Washington National Opera Announces Spring 2010 Events Calendar

Washington National Opera has released its calendar of Spring 2010 events.

YOUNG ARTISTS IN CONCERT: Boleros and More-February 12 at 7:00 p.m.
Mexican Cultural Institute| 2829 16th St. NW | Washington, DC
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists present Boleros and More, featuring Boleros by composers MariaGrever, Consuelo Velázquez, Armando Manzanero, Agustín Lara and others. February 12 at 7:00 p.m. at the Mexican Cultural Institute. This event is free but space is limited; reserve a space by emailing cdiaz@instuteormexicodc.org. For more information, visit www.instituteofmexicodc.org.

SPECIAL EVENT: A Midwinter Fête: An Evening in Paris-February 20 at 6:30 p.m.
La Maison Française| 4101 Reservoir Road | Washington, DC
WNO's Midwinter Fête is an enchanting evening of French culture, cuisine and entertainment. Guests will be transported to the streets of Paris to enjoy opera performances and French chansons, savor cocktails and an array of foods from some of the city's finest restaurants, peruse the indoor market of silent and live auction items, and bask in avant-garde French lounge music. Proceeds from the Midwinter Fête support WNO's award-winning education and outreach programs. February 20 at 6:30 p.m. at La Maison Française. Tickets begin at $250 for individuals; sponsorship packages start at $500.

For more information or to reserve tickets, visit www.dc-opera.org or contact specialevents@dc-
opera.org.

DISCUSSION: All-American Music: Porgy and Bess-February 25 at 7:00 p.m.
National Museum of American History | Carmichael Auditorium
14th St. & Constitution Ave., NW | Washington, DC
This discussion of the upcoming WNO production of Porgy and Bess takes the historical long view of Gershwin's groundbreaking work. Participants include conductor John Mauceri, assistant director
Rita D' Angelo Tikador, and Dwight Bowers, curator of music at the National Museum of American
History. Members of the cast will perform highlights from the opera. February 25 at 7:00 p.m. in
the Carmichael Auditorium of the National Museum of American History. This event is free and
open to the public.

YOUNG ARTISTS IN CONCERT: American Scenes-March 7 at 3:00 p.m.
Renwick Gallery Grand Salon| 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW | Washington, DC
The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists will perform semi-staged selections from American opera,
including works by composers such as Argento, Weill, Barber, Susa, Bolcom and Menotti. March 7 at 3:00 p.m. in the Renwick Gallery Grand Salon. This event is free and open to the public.

DISCUSSION: Porgy and Bess Roundtable-March 14 at 2:00 p.m.
National Museum of Women in the Arts | 1250 New York Ave. NW | Washington, DC
WNO and the National Museum of Women in the Arts present a roundtable discussion with Director
Francesca Zambello, moderated by WNO Director of Artistic Operations Christina Scheppelmann. The program features performances by cast members Lester Lynch (Porgy) and Indira Mahajan (Bess). March 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the National Museum of Women and the Arts. Tickets are $15 and include free admission to museum exhibits. Tickets may be purchased at www.dc-opera.org or by calling WNO Audience Services at 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, and are also available at the museum beginning at 12:30 on the day of the event.

MAINSTAGE: Porgy and Bess-March 20 through April 3
WNO's critically acclaimed production, which received rave reviews in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago, is back! George Gershwin melded classical music, popular song, jazz, blues, and spirituals into iconic American songs like "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O'Nuttin'" and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." This quintessential American masterpiece follows the story of a crippled beggar and the headstrong woman he loves. In English with English supertitles. Twelve performances, March 20 to April 3 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets range from $25-$300. See page 6 for dates and additional information.

DISCUSSION: Porgy and Bess Artist Q & A-March 21 at approximately 5:15 p.m.
Following Sunday matinee performances, join WNO's Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic
Operations, and select cast members for an opportunity to discuss Porgy and Bess. March 21
following the performance in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons
presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Porgy and Bess.

EDUCATION: Porgy and Bess on Millennium Stage-March 21 at 6:00 p.m.
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage | 2700 F St. NW | Washington, DC
The Duke Ellington School for the Arts Opera Workshop and WNO present scenes from The Marriage of Figaro (DESA students), Porgy and Bess (WNO), and a brief preview of the student-written opera When God Made Lonely. WNO's Education program has provided coaching and mentorship to students from DESA, and their work is showcased in this one-hour program. March 21 at 6:00 p.m. at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. This event is free and open to the public.

DISCUSSION: Porgy and Bess O-Zone Lecture-March 25 at 6:15 p.m.
These educational and entertaining free pre-performance lectures in the Kennedy Center Opera
House are the perfect beginning to an evening of opera, providing additional perspective into the
composer's mind and the inspiration behind Porgy and Bess. For the novice, these lectures are a
great opportunity to learn more about what you will see during the opera performance; and for the expert, they offer new insight into the work and the composer's creative process. March 25 at 6:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Porgy and Bess.

YOUNG ARTISTS IN CONCERT: Hearts, Cards & Carnivals with the BSO-March 25 through 28
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall | 1212 Cathedral St. | Baltimore, Md.
WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists take center stage in concert performances with the Baltimore
Symphony Orchestra. The program features Barber and Menotti's 10-minute opera A Hand of Bridge
and the full score of Stravinsky's delightful neo-classical ballet Pulcinella. March 25 to 28 at the
Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Tickets range from $26 to $60 and are available through the BSO ticket
office at 877.BSO.1444 or online at www.bsomusic.org.

DISCUSSION: Porgy and Bess Artist Q & A-March 28 at approximately 5:15 p.m.
Following Sunday matinee performances, join WNO's Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic
Operations, and select cast members for an opportunity to discuss Porgy and Bess. March 28 following the performance in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Porgy and Bess.

YOUNG ARTISTS IN CONCERT: Steinway Series-Sunday, April 11 at 2:00 p.m.
McEvoy Auditorium | 1661 Pennsylvania Ave. NW |Washington, DC
WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program presents alumnus Carlos Cesar Rodriguez, pianist, and current Young Artists in a program featuring two composers strongly influenced by vocal music: Chopin,whose melodies distill the essence of Italian bel canto singing, and Schumann, a great song composer whose lyricism carries over into his piano works. April 11 at 2:00 p.m. at the McEvoy Auditorium of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. This event is free and open to the public.

YOUNG ARTISTS IN CONCERT: Bolero(+) with Washington Ballet-April 14 through 18
Sidney Harman Hall | 620 F St. NW | Washington D.C.
What happens when an iconic musical score meets one of ballet's most in-demand choreographers?
Find out in this high-energy program that celebrates the marriage of music and dance. Nicole Fonte's Bolero, with its musicality in movement, is joined by the world premiere of a new piece by Karol Armitage. Known as the ballet world's "Punk Ballerina," Armitage's piece will be accompanied by Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist mezzo-soprano Cynthia Hanna and pianist Joy Schreier. April 14 to 18 at Sidney Harman Hall. Tickets range from $20 to $85 and are available through the Sidney Harman Center ticket office at 202.547.1122 or online at www.harmancenter.org.

MAINSTAGE OPERA: The Marriage of Figaro-April 24 through May 7
A continuation of the Figaro story and one of the most beloved works in the operatic repertoire, The Marriage of Figaro is a nearly flawless blend of music and theatricality. Count Almaviva's palace is filled with a tangled web of love affairs: the pageboy Cherubino courts the Countess while the Count pursues the maidservant Susanna who is betrothed to the wily Figaro. In Italian with English supertitles. Nine performances, April 24 to May 7 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $300. See page 9 for dates and additional information.

DISCUSSION: O-Zone Lecture-The Marriage of Figaro-April 29 at 6:15 p.m.
These educational and entertaining free pre-performance lectures in the Kennedy Center Opera
House are the perfect beginning to an evening of opera, providing additional perspective into the
composer's mind and the inspiration behind your favorite operas. For the novice, these lectures are a great opportunity to learn more about what you will see during the opera performance; and for the expert they offer new insight into the work and the composer's creative process. April 29 at 6:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of The Marriage of Figaro.

DISCUSSION: Artist Q & A: The Marriage of Figaro-May 2 at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Following Sunday matinee performances, join WNO's Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic
Operations, and select cast members for an opportunity to discuss The Marriage of Figaro. May 2 at approximately 5:30 p.m., following the performance in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of The Marriage

MAINSTAGE OPERA/YOUNG ARTIST PERFORMANCE: The Marriage of Figaro-May 6 at 7:30 p.m.
WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists present a fully staged performance of The Marriage of Figaro, exclusively for members of WNO's Generation O program. Generation O is a free-to-join program for students and young professionals ages 18 to 35. Members receive offers for deeply discounted tickets, as well as access to special events and networking opportunities. May 6 at 7:30 pm at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets start at $15, and are available only to new members of the Generation O program. To sign up for Generation O or for more information, contact WNO Audience Services, 202.295.2400 or visit www.dc-opera.org/generationo.

SPECIAL EVENT: A Late Night Affair-May 6 at 10:30 p.m.
Circle Bistro| 1 Washington Circle NW | Washington, DC
Immediately following the Young Artist performance of The Marriage of Figaro, join Generation O for their first-ever benefit event: a cast pasty honoring the Young Artists and benefiting WNO. Generation O is a free-to-join program for students and young professionals ages 18 to 35. May 6 at 10:30 p.m. at Circle Bistro. Tickets are $100 and include premium seating at the performance; VIP packages are $250 per person. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.dc-opera.org/generationo.

MAINSTAGE OPERA: Hamlet-May 19 through June 4
Ambroise Thomas' virtuosic adaptation of Shakespeare's classic drama follows Hamlet in his pursuit to avenge his father's murder. Known for Ophelia's hauntingly beautiful mad scene, "Et maintenant ecoutez ma chanson," this dazzling production stars renowned German soprano Diana Damrau, Spanish baritone Carlos Álvarez, and American bass Samuel Ramey. In French with English supertitles. Seven performances, May 19 to June 4 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $300. See page 11 for dates and additional information.

SPECIAL EVENT: The Opera Ball-May 21 at 7:00 p.m.
The Embassy of the Federation of Russia | Washington, DC
WNO's annual Opera Ball, among Washington's premier social events, will be hosted by philanthropist
Susan E. Lehrman. The highly anticipated event begins with intimate dinners hosted by embassies
through the city, followed by dessert and dancing at the Russian Embassy. Tickets start at $1,000;
sponsorship packages start at $5,000. For more information about Opera Ball, contact WNO's
Special Events office at 202.295.2437 or dtaylor@dc-opera.org.

DISCUSSION: O-Zone Lecture: Hamlet-May 27 at 6:15 p.m.
These educational and entertaining free pre-performance lectures are the perfect beginning to an
evening of opera, providing additional perspective into the composer's mind and the inspiration
behind Hamlet. May 27 at 6:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all
patrons present a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Hamlet.

DISCUSSION: Artist Q & A: Hamlet-May 30 at approximately 4:45 p.m.
Following Sunday matinee performances, join WNO's Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic
Operations, and select cast members for an opportunity to discuss Hamlet. May 30 at approximately 4:45 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Hamlet.

PATRON AND TICKETING INFORMATION

• Tickets are on sale now and range from $25 to $300 for mainstage opera productions. Specially
priced tickets may be available for some performances. For more information or to purchase tickets,
contact WNO Audience Services at 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, or visit www.dc-opera.org.
• WNO is committed to serving persons with disabilities. Wheelchair accessible seating is available in
all price categories for all operas. Please contact Audience Services at 202.295.2400, email
adacoordinator@dc-opera.org, or visit www.dc-opera.org for more information.
• Unless otherwise specified, all WNO performances take place at the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts Opera House, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC.
• Information is specified in good faith but is subject to change without notice.

For tickets and more information, visit http://www.dc-opera.org/