If Seattle Opera’s founder, Glynn Ross, made a name for the company as improbably ambitious—presenting Wagner’s Ring, the genre’s vastest challenge, in what was in the ’70s still a bit of a cultural backwater—his successor Speight Jenkins established high standards in every other area: artistic excellence, a beautifully refurbished home, financial stability (only in a few recession-racked seasons has the budget remained unbalanced), and an uncommon drive to attract new and young audiences and push the art form forward. Nearing the finish line—the official last day of his 31-year tenure is September 1—Jenkins leaves a seemingly unshakeable foundation for his successor Aidan Lang. seattleopera.org

Read all of our picks for Arts & Culture, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.