Washington National Opera Announces 2019–2020 Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists

The Washington National Opera has announced the roster of emerging artists engaged for the 18th season of its Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. The company announced that this season, 11 singers and two pianists/coaches will participate. They are tenor Joshua Blue, mezzo-soprano Amanda Bottoms, baritone Joshua Conyers, soprano Marlen Nahhas, soprano Alexandra Nowakowski, bass William Meinert, baritone Samson McCrady, pianist Thomas Morris, tenor Matthew Pearce, {…}

May 24, 2019

Daniel Catán’s ‘Salsipuedes’ & Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend – North America

You’ll likely notice that when you come to check out these top five picks from NORTH AMERICA, you’ll usually find just shows in the U.S. But this week, we have made a few selections truly do encapsulate North America. Pandora – FAWN Chamber Creative, Canada FAWN Chamber Creative will world premiere this opera-ballet by David James Brock and and such {…}

Mar 15, 2019

Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend – USA (3/15-17)

You have an opera about baseball. Two Spanish operas, including one about Mexico’s greatest artist. Then there’s a timely Britten work followed by a singer making her way back onstage after a grueling battle with cancer. These are the top five operas to see this weekend (in alphabetical order by company). The Rape of Lucretia – Boston Lyric Opera Britten’s {…}

Mar 8, 2019

Top 5 Operas To See This Weekend – USA (3/8-10)

This weekend we will shine a spotlight on a mix of repertory staples and some rarer works. Here are our weekend choices in alphabetical order by company. Silent Night – Arizona Opera The Kevin Puts-Mark Campbell collaboration continues to make the rounds around the country, making it essential viewing. This weekend, audiences can check out the final performances of Arizona {…}

Feb 21, 2019

Christine Goerke & Soloman Howard Headline Washington National Opera Gala Concert

Initial casting for Washington National Opera’s 2019 WNO Gala has been announced. The event will take place on Saturday, May 18, 2019, and will celebrate local entrepreneur John J. Pohanka “for his outstanding contributions to the organization” over nearly 30 years on the Board of Trustees, according to the press release. Evan Rogister will lead “the WNO Orchestra and an {…}

Feb 12, 2019

Marcelo Puente & Erin Wall Headline WNO’s ‘Faust’

The Washington National Opera is set to present Gounod’s “Faust”this March. The work will star tenor Marcelo Puente in the title role. Puente makes his WNO debut alongside Erin Wall, who brings her acclaimed Marguerite to the company. American bass Raymond Aceto, who local audiences first saw in 2016’s Ring Cycle, takes on the role of Méphistophélès and Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins {…}

Feb 2, 2019

Washington National Opera To Present Robert Carsen’s ‘Eugene Onegin’

The Washington National Opera is set to present Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” for the first time in 30 years. The company will revive Robert Carsen’s classic production, originally created for the Metropolitan Opera. In the lead roles, the company has lined up two Bolshoi Opera singers. In the title role, baritone Igor Golovatenko will make his American and WNO debut and {…}

Dec 21, 2018

Best of 2018: OperaWire Staff Picks Most Memorable Opera Performances Of the Year

Yes, it’s that time of the year where we wax poetic about transformative experiences we have had over the course of the last 300 or so days. Sometimes we curate these experiences as rankings to fuel some individual emotions, and at other moments we simply do what we are doing with this piece – let a few different people chip {…}

Dec 17, 2018

American Opera Initiative Festival To Present Four World Premieres

Washington National Opera is set to open its seventh season of the American Opera Initiative (AOI) with four world premieres from Jan. 11–13, 2019 at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. This season, the AOI Festival will present the world premiere of “Taking Up Serpents,” a new hour-long work by composer Kamala Sankaram and librettist Jerre Dye, as well as “75 {…}

Dec 14, 2018

Top 4 Operas To See This Weekend – North America (12/14-16)

Every weekend that draws ever closer to Christmas leaves more and more opera companies in hibernation. But there are still some that have plans for you this holiday season. Otello – Metropolitan Opera Verdi’s greatest masterpiece gets its opening performance of the season with superstar soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Desdemona. She is joined by Zeljko Lucic and tenor Stuart Skelton {…}

Nov 23, 2018

Top 4 Operas to See This Weekend – North America (11/23-25)

Where has all the opera gone? Thanksgiving means that most companies are closed for business, leaving few opera options overall. Not everyone is daunted by this, so here is a look at what you can engage with this holiday weekend. Roméo et Juliette – Calgary Opera Association On Friday, Calgary Opera Association will showcase the classic Gounod opera in a {…}

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