Washington National Opera Presents Donizetti’s Don Pasquale 5/13-27

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, presents Donizetti's Don Pasquale in eight performances, May 13 to 27, 2011, at the Kennedy Center Opera House. The classic opera buffa (comic opera) features the company and role debut of American bass-baritone James Morris as the curmudgeonly Don Pasquale. Leon Major directs his production, and Maestro Domingo and Israel Gursky share the podium in this uproarious conclusion to WNO's 55th season. Don Pasquale is performed in Italian with English supertitles. See below for production information, performance dates and ticketing information. Artist biographies may be found here or are available upon request.

Don Pasquale is opera buffa at its best, with side-splitting scenes of mistaken identity, disguise and a sham marriage. When the elderly Don Pasquale sets out to find a bride, he threatens to disinherit his nephew, Ernesto, unless he marries a wealthy woman of Don Pasquale's choosing. In love with the beautiful but poor Norina, Ernesto and his friend Dr. Malatesta hatch a plan to teach Don Pasquale a lesson about love and family. Disguised as a convent girl, the "virtuous" Sofronia, Norina "marries" Don Pasquale, quickly burning through his fortune and generally driving the old man to misery. When the ruse is revealed, Don Pasquale-relieved to be rid of his shrew of a wife-has no choice but to bless the marriage between Ernesto and Norina. Full of humor and poignancy, Donizetti's final opera features a charming score, bright melodies and coloratura fireworks.

Legendary for his Wagnerian roles, as well as his portrayals of numerous Mozart protagonists, James Morris makes both a company and role debut as the eponymous Don Pasquale. Mr. Morris has been hailed "indestructible" (The New York Times) and "simply astonishing" (Opera Now).

Also featured in the production is American baritone DWayne Croft as Dr. Malatesta; a regular throughout the world's leading opera houses, Croft is also offering a free master class on April 28 in conjunction with his WNO performances (details below).

The cast also includes a number of rising talents, including Russian sopranos Ekaterina Siurina (May 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 27) and Julia Novikova (May 22m, 26) singing Norina in their WNO debuts. Spanish tenor Antonio Gandia (May 13, 16, 18, 21, 27) and Russian tenor Alexey Kudrya (company debut; May 22m, 24, 26) sing Ernesto. Novikova, Gandia and Kudrya are all recent winners of Plácido Domingo's Operalia, the international singing competition that identifies the most promising young singers of a generation.

Set in a seventeenth-century, Molière-style theater, the New York City Opera production includes elements of Italy's famous commedia dell'arte, adding fresh layers of humor to the original libretto. Called "a triumph" by Newsday, the production is directed by veteran stage and opera director Leon Major. The production team also includes sets and costumes by Allen Moyer and lighting by Mark McCullough. Leading the WNO Orchestra and Chorus are Plácido Domingo (May 13, 18, 21, 22m, 26), in his final production as WNO General Director, joined by Israel Gursky (May 16, 24, 27) for select performances.

WNO's production of Don Pasquale is featured as part of La Dolce DC, Destination DC's five-month, city-wide celebration of all things Italian. As part of the festival, all Don Pasquale ticket purchasers will be entered into the "Roman Holiday Sweepstakes" for a chance to win a five-night trip to Rome. The sweepstakes is co-sponsored by WNO and the Phillips Collection. Prize details and complete sweepstakes rules are available here.

COMPLETE PRODUCTION INFORMATION: Washington National Opera's Don Pasquale
DON PASQUALE by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Giovanni Ruffini

Scenery and costumes originally created for
Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera

In Italian with English supertitles

The running time for this production is approximately 2 hours and 33 minutes, with two 20-minute intermissions.

Friday, May 13, 7:00 p.m.
Monday, May 16, 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 22, 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, May 24, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. p.m.
Friday, May 27, 7:30 p.m. p.m.
Short Description: WNO's season concludes with Donizetti's comic jewel Don Pasquale starring renowned bass-baritone James Morris in his WNO debut. Ernesto stands to inherit a fortune from his uncle, Don Pasquale, but only if he forsakes Norina, the woman he loves. Dr. Malatesta has a wild plan to help, and in true opera buffa fashion, hilarity ensues, complete with a sham marriage, a slap in the face, and disguise. Yikes! Full of humor and poignancy, the tuneful score features bright melodies and coloratura fireworks. Plácido Domingo takes the podium for Leon Major's charming production. May 13-27 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $300 and are available through WNO Audience Services, 202.295.2400 or www.dc-opera.org.

TICKETS AND PATRON INFORMATION
· Tickets range from $25 to $300 and are available through WNO Audience Services, 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, or online at www.dc-opera.org.
· WNO is committed to serving patrons with disabilities. Wheelchair accessible seating is available in all price categories for all operas. Contact Audience Services at 202.295.2400, email adacoordinator@dc-opera.org, or visit www.dc-opera.org for more information.
· For information about specially-priced tickets, available through Generation O (for patrons 18 to 35) and other programs, visit www.dc-opera.org.
· All performances of Washington National Opera's Don Pasquale are held in the Kennedy Center Opera House, located at 2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.
· Casting, program, schedules and pricing are subject to change without notice.

Cast:
Don Pasquale

Norina

Ernesto

Dr. Malatesta

Notary

James Morris*

Ekaterina Siurina* (May 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 27)

Julia Novikova*† (May 22m, 26)

Antonio Gandia† (May 13, 16, 18, 21, 27)

Alexey Kudrya*† (May 22m, 24, 26)

DWayne Croft (May 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 26, 27)

Jeffrey Tarr

Production Team:
Conductor Plácido Domingo (May 13, 18, 21, 22m, 26)
Israel Gursky (May 16, 24, 27)

Director Leon Major

Set/Costume
Design Allen Moyer

Lighting Mark McCullough

* Company Debut † Operalia ‡ Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist

Don Pasquale-Related Programs and Events

Master Class with DWayne Croft-Thursday, April 28 at 3:00 p.m.-George Mason University Fairfax Campus, Harris Theater

Acclaimed American baritone DWayne Croft (Dr. Malatesta in WNO's production of Don Pasquale) will conduct a master class in cooperation with the Vocal Studies Division of the George Mason University School of Music. A brief reception will follow. FREE tickets may be reserved in advance at music.gmu.edu or by calling the School of Music main office at 703.993.1380.

O-Zone Lecture: Don Pasquale-Thursday, May 26, 2011, 6:15 p.m.-Kennedy Center Opera House

These free and educational pre-performance lectures by musicologist Saul Lilienstein provide insight into the inspiration behind your favorite operas. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Don Pasquale.

Artist Q&As-Monday, May 16 and Sunday, May 22, 2011, post-performance-Kennedy Center Opera House

Following select performances, join WNO's Christina Scheppelmann, Director of Artistic Operations, and select cast members for an opportunity to discuss Don Pasquale. This event is free to all patrons presenting a ticket or ticket stub from any WNO performance of Don Pasquale.