NEWS RELEASE
NEW WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA PERFORMANCE SERIES PREMIERES ON XM AUGUST 28
8/2/2007
“WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA ON XM" TO FEATURE PERFORMANCES BY PLÁCIDO DOMINGO, HEINZ FRICKE, SONIA GANASSI, ALAN HELD, HEI-KYUNG HONG, ANDRÉ PREVIN, AND VERÓNICA VILLARROEL
Washington, D.C., August 22, 2007 – XM, the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 8.2 million subscribers, and Washington National Opera (WNO) under General Director Plácido Domingo, today announced a new series featuring performances from Washington National Opera. Premiering Tuesday, August 28 on XM, the inaugural run of “Washington National Opera on XM" will include operas from WNO’s recent seasons, including Norma, La Cenerentola, Die Walküre, A Streetcar Named Desire, Manon Lescaut, and La traviata.
Featured artists in the series will include Plácido Domingo, Heinz Fricke, Sonia Ganassi, Alan Held, Hei-Kyung Hong, André Previn, and Verónica Villarroel, among many others.
“Washington National Opera on XM" will debut with WNO’s production of Norma, Bellini’s bel canto drama about a Druid high priestess betrayed by her lover during the era of Roman occupation, which features two of opera’s most memorable tunes “Mira, O Norma" and “Casta Diva." Hasmik Papian sings the title role with Irina Mishura as Adalgisa and Richard Margison as Pollione.
“Washington National Opera on XM" will air Tuesdays at 12 noon ET on XM’s dedicated classical vocals and opera channel VOX (XM 112), with encore broadcasts Fridays at 6 p.m. ET and Saturdays at 12 midnight ET.
1 “Washington National Opera on XM" Schedule
Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma August 28, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: August 31, 6 p.m. ET September 1, 12 midnight ET Emmanuel Villaume, conductor Norma: Hasmik Papian Adalgisa: Irina Mishura Pollione: Richard Margison
Gioachino Rossini’s La Cenerentola September 4, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: September 7, 6 p.m. ET September 8, 12 midnight ET Riccardo Frizza, conductor Angelina: Sonia Ganassi Don Ramiro: Jesús Garcia Dandini: Simone Alberghini Don Magnifico: Alfonso Antoniozzi
Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre September 11, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: September 14, 6 p.m. ET September 15, 12 midnight ET Heinz Fricke, conductor Brünnhilde: Linda Watson Sieglinde: Anja Kampe Fricka: Elena Zaremba Siegmund: Plácido Domingo Wotan: Alan Held Hunding: Kurt Rydl
2 André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire September 18, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: September 21, 6 p.m. ET September 22, 12 midnight ET André Previn, conductor Blanche DuBois: Susannah Glanville Stella Kowalski: Peggy Kriha Dye Mitch: Anthony Dean Griffey Stanley Kowalski: Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut September 25, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: September 28, 6 p.m. ET September 29, 12 midnight ET Plácido Domingo, conductor Manon: Verónica Villarroel des Grieux: Franco Farina Lescaut: Roberto Servile
Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata October 2, 12 noon ET Encore broadcasts: October 5, 6 p.m. ET October 6, 12 midnight ET Giovanni Reggioli, conductor Violetta: Hei-Kyung Hong Alfredo: John Matz Germont: Jorge Lagunes
About Washington National Opera Washington National Opera is recognized internationally as one of the premier opera companies. Under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, Washington National Opera attracts critically-acclaimed artists and is dedicated to broadening the public’s awareness and understanding of opera.
3 The company has earned its position through the number and quality of its new productions and by championing lesser known works of significant musical worth rarely presented on today's opera stages. The company is committed to sustaining new American opera and presenting new works in crucial second productions to expand the operatic repertory.
Washington National Opera also is known for its discovery and nurturing of important young talent through the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the international collaboration system it has pioneered with leading foreign opera companies. The company reaches a wide-ranging audience locally, nationally and internationally through its access initiatives, the Center for Education and Training, and Generation O, a young patrons program for adults age 18 to 35.
For more information about membership, programs, and how everyone can experience the opera, visit www.dc- opera.org.
About XM XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 8.2 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.
XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-1-07. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.
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Contact: Anne-Taylor Adams, XM
4 212-708-6171 [email protected]
Bruce Loving, Washington National Opera 202.295.2469 [email protected]
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