Washington National Opera Presents Verdi's THE FORCE OF DESTINY, 10/12

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with a new production honoring the 200th birthday of Giuseppe Verdi, one of opera's most legendary composers: The Force of Destiny, October 12-26 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Verdi's epic romantic and political drama, which hasn't been seen in Washington in nearly 25 years, will be presented in a daring and visually striking new production directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello. Conductor Xian Zhang, in her WNO debut, leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting some of Verdi's most beautiful melodies.

This production of The Force of Destiny zooms in on one troubled family in the midst of an unhinged, lawless society. A displaced marquis, desperate to hold on to his family's wealth and power, has attempted to prevent the union of his daughter, Leonora, with a foreigner, Alvaro, by removing her from their war-torn urban landscape to an exclusive hotel outside the city. But Alvaro will not be kept from his beloved, and when a midnight encounter leads to the marquis' accidental death, the last ties binding the family are shredded. Leonora's brother Don Carlo vows revenge and returns to the city, where perversion and violence abound, to hunt Alvaro. Meanwhile, Leonora seeks anonymous refuge in a monastery. But the power of fate proves too strong: the three are inexorably drawn together, leading to a tragic end.

The Force of Destiny marks Francesca Zambello's first new opera production for WNO since becoming its Artistic Director in January 2013. Helping to bring Zambello's bold vision of a futuristic metropolis to life are set designer Peter J. Davison, costume designer Catherine Zuber, and lighting designer Mark McCullough.

Leading the WNO Orchestra in her WNO debut is Xian Zhang, a Chinese-American conductor who is in her fifth season as Music Director of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi. She has also served as the Associate Conductor of the New York Philharmonic.

Two young American sopranos make their WNO debuts in the role of Donna Leonora of Vargas. Adina Aaron burst onto the international opera scene in Franco Zeffirelli's filmed version of Aida in 2001, and stepped in at the last minute for a celebrated run in the title role of last summer's production of the same opera at The Glimmerglass Festival, also directed by Zambello. Amber Wagner is a winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, a triumph that was documented in the popular film The Audition. Her recent appearances include the lead role of Amelia in the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Un ballo in maschera and the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Chilean tenor Giancarlo Monsalve, in his WNO debut, and Puerto Rican tenor Rafael Davila, who was seen last season as Pollione in WNO's new production of Norma, share the role of the defiant Don Alvaro. American baritone Mark Delavan and Italian baritone Luca Salsi return to WNO to share the role of Leonora's vengeful brother Don Carlo of Vargas.

The Force of Destiny also features the WNO debut of Italian bass Enrico Iori as Father Guardiano; Georgian mezzo-soprano Ketevan Kemoklidze as Preziosilla; Colombian bass- baritone Valeriano Lanchas, a graduate of WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, as Brother Melitone; American bass Peter Volpe as the Marquis of Calatrava; and American tenor Robert Baker as Trabuco.

Several current members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program take on roles in the opera: bass Soloman Howard sings the role of the Alcade of Hornachuelos, mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel makes her WNO debut as Curra, and baritone Christian Bowers makes his WNO debut as the Army Surgeon.

The Force of Destiny opens on Saturday, October 12, 2013 at 7 p.m. and runs for seven performances; other dates are October 16, 18, 20m, 22, 24, and 26. Visit WNO's website for complete production details, casting information, and artist biographies.

WNO's 2013-2014 season also includes Wagner's Tristan and Isolde, the East Coast premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer's Moby-Dick, a revival of Donizetti's comedy The Elixir of Love, and a new English-language production of Mozart's classic The Magic Flute. WNO will also present the world premiere of The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me, a holiday-themed family opera commissioned by WNO and written by acclaimed American composer Jeanine Tesori and poet J.D. McClatchy. A second season of the American Opera Initiative will continue WNO's efforts to commission new American works with performances in November and June. A performance of The Magic Flute will be simulcast to Nationals Park in May as part of M&M'S Opera in the Outfield.