Washington national Opera Announces Upcoming Shows

Washington National Opera GeneralDirector Plácido Domingo today announced the company's 2010-11 season, including productions,casting and creative teams, and performance dates for all main-stage operas.

Opening September 11,2010 at the Kennedy Center Opera House, the company's 55 th season encompasses 45 performances of five productions, all new to Washington: Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, a new production of Strauss' Salome, Puccini's Madama Butterfly, the company premiere of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, and Donizetti's Don Pasquale. A detailed calendar with production information and casting may be found on pages 5 through 9, withpatron and ticketing information on page 10.

The company also shared additional details about the 2010-11 season, including the establishment of a new concert series. Named the Plácido Domingo Celebrity Series in honor of Maestro Domingo and hisaccomplishments in bringing world-class artists to WNO's stage, the series will feature concerts by JuanDiego Flórez and Bryn Terfel.

Additionally, Maestro Domingo announced that WNO Music DirectorHeinz Fricke will return to Washington in October 2010 to conduct Salome. The company will continueits commitment to serving a broad community through its award-winning education and outreachprograms, a highlight of which will be the third-annual, free "Opera in the Outfield" simulcast ofopening night of Un Ballo in Maschera to Nationals Park."The 2010-11 season features five productions, all new to Washington audiences, and each with uniqueelements that will excite Washington-area opera lovers," stated Maestro Domingo. "From SalvatoreLicitra in Un Ballo in Maschera to Deborah Voigt's company debut in a new production of Salome by Francesca Zambello, to concerts with Juan Diego Flórez and Bryn Terfel, the season is filled to the brimwith wonderful productions and talents.""I am especially pleased to work directly on all of the Spring 2011 productions. Along with MaestroPhilippe Auguin, I will conduct performances of Madama Butterfly with Ana María Martínez andCatherine Naglestad as Cio-Cio-San.

Then, I have the distinct honor of conducting the incomparableBryn Terfel in concert for his WNO debut. In May, I sing Oreste opposite Patricia Racette in her title roledebut in Iphigénie en Tauride, and I will also conduct performances of Don Pasquale with James Morrismaking a role debut in his first WNO appearance."Addressing the move to a five-opera season in 2010-11, Maestro Domingo commented, "Like most largeAmerican opera companies, WNO has had to strike a balance between its artistic ambitions and therealities of these trying financial times. For WNO, this means one fewer production, but each and everyone will be produced with the same level of artistic excellence that audiences have come to expect fromWNO.

With the 2010-11 season, WNO will offer more performances of each production, which will allow the company to realize operational efficiencies and aggressively act to bring new audiences to the OperaHouse. Though the move to five productions is less than ideal, WNO has now put itself in a positionwhere it can operate in a sustainable manner. Because of the responsible changes that the company hasmade, we are confident that the company will flourish well into the future." (Note: WNO announced in November 2009 that it would stage five main-stage productions in the 2010-11 season as opposed to sixin the current season.)Maestro Domingo continued, "In planning the next season, the guiding principle in all of our productionsand casting is our strong belief that artistic integrity must be the number one goal. With the 2010-11 season, WNO has achieved that goal, so with this in mind, next season may be one of our strongest yet."

Creative Highlights and DebutsWashington National Opera's 2010-11 season features five productions, all new to Washington, D.C. andeach of which features major artists making company and role debuts. Some of opera's most sought-after talents headline the season. An alphabetical, annotated list of WNO artists is attached.

The season opens with Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, featuring a double cast led by several returningWNO artists, including acclaimed Italian tenor Salvatore Licitra as King Gustavus III, with Americansoprano Tamara Wilson and Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin sharing the role of Amelia. Italianconductor Daniele Callegari and Canadian director James Robinson make their WNO debuts with thisproduction. (Note: For this production, which is repatriated to Sweden from the traditional setting ofBoston, original Swedish character names will be used).

In October 2010, WNO presents a new production of Strauss' Salome, directed by Francesca Zambelloand starring American soprano Deborah Voigt. Considered the definitive Salome of her generation and"one of the great Strauss interpreters of all time" (Wall Street Journal), Voigt makes her long-awaitedWNO debut in this production. Returning to WNO is Australian bass-baritone Daniel Sumegi as Jokanaan, and British tenor Richard Berkeley-Steele and German mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel maketheir WNO debuts as Herod and Herodias.

Acclaimed conductor and WNO Music Director Heinz Fricke returns to Washington to conduct Strauss' provocative masterwork.

The Spring 2011 season opens with a 14-performance run of Puccini's beloved Madama Butterfly. Thehighly popular production from San Francisco has been lauded as "elegantly composed" and"meticulously reconstructed" (San Francisco Chronicle). Headlining the double cast are American sopranos Ana María Martínez and Catherine Naglestad, the latter making her role debut as Cio-Cio-San.A Grammy award-winning artist whose career spans the opera house, films and concert halls, Martínez returns to WNO for the first time in a decade. Praised for her "ravishingly beautiful singing...a natural-born actress" (Opera News), Naglestad makes her WNO debut with this production. WNO GeneralDirector Plácido Domingo shares the podium with Philippe Auguin; the two maestros lead an award-winning creative team that includes director Ron Daniels and set and costume designer MichaelYeargan.

The season continues with the company premiere of Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride, with Americansoprano Patricia Racette in the title role, Plácido Domingo as Oreste and Italian bass-baritone SimoneAlberghini as King Thoas. An acclaimed singing-actress, Racette makes a role debut as the heroicIphigénie in this rarely performed 18 th -century French opera. William Lacey, who earned high praise inhis WNO debut leading Tamerlano (2008), returns to conduct, and Emilio Sagi directs this powerfulGreek myth. Donizetti's Don Pasquale concludes the 2010-11 season, and features the WNO debut of acclaimedAmerican bass-baritone James Morris in the title role. Among the most respected singers of hisgeneration, lauded for his "clean-cut rapier timbre and keen intonation...quite simply astounding"(Opera Now), the stentorian bass-baritone also makes a role debut with Don Pasquale. Leon Majorreturns to WNO to direct his production from New York City Opera, with Maestro Domingo conductingselect performances.Additional singers making company debuts include American tenor Frank Porretta as King Gustavus III(better known as Riccardo, a role he shares with Salvatore Licitra), American soprano Monica Yunus as Oscar, and American bass-baritone Wayne Tigges as Count Ribbing (Samuel) in Un Ballo in Maschera. American tenor Shawn Pannikar debuts as Narraboth in Salome and Russian soprano Ekaterina Siurinadebuts as Norina in Don Pasquale.

The Plácido Domingo Celebrity SeriesIn the 2010-11 season, WNO will inaugurate the Plácido Domingo Celebrity Series, a concert serieshighlighting some of opera's most exciting and in-demand artists performing works for which they arebest known, accompanied by the WNO Orchestra.Featured in the inaugural Plácido Doming Celebrity Series are two of opera's most highly praised singers:Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez, who made his WNO debut in 2006 with L'Italiana in Algeri, and Welshbass-baritone Bryn Terfel, who has his company debut. Both singers will present mixed repertoryconcerts featuring their most famous opera arias, accompanied by the WNO Orchestra.

The Plácido Domingo Celebrity Series honors Maestro Domingo and his invaluable role in shaping theartistry of the company. The series continues WNO's tradition of bringing some of the world's finestsingers to Washington audiences. Through Maestro Domingo's leadership, esteemed artists as JoseCarreras, Renée Fleming, Denyce Graves, Anna Netrebko, Salvatore Licitra, Erwin Schrott and Kiri TeKanawa have appeared in WNO productions.Washington Welcomes Back Maestro Heinz FrickeWNO Music Director Heinz Fricke will make his much-anticipated return to the WNO podium, havingbeen forced to withdraw from conducting duties during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons due to healthconcerns. Now recovered, Maestro Fricke will lead performances of Salome in October 2010. Praised forhis ability to evoke deeply expressive performances and for his interpretations of the German repertoireof Wagner and Strauss, Maestro Fricke made his WNO debut in 1992, and assumed his directorship in1993. During his tenure, WNO's orchestra has been noted for its high quality of musicianship.

"The WNO family, and particularly our fine Orchestra, are overjoyed that Maestro Fricke is healthy andable to conduct," stated Maestro Domingo. "There are few conductors today who can rival his masteryof the German repertory, so Salome will be very special. "Opera in the Outfield and Opening Night GalaWashington National Opera opens its 55 th season on September 11, 2010 in grand opera style withVerdi's Un Ballo in Maschera, followed by a masquerade ball; further event details will be announced ata later date.In a new WNO tradition, "Opening Day" will also include a free broadcast of the Opening Nightperformance, live from the Kennedy Center Opera House to Nationals Park. The event marks thecompany's third simulcast at Nationals Park, and the sixth since 2005. Earlier simulcasts were held onthe National Mall, and in 2007, WNO simulcast La Bohème nationally to 31 colleges and universities. Todate, more than 125,000 people-young and old, newcomers and aficionados alike-have attended WNO's simulcasts.

Washington National Opera's 2010-11 Productions, Casting and Calendar An abridged season overview and alphabetical artist listing are attached.Casting and creative teams are listed in their entirety to date; additional casting to be announced. Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera (A Masked Ball) Based upon the real-life murder of 18 th -century Swedish King Gustavus III, Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera tells the story of forbidden love in this lavish production. When King Gustavus falls in love with Amelia, his best friendAnckarström's wife, he ignores all warnings of a conspiracy to end his life and unwittingly sets in play acomplicated plot of deception and intrigue that ends in tragedy at a grand masked ball.

Hailed as "one of the great tenors of today" (Financial Times), Salvatore Licitra returns to WNO in one of hissignature roles, King Gustavus, which he shares with American tenor Frank Porretta in his company debut.American soprano Tamara Wilson and Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin sing Amelia, with Italian baritone LucaSalsi and American baritone and Richard Tucker award-winner Timothy Mix as Anckarström. In the trouser roleof Oscar are former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist and American soprano Micaëla Oeste and American sopranoMonica Yunus in her WNO debut. Italian conductor Daniele Callegari makes his WNO debut leading Verdi's richand dramatic score, with direction from James Robinson. Opera by Guiseppe Verdi, libretto by Antonio SommaProduction from Opera Colorado In Italian with English supertitlesSaturday, September 11, 2010, 7:00 PMTuesday, September 14, 2010, 7:30 PMT hursday, September 16, 2010, 7:30 PMFriday, September 17, 2010, 7:30 PMSunday, September 19, 2010, 2:00 PM Monday, September 20, 2010, 7:00 PMWednesday, September 22, 2010, 7:30 PM Saturday, September 25, 2010, 7:00 PMCast: King Gustavus III (Riccardo)Anckarström (Renato) Amelia Oscar Mam'zelle Arvidson (Ulrica)Count Ribbing (Samuel)Salvatore Licitra/Frank Porretta*Luca Salsi/Timothy MixTamara Wilson/Iréne Theorin+Micaëla Oeste±/Monica Yunus*Elena Manistina†Wayne Tigges*Production Team:ConductorDirectorSet DesignCostume DesignLighting DesignDaniele Callegari*James Robinson*Allen MoyerJames Schuette*Duane Schuler/Jeff Bruckerhoff * Company Debut ? Role debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Cast Listing Key Strauss' Salome (New Production) More than 100 years after its debut, Salome's provocative story of a degenerate princess still has the power toshock.

Raised in a corrupt court by a murderous mother and a lecherous stepfather, Salome is a manipulatorwho always gets what she wants. When Jokanaan (John the Baptist) rejects her advances, Salome's passion turnsto murderous rage and she demands the head of the holy man. Strauss' dramatic and electric score is full ofsonorous orchestrations, rich melodies and one of the most scandalous moments in opera, Salome's feverish"Dance of the Seven Veils."Dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt, the definitive Salome of her generation and "one of the greatest Straussinterpreters of all time" (Wall Street Journal), makes her WNO debut in this new production by award-winning director Francesca Zambello.

Australian bass-baritone Daniel Sumegi is the prophet Jokanaan. British bass-baritone Richard Berkeley-Steele and German mezzo-soprano Doris Soffel debut as the decadent Herod andHerodias, and American tenor Sean Pannikar debuts as the young and passionate guard Narraboth. WNO MusicDirector Heinz Fricke returns to Washington to conduct Strauss' ravishing score.Opera by Richard Strauss, libretto by the composerNew Production by Francesca Zambello In German with English supertitles Thursday, October 7, 2010, 7:00 PMSunday, October 10, 2010, 2:00 PMTuesday, October 12, 2010, 7:30 PM Friday, October 15, 2010, 7:30 PMMonday, October 18, 2010, 7:00 PMWednesday, October 20, 2010, 7:30 PM Saturday, October 23, 2010, 7:00 PM

Celebrity Series: Juan Diego Flórez-In Concert The leading bel canto tenor of his generation, Juan Diego Flórez is known for his fluidity of tone, goldentimbre, and bringing down the house with consecutive, floating, pitch-perfect high C's, as he did in 2008 in La Fille du Régiment at the Met and La Scala. At the invitation of Plácido Domingo, the Peruvian tenor makes a rare Washington, D.C. appearance, accompanied by the WNO Orchestra in a mixed repertory concert.Artists:Sunday, February 27, 2011, 2:00 PMJuan Diego Flórez, tenorConductor, TBA * Company Debut ? Role debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Cast Listing Key

Plácido Domingo Celebrity Series: Bryn Terfel-In Concert Acclaimed Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel makes his much-anticipated Washington National Opera debut withthis concert, given at the invitation of, and conducted by, WNO General Director Plácido Domingo. Known forhis definitive interpretations of roles such as Falstaff and Figaro, Terfel is equally acclaimed in the concert hall.Also a noted recording artist, Terfel has recently released the album Bad Boys (November 2009, U.S. releaseApril 2010), featuring arias from some of operas most notorious villains. A rare chance to hear one of the leadingbass-baritones of our generation, the concert will feature Terfel and the WNO Orchestra performing a mixedrepertory.Artists:Bryn Terfel*, bass-baritoneSaturday, March 12, 2011, 7:00 PMPlácido Domingo, conductor Puccini's Madama Butterfly One of the world's most beloved operas returns in a beautiful and highly praised production from San FranciscoOpera. The innocent Butterfly catches the eye of a feckless American Naval officer, Pinkerton, who makes her histemporary "wife." Soon his time in Japan is over and he abandons Butterfly. When he does return, he arriveswith his American wife.

Dishonored, Butterfly is bereft. For more than a century, audiences have been thrilledby Puccini's haunting, poignant music and touched by the lovely Butterfly, who gives up everything for love.Two acclaimed American sopranos sing the role of Cio-Cio-San: Catherine Naglestad, known for her "ravishinglybeautiful singing" (Opera News) shares the role with the charismatic Ana María Martínez, one of the most sought-after lyric sopranos of our time. Russian tenor Alexey Dolgov and Brazilian tenor Thiago Arancam sharethe role of Pinkerton. Korean baritone and former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Hyung Yun and Americanbaritone Michael Chioldi share the role of the American Consul, Sharpless. WNO's General Director PlácidoDomingo conducts select performances of this timeless classic, joined by conductor Philippe Auguin. Opera by Giacomo Puccini, libretto by L. Illica and G. GiacosaProduction from San Francisco OperaIn Italian with English supertitlesSaturday, February 26, 2011, 7:00 PMTuesday, March 1, 2011, 7:30 PMWednesday, March 2, 2011, 7:30 PMFriday, March 4, 2011, 7:30 PMSaturday, March 5, 2011, 7:00 PMSunday, March 6, 2011, 2:00 PMMonday, March 7, 2011, 7:00 PMTuesday, March 8, 2011, 7:30 PMThursday, March 10, 2011, 7:30 PMSunday, March 13, 2011, 2:00 PMMonday, March 14, 2011, 7:00 PMTuesday, March 15, 2011, 7:30 PMThursday, March 17, 2011, 2:00 PMSaturday, March 19, 2011, 7:00 PM * Company Debut ? Role debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Cast Listing Key

Michael Yeargan Gluck's Iphigénie en Tauride-Company Premiere With Iphigénie en Tauride, Gluck wove Euripedes' Greek myth into a masterwork of 18 th -century French lyricopera. On the island of Tauris and serving as high priestess to the goddess Diana, Iphigénie dreams of her violentpast and her brutal family. When her long-lost brother, Oreste, washes up on the shores of Tauris and issentenced to death by the Scythian King Thoas, Iphigénie sets out on a heroic quest to save him. Once rarelypresented, Gluck's crowning achievement has in the past decade enjoyed a renaissance in major opera housesaround the world. Iphigénie en Tauride has its company premiere with this dramatic opera.

Hailed as the "consummate singing actress" (Chicago Tribune), dramatic soprano Patricia Racette makes her roledebut as the heroine Iphigénie. In his first WNO production since 2008's Tamerlano, WNO General Director andworld-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo sings Oreste, a role for which The New York Times praised the "artistry,integrity and physicality of his impetuous portrayal." Italian baritone Simone Alberghini sings the role of KingThoas and Shawn Mathey as Oreste's loyal friend Pylade. British conductor William Lacey leads the production,which features a 48-member chorus, and Emilio Sagi directs a powerful production from Opera de Oviedo.Opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck, libretto by Nicolas-François GuillardProduction from Opera de Oviedo (Spain) In French with English supertitlesFriday, May 6, 2011, 7:00 PMMonday, May 9, 2011, 7:00 PMThursday, May 12, 2011, 7:30 PMSaturday, May 14, 2011, 7:00 PMTuesday, May 17, 2011, 7:30 PMFriday, May 20, 2011, 7:30 PMWednesday, May 25, 2011, 7:30 PMSunday, May 29, 2011, 2:00 PMCast:IphigénieOrestePyladeKing ThoasPatricia Racette+Plácido DomingoShawn MatheySimone Alberghini+Production Team:ConductorDirectorWilliam LaceyEmilio Sagi * Company Debut ? Role debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Cast Listing Key

 Donizetti's Don Pasquale WNO's 2010-11 season concludes with Donizetti's classic opera buffa Don Pasquale. When the old Don Pasqualeplans to marry, yet threatens to disinherit his young nephew Ernesto should he also take a wife, Ernesto, hisfiancé Norina, and their friend Dr. Malatesta put into play a hilarious plot of deception designed to teach DonPasquale a lesson and persuade a change of heart.American bass-baritone James Morris makes his WNO debut and role debut as the blustery Don Pasquale. ABaltimore native now in the fourth decade of his international career, Morris "continues to be indestructible"(The New York Times) and "quite simply astounding" (Opera Now). Russian soprano Ekaterina Siurina makes her WNO debut as Norina, and Dwayne Croft returns to WNO to sing Dr. Malatesta. Leon Major directs thisproduction from New York City Opera that draws on commedia dell'arte traditions.Opera by Gaetano Donizetti, libretto by Giovanni RuffiniProduction from New York City OperaIn Italian with English supertitlesFriday, May 13, 2011, 7:00 PMMonday, May 16, 2011, 7:00 PMWednesday, May 18, 2011, 7:30 PMSaturday, May 21, 2011, 7:00 PMSunday, May 22, 2011, 2:00 PMTuesday, May 24, 2011, 7:30 PMThursday, May 26, 2011, 7:30 PMFriday, May 27, 2011, 7:30 PMCast:Don PasqualeNorinaErnestoDr. MalatestaJames Morris*+Ekaterina Siurina*/TBAJuan Francisco Gatell/TBADwayne CroftProduction Team:ConductorDirectorPlácido Domingo(select performances)Leon Major * Company Debut ? Role debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Cast Listing Key

 Full season subscription packages are on sale now and range from $275 to $1,800. Interest-free payment plans are available for full season subscriptions. The Juan Diego Flórez and Bryn Terfelconcerts featured on the Plácido Domingo Celebrity Series are available exclusively to subscribers asa two-concert package, and may be added to full season subscription packages. Concert packagesrange from $72 to $324 for both concerts and reflect a 10% subscriber discount. For moreinformation or to purchase subscription packages, contact WNO Audience Services at 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, or visitPATRON AND TICKETING INFORMATION www.dc-opera.org. • All performances take place at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House,2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.

• Washington National Opera is committed to serving persons with disabilities. Wheelchair accessibleseating is available in all price categories for all operas. Please contact Audience Services at202.295.2400, email adacoordinator@dc-opera.org, or visit www.dc-opera.org for moreinformation.• Casting, programs, schedules and pricing are specified in good faith as accurate at the time ofprinting but are subject to change without notice.

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