(Credit: Anna Barbera)

The Washington Concert Opera is set to open its new season with Donizetti’s “Roberto Devereux.”

The opera, which will be shown at the Lisner Auditorium on Dec. 4, 2022, is arguably the best opera from Donizetti’s dramatic “Tudor trilogy” and focuses on the Earl of Essex during his service to Queen Elizabeth.

The cast will showcase René Barbera in the title role after appearing with WCO in 2012’s “La Sonnambula,” and 2021’s “I Puritani.”

He will be joined by Italian soprano Roberta Mantegna as Queen Elizabeth, mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne as Sara, Duchess of Nottingham, and baritone Ricardo José Rivera as The Duke of Nottingham.

The work will be preceded by a pre-concert lecture led by WCO’s Founder, Peter Russell. There will also be a post-concert Cast Party.

The season will include a performance of Verdi’s “Nabucco” starring Lester Lynch.