Washington National Opera Announces Casting Update for BRUNNHILDE

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced that American soprano Christine Goerke will sing the role of Brünnhilde in the Monday, May 2 performance of The Valkyrie, the second opera in Wagner's epic Ring cycle, which WNO is presenting for the first time. She is stepping in for British soprano Catherine Foster, who injured her leg during the dress rehearsal of The Valkyrie on Saturday, April 23. Ms. Foster has been advised by her medical team to allow her leg to heal for a few more days before returning to the stage. At this time, she is expected to make her American stage debut in the performance of Siegfried, the cycle's third opera, on Wednesday, May 4.

"While we are all very sorry to have to delay the introduction of Catherine Foster-the reigning Bayreuth Brünnhilde-to our Ring audience, we are grateful that an artist of the caliber of Christine Goerke has graciously agreed to step in at the last minute," said WNO Artistic Director and Ring director Francesca Zambello.

Ms. Goerke is well known to Washington audiences and Wagner aficionados; she was last seen at WNO in the title role of Florencia in the Amazon (2014). She has just completed a celebrated run as Brünnhilde in Siegfried for Houston Grand Opera, a role she sang for the first time earlier this season at Canadian Opera Company. She sang the role of Brünnhilde in The Valkyrie for both companies in their 2014-2015 seasons, and returns for Brünnhilde in Twilight of the Gods in their 2016-2017 seasons. Other future plans include the full Ring cycle at Lyric Opera of Chicago and at the Metropolitan Opera.