How to listen to the Steve Jobs opera before a June radio broadcast

A Seattle radio station is launching a series of special archive performances including the award-winning opera, "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs," but you can listen to the original production right now.

Contributing to the range of theaters and other arts organizations offering special performances during the COVID-19 lockdown, Seattle's Classical KING FM 98.1 is launching a series from the archives. The season of a dozen operas includes the 2019 Grammy Award-winning "The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs," by Mason Bates with librettist Mark Campbell.

"Seattle Opera and KING FM are thrilled to be able to bring beautiful music and storytelling to our audiences' ears," announced the opera company's General Director Christina Scheppelmann in a statement. "Many thanks go to all the artists who make Seattle Opera what it is, and who have allowed us to share their talent with the airwaves during these unprecedented times."

The Seattle season starts with a 2018 recording of "Aida," featuring Alexandra LoBianco and Alfred Walker, which airs on Saturday April 25, at 13:00 ET, 10:00 PT. The run continues at that time each Saturday, with the Steve Jobs opera airing on June 13.

Originally developed by the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra over many years, the opera recounts key moments from Steve Jobs's live, ranging from his interest in Zen Buddhism, to the founding of Apple, and the launch of the iPhone.

At the launch of the stage opera, Campbell said that his libretto was intentionally "very non-linear" in order to "create story where [Jobs] is confronting his own mortality [and looking] at a few places in his past." Apple played no part in the development of the opera, which at times is critical of Jobs.

When Classical KING FM 98.1 airs the opera, it will also be streamed over the station's official website. Separately, the original cast recording by the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra is available now on Apple Music.