The latest news on performances of Opera in Washington, DC.
Video: First Look at Ramin Karimloo & Isabel Leonard in Washington National Opera's SONGBIRD
by Joshua Wright - March 11, 2024
Check out the new video of Ramin Karimloo's operatic debut in Washington National Opera's Songbird opposite Isabel Leonard, one of America’s leading mezzo-sopranos....
Photos: First Look at Ramin Karimloo & Isabel Leonard in Washington National Opera's SONGBIRD
by Joshua Wright - March 08, 2024
BroadwayWorld has a first look at Ramin Karimloo's operatic debut in Washington National Opera's Songbird opposite Isabel Leonard, one of America’s leading mezzo-sopranos. Songbird is a new adaptation of Jacques Offenbach’s operetta La Périchole. ...
Robert Spano To Become Music Director Of Washington National Opera
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 06, 2024
Robert Spano will become Music Director of Washington National Opera. Learn more about Robert Spano and the Washington National Opera....
Review: Audra McDonald in Concert with The National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center Concert Hall
by Mary Lincer - January 31, 2024
Audra McDonald has (at least) four voices--Broadway, jazz, opera, blues--not to mention six Tonys. She brought them all (the voices, not the awards) to her two hour concert with the National Symphony Pops which repeats Wednesday evening, January 31. ...
Ramin Karimloo Will Make Operatic Debut in Washington National Opera's SONGBIRD
by Stephi Wild - January 30, 2024
Ramin Karimloo will make his operatic debut in Washington National Opera's Songbird this March. Songbird is a new adaptation of Jacques Offenbach’s operetta La Périchole....
Review: AMERICAN OPERA INITIATIVE: Three 20-Minute Operas at Kennedy Center
by Roger Catlin - January 23, 2024
What did our critic think of AMERICAN OPERA INITIATIVE: THREE 20-MINUTE OPERAS at Kennedy Center?...
Anthony Kearns to Headline Celebration of Songwriter Brendan Graham at The National Concert Hall in Dublin
by Blair Ingenthron - January 20, 2024
Joined by the National Symphony Orchestra, world-renowned tenor Anthony Kearns will sing the tenor role in 'You Raise Me Up - The Songs and Stories of Brendan Graham' at the National Concert Hall in Dublin....
VIDEO: Washington National Opera Presents The 11th Season Of American Opera Initiative Featuring Three World Premieres
by Joshua Wright - January 16, 2024
Washington National Opera will present the 11th season of American Opera Initiative (AOI), an acclaimed initiative to commission and present new American operas, on January 19, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. T...
Review: THE LION, THE UNICORN, AND ME at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - December 11, 2023
Ten years ago, Washington National Opera (WNO) premiered a family opera about the events leading up to the birth of Jesus in a manger. This past weekend, The Lion, The Unicorn, and Me returned to Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater for four performances only. I reviewed the premiere, and it was as go...
Interview: Theatre Life with Jeanine Tesori
by Elliot Lanes - December 03, 2023
Today’s subject Jeanine Tesori is a two-time Tony Award winning composer whose work spans the gamut from large scale and chamber musicals for Broadway to grand opera and beyond. Her holiday children’s opera The Lion, The Unicorn and Me premiered ten years ago at Kennedy Center as a commission fo...
Review: SIR BRYN TERFEL at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - November 21, 2023
Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a reviewer happy and have an excellent musical experience. Welsh Bass-Baritone superstar Sir Bryn Terfel with only two instrumentalists proved that in spades. Add to that the bonus of what seemed like NO, that’s right, ZERO amplification this past Sunday in ...
Washington National Opera to Present The 11th Season Of American Opera Initiative Featuring Three World Premieres
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 20, 2023
Washington National Opera will present the 11th season of American Opera Initiative featuring three world premieres of 20-minute chamber operas....
Interview: Theatre Life with Sir Bryn Terfel
by Elliot Lanes - November 13, 2023
Today’s subject Sir Bryn Terfel is a Grammy, Classical Brit, and Gramophone Award–winning recording artist with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner, and Strauss, and more than 15 solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs, and sacred repertory. He is, righ...
Review: ROMEO AND JULIET at Kennedy Center
by David Friscic - November 07, 2023
The oft-told tale of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet which has been beloved throughout the ages and been interpreted and showcased in so many films, stage productions and even a ballet ---has been mounted by the Washington National Opera in an odd sort of manner. In composer Charles Gounod�...
Washington National Opera to Present THE LION, THE UNICORN, AND ME in December
by Chloe Rabinowitz - November 03, 2023
Washington National Opera will present 'The Lion, the Unicorn, and Me,' a family opera retelling the Nativity story. Don't miss this enchanting production at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater from December 8-10....
Review: GROUNDED at Kennedy Center
by David Friscic - October 30, 2023
The beautiful blue skies that Jess, an F-16 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, soars through from the mighty heights above soon become mottled with dismal greys ---as she plummets into mental despair and confusion after being Grounded. In the paradigm-changing opera which is a World Premiere by th...
Review Roundup: Jeanine Tesori's GROUNDED at the Washington National Opera
by Alan Henry - October 30, 2023
Washington National Opera opened its 2023–2024 season with the world premiere of Grounded. Composed by two-time Tony Award® winner Jeanine Tesori with a libretto adapted by George Brant from his eponymous play, and directed by Tony Award® winner Michael Mayer, Grounded is commissioned by the Met...
Washington National Opera Presents Gounod's ROMEO & JULIET, November 4–18
by A.A. Cristi - September 29, 2023
Washington National Opera presents Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet, directed by Simon Godwin and starring Adam Smith and Rosa Feola. ...
Washington National Opera to Present GROUNDED World Premiere by Jeanine Tesori and George Brant
by Chloe Rabinowitz - August 30, 2023
Experience the world premiere of GROUNDED, an exciting new production by Jeanine Tesori and George Brant, at the Washington National Opera. Find out the dates, venue, and ticket information for this eagerly anticipated event. Don't miss your chance to witness this groundbreaking performance....
Review: LA BOHÈME at Kennedy Center
by David Friscic - May 17, 2023
The glorious music of Puccini remains the principal reason to see the Washington National Opera’s (WNO)current production of the beloved classic opera La bohème. This oft-referenced opera that has influenced everything from the famous film Moonstruck to the hit Broadway musical Rent, must be a fa...
Washington National Opera Reveals Two New Appointments
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 08, 2023
Washington National Opera has announced two new appointments that will oversee the newly defined Artistic and Production departments....
Washington National Names 2023-2024 Cafritz Young Artists
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 21, 2023
Washington National Opera has announced the appointment of the 2023–2024 Cafritz Young Artists....
Review: BLUE at Eisenhower Theater
by Mary Lincer - March 12, 2023
What did our critic think of BLUE at Eisenhower Theater?...
Ramin Karimloo, Tesori & Brant World Premiere & More Set for Washington National Opera 2023–2024 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 09, 2023
Washington National Opera has announced its 2023-24 season featuring the world premiere of Tesori's Grounded and more....
Washington Concert Opera Presents Verdi's Masterpiece NABUCCO
by A.A. Cristi - January 12, 2023
On Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium, Washington Concert Opera (WCO) will present one of Verdi's first works, Nabucco, an opera that catapulted his career and is considered a masterpiece as well as the first patriotic opera of its time....
Opera Lafayette to Present PERGOLESI! as Part of 2022/23 Season Dedicated to The Era of Madame de Pompadour
by Chloe Rabinowitz - January 06, 2023
On Thursday, February 2, 2023 at 7:30pm, Opera Lafayette will present Pergolesi!, part of their 2022/23 season dedicated to The Era of Madame de Pompadour....
Washington National Opera Presents Tenth Season Of American Opera Initiative, January 21
by A.A. Cristi - November 09, 2022
Washington National Opera (WNO) presents the tenth season of its acclaimed American Opera Initiative (AOI) with world premieres of three new operas on January 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. ...
Christopher Cano Joins Washington National Opera As The Director Of The Cafritz Young Artists And American Opera Initiative
by A.A. Cristi - August 17, 2022
Christopher Cano will join Washington National Opera (WNO) as the Director of the Cafritz Young Artists (CYA) and American Opera Initiative (AOI) in September ahead of the WNO's 2022–2023 season. Cano will work closely with General Director Timothy O'Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello ...
BWW Review: CARMEN at The Kennedy Center
by Rachael F. Goldberg - May 24, 2022
While this production of 'Carmen' is very traditional on its face, the thoughtfulness and sheer talent packed into this performance elevates it to something far more engaging, and absolutely enchanting. It’s more than worthy of audiences’ time, and hopefully WNO’s fresh interpretation will hel...
Wolf Trap Opera Announces World Premiere Of Edward W. Hardy's BORN FREE
by A.A. Cristi - May 20, 2022
Wolf Trap Opera has announced the world premiere of BORN FREE, composed by Edward W. Hardy with lyrics by American poet and writer Margaret Walker. BORN FREE, a song cycle based on four poems by Margaret Walker (Sorrow Home, Lineage, The Struggle Staggers Us and Southern Song) for soprano, violin, a...
Vienna Volksoper Presents European Premiere of Tod Machover's 2018 Opera SCHOENBERG IN HOLLYWOOD
by A.A. Cristi - April 06, 2022
Tod Machover's visionary opera Schoenberg in Hollywood, will have its European Premiere at the Vienna Volksoper on April 9, with performances through April 24. (The premiere was originally scheduled for April 2020, but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.) ...
Washington Concert Opera Presents GLUCK'S ORPHEE
by A.A. Cristi - April 05, 2022
Washington Concert Opera and Maestro Antony Walker will continue their 35th season with Christoph Willibald Gluck's Orphée on Sunday, April 24 at 6 p.m. at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC....
Washington National Opera Announces 2022–2023 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - April 05, 2022
As General Director Timothy 2 O’Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello announced today, the company’s 2022– 2023 season balances groundbreaking new work with audience favorites....
WNO Releases World-Premiere Recording & Documentary Highlighting BLUE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - March 25, 2022
Washington National Opera today released a recording and short documentary-film highlighting Blue, the critically-acclaimed opera—named the “Best New Opera of 2020” (The Music Critics Association of North America)—by Tony Award–winning composer Jeanine Tesori and NAACP Theatre Award...
Vocal Arts DC Presents Jamie Barton With Jake Heggie
by A.A. Cristi - March 24, 2022
On Wednesday, April 6 at 7:30pm, Vocal Arts DC presents mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton with composer—pianist Jake Heggie in concert at the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. This program will include selections by Henry Purcell, Franz Schubert, Johannes Brahms, and Florence Price. ...
BWW Review: WRITTEN IN STONE at Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater
by Mary Lincer - March 07, 2022
The Washington National Opera has gathered a company of first rate singers for a portmanteau of four, one-act operas called Written in Stone. Unfortunately, their fine skills and exceptional voices cannot make silk purses out of scores, libretti, and orchestrations that evade aesthetics, emphasize n...
Washington National Opera to Present D.C. Premiere of Francesca Zambello's Production of CARMEN
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 15, 2022
With artistic direction by WNO’s own Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and led by Principal Conductor Evan Rogister, this production explores the iconic story through the lens of cultural conversations around gender, sexuality, and power....
VIDEO: Works & Process at the Guggenheim On Washington National Opera's WRITTEN IN STONE
by Alan Henry - February 11, 2022
Inspired by iconic monuments in Washington, D.C., and the ideals embodied by President Kennedy, 'Written in Stone' is a series of intimate short works interwoven into a single evening celebrating the Kennedy Center’s fiftieth anniversary. ...
Washington National Opera Presents COSÌ FAN TUTTE In A Creative New Staging And Featuring An All-Star Cast
by A.A. Cristi - February 08, 2022
In a new production, Washington National Opera will present Così fan tutte, March 12–26, 2022 in the Eisenhower Theater, marking the first fully staged production since March 2020. ...
Works & Process to Present Washington National Opera: WRITTEN IN STONE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - February 03, 2022
Works & Process, the performing arts series at the Guggenheim, will present Washington National Opera: Written in Stone on February 6, 2022 at 7:30 pm....