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Press Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 4, 2014
Washington National Opera Francesca Zambello, Artistic Director
announces its
2014-2015 SEASON
Including three company premieres,
a new production of opera’s most beloved classic,
a popular Wagner opera in anticipation of WNO’s 2016 Ring cycle,
and two works perfect for young people and families
Florencia in the Amazon
La bohème
The Little Prince
Dialogues of the Carmelites
The Flying Dutchman
Cinderella
Plus, the third season of the American Opera Initiative,
including the world premiere of Penny, continues
WNO’s commitment to expanding the American repertory
(WASHINGTON, D.C.)—Washington National Opera (WNO), led by Artistic Director
Francesca Zambello, today announced its 2014-2015 season. It includes the company premiere
of Daniel Catán’s Spanish-language Florencia in the Amazon, a brand-new production of
Puccini’s classic La bohème, the company premiere of Rachel Portman’s family opera The Little
Prince, an English-language production of Poulenc’s 20th-century drama Dialogues of the
Carmelites, a revival of Wagner’s epic The Flying Dutchman, and an acclaimed new-to-
Washington staging of Rossini’s Cinderella. A third season of the American Opera Initiative,
including the world premiere of Penny by two alumni of the program, continues WNO’s efforts
to commission new works and expand the American repertory. Highlights from the 2014-2015
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season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on
Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House.
“Our 2014-2015 season is eclectic, inspiring, intellectually engaging, wildly funny, and
something that cannot be seen in any other opera house in America,” said WNO Artistic Director
Francesca Zambello. “We are trying to bring our audiences the best mix of rising American
singers, including those from our Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, with the biggest
international stars. The result is a season that provides a compelling overview of opera for both
passionate fans and newcomers alike.”
Fall season includes a company premiere and opera’s most beloved classic
WNO’s 2014-2015 season opens with the late Mexican-American composer Daniel
Catán’s mesmerizing opera Florencia in the Amazon, September 20-28, 2014 in the Opera
House. Inspired by the magical realism of Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author Gabriel
García Márquez, Florencia was the first-ever Spanish-language commission by major American
opera companies and was an instant success when it premiered in Houston in 1996. Starring in
the title role as a famous opera singer returning to her homeland is two-time Grammy Award®-
winning soprano Christine Goerke, who was last seen at WNO as Chrysothemis in Elektra
(2008) and who is much in demand in the world’s leading opera houses. WNO Artistic Director
Francesca Zambello, who directed the world premiere, revisits her original staging for the work’s
Washington premiere, which will be conducted by Carolyn Kuan, the music director of the
Hartford Symphony Orchestra, in her WNO debut. This is the first Spanish-language work WNO
has presented in 10 seasons.
Puccini’s classic La bohème returns to the Opera House for the first time in seven
seasons in a brand-new production directed by acclaimed British director Jo Davies, November
1-15, 2014. A sweeping tale of young bohemians struggling to fulfill their artistic dreams, find
love, and stay warm through a harsh Parisian winter, La bohème is one of the world’s most
beloved operas and will be presented at WNO in a traditional and opulent new production,
featuring sets by Lee Savage and costumes by Jennifer Moeller, two young American designers
new to WNO’s ranks. The WNO Orchestra will be led by WNO Music Director Philippe
Auguin; Timothy Myers, artistic director and principal conductor of North Carolina Opera, will
conduct select performances in his company debut. The cast features an array of fresh faces new
to WNO, plus many returning favorites.
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A special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance of La bohème is presented in
the Opera House on Friday, November 14, 2014 and features current singers and alumni of
WNO’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. Complete casting for this special performance
will be announced in the coming months.
Once again, WNO presents a winter season anchored by American opera
The winter season of WNO again takes on a decidedly American flavor, beginning with
the third season of the American Opera Initiative, WNO’s commissioning program for
emerging composers and librettists. WNO presents an evening featuring the world premieres of
three 20-minute operas on Friday, November 21, 2014 in the Terrace Theater. Each opera
focuses on a contemporary American theme, and once again the composers and librettists will
work with a trio of mentors: conductor Anne Manson, composer Jake Heggie, and librettist Mark
Campbell. The cast includes members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. More
information about the composer-librettist teams selected for the American Opera Initiative will
be announced in the coming months.
Continuing its tradition of family opera during the holiday season, WNO is proud to
present the company premiere of The Little Prince, December 19-21, 2014 in the Terrace
Theater. Featuring a score by Academy Award® winner Rachel Portman (Emma), an English-
language libretto by playwright Nicholas Wright (His Dark Materials), and direction by WNO
Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, this family-friendly opera is based on the beloved
children’s book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. The cast includes members of the Domingo-
Cafritz Young Artist Program and also features the return of the WNO Children’s Chorus, which
was seen in the 2013-2014 season’s sold-out world premiere of the holiday family opera The
Lion, the Unicorn, and Me.
WNO’s winter season concludes with another world premiere under the auspices of the
American Opera Initiative: Penny, an hour-long opera by composer Douglas Pew and librettist
Dara Weinberg, January 23 and 24, 2015 in the Terrace Theater. Pew and Weinberg are
returning alumni of the American Opera Initiative; their 20-minute work A Game of Hearts had
its world premiere during the program’s first season in November 2012. Penny is an original
story developed by Weinberg about a woman with a disability who discovers her voice and her
talent for music, and the ensuing conflict with her family as she grows more independent. Penny
will be conducted by Anne Manson and directed by Alan Paul, the Associate Director of
Washington’s Shakespeare Theatre Company.
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Spring season includes three European classics
Following a winter season of new American work, WNO’s spring season features three
classics from the operatic canon. First is the company premiere of Poulenc’s mid-20th century
masterpiece Dialogues of the Carmelites, February 21 to March 10, 2015 in the Opera House.
Inspired by actual events, the opera concerns an order of Carmelite nuns who refuse to renounce
their beliefs in the wake of the French Revolution, with tragic consequences. The cast includes
the WNO debuts of two rising sopranos, Layla Claire and Leah Crocetto, as well as the return of
American mezzo-sopranos Dolora Zajick (in her role debut as Madame de Croissy) and
Washington favorite Elizabeth Bishop (Tristan and Isolde, 2013). This WNO production,
originally seen at Opéra National de Paris, is directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca
Zambello and the WNO Orchestra is led by renowned maestro Patrick Summers, who returns to
WNO for the first time since 1997. The opera will be performed in an English-language
translation approved by the composer.
In anticipation of Wagner’s epic Ring cycle during the 2015-2016 season, WNO presents
the composer’s early masterwork The Flying Dutchman, March 7-21, 2015 in the Opera House.
This revival of WNO’s striking production, directed by Stephen Lawless and last seen at WNO
in 2008, features leading American bass-baritone Eric Owens in his first staged performances as
the Dutchman. The cast also features powerhouse American tenor Jay Hunter Morris (the
Metropolitan Opera’s Ring cycle), German soprano Christiane Libor, and Estonian bass Ain
Anger in their WNO debuts. Returning WNO favorites Alan Held and Peter Volpe will sing
select performances. The WNO Orchestra will be led by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin,
who continues his exploration of the Wagnerian repertoire at WNO in anticipation of WNO’s
Ring cycle. Eric Weimer, who has prepared 13 different productions of Wagner’s Ring cycle,
makes his WNO debut conducting two performances.
Concluding the 2014-2015 season is a new-to-Washington production of Rossini’s
Cinderella (La Cenerentola), May 9-21, 2015 in the Opera House. A perfect springtime treat for
the entire family, this clever romantic comedy adapts the familiar fairy tale in new ways:
bracelets replace glass slippers, a philosophical tutor stands in for the fairy godmother, and six
adorable dancing rats serve as a makeshift Greek chorus. The thrilling cast features 2013 Richard
Tucker Award winner Isabel Leonard, one of today’s most in-demand mezzo-sopranos, who
makes her WNO debut with this production. Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught also makes her
WNO debut singing select performances. Gifted Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci makes her
company debut leading the WNO Orchestra in Rossini’s captivating bel canto score. The
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imaginative and bright production from the Barcelona-based theater group Els Comediants,
designed by Joan Guillén and staged by Joan Font in their WNO debuts, has been a hit with
audiences in Houston, Cardiff, Barcelona, Geneva, Brussels, Toronto, and Seattle.
Special vocal concerts round out the season
Throughout the season, WNO offers special performances to complement the main works
of the season. Kicking off the season is An Evening with Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez,
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 in the Terrace Theater. Husband and wife duo, frequent co-
stars, and Richard Tucker Award winners tenor Stephen Costello and Ailyn Pérez, who star
together in the current season’s production of The Elixir of Love, present an evening of operatic
love duets and arias, as well as stories from their life on the road as opera’s most in-demand
“love couple.”
Prior to his performance in The Flying Dutchman, bass-baritone Eric Owens takes the
Terrace Theater stage for An Evening of Jazz Standards with Eric Owens, Saturday, February
28, 2015. Owens shows another side of his vocal talents and sings a program of jazz standards,
including songs made famous by Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman.
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists continue their new annual tradition in a special
program of scenes and arias from favorite operas in Stars of Tomorrow: The Domingo-Cafritz
Young Artists in Concert, Friday, March 20, 2015 in the Opera House. Taking a break from his
role in The Flying Dutchman, Eric Owens offers his vocal mentorship to WNO’s rising stars—
and also showcases his first-rate skills as the conductor of the WNO Orchestra in this exciting
concert.
Two months before she makes her WNO debut in the title role of Cinderella, acclaimed
mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard joins multiple Grammy®
-winning guitarist Sharon Isben in an
intimate recital of music by Spanish composers including Manuel de Falla, Enrique Madriguera,
Joaquín Rodrigo, and many others. An Evening with Sharon Isben and Isabel Leonard,
Tuesday, March 24, 2015 in the Terrace Theater, is part of the Kennedy Center’s Iberian Suite:
arts remix across continents and Fortas Chamber Music Concerts.
Season preview concert
WNO presents highlights from the 2014-2015 season in a free preview concert as part of
the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage series on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the
Opera House. Featuring members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, special guest
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artists, and the WNO Orchestra led by Portland Symphony Orchestra and Winston-Salem
Symphony Music Director Robert Moody, the concert will introduce the dynamic characters and
unforgettable music from next season’s repertoire.
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program continues its artistic growth
As a cornerstone of WNO’s commitment to the future of opera, the Domingo-Cafritz
Young Artist Program is dedicated to cultivating successful careers for its young artists and
sharing their talents with audiences around the world. Under the leadership of program director
Michael Heaston, the 12 young artists in the program (10 singers and 2 collaborative pianists)
participate in vocal and dramatic coaching sessions, voice lessons, daily intensive language
classes, and master classes with renowned artists. This season’s visiting artists have included
Artist in Residence Deborah Voigt, as well as voice teachers Diana Soviero and William Stone,
guest master teacher Peter Kazaras, and visiting vocal coach Kathleen Kelly. Auditions for
places in the program’s 2014-2015 season were held throughout the fall of 2013 in San
Francisco, Washington, New York, Cincinnati, and Chicago. More details on next season’s
young artists and guest coaches will be announced in the coming months.
In addition to their traditional Young Artist Performance in the Opera House (La bohème,
Friday, November 14, 2014) and free performances on the Millennium Stage, members of the
Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program will be very visible in every WNO production at the
Kennedy Center and across the Washington region throughout the season. A highlight of their
performance schedule is the second annual Stars of Tomorrow: The Domingo-Cafritz Young
Artists in Concert with the WNO Orchestra on Friday, March 20, 2015.
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program will also continue its annual exchange
program with the Bolshoi Young Artists Opera Program and welcome several Russian young
artists to Washington for a two-week period in 2015.
Free Opera Insights before every performance
WNO presents a free pre-performance learning event prior to every performance in the
Opera House. These Opera Insights may include conversations with members of the production
staff and lectures by WNO artistic staff members. These pre-performance events begin one hour
prior to curtain and last approximately 25 minutes.
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A special series of Opera Insights features lectures by noted musicologist Saul
Lilienstein. These programs begin one hour and 15 minutes prior to curtain and last
approximately 40 minutes:
Florencia in the Amazon: September 26, 2014
La bohème: November 13, 2014
Dialogues of the Carmelites: March 5, 2015
The Flying Dutchman: March 19, 2015
Cinderella: May 21, 2015
Patrons can also go behind the scenes of WNO’s productions at special Artist Q&A
sessions following select performances of each opera. All Q&A events are free with any ticket to
the production being discussed.
Florencia in the Amazon: September 22 and 28, 2014
La bohème: November 2, 9, and 10, 2014
Dialogues of the Carmelites: February 23 and March 8, 2015
The Flying Dutchman: March 9 and 15, 2015
Cinderella: May 11 and 17, 2015
WNO will continue to offer free preview performances of its productions on the
Millennium Stage. Dates for these and other Millennium Stage performances will be announced
in the coming months.
MyTix program continues access to opera
Several of the 2014-2015 season’s opera performances will be part of the Kennedy
Center’s MyTix program, which offers those 18-30 years old and active duty members of the
armed services free and discounted tickets to a wide variety of performances. Eligible patrons
can visit www.kennedy-center.org/mytix to register and receive MyTix member benefits
including a biweekly newsletter and ticket alerts, discounts on food and beverage service,
discounts at Kennedy Center Gift Shops, and much more.
Opera education and outreach programs
For more than 40 years, the Kennedy Center has provided arts and arts education
experiences for students, teachers, families, and the general public in the Washington, D.C.
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metropolitan community and throughout the nation. The Kennedy Center’s Education
Department directly serves more than 11 million people with a variety of programming.
Opera-related programs include:
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a leading resident-training program for
artists on the verge of international careers. Each season, exceptionally promising professionals
are selected from a pool of hundreds of applicants through a competitive audition process. The
program provides intensive study with renowned vocal and drama coaches and offers voice
lessons, language classes, career guidance, and master classes with WNO staff and guest artists.
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists also have the opportunity to perform in WNO productions,
in the American Opera Initiative commissions, and in recitals across the Washington region and
around the world.
Each year, the Young Artists sing a fully staged performance with orchestra in the
Kennedy Center Opera House as part of the WNO season. Past productions have included La
traviata, The Marriage of Figaro, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, and Don Giovanni. In the
2014-2015 season, they will perform La bohème on Friday, November 14, 2014.
Graduates of the program have gone on to successful careers that include appearances at
the world’s leading opera houses. More information is at www.kennedy-
center.org/wno/mto/YAPProgram.
WNO Opera Institute
High school-aged singers from across the nation are selected for this intensive three-week
summer program, which will be held June 23 to July 12, 2014 on the campus of American
University in Washington, D.C. Serious classical singers thrive on Opera Institute’s intense and
focused curriculum which prepares students for college performance programs and beyond.
Students receive personalized vocal instruction as well as training in opera history, acting, Italian
diction, and movement. A taste of “real life” as an opera singer is offered in master classes and
seminars with professionals in the business. Past master class presenters include Harolyn
Blackwell, Denyce Graves, and Richard Stilwell, along with other opera professionals presenting
topics such as vocal health, breath support, and audition preparation. The Institute culminates in
performances of art songs and complete opera scenes at American University and on the
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.
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For the second year, the young singers in the program will be able to compete in a
Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition that awards several cash prizes to the top students. The
competition will be held at American University on Saturday, June 21, 2014. Past adjudicators
and master clinicians include Sherrill Milnes, Cynthia Lawrence, and Nicholas Muni.
WNO’s Opera Institute is the only summer program for high school-age students
supported by a major opera company. More information is at www.kennedy-
center.org/wno/edu/operainstitute.
Opera Look-In
WNO’s Opera Look-In program has been charming young audiences in the Washington
region for more than 20 years. This 55-minute program is the perfect way to introduce students
to opera. A special Look-In performance of La bohème will be presented in November 2014.
Members of WNO’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, accompanied by the WNO
Orchestra, will perform fully-staged scenes from the opera in a presentation designed to
creatively engage young audiences. Students will discover the behind-the-scenes magic of opera,
including lighting design, scene changes, stage tricks, musical themes, and much more. Students
also receive study materials and resources aligned to national standards and local curricula.
Opera is a naturally multi-dimensional and multimedia art form, and by presenting its
many facets, the Opera Look-In program creates a dynamic experience for students in grades 4-
8. Designed specifically to academically and creatively engage young people, this experience
leaves students enchanted and singing for more. More information is at http://www.kennedy-
center.org/wno/edu/schoolprograms/operalookin.cfm.
Student Dress Rehearsal Program
The Student Dress Rehearsal Program invites middle and high school students to
experience opera in a performance setting by giving them the opportunity to attend the final
rehearsals of select WNO productions. Prior to the performance, classes receive Cuesheets,
student study guides designed to help them prepare for the opera by providing information on the
composer, the story of the opera, and tips on what to look and listen for during the performance.
Information is at http://www.kennedy-center.org/wno/edu/schoolprograms/dressrehearsal.cfm.
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The Conservatory Project
The Conservatory Project is an initiative of the Kennedy Center’s Performing Arts for
Everyone program. Twice each year, outstanding college and university performers from the
nation’s top music conservatories and opera programs are showcased on the Kennedy Center’s
Millennium Stage. These performances are also streamed live online and archived for future
viewing. The Conservatory Project creates an ongoing performance platform for our nation’s
exceptional young talent and introduces Washington audiences to young musicians destined to
have important careers. More information is at www.kennedy-center.org/
programs/millennium/conservatory.html.
Kids Create Opera Partnership
Elementary students in four Montgomery County, Maryland, schools take on the roles of
artists, writers, and technical staff as they write, produce, and perform their own original operas.
Based on the Creating Original Opera curriculum originally developed by the Metropolitan
Opera, this program integrates the arts, core subjects, and 21st century skills such as critical
thinking and collaboration. Students tour the WNO Costume Shop, the Kennedy Center Opera
House, and receive classroom visits from WNO artists and staff. More information is at
www.kennedy-center.org/education/community.
WNO and the District of Columbia Public Schools
The Kennedy Center works in partnership with 20 District of Columbia public and
charter schools to support arts education inclusive of professional development for teachers,
artist residencies, and Kennedy Center performances and events. Partnership schools engage in
WNO education programs including the Opera Look-In and the Student Dress Rehearsal
Program, and participate in opera-focused residencies. More information is at www.kennedy-
center.org/education/community.
TICKET INFORMATION
Subscription renewals and new subscriptions to WNO’s 2014-2015 season will be available
soon. To purchase a subscription, patrons should call the Subscription Office at (202) 416-8500
or go to www.kennedy-center.org/subscriptions. Subscriptions may be purchased in advance of
general on-sale dates, which will be announced soon. Groups of 20 or more may contact the
Kennedy Center Group Sales office at (202) 416-8400.
Artists and performances are subject to change.
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The 2014-2015 Season
Florencia in the Amazon Music by Daniel Catán
Libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain
September 20–28, 2014
Two-time Grammy Award®-winning American soprano Christine Goerke stars as a famous
opera singer who embarks upon an enchanted riverboat journey in late Mexican-American
composer Daniel Catán’s mesmerizing opera. Returning after 20 years to her South American
homeland of Brazil, Florencia Grimaldi boards the El Dorado in disguise and heads up the
Amazon to sing at an opera house in the capital. Along the way, she hopes to track down her
long-lost lover, a butterfly hunter who has disappeared in the jungle. Beset by storms and a
cholera outbreak, Florencia and her fellow travelers are carried deeper into the rain forest, while
Ríolobo, a mystical river creature, guides them to life-changing revelations.
Inspired by the magical realism of Nobel Prize-winning Colombian author Gabriel García
Márquez (100 Years of Solitude and Love in the Time of Cholera), Florencia in the Amazon was
the first-ever Spanish-language commission by major U.S. opera companies, and an instant
audience smash when it premiered in 1996 under the direction of Francesca Zambello. WNO’s
Artistic Director now brings this fantastical opera to Washington, eager to revisit the production
with fresh insight as part of her commitment to present a major American work each season.
Company Premiere
WNO Co-Production with LA Opera,
originally produced by Houston Grand Opera
and Cincinnati Opera
In Spanish with projected English titles
Premiered at Houston Grand Opera on
October 25, 1996
Saturday, September 20, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, September 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, September 26, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Opera House
Cast:
Florencia Christine Goerke
Melody Moore * (9/24)
Ríolobo Norman Garrett ±
Rosalbo Andrea Carroll*
Arcadio Patrick O’Halloran ‡
Paula Nancy Fabiola Herrera*
Álvaro Michael Todd Simpson
Captain David Pittsinger
Production Team:
Conductor Carolyn Kuan*
Director Francesca Zambello
Set Designer Robert Israel
Costume Designer Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer Mark McCullough
Choreographer Eric Sean Fogel
* Washington National Opera debut
‡ Member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
± Alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
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La bohème Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
November 1–15, 2014
Deep in the heart of Paris’s Latin Quarter—through jealous breakups and rekindled romances,
rowdy celebrations and tender tears—six friends fight to keep their passions burning bright,
hoping spring will cure a tragic illness looming in their midst.
Puccini’s sweeping tale of young bohemians struggling to fulfill their dreams, find love, and stay
warm through a harsh Parisian winter returns to the Opera House in a brand-new production by
director Jo Davies. The City of Light’s snowy streets, drafty tenements, and nightclub diversions
come to life in a production certain to linger in the memory long after its final heartrending scene.
New Production
In Italian with projected English titles
Premiered in Turin on February 1, 1896
Saturday, November 1, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 2, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 7, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 8, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Monday, November 10, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 14, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. †
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Opera House
Cast for November 1, 4, 7, 9, 12, and 15m:
Rodolfo Saimir Pirgu
Mimì Corinne Winters*
Marcello John Chest*
Musetta Alyson Cambridge
Colline Joshua Bloom*
Schaunard Steven LaBrie*
Benoit/ Alcindoro Donato DiStefano
Cast for November 2m, 5, 8, 10, 13, and 15e:
Rodolfo Alexey Dolgov
Mimì Tatiana Monogarova*
Marcello Trevor Scheunemann ±
Musetta Leah Partridge*
Colline Musa Ngqungwana*
Schaunard Christian Bowers ‡
Benoit/ Alcindoro Donato DiStefano
Production Team: Conductor Philippe Auguin
Timothy Myers
(11/13, 14†, 15m)
Director Jo Davies*
Set Designer Lee Savage*
Costume Designer Jennifer Moeller*
Lighting Designer Bruno Poet*
Choreographer Ben Wright*
† Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance, casting to be announced
* Washington National Opera debut
‡ Member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
± Alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
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The Little Prince Music by Rachel Portman
Libretto by Nicholas Wright
Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
December 19–21, 2014
For its annual family-friendly opera over the winter holidays, WNO brings to life all the joy and
wonder of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic illustrated storybook. On his tiny home planet, a
young boy spends his days protecting his only friend—a rose—from miniature volcanoes and
ravenous baobab trees. When loneliness sets in, he begins a mystical quest across the cosmos to
find new companionship. During his journey, he encounters several other intergalactic
inhabitants—among them a delusional king, a rich businessman, a dancing kazoo player, and a
wearied lamplighter—before meeting a pilot on Earth who has crash-landed in the Sahara
Desert. The two become unlikely friends, learning lessons from the desert’s many creatures
until the prince realizes just how special his rose really is.
Featuring a beautiful, tuneful score by prolific film composer Rachel Portman—an Academy
Award® winner for Emma and a nominee for The Cider House Rules and Chocolat—this opera
showcases current and former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists alongside other emerging stars
and the WNO Children’s Chorus. Originally staged by WNO Artistic Director Francesca
Zambello in 2003 and recorded for the BBC the following year, The Little Prince finally comes
to Washington in performances not to be missed.
Company Premiere
New production
In English with projected English titles
Premiered in Houston on May 31, 2003
Cast:
To be announced, including current singers
and alumni of the Domingo-Cafritz Young
Artist Program
Friday, December 19, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 21, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Terrace Theater
Production Team:
Director Francesca Zambello
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Dialogues of the Carmelites
Music by Francis Poulenc
Libretto by the composer, after the play by Georges Bernanos
Sung in composer’s approved English translation by Joseph Machlis
February 21–March 10, 2015
Faith is put to the ultimate test in Poulenc’s powerful 1957 opera about an order of Carmelite
nuns who refuse to renounce their beliefs in the wake of the French Revolution. With social
unrest rippling through Paris, a timid young woman leaves her aristocratic family to seek refuge
at a convent in northern France. She strives to make a life in the monastery with her fellow
sisters, who soon discover they must either abandon their monastery or face certain execution.
Their act of defiance in the face of fear becomes a gripping, emotional story of loyalty,
redemption, and sacrifice.
At turns hymnal and haunting, Dialogues of the Carmelites soars with exquisite harmonies, a
sublime a cappella “Ave Maria,” and wrenching twists including a chilling final tableau.
Performing an English translation approved by the composer, the stellar cast includes the WNO
debuts of two fast-rising sopranos: Leah Crocetto as steadfast leader Madame Lidoine and Layla
Claire as impressionable new nun Blanche de la Force.
Legendary mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick (Adalgisa in WNO’s Norma) makes her role debut as
Madame de Croissy, the ailing prioress of the monastery, while mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bishop
(Brangäne in WNO’s Tristan and Isolde) portrays martyrdom-driven Mother Marie. Directed by
Francesca Zambello, the production also features the return of renowned maestro Patrick
Summers, who has not conducted at WNO since 1997.
Company Premiere
WNO Production, originally produced by
Opéra National de Paris
Premiered in Milan on January 26, 1957
In English with projected English titles
Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, February 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday, February 27, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Opera House
Cast:
Madame Lidoine Leah Crocetto*
Blanche de la Force Layla Claire*
Madame de Croissy Dolora Zajick
Mother Marie Elizabeth Bishop
Sister Constance Ashley Emerson
Marquis de la Force Alan Held
Chevalier de la Force Shawn Mathey
The Chaplain Robert Baker
Production Team: Conductor Patrick Summers
Director Francesca Zambello
Set Designer Hildegard Bechtler*
Costume Designer Claudie Gastine
Lighting Designer Mark McCullough
* Washington National Opera debut
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The Flying Dutchman (Der fliegende Holländer)
Music by Richard Wagner
Libretto by the composer
March 7–21, 2015
In Wagner’s retelling of the nautical legend, formidable bass-baritone and two-time Grammy
Award® winner Eric Owens—one of the most in-demand American opera stars of our day—
returns to WNO to make his stage debut as the Flying Dutchman. Condemned to wander the seas
upon a ship of ghosts, he can only venture ashore once every seven years to seek his salvation: a
woman’s unconditional love. When Senta, the beguiling daughter of a sea captain, pledges to be
faithful to him forever, it seems the ancient curse might finally be broken. But her jealous
huntsman suitor poses just one of many obstacles in a tale where greed, fidelity, and misfortune
collide in full force.
Director Stephen Lawless tells the Flying Dutchman’s story with arresting stage images,
including a stunning ship of blood-red sails that places the opera’s dramatic action in bold relief.
A trio of bright stars—German soprano Christiane Libor, Estonian bass Ain Anger, and
American tenor Jay Hunter Morris—make their WNO debuts in performances conducted by
WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin and Eric Weimer.
WNO Revival
In German with projected English titles
Premiered in Dresden on January 2, 1843
Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, March 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Opera House
Cast:
Senta Christiane Libor*
Jennifer Root* (3/11)
The Dutchman Eric Owens
Alan Held (3/11)
Erik Jay Hunter Morris*
Daland Ain Anger*
Peter Volpe (3/19, 21)
Production Team: Conductor Philippe Auguin
Eric Weimer* (3/19, 21)
Director Stephen Lawless
Set Designer Giles Cadle
Costume Designer Ingeborg Bernerth
Lighting Designer Joan Sullivan-Genthe
* Washington National Opera debut
‡ Member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
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Cinderella (La Cenerentola)
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti
May 9–21, 2014
Rossini’s popular retelling of the beloved Cinderella story adds a few fabulous twists to the
traditional fairy tale, a perfect springtime treat for the entire family. In this bright and whimsical
production by Spanish director Joan Font and his performance troupe Els Comediants, a
kindhearted girl named Angelina dreams of one day escaping her impoverished stepfather’s
castle. When the prince announces he will choose his bride at a glamorous ball, she seizes the
opportunity to escape the tyranny of her vain stepsisters and take control of her own destiny.
Audiences of all ages will delight in this clever romantic comedy that features bracelets instead
of glass slippers, a philosophical tutor in place of a fairy godmother, and six adorable dancing
rats that serve as a makeshift Greek chorus. Considered one of his finest vocal works, Rossini’s
opera glows with captivating bel canto singing and ornate ensemble passages performed by a
thrilling cast of young talents, including performances by American mezzo-soprano and 2013
Richard Tucker Award winner Isabel Leonard in her WNO debut. Gifted Italian conductor
Speranza Scappucci makes her WNO debut leading the orchestra in a dazzling production that
has enchanted audiences from Houston to Barcelona to Seattle with its witty characterizations,
rainbow-bright costumes, and rags-to-riches ending that celebrates the power of love and
forgiveness.
Production from Houston Grand Opera
In Italian with projected English titles
Premiered in Rome on January 25, 1817
Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, May 11, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 17, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
All performances take place in the
Kennedy Center Opera House
Cast: Production Team: Angelina Isabel Leonard
* (5/9, 13, 16, 19, 21) Conductor Speranza Scappucci
*
(Cinderella) Tara Erraught* (5/11, 15, 17m) Director Joan Font
*
Don Ramiro Maxim Mironov* (5/9, 13, 16, 19, 21) Set and Costume Joan Guillén
*
David Portillo*
(5/11, 15, 17m) Designer
Dandini Simone Alberghini Lighting Designer Albert Faura*
Don Paolo Bordogna* (5/9, 11, 13, 16, 19, 21) Choreographer Xevi Dorca
*
Magnifico Valeriano Lanchas ± (5/15, 17m)
Alidoro Shenyang*
Clorinda Jacqueline Echols ‡
Tisbe Deborah Nansteel ‡
* Washington National Opera debut
‡ Member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
± Alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
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ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA
Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States.
Founded in 1956 and now an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the
company boasts numerous artistic highlights, including world premieres, commissioning of new
works and new productions, international tours, and performances by some of opera’s most admired
artists. WNO productions have been heard around the world, through radio and television
broadcasts on WETA-FM, NPR, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and PBS, as well as through audio and
video recordings.
In 2012, WNO launched the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive new commissioning
program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering and developing the
talents of new American composers and librettists. WNO contributes to the future of opera through
two other signature artist-development programs: the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a
leading resident-training program for artists on the verge of international careers, and the WNO
Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high school-age singers and pianists from across the nation
during an intensive three-week summer program.
WNO’s education and access initiatives include year-round programs in public schools
throughout the region; Generation O, a popular discount-ticket initiative for young people; and a
variety of lectures and discussions for every production on the season calendar. Among the most
popular of WNO’s community programs is M&M’S® Opera in the Outfield, which brings free, live
simulcasts of opera to Nationals Park for thousands of opera fans as well as new audiences.
FUNDING CREDITS:
Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO, and provide major
support for MyTix and educational programs at the Kennedy Center through the Rubenstein Arts
Access Program.
General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of WNO’s 2014-2015 Season.
Generous support for WNO Italian opera is provided by Daniel and Gayle D’Aniello.
La bohème is a production of the Clarice Smith Opera Series.
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is made possible through the generous support of
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
Generous support for the American Opera Initiative is provided by
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
The Student Dress Rehearsal Program and the Opera Institute are made possible in part by
the generous support of the U.S. Department of Education.
Support for Opera Look-Ins is provided by the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation.
18
The Conservatory Project is made possible by Michael F. and Noémi K. Neidorff and the
Centene Charitable Foundation.
The Millennium Stage is brought to you by Target and the J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott
Foundation, and was created and underwritten by James A. Johnson and Maxine Isaacs to make
the performing arts accessible to everyone in fulfillment of the Kennedy Center's mission to its
community and the nation. Additional funding is provided by DC Commission on the Arts and
Humanities, The Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky Family Foundation, Inc., Jaylee M. Mead†, The
Meredith Foundation, The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Dr. Deborah Rose and Dr.
Jan A.J. Stolwijk, U.S. Department of Education, and the Millennium Stage Endowment Fund.
The Millennium Stage Endowment Fund was made possible by James A. Johnson and Maxine
Isaacs, Fannie Mae Foundation, James V. Kimsey, Gilbert† and Jaylee† Mead, Mortgage
Bankers Association of America, and other anonymous gifts to secure the future of the
Millennium Stage.
Performances for Young Audiences is made possible by Bank of America. Additional support
for Performances for Young Audiences is provided by Adobe Foundation; The Clark-Charitable
Foundation; Mr. James V. Kimsey; Macy’s; The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation;
Park Foundation, Inc.; an endowment from the Ryna and Melvin Cohen Family Foundation;
Washington Gas; and by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas Memorial Fund and by a major
gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe Fortas.
The Presenting Underwriter of Iberian Suite: arts remix across continents is the
HRH Foundation, with major support provided by David and Alice Rubenstein.
The Fortas Chamber Music Concerts are supported by generous contributors to the Abe Fortas
Memorial Fund, and by a major gift to the fund from the late Carolyn E. Agger, widow of Abe
Fortas.
Education and related artistic programs are also made possible through the generosity of the
National Committee for the Performing Arts and the President’s Advisory Committee on the
Arts.
International Programming at the Kennedy Center is made possible through the generosity of the
Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts.
For more information about Washington National Opera,
visit www.kennedy-center.org/wno.
Visit www.facebook.com/WashingtonNationalOpera for behind-the-scenes news, special offers,
advance notice of events, and other related Kennedy Center Facebook pages.
Follow @dcopera on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news, offers, and more.
# # # # #
PRESS CONTACT*: TICKETS & INFORMATION:
Michael Solomon (202) 467-4600; (800) 444-1324
(202) 416-8453 www.kennedy-center.org [email protected] *Please do not publish this contact information