Washington National Opera Announces 2017-2018 Season
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Press Release February 10, 2020 Download photo HERE Washington National Opera Announces 2020–2021 Season Programming Bold New Productions Explore Themes of Love, Corruption, and Power in Six Timeless Operas Season Features WNO Debuts by Major Artists, Rising Stars, and Acclaimed Conductors, Including David Robertson, Robert Spano, and Dalia Stasevska Renowned Soprano and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor At Large Renée Fleming Makes Her Directorial Debut (WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera’s (WNO) 2020–2021 season offers an ambitious mix of sweeping political epics and intimate stories of interpersonal relationships, centered on human pursuits of justice, power, and love. Led by General Director Timothy O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, WNO announces the six mainstage titles in the 2020–2021 season: Fidelio, Nixon in China, Boris Godunov, Rigoletto, Così fan tutte, and La bohème. Of these, five are productions new to WNO, including the company premiere of Nixon in China, and all feature internationally acclaimed artists, many in much-anticipated WNO debuts. Embarking on his third exciting season as WNO Principal Conductor, Evan Rogister leads performances of Musorgsky’s monumental Boris Godunov (not seen in D.C. for more than 20 years) and Puccini’s poignant La bohème. Critically acclaimed soprano Renée Fleming makes her opera directorial debut with Così fan tutte, as does esteemed director Elkhanah Pulitzer in her WNO debut in Nixon in China. Celebrated conductors Robert Spano, David Robertson, and Dalia Stasevska make their ~ more ~ first appearances with the company leading the WNO Orchestra. WNO’s American Opera Initiative continues for its ninth season of offering world premieres by a new generation of American composers. Debuts by both rising young stars and recognized talent—in roles, with the company, and in the U.S.—include Anna Caterina Antonacci, Angel Blue, Ryan Speedo Green, Elza van den Heever, Christopher Maltman, Adam Plachetka, Sergey Skorokhodov, Alexandros Stavrakakis, Kang Wang, and many others. This season will also see the return of many WNO favorites including: conductor Roberto Abbado, singers Brandon Jovanovich, Ryan McKinny, Eric Owens, Sean Panikkar, Andrey Zhilikhovsky, and many more. “This is a season of our dreams,” says WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, “with a range of opportunities to confront the complications of human existence, from spectacular historical dramas (Fidelio, Nixon in China, and Boris Godunov) to beloved stories of the human soul (Così fan tutte, Rigoletto, and La bohème). Each of these operas, which span five centuries and four countries, offers a distinctive musical style, and we have assembled some of today’s leading artists to bring them to life. As always, we strive to bring casts and creative teams who reflect the diversity of 21st-century America.” “We are deeply grateful to the WNO family of supporters for making possible such an ambitious lineup of productions and such an acclaimed roster of artists,” says WNO General Director Timothy O’Leary. “I am also so grateful to Francesca for her vision—for giving us a season that represents not only the highest levels of artistic excellence, but also a wide range of works from great musical and dramatic minds that inspire conversations about the world in which we live today.” “The breadth of repertoire this season presents a thrilling opportunity for the Washington National Opera Orchestra and Chorus,” says WNO Principal Conductor Evan Rogister. “From Musorgsky’s epic dimensions to Mozart’s sublimely balanced proportions, the season’s unique styles and virtuosic demands require great flexibility on the part of an opera company’s musical forces. We can’t wait to share this musical journey with our audience.” 2 Fidelio WNO opens the 2020–2021 season with a new production of Beethoven’s timeless ode to love’s capacity to triumph over tyranny in Fidelio, October 24–November 9, 2020, in celebration of the composer’s 250th birthday in 2020. Renowned conductor Robert Spano—who serves as Music Director of both the Aspen Music Festival and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra—makes his WNO debut with Fidelio. Acclaimed South African soprano Elza van den Heever brings her signature vocalism—which the Associated Press described as “blessed with a plush, dramatic voice capable of formidable power and dazzling high notes”—to the challenging role of Fidelio (Leonore) in her WNO debut. Praised for his “ardent, heroic tenor” (The Wall Street Journal), highly sought-after tenor Brandon Jovanovich stars as the prisoner in need of rescue, while baritone Brian Mulligan— in his role debut—portrays Florestan’s villainous nemesis, Don Pizarro. The stellar cast features Marian Anderson Award winner and rising star bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green in his WNO mainstage debut as Rocco, former WNO Young Artist tenor Joshua Blue, and celebrated bass- baritone and WNO favorite Eric Owens in a cameo return as Don Fernando. Nixon in China The fall repertory period continues with the WNO premiere of John Adams’s celebrated 20th- century classic Nixon in China, October 31–November 14, 2020. A noted champion of contemporary American classical music, conductor David Roberston makes his WNO debut with Nixon in China, as does director Elkhanah Pulitzer. The cast features a diverse ensemble of important international artists led by “rich bass- baritone” (The Wall Street Journal), Ryan McKinny making a return to WNO in the titular role of Richard Nixon. Proclaimed as “one of the stars of his generation” (Opera News), tenor Sean Panikkar returns to WNO to make a role debut as Mao Tse-tung. The cast is rounded out by a host of notable company debuts including American soprano Joélle Harvey—a favorite of the Glyndebourne Festival and having recent appearances at such important houses as Covent Garden and the Metropolitan Opera sings First Lady Pat Nixon; coloratura soprano So Young Park—who has sung frequently with the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and others—takes on the virtuosic role of Madame Mao; American bass-baritone Craig Colclough, fresh off successes 3 with the Metropolitan Opera, LA Opera, and Oper Frankfurt, marks yet another role debut in his appearance as Henry Kissinger; and baritone Joo Won Kang as Chou En-Lai. Boris Godunov The mainstage offerings continue in the spring with Modest Musorgsky’s telling of Pushkin’s epic story of politics come-to-life in Boris Godunov, February 20–March 17, 2021. WNO’s own Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and Principal Conductor Evan Rogister lead the massive forces of this new production whose story traverses the sweep of Russia’s rich tapestry in a towering tale of deception, guilt, and revolution. These performances of Boris Godunov mark its return to Washington after more than 20 years. Russia’s native son and highly sought-after Wagnerian bass-baritone Evgeny Nikitin takes on the title role for the first time in North America in this work of conflict between a ruler and his people. In his role debut as Pimen, acclaimed bass Kwangchul Youn brings his “charismatic and dynamic” (The New York Times) performance style to the production. Both artists make their WNO returns after a more than a 15-year absence. Internationally acclaimed tenor Štefan Margita makes his WNO debut in his signature role, Shuisky. A WNO favorite, American mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Bishop makes an overdue return to WNO after her most recent appearance in Le nozze di Figaro, and star tenor of Russia’s Mariinsky Theatre Sergey Skorokhodov and emerging bass David Leigh make their WNO debuts in this production. Rigoletto The trio of spring offerings continues with Verdi’s exciting and gritty tale of a court jester Rigoletto, February 21–March 20, 2021. In a long overdue return to the WNO Verdi specialist Maestro Roberto Abbado leads this Italian masterpiece with a cast made up almost entirely of company debuts. Having regularly performed at leading international opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, renowned Grammy®- nominated baritone Christopher Maltman takes on the title role for the first time in North America. Operalia prizewinner and rising star tenor Pene Pati brings his “lustrous” (San Francisco Chronicle) voice to the role of Duke of Mantua , while South African soprano Vuvu Mpofu—also an Operalia prizewinner—brings her “sumptuous tone” (The Guardian) to the role of Gilda. Internationally acclaimed bass Stanislav Trofimov, and rising mezzo-soprano Alisa 4 Kolosova, fresh from successes with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bayerische Staatsoper, and more, will also appear on the WNO mainstage for the first time in the conniving brother/sister duo of Sparafucile and Maddalena. Così fan tutte An all-star cast offers a lively performance of the cynical Don Alfonso and his friends Ferrando and Guglielmo by impugning the constancy of their fiancées, sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi, in Così fan tutte, February 27–March 19, 2021. “One of the most beloved divas of our day” (Opera Now) and Kennedy Center Artistic Advisor at Large Renée Fleming makes her directorial debut and Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra Dalia Stasevska makes her WNO and American operatic debut in Mozart’s Così fan tutte. “Radiant” (Opera Today) soprano Laura Wilde and one of the most exciting mezzo-sopranos singing today Anna Stéphany take on the roles of sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi in their WNO debuts. While highly sought-after lyric tenor Kang Wang and “impressive” (Opera Wire) baritone Andrey Zhilikhovsky take on the roles of the cynical friends. Renowned for her singular, indelible performances over three decades, Italian soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci makes a significant role and company debut as Despina in a rare U.S. appearance. Internationally acclaimed and award-winning baritone Paulo Szot brings his “commanding presence” (The Guardian) to the role of Don Alfonso La bohème The season concludes as WNO mounts a spectacular production of Puccini’s beloved classic La bohème, May 15–29, 2021, led by Principal Conductor Evan Rogister.