Washington National Opera Presents an English-Language Production of THE MAGIC FLUTE, 5/3-18

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with a new English-language production of one of the most beloved and family-friendly operas in the repertory: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's The Magic Flute, May 3-18 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. The eye-popping new production features set and costume design by Japanese- American artist Jun Kaneko in his WNO debut, and will be sung in a new English version by WNO dramaturg Kelley Rourke. The opening-night performance on May 3 will be simulcast free to thousands of fans at Nationals Park as part of M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield. A special

May 16 performance features casting by current singers and alumni of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

A prince's quest leads to love at first sight-but to prove his worth in marriage, he must first survive trials of wisdom and devotion. Lost in a faraway land, young Tamino is enlisted by The Queen of the Night to rescue her lovely daughter Pamina from the hands of Sarastro, an evil sorcerer. With the aid of a magic flute and the bumbling, lovelorn Papageno by his side, Tamino sets out on a fantastic adventure filled with danger and temptation, culminating in one final test at a mystical temple. Mozart's final opera, The Magic Flute is both a delightful fairy tale for the whole family and a profound reflection on spiritual enlightenment.

WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting Mozart's charming and familiar score, and Harry Silverstein (The Marriage of Figaro, 2010) returns to WNO to direct the production. Casting for The Magic Flute includes many exciting artists making their WNO debuts, including Maureen McKay and Eri Nakamura as Pamina, Kathryn Lewek and Anna Siminska as the Queen of the Night, Joseph Kaiser and Paul Appleby as Tamino, Joshua Hopkins and David Pershall as Papageno, Jordan Bisch as Sarastro, John Easterlin as Monostatos, and Ashley Emerson as Papagena. Current members and alumni of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program also appear in several key roles: Soloman Howard as Sarastro, Jacqueline Echols as First Lady, Sarah Mesko as Second Lady, Deborah Nansteel as Third Lady, Shantelle Przybylo as Papagena, Yi Li (recent winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions) as First Armed Man, and Wei Wu as Second Armed Man. Complete casting by performance date is on pages 4 and 5 of this press release.

Known throughout the world for his eye-popping ceramics and large-scale sculptures, Japanese-American set and costume designer Jun Kaneko creates a high-tech fantasy world in which the singers interact with unique projections. More of Mr. Kaneko's artwork will be on display in a special exhibition in the Kennedy Center Hall of Nations from April 9 to May 19. The monumental ceramic sculptures on display include HEADS, a pairing of massive human figures; his signature Dangos (meaning "rounded form" or "dumpling" in Japanese) that are covered in a variety of bold shapes and patterns; and Tanuki, a series of badger-like animals. In addition to this special exhibition, the art of Mr. Kaneko will be celebrated at WNO's Opera Ball, which will be hosted by His Excellency the Ambassador of Japan and Mrs. Kenichiro Sasae at their official residence in Washington on Saturday, June 7, 2014. Animated projections from The Magic Flute designed by Mr. Kaneko will decorate the fac?ade of the residence for the Opera Ball.

The May 3 M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield presentation of The Magic Flute will begin at 5 p.m. with special "pregame" entertainment, including Taiko drumming, a meet-and-greet with M&M'S® Ms. Brown, photo opportunities with the living statue of Babe Ruth and cut-outs of characters from The Magic Flute, a costume trunk and face painting play area, chances to win prizes from M&M'S® and the Kennedy Center, and more. The opera will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at the ballpark at 7 p.m. Free seating will be available on the outfield grass and in the stands. The event will take place rain or shine-in case of inclement weather, some covered seating is available. Complete information and programming for the May 3 M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield free simulcast will be announced shortly.

The Magic Flute opens on Saturday, May 3, 2014 and runs for 10 performances; other dates are May 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, and 18. The special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance is Friday, May 16. Visit WNO's website for complete production details, casting information, and artist biographies.

WNO's 2013-2014 season concludes with the world-premiere performances of An American Soldier by composer Huang Ruo and librettist David Henry Hwang, presented under the auspices of the American Opera Initiative on June 13 and 14 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. The recently announced 2014-2015 season includes the company premiere of Daniel Cata?n's Spanish-language Florencia in the Amazon, a brand-new production of Puccini's classic La bohe?me, the company premiere of Rachel Portman's family opera The Little Prince, an English-language production of Poulenc's 20th-century drama Dialogues of the Carmelites, a revival of Wagner's epic The Flying Dutchman, and an acclaimed new-to-Washington staging of Rossini's Cinderella. A third season of the American Opera Initiative, including the world premiere of Penny by two alumni of the program, continues WNO's efforts to commission new works and expand the American repertory. Highlights from the 2014-2015 season will be performed by the WNO Orchestra and special guests at a free preview concert on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 6 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The Magic Flute Performance and Ticket Information

Saturday, May 3 at 7 p.m. • Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m. • Wednesday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8 at 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, May 10 at 7 p.m. • Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. • Sunday, May 18 at 2 p.m.

Special Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance:

Friday, May 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets start at $25 and are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by calling (202) 467- 4600 or (800) 444-1324, or online at www.kennedy-center.org. Subscription packages for the 2013-2014 season are also available and can be purchased at (202) 416-8500 or at www.kennedy- center.org.

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Founded in 1956 and now an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the company boasts numerous artistic highlights, including world premieres, commissioning of new works and new productions, international tours, and performances by some of opera's most admired artists. WNO productions have been heard around the world, through radio and television broadcasts on WETA-FM, NPR, SiriusXM Satellite Radio, and PBS, as well as through audio and video recordings.

WNO recently launched the American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive new commissioning program that brings contemporary American stories to the stage while fostering and developing the talents of new American composers and librettists. WNO contributes to the future of opera through two other signature artist-development programs: the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program is a leading resident-training program for artists on the verge of international careers, and the WNO Opera Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers and pianists from across the nation during an intensive three-week summer program.

WNO's education and access initiatives include year-round programs in public schools throughout the region; Generation O, a popular discount-ticket initiative for young people; and a variety of lectures and discussions for every production on the season calendar. Among the most popular of WNO's community programs is M&M'S® Opera in the Outfield, which brings free, live simulcasts of opera to Nationals Park for thousands of opera fans as well as new audiences.

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