Washington National Opera 2009-10
The Washington National Opera has announced a 2009-10 season of six mainstage productions, plus two concert performances of Wagner’s "Götterdämmerung" and concerts by tenor Plácido Domingo (the company’s general director) and the spousal duo of soprano Olga Borodina and bass Ildar Abdrazakov.
The WNO recently postponed plans to stage Wagner’s "Ring" cycle next season due to fallout from the economic downturn. Its 2009-10 schedule, mostly devoted to repertory staples, also may reflect bottom-line concerns.
Repertory, dates and casting to date for the productions, all in the Kennedy Center Opera House:
* Rossini’s "The Barber of Seville" (Sept. 12-20) – Simone Alberghini (Figaro), Silvia Tro Santafe (Rosina), Lawrence Brownlee (Almaviva) and Valeriano Lanchas (Bartolo); conducted by Michele Mariotti and Joseph Mechavich, directed by David Gately.
* Olga Borodina and Aldar Abdrazakov in concert (Oct. 3), Domingo conducting.
* Verdi’s "Falstaff" (Oct. 10-30) – Gordon Hawkins and Tim Mix (Ford), Elizabeth Bishop (Meg Page) and Nancy Maultsby (Mistress Quickly); conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing.
* Richard Strauss’ "Ariadne auf Naxos" (Oct. 24-Nov. 13) – Irène Theorin (Ariadne), Pär Lindskog and Ian Storey (Bacchus), Lyuba Petrova (Zerbinetta) and Kristine Jepson (the Composer); conducted by Heinz Fricke.
* Wagner’s "Götterdämmerung" in concert (Nov. 7 and 15) – Ian Storey (Siegfried), Irène Theorin (Brünnhilde), Alan Held (Gunther), Gordon Hawkins (Alberich), Bernadette Flaitz (Gutrune); conducted by Heinz Fricke.
* The Gershwins’ "Porgy and Bess" (March 20-April 3) – Lester Lynch and Eric Owens (Porgy), Morenike Fadayomi and Indira Mahajan (Bess), Terry Cook (Crown), Jermaine Smith and Daniel Beatty (Sportin’ Life), Alyson Cambridge (Clara); conducted by John Mauceri, directed by Francesca Zambello.
* Mozart’s "The Marriage of Figaro" (April 24-May 7) – Ildar Abdrazakov (Figaro), Veronica Cangemi (Susanna), Krassimira Stoyanova (Countess Almaviva), Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Trevor Scheunemann (Count Almaviva), Michèle Losier (Cherubino); conducted by Patrick Fournillier.
* "From My Latin Soul," concert by Plácido Domingo (May 1).
* Ambroise Thomas’ "Hamlet" (May 19-June 4) – Carlos Álvarez (Hamlet), Samuel Ramey (Claudius), Diana Damrau (Ophelia), Elizabeth Bishop (Gertrude), John Tessier (Laertes); conducted by Plácido Domingo, directed by Thaddeus Straussberger.
Details: (800) 876-7372; www.dc-opera.org
