The Washington National Opera has announced its 2014-15 season.
The season will begin on Sept. 10 with a concert by Stephen Costello and Ailyn Perez. The real-life married couple will team up after successful performances of Donizetti's "L'Elisir D'amore" with the company.
On Sept. 20 Christine Goerke will take on the title role in Daniel Catan's "Florencia in the Amazon." The work was inspired by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and will be performed in Spanish. The work tells the story of an enchanted riverboat journey and the production will be by Francesca Zambello, who directed the world premiere. The opera will be conducted by Carolyn Kuan in her WNO debut.
On Nov. 1 Puccini's classic "La Bohème" will return to the company for the first time in seven seasons in a brand-new production. The production will be directed by acclaimed British director Jo Davies. It will feature sets by Lee Savage and costumes by Jennifer Moeller. Philippe Auguin and Timothy Myers will conduct the performances. Casting has yet to be announced.
For the holiday season the company will perform "The Little Prince." The opera, by Oscar-winning composer Rachel Portman, will be performed in a production by Zambello. The cast will include singers from the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and will also feature the children's choir.
During the winter season the company will present "Penny" as part of the American Opera initiative. The hour-long work by Douglas Pew will be conducted by Anne Manson in a production by Alan Paul.
In the spring season three European classics will take the stage. The company will first open Poulenc's mid-20th century masterpiece "Dialogues of the Carmelites" on Feb. 21. The cast will include the WNO debuts of two rising sopranos, Layla Claire and Leah Crocetto, as well as the return of American mezzo-sopranos Dolora Zajick (in her role debut as Madame de Croissy) and Washington favorite Elizabeth Bishop ("Tristan and Isolde," 2013). This WNO production, originally seen at Opéra National de Paris, will be directed by Zambello and will be led by conductor Patrick Summers. Summers returned for the first time since 1997. The work will be performed in an English-language translation approved by the composer.
On March. 7 Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman," will be revived in a production directed by Stephen Lawless. American bass-baritone Eric Owens will take on the title role in in his first staged performances of the role. The cast will also also feature American tenor Jay Hunter Morris, German soprano Christiane Libor, and Estonian bass Ain Anger in their WNO debuts. Alan Held and Peter Volpe will also sing select performances. The opera will be conducted by WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin. The performances precede the WNO's Ring cycle, which will open in the 2015-16 season.
The season will conclude in May with Rossini's "La Cenerentola." The opera will star Isabel Leonard, in her WNO. Meanwhile, Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught will also make her WNO debut singing select performances. The opera will be led by Italian conductor Speranza Scappucci in her company debut and will be directed by the theater group Els Comediants. The production will be designed by designer by Joan Guillén and staged by Joan Font in their WNO debuts.