Irene Theorin to Replace Deborah Voigt in WNO's TRISTAN AND ISOLDE, Beg. 9/15

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced that Swedish soprano Iréne Theorin will sing the role of Isolde in its season-opening production of Richard Wagner's Tristan and Isolde. Ms. Theorin will sing the performances on September 15, 18, 21, and 24. She replaces Deborah Voigt, who has withdrawn from the production. British soprano Alwyn Mellor will sing the final performance on September 27.

"Returning to a role that I love but haven't sung in a number of seasons, and encountering its unique challenges, has caused me to reconsider keeping it in my repertoire," said Ms. Voigt. "I'm very disappointed that I feel compelled to withdraw from this production, but am very happy to continue my association with WNO both this season and into the future."

Ms. Voigt will continue her affiliation with the company as the first Artist-in-Residence with WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.

Iréne Theorin is well known to Washington audiences and Wagner aficionados; she made her WNO debut as Brünnhilde in Siegfried (2009) and Götterdämmerung in Concert (2009), the final two parts of Wagner's epic Ring cycle. She also sang the title role in Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos (2009). Other career highlights include Brünnhilde at the Metropolitan Opera and Isolde at the Bayreuth Festival for four seasons: 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012.

Alwyn Mellor makes her WNO debut with this production. Earlier this year she made debuts at Opéra National de Paris and at Seattle Opera singing the role of Brünnhilde in Wagner's Ring cycle.

For tickets and information, call (202) 467-4600; (800) 444-1324 TTY: (202) 416-8524 or visit www.kennedy-center.org.

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