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Jennifer Rowley, Rosa Feola, J’Nai Bridges, John Holiday & Ryan McKinny Lead Washington National Opera’s 2025-26 Season

By Francisco Salazar

The Washington National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season.

Mainstage Productions 

The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” in Francesca Zambello’s production. Kwamé Ryan conducts with Jennifer Rowley starring in the leading role. She is joined by Adam Smith, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Agnieszka Rehlis, Shenyang, and Morris Robinson.

Amber R. Monroe and Robert Watson also star in the lead roles.

Performance Dates: Oct. 24 – Nov. 2, 2025

Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” will be presented in Peter Kazaras’ production with a cast that includes Le Bu, Rosa Feola, Yaritza Véliz, Will Liverman, Elizabeth Bishop, Sir Willard White, and John Holiday.
On Nov. 15, a special performance of these roles will be sung by Cafritz Young Artists, including Anneliese Klenetsky as the Countess, Viviana Goodwin as Susanna, Veronica Siebert as Cherubino, Thandolwethu Mamba as Count Almaviva, Robert Frazier as Figaro, Michelle Mariposa as Marcellina, and Nicholas Huff as Don Basilio. Renowned conductor Robert Spano leads the production.

Performance Dates: Nov. 14 – 22, 2025

Rachel Portman and Nicholas Wright’s “The Little Prince” will be presented for the holidays in a production by Francesca Zambello.

Performance Dates: Dec. 12 – 14, 2025

The World premiere of a new performance edition of “Treemonisha” by Scott Joplin will be performed. Damien Sneed and playwright Kyle Bass created the new performing edition based on archives preserved in the Library of Congress that WNO will premiere in a production directed by opera legend Denyce Graves. The cast includes Cafritz Young Artist Viviana Goodwin as Treemonisha, Justin Austin as Remus, and Tichina Vaughn as Monisha. Kedrick Armstrong conducts.

Performance Dates: March 12 – 22, 2026

The company will present a new production of “The Crucible” by Robert Ward and Bernard Stambler. Francesca Zambello directs a cast that includes J’Nai Bridges and Ryan McKinny. Robert Spano conducts.

Performance Dates: March 19 – 29, 2026

Francesca Zambello directs “West Side Story” with Marin Alsop and James Lowe conducting.

Performance Dates: May 8 – 23, 2026

Concerts 

The Marian Anderson Vocal Award Winner, Nicholas Newton will perform in recital.

Performance Date: Nov. 3, 2025

The American Opera Initiative will showcase the world premiere of three one-act operas staged in a concert performance, with talented Cafritz Young Artists among the casts.

Performance Date: Jan. 24, 2026

The Washington National Gala Opera will present Stephen Schwartz.

Performance Date: May 16, 2026

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By Francisco Salazar

FRANCISCO SALAZAR, (Publisher) has worked as a journalist for over 10 years with such companies as Latin Post, and freelanced for Remezcla. He has also published for El Diario and La Opinion. He is a media producer and a classically trained cellist who has performed in the New York area.

With OperaWire he has lectured at Bard College and been featured on Fred Plotkin, Jennifer Rowley and Angel Blue's programs.

He holds a Masters in Media Management from the New School and a Bachelor's in Film Production and Italian studies from Hofstra University.

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