Washington National Opera Announces New Wave of Artistic Initiatives

Washington National Opera (WNO) today announced several new initiatives as part of a long-range plan to build on its tradition of artistic excellence, including the Washington premiere of Richard Wagner's complete "American Ring" cycle and a multipart New American Works Project for young American composers and librettists.

Additionally, WNO announced it will add a holiday opera to its season schedule and expand its programming to include performances in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater next season. The Opera has also committed to create at least one new production each season.

"Washington National Opera is planning aggressively for our future seasons with a new confidence," said Michael L. Mael, WNO Executive Director. "These initiatives are part of an
even bolder artistic vision that builds on our successes while creating exciting performances for
our audience as well as new opportunities for American artists."

Key initiatives that are part of the new long-range plan include:

The "American Ring" in 2016

WNO will present three complete cycles of Richard Wagner's epic four-part masterpiece Der
Ring des Nibelungen in the spring of 2016. Hailed by the Washington Post as "one of the best
Ring cycles in more than a quarter of a century," these performances will be the first time the
Company has presented the Ring in complete cycles in its 56-year history.

"I am honored to finally bring my complete vision of the Ring back to its home at WNO," said
Francesca Zambello, the director of the cycle and WNO Artistic Advisor. "This 'American Ring'
started and evolved here in Washington, and I'm looking forward to having our D.C. audience
experience it in the intimacy of the Kennedy Center Opera House as a complete work as Wagner
intended."

WNO has previously presented the first three operas of the cycle individually: Das Rheingold in
2006, Die Walküre in 2007, and Siegfried in 2009. The fourth opera, Götterdämmerung, was
presented in a successful concert staging in 2009.

"I had such a great experience making my WNO debut at the Götterdämmerung concert," said
WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. "I look forward to conducting the wonderful WNO
orchestra for the complete cycles – these performances will surely be a memorable experience
for both the musicians and our audiences."

Complete casting and ticketing information will be announced at a later date.

New American Works Project

Next season, WNO will begin a comprehensive commissioning program to offer career
development to young American composers and librettists and aid the expansion of the
American Repertory. In the New American Works Project, teams of composers and librettists at
three key stages of their careers will receive critical coaching and guidance from leading guest
artists and WNO staff, as well as opportunities to workshop and perform their works at the
Kennedy Center. The program will continue WNO's efforts to stimulate, enrich, and ensure the
future of contemporary American opera.

"Many of our peer opera companies have programs for young singers and conductors, but there
are no major post-conservatory training programs for composers and librettists," said Christina
Scheppelmann, WNO Director of Artistic Operations. "I'm proud that as the National Opera, we
will bring contemporary American stories to the stage and foster and develop the talents of new
composers and librettists."

The New American Works Project will include these programs, beginning in the 2012-13 season:
Student Composers and Librettists – Working with the Kennedy Center Education Department, WNO will select three student teams of young American composers and librettists to create new 20-minute operas based on contemporary American stories. After extensive workshops and guidance from an established composer and librettist, these three operas will be presented in an annual concert performance in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater.

Emerging Composers and Librettists – The next stage of the New American Works Project will be to commission a new opera that is written by a more experienced American composer-librettist team on an original American topic with a one-hour running time. This commission will also be given a young director and design team, and open workshops will be held throughout its development cycle. A final performance will then be presented on a Kennedy Center stage. Through this facet of the Project, WNO will spur the development of contemporary American operas with affordable productions in an approachable environment.

American Masters – In later seasons, the third stage of the New American Works Project will be to select a leading young American composer and librettist and commission a full-length opera on a contemporary American theme. The American Masters composition will receive a fully staged production as part of WNO's subscription season.

Holiday programming a new annual tradition

As part of its mission to reach out to new audiences and families, WNO will begin an annual
tradition of holiday programming in the 2012-13 season. A young composer and librettist
engaged in the New American Works Project will also have the opportunity to add to the holiday
repertory by creating a new American opera with a holiday theme. Next season's holiday
production will be announced in the coming months.

WNO returns to the Terrace Theater

WNO now has the flexibility to produce opera beyond its traditional home in the Kennedy
Center Opera House, best matching the needs of each production to a unique performance space.
In the 2012-13 season, the holiday opera and the New American Works Project will reestablish
WNO's presence in the Terrace Theater, its first time performing there since 1987. In future
seasons, WNO will continue to use the Terrace Theater to produce a broader repertoire of opera
that can best utilize the Theater's smaller size and expressive acoustics.

WNO new productions

Returning to its roots as one of the most prolific producing companies in the United States, the
Opera will continue to present at least one new production in each of its forthcoming seasons.
The current season's new production and company premiere of Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco will
open on Saturday, April 28.

Zambello to direct each year

In addition to offering advice and expertise related to opera repertoire and casting, WNO Artistic
Advisor Francesca Zambello will also direct at least one production per season, beginning with
the 2012-13 season. Since her company debut with Of Mice and Men in 2001, Zambello has
directed 10 WNO productions, including the audience favorite Porgy and Bess.

Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser remarked, "With the 'American Ring' cycle, the
New American Works Project, new holiday programming, the expansion into other theaters at
the Kennedy Center, and a commitment to new productions, WNO is positioned for a bright
future. I look forward to working with Francesca Zambello, Christina Scheppelmann, Philippe
Auguin, and Michael Mael to continue WNO's rich artistic tradition."

Washington National Opera's 2012-13 season will be announced later this year.

FUNDING CREDITS:
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.
Generous support for WNO Italian opera is provided by Daniel and Gayle D'Aniello.
Additional support for Nabucco is provided by The Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the
Performing Arts.

For more information about Washington National Opera, visit www.kennedy-center.org/wno.

Visit facebook.com/WashingtonNationalOpera for behind-the-scenes news, special offers,
advance notice of events, and other related Kennedy Center Facebook pages.

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