WNO Celebrates Nat'l Opera Week With Free Concert

Washington National Opera (WNO) is proud to join nearly 100 other opera organizations nationwide in celebration of National Opera Week (October 29 - November 7), organized by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts. To mark the occasion, WNO will offer a free concert of popular opera arias on Sunday, October 31, 6:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage.

The free concert is designed to introduce audiences to operatic favorites, and features members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, WNO's professional training program for singers on the verge of international careers. Repertoire will include popular opera arias such as "Largo al factotum" from The Barber of Seville, "Nessun dorma" from Turandot, "Votre toast, je peux vous le render" (the Toreador aria) from Carmen, and "Ballad of the Pirate King" from The Pirates of Penzance.

Additionally, as part of National Opera Week, the Young Artists will join American University music majors in an interactive singers' master class on Wednesday, November 3, 12:30 p.m. at American University's Katzen Art Center. The master class will take audiences behind-the-scenes to explore the process of preparing a piece for the opera stage.

About National Opera Week
National Opera Week celebrates the vitality of opera in America today and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a broader national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and training programs across the United States will be shared through a variety of free and accessible activities for opera lovers and newcomers to the art form.

"National Opera Week is an opportunity to highlight the astounding diversity and creativity of opera activity across the United States today," stated Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. "There is something for everyone during National Opera Week, providing both the seasoned attendee and newcomer a chance to learn about, experience and enjoy the art form in an informal setting."

Coinciding with the presentation of the NEA Opera Honors in Washington, D.C., National Opera Week honors the careers of the outstanding artists chosen each year for this award. The recipients of the 2010 NEA Opera Honors are Soprano Martina Arroyo, General Director David DiChiera, Composer Philip Glass and Music Director Eve Queler. The 2010 NEA Opera Honors took place on Friday, October 22 at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. (www.neaoperahonors.org) in a free awards ceremony and concert presented by the NEA in cooperation with Washington National Opera and OPERA America. Approximately 2,000 people attended the free event.

For more information about National Opera Week events around the country, please visit www.operaamerica.org/now. Follow the National Opera Week conversation on Twitter with #operaweek.

Washington National Opera National Opera Week Event Details:

Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists in Concert
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
2700 F St. NW, Washington, D.C.
Sunday, October 31, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists will perform a program of some of the most beloved operas and operettas. This event is free and open to the public, and recommended for people of all ages, including children. No registration or advanced registration is necessary.

Singers' Master Class at American University
American University Katzen Art Center
4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010 at 12:30 p.m.

Join WNO singers and American University music majors for an interactive master class at the Katzen Arts Center. This event is free and open to the public; no registration or advanced registration is necessary.

 

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