Washington National Opera Presents Strauss' Salome In Her WNO Debut 10/7-23

Washington National Opera (WNO), under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, presents Richard Strauss' Salome in seven performances, October 7 to 23 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Featuring the WNO debut of American soprano Deborah Voigt in the title role, this new production by Francesca Zambello combines the psychological intensity of the Biblical story with the lushness of Strauss' score, including the feverish "Dance of the Seven Veils." Philippe Auguin leads the WNO Orchestra. Salome is performed in German with English supertitles. See below for production information, performance dates and ticketing information. Artist biographies may be found here<http://www.dc-opera.org/performances/1011/salome.asp?display=Bios> or are available upon request.

Hailed as "one of the greatest Strauss interpreters of all time" (Wall Street Journal), Deborah Voigt is considered the definitive Salome of her generation. Having performed the role at many of the world's major opera houses, Voigt makes her WNO debut in an interpretation that Opera News calls "standard-setting." Joining her as Herod is British tenor Richard Berkeley-Steele, also in his company debut, and Australian bass-baritone Daniel Sumegi as Jokanaan. Rounding out the cast, both in their company debuts, are German mezzo-soprano Dorris Soffel as Herodias and American tenor Sean Panikkar as Narraboth.

A passionate thriller based upon both the Biblical story and the nineteenth-century play by Oscar Wilde, Strauss' Salome is a thrill ride to the dark side of the human soul - and an acute psychological portrait of obsession in all its guises. The opera tells the story of Salome, the beautiful stepdaughter of the infamous King Herod. After she is spurned by the ascetic prophet Jokanaan, Salome's love turns to rage and hatred, and she demands the head of Jokanaan as payment for dancing for the lecherous Herod. Famous for its scandalous "Dance of the Seven Veils" scene, Strauss' score is both beautiful and accessible.

Commenting on her new production, longtime WNO collaborator Francesca Zambello said, "Salome deals with unresolved passion: that of Narraboth for Salome, Salome for Jokanaan, Herod for Salome, Herodias for Herod. Only Salome's passion is resolved, and that happens only through violence. Salome's perverse family resonates even more openly now than when Oscar Wilde wrote the play. Today's audience relates to the sense of corruption and obsession, of passion gone awry."

COMPLETE PRODUCTION INFORMATION: Washington National Opera's Salome

SALOME by Richard Strauss
Libretto by the composer
New production, in German with English supertitles

The running time for this production is approximately 1 hour and 40
minutes, with no intermission and no late seating.

October 7, 7:30 p.m.
October 10, 2:00 p.m.
October 12, 7:30 p.m.
October 15, 7:30 p.m.
October 18, 7:00 p.m.
October 20, 7:30 p.m.
October 23, 7:00 p.m.

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<http://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<http://www.dc-opera.org>.
· All performances of Washington National Opera's Salome 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.

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