Washington Concert Opera Debuts Co-Production With Wolf Trap Opera Frank Martin's LE VIN HERBE

Washington Concert Opera (WCO) is excited to announce its co-presentation of two very special performances of Frank Martin's Le vin herbé at The Barns at Wolf Trap on February 9th and 10th, 2019.

Washington Concert Opera's Artistic Director and Conductor, Antony Walker says, "Every opera we are presenting this season is a unique and special treat, and the co-presentation of Swiss composer Frank Martin's Le vin herbé is no excpetion. A rare 20th Century masterpiece featuring brilliant young singers, this production is a continuation of this unmissable season for all lovers of exciting, superbly sung, and rarely heard operatic gems!"

The co-presentation of Le vin herbé marks the first formal collaboration between Washington Concert Opera and Wolf Trap Opera (WTO). The Swiss composer Frank Martin's rare modern retelling of Tristan and Isolde in a chamber music setting will be presented as a special two-performance run at The Barns at Wolf Trap, led by Maestro Antony Walker. Tenor Ian Koziara and soprano Shannon Jennings sing the featured roles in performances on Saturday, February 9th at 7:30 pm and Sunday, February 10th, 2019 at 3 pm.

Kim Pensinger Witman, Wolf Trap's Vice President of Opera and Classical Programming remarks, "We are thrilled to join forces with our colleagues at Washington Concert Opera and to feature a cast of WTO alumni singers in this beautiful and rare chamber opera."

This production will be the second of Washington Concert Opera's official 2018/2019 season, with Charles Gounod's Sapho (starring Kate Lindsay, Addison Marlor, Amina Edris, Musa Ngqungwana, and Brian Vu) having wrapped in November to superb reviews.

WCO will finish up their season later in April when they return to the Lisner Auditorium on April 5th at 7 pm, with Gioachino Rossini's Zelmira. The last of Rossini's "Neapolitan Operas," Zelmira is largely considered to be among his greatest works. Embarking on a mission to save her father, King Polidoro, from a murderous usurper, the title character faces a series of aspersions directed against her and nearly loses her family and her life in the process. Lawrence Brownlee, one of the world's leading Bel Canto tenors, returns to WCO as Zelmira's husband, Ilo. Celebrated Spanish mezzo-soprano Silvia Tro Santafe will make her company debut in the title role, while distinguished mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux joins the cast in the role of Emma.

Tickets for performances at The Barns are available for purchase online (www.wolftrap.org) and by phone at 877 965-3872. Single ticket and subscriptions for WCO's performances at Lisner Auditorium are available for purchase online (www.concertopera.org) and by phone at 202 364-5826. Single tickets range from $15 for students to $110.