The Washington National Opera is set to open its 2018–19 season with a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello.

The new production will see the WNO debut of rising star Russian soprano Venera Gimadieva and will star alongside American tenor Joshua Guerrero. Acclaimed baritone Lucas Meachem will round out the cast as Germont.

Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist soprano Jacqueline Echols will also sing the title role alongside tenor Mario Chang and baritone Michael Chioldi for three performances in the second cast.

There will also be a special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist performance presented in the Opera House on Oct. 19, 2018, that is set to feature three first-year emerging artists in the primary roles. They include soprano Marlen Nahhas, tenor Joshua Blue, and baritone Joshua Conyers. Italian conductor Renato Palumbo returns to WNO for the run.

The WNO production is set to run from Oct. 6-21, 2018.