WNO Makes Its DVD Debut With 1998 Production Of LA RONDINE

Washington National Opera makes its DVD debut with its acclaimed 1998production of Puccini's La Rondine (The Swallow), released and distributed internationally by Decca. Directedby Marta Domingo with direction for television by Brian Large, the production captures Puccini's bittersweetlove story with grand sets and costumes, and an internationally renowned cast led by Spanish soprano Ainhoa Arteta and American tenor Marcus Haddock.

The DVD is the only recording to capture Puccini's alternate,tragic ending for La Rondine, as re-imagined by Mrs. Domingo. This ground-breaking version of La Rondineincludes re-orchestrations of an aria and three duets, two of them never before performed in previousproductions.NOTE: To receive a complimentary reviewers' copy of La Rondine or arrange interviews with artists, contactWNO's Media Relations office.

The DVD is also available for purchase on Amazon.com. Photo sheet, full castlist, Mrs. Domingo's essays and a synopsis are attached.Originally written as an operetta, La Rondine is the verismo tale of Magda, a Parisian courtesan torn betweenher comfortable life as the demimondaine of Rambaldo and the promise of true love with Ruggero.

Best known for Magda's aria "Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" (Doretta's Dream), the score includes Puccini's signaturemelodies.In conceiving the production, Marta Domingo sought to create a dramatically compelling production that wastrue to Puccini's intent. Chronically unsatisfied with his work, Puccini wrote three distinct iterations of La Rondine, which debuted in 1917, 1920 and 1921. Further complicating matters, a significant portion of Puccini's third version of the opera is believed to have been lost during the bombings of World War II.

Mrs. Domingo spent months pouring over Puccini's archives, and discovered significant new evidence about Puccini's plans to develop each character, including notes that Puccini had considered ending the opera with Magda committing suicide, "flying away like a swallow to the sea." Working from source materials as well aspieces from all three versions of La Rondine, Mrs. Domingo developed the tragic elements of the story.

Italian composer Lorenzo Ferrero was commissioned to re-orchestrate the Puccini's third ending based on thecomposer's notes and piano scores. Mrs. Domingo also inserted into the first act the tenor aria "Parigi!," which she discovered Puccini had written for La Rondine, but for unknown reasons never included in the finalproductions.

Also included in each act is a short duet between Magda and Rambaldo, based on Puccini'soriginal texts and melodies."Puccini was plagued by missed opportunities and interruptions when he wrote La Rondine, and this shows indramatically weak moments," stated Mrs. Domingo, referring to the fact that the work's development wassignificantly hampered by disputes with his collaborators and the political instability in Europe around the timeof World War I. Mrs. Domingo continues: "But at its core, La Rondine is a stunning work; a real diamond in therough. When I undertook the project nearly 15 years ago, my great hope was to infuse into the public myenthusiasm and love for La Rondine."

About Marta Domingo, DirectorMarta Domingo has directed several productions for Washington National Opera, including La Traviata(1997, 2004 and 2008), La Rondine (1998), Rigoletto (1999), the American premiere of Sly (1999), and Les Contes d'Hoffmann (2001).After a successful career singing the leading soprano roles in such operasas Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan tutte, L'Elisir d'Amore, Faust, Don Giovanni, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Eugene Onegin, La Bohème, Turandot, and Die Fledermaus, she retired from the stage in order to raise the Plácido Domingo family.

Once their sons, Plácido Jr. and Alvaro, had grown up she turned her attentionto stagecraft, which has always fascinated her. Domingo's directorial debut took place in 1991 withSamson et Dalila for CulturArte at the Teatro de la Opera in Puerto Rico.

Since then her career highlightsinclude Tosca for the opening of Seville's La Maestranza Theater; Il Barbiere di Siviglia in Puerto Rico; LaRondine for Bonn Opera, Washington National Opera, Warsaw Opera, and Los Angeles Opera, anacclaimed production that also been seen internationally on television; Rigoletto in both Los Angelesand Washington; and La Traviata in Liege, Washington, St. Etienne, the Far East, and Los Angeles, whereit was filmed and released on DVD. Her production of Wolf-Ferrari's Sly at Washington National Operagave the work its American stage premiere and also served as her directing debut at the Metropolitan Opera. She also directed it in Tokyo during the Washington National Opera's tour of Japan and at RomeOpera. Domingo created her production of Les Contes d'Hoffmann for the Kirov Opera in St. Petersburg and it has been seen subsequently at Washington National Opera and in Los Angeles.

The DVD of Washington National Opera's production of La Rondine is released and distributed by Decca andavailable through several online outlets, including Amazon.com