as Isolde. Persson owns the demanding role at Stockholm’s Royal Opera; expect her to impress here opposite Clifton Forbis as Tristan. July 31-Aug 21

Lucia di Lammermoor
Last performed by SO in 2000.
Polish soprano Aleksandra Kurzak sings Lucia, a forlorn lover driven to murder and madness, in Donizetti’s tragic three-act. Kurzak makes her company debut opposite Seattle Opera regular William Burden (The Pearl Fishers, Iphigenia in Tauris) as Edgardo. Also debuting: maestro Bruno Cinquegrani and director Tomer Zvulun (staff director at the Metropolitan Opera and associate director of Seattle’s 2009 Ring). Oct 16-30

The Barber of Seville
Last performed by SO in 2000.
Stage director Peter Kazaras and conductor Dean Williamson (both on The Marriage of Figaro) reunite for this staging of Rossini’s beloved comedy. Tenor Lawrence Brownlee, a former Seattle Opera Artist of the Year, returns as Count Almaviva, singing an aria at the end that’s usually cut because of its difficulty—but not this time, because Brownlee’s a badass. Jan 15-29, 2011

Don Quixote
SO Premiere.
Hard to believe this is the first time Seattle Opera will tackle Massenet’s music about that saucy man of La Mancha. Bass-baritone John Relyea plays the Don, who woos Malgorzata Walewska as Dulcinea; Eduardo Chama (the lead in this season’s Falstaff) tags along as Sancho Panza. Sets (Donald Eastman) and costumes (Missy West) will hopefully "evoke" Gustave Doré, who illustrated Cervantes’ novel. Love a good "evoking." Feb 26-Mar 12, 2011

The Magic Flute
Last performed by SO in 1999.
Rounding out the season is Mozart’s famous fairytale about love conquering all—with the help of some fancy instruments. Former Young Artist Emily Hindrichs plays the Queen of the Night, and two-time Artist-of-the-Year-winner Chris Alexander (Ariadne auf Naxos, The Tales of Hoffmann) directs. May 7-21, 2011

And now, a little silliness to start your Monday: