The Washington National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring a new world premiere. The season opens with the world premiere of Jeanine Tesori’s new work, “Grounded,” in a co-production that was initiated and commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera. Adapted from the play by George Brant and featuring his libretto, “Grounded” tells the story of Jess, an elite female F-16 {…}
Denyce Graves is set to headline Washington National Opera’s “The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson” this January. The work, which will be presented at the Terrace Theater on Jan. 20 – 22, 2023 (three performances with two on the 22nd), will feature Graves in the role of Dawson, the founder of the National Negro Opera Company. Carlos Simon and Sandra {…}
Composer, librettist, and singer Ashi Day is a composer with a strong penchant for revitalizing opera’s antiquarian stories and gender hierarchy. As one of the eight women to receive funding as part of Opera America’s Opera Grants for Women Composers (OGWC), her present chamber opera project, “Waking the Witch” is scheduled to receive its first workshop performance December 9-10th at {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced the 10th anniversary of its “American Opera Initiative: Three 20-Minute Operas.” The three works that will be presented on Jan. 21, 2023, at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater include B.E. Boykin and Jarrod Lee’s “Oshun,” Jens Isben and Cecelia Raker’s “Bubbie and the Demon,” and Silen Wellington and Walken Schweigert’s “What the Spirits Show.” {…}
Christine Goerke was named a Chevalier de l’orde des Arts et des Lettres by the French government. The soprano receive the distinction on Nov. 6 at the Kennedy Center November 6 following a performance of “Elektra.” The Ordre des Arts et des Lettres was established by the French government in 1957 to recognize artists who have made a significant contribution {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to present Richard Strauss’ “Elektra.” The opera, which is set to run between Oct. 29 and Nov. 12, 2022, will be directed by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello in her first staging of the work, and led by Principal Conductor Evan Rogister. In a statement, Zambello noted, “Strauss’ dramatic one-act opera promises 100 minutes of {…}
The Washington National Opera kicks off its season with a new production of “Il Trovatore” starting on October 22, 2022. The famed Verdi opera will receive a newly conceived period production by director Brenna Corner, with sets by Erhard Rom, a finalist of the International Opera Prize. There will also be wardrobe by Martin Pakledinaz. The cast will be led {…}
The Washington National Opera is set to celebrate the 17th year of its most popular community event with a free opera broadcast at the state-of-the art soccer stadium home of the D.C. United, Audi Field. Opera on the Field will present Georges Bizet’s “Carmen” on Sept. 25, 2022 and will be hosted by WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary and WNO {…}
AP News has reported that 150 items belonging to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg auctioned by Virginia-based The Potomack Company raised $803,650 for Washington National Opera—a surprising amount compared to Potomack’s pre-sale estimate of $50,000 to $80,000. Ginsburg was an ardent fan and fervent supporter of the art form and even appeared on stage in a WNO {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2022-23 season. The season kicks off with Brenna Corner’s production of “Il Trovatore” starring Latonia Moore, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Christopher Maltman, and Ryan Speedo Green. Michele Gamba conducts. Performance Dates: Oct 22 – Nov. 7, 2022 Next up is Strauss’ “Elektra” with Christine Goerke in the title role. The cast also {…}
Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, is set to present “Washington National Opera: Written in Stone” on Feb. 6, 2022. The event will take place in the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Peter B. Lewis Theater at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and will show a sneak peek of the work inspired by iconic monuments in Washington, D.C., {…}