The Opera Tattler

Washington National Opera's 2012-2013 Season

September 15- October 6 2012: Anna Bolena
September 20- October 15 2012: Don Giovanni
September 23 2012: Nathan Gunn Concert
December 21-23 2012: Hansel and Gretel
March 2-23 2013: Manon Lescaut
March 9-24 2013: Norma
April 8 2013: Diana Damrau Concert
May 4-26 2013: Show Boat

The 2012-2013 season at WNO was announced today. Sondra Radvanovsky sings the title role of Anna Bolena. Angela Meade sings the title role of Norma.

2012-2013 Season | Official Site

Washington National Opera's New Wave of Artistic Initiatives

Today Washington National Opera announced a plethora of new initiatives, including the presentation of WNO Artistic Advisor Francesca Zambello's "American Ring" in 2016, a New American Works Project to promote young American composers and librettists, a holiday opera each season, performances at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater, a new production each season, and one production per season directed by Zambello.

Press Release | Official Site

Zambello at WNO

Francesca Zambello (pictured left) has been named Artistic Advisor of Washington National Opera. Zambello is currently the General and Artistic Director of Glimmerglass Opera and Artistic Adviser of San Francisco Opera.

Press Release | Washington National Opera's Official Site | Francesca Zambello's Official Site | Advisor vs. Adviser

Washington National Opera's 2011-2012 Season

September 10-24 2011: Tosca
November 10-19 2011: Lucia di Lammermoor
February 25 - March 15 2012 : Così fan Tutte
March 3 2012: Angela Gheorghiu Concert
March 17 2012: Deborah Voigt Concert
April 28- May 21 2012: Nabucco
May 12-27 2012: Werther

Today WNO announced the new season, which is still only 5 operas, but does include two "Celebrity Concerts."

2011-2012 Season | Official Site

Music Director of WNO

Philippe Auguin has been named Music Director of Washington National Opera.

Press Release [PDF] | Official Site

General Director of WNO

General Director Plácido Domingo will not renew his contract with Washington National Opera, which expires on June 30, 2011.

Press Release [PDF] | Official Site

Washington National Opera's 2010-2011 Season

September 11-25 2010: Un Ballo in Maschera
October 7-23 2010: Salome
February 26- March 19 2011: Madama Butterfly
February 27 2011: Juan Diego Flórez Concert
March 12 2011: Bryn Terfel Concert
May 6-29 2011: Iphigénie en Tauride
May 13-27 2011: Don Pasquale

Today WNO announced the new season, which is reduced to 5 operas, but does include two "Celebrity Concerts." Deborah Voigt sings Salome. Patricia Racette makes a role debut as Iphigénie opposite of Domingo.

Press Release | Official Site

Washington National Opera's 2009-2010 Season

September 12-20 2009: Il Barbiere di Siviglia
October 10-30 2009: Falstaff
October 24- November 13 2009: Ariadne auf Naxos
March 20- April 13 2010: Porgy and Bess
April 24- May 7 2010: Le Nozze di Figaro
May 19- June 4 2010: Hamlet

Eric Owens will share the role of Porgy with Lester Lynch. Teddy Tahu Rhodes will sing Almaviva in Le Nozze, with Ildar Abdrazakov as Figaro. Diana Damrau sings Ophelia in Hamlet opposite Carlos Álvarez in the title role.

Press Release | Official Site

Washington National Opera's 2008-2009 Season

September 13- October 5 2008: La Traviata
September 20- October 7 2008: Les Pêcheurs de Perles
November 1-17 2008: Lucrezia Borgia
November 8-19 2008: Carmen
November 21- 22 2008: Petite Messe Solennelle
March 21- April 6 2009: Peter Grimes
May 2-17 2009: Siegfried
May 16- June 4 2009: Turandot

Renée Fleming has her WNO debut in Lucrezia Borgia. Denyce Graves sings the title role of Carmen, in the Zambello production from ROH. The Zandra Rhodes production of Les Pêcheurs de Perles is the one we had here in San Francisco in 2005.

WNO Opera's 2009 Ring Cycle

Washington National Opera is presenting a complete Ring Cycle for the first time in November of 2009. Dubbed the "American Ring," this co-production with San Francisco Opera is directed by Francesca Zambello.

November 2-16 2009: Das Rheingold
November 3-17 2009: Die Walküre
November 5-19 2009: Siegfried
November 7-21 2009: Götterdämmerung

Official Site | Press Release [PDF]