Photo Flash: First Look at Isabel Leonard, Tara Erraught, Simone Alberghini and More in Washington National Opera's CINDERELLA

Washington National Opera (WNO) concludes its 2014-2015 season with a new-to-Washington staging of GioachinoRossini's charming romance-Cinderella, May 9-21 in theKennedy Center Opera House. Check out a first look below!

Starring two powerhouse mezzo-sopranos-Isabel Leonard and Tara Erraught-appearing at WNO for the first time, this dazzling production has been acclaimed worldwide for its witty characterizations, rainbow-bright sets and costumes, and rags- to-riches ending that celebrates the power of love and forgiveness. The production is staged by Spanish director Joan Font and the WNO Orchestra is led by Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci, both in their WNO debuts. The Saturday, May 16 performance will be simulcast free to thousands of fans at Nationals Park as part of M&M's Opera in the Outfield.

The stellar cast is led by two extraordinary mezzo-sopranos, both in their WNO debuts. American Isabel Leonard, winner of the 2013 Richard Tucker Award and a 2013 Grammy Award® for Best Opera Recording, is one of the most highly sought after artists in opera today, regularly appearing in leading roles at opera houses around the world. Tara Erraught, a native of Ireland, makes her U.S. operatic debut in one of her signature roles, which she has sung to great acclaim in Vienna, Munich, and Hamburg. Sharing the role of the dashing prince Don Ramiro are Russian tenor Maxim Mironov and American tenor David Portillo (seen locally earlier this season in Washington Concert Opera's I Capuleti e i Montecchi), also both in their WNO debuts.

Italian baritone and WNO favorite Simone Alberghini, who starred as Sergeant Belcore in last season's The Elixir of Love, is Dandini, the prince's valet. Italian baritone Paolo Bordogna makes his WNO debut as Cinderella's stepfather Don Magnifico, sharing the role with Colombian bass-baritone Valeriano Lanchas, an alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program. Chinese bass-baritone Shenyang makes his WNO debut as Don Ramiro's tutor, Alidoro. Rounding out the cast are two Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists as Cinderella's wicked (and wickedly funny) stepsisters: American mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel is Tisbe, while American soprano Jacqueline Echols sings the role of Clorinda.

Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci makes her WNO debut leading the WNO Orchestra in interpretingRossini's brisk and playful score. She will also play the score's recitatives on the harpsichord right from the conductor's podium. The imaginative and bright production from the Barcelona-based theater group Els Comediants is directed by Joan Font with sets and costumes by Joan Guille?n, lighting by Albert Faura, and choreography by Xevi Dorca. All of these Spanish artists make their WNO debuts with this production.

Cinderella opens on Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 7 p.m. and runs for eight performances; other dates are May 11, 13, 15, 16, 17m, 19, and 21. Visit WNO's website for complete production details and casting information.

Washington National Opera's 2015-2016 season includes a new-to-Washington staging of Bizet's Carmen, the world premiere of a newly revised version of Appomattox by composer Philip Glass and librettist Christopher Hampton, a revival of WNO's charming holiday production of Hansel and Gretel, the company premiere of Kurt Weill's Lost in the Stars in a gripping production from Cape Town Opera, and WNO's first complete staging of Wagner's extraordinary four-part Ring Cycle, with a world-class cast under the direction of Francesca Zambello and featuring the WNO Orchestra conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. Subscription packages are available now.

Photo Credit: Scott Suchman for WNO

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