Washington National Opera presents The Flying Dutchman by

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 19, 2015
Washington National Opera
presents
A revival of Wagner’s passionate drama
The Flying Dutchman
In advance of its 2016 Ring cycles, WNO continues its exploration of
Wagner’s operas with this early milestone, featuring acclaimed bass-baritone
Eric Owens in his staged role debut as the heroic Dutchman
March 7–21, 2015
in the Kennedy Center Opera House
(WASHINGTON)—Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2014-2015 season with a
revival of Richard Wagner’s mythical tale of love and redemption on the high seas—The Flying
Dutchman, March 7-21 in the Kennedy Center Opera House. This production is the conclusion
of WNO’s recent look at Wagner’s work in anticipation of the company’s first complete
presentation of the composer’s epic four-part Ring cycle next season. Starring American bassbaritone Eric Owens in his staged role debut as The Dutchman, Wagner’s powerful early opera is
directed by Stephen Lawless and features the WNO Orchestra conducted by WNO Music
Director Philippe Auguin and Eric Weimer.
Condemned to wander the seas upon a ship of ghosts, The Dutchman can only venture
ashore once every seven years to seek his salvation: a woman’s unconditional love. When Senta,
the beguiling daughter of the sea captain Daland, pledges to be faithful to him forever, it seems
the ancient curse might finally be broken. But Erik, her jealous huntsman suitor, poses just one
of many obstacles in a tale where greed, fidelity, and misfortune collide in full force. Director
Stephen Lawless tells the Dutchman’s story with theatrical flair, including a stunning ship of
blood-red sails that places the opera’s dramatic action in bold relief. The opera is famous for its
tempestuous overture, Senta’s passionate ballad, and its riveting final scene set atop a stormbattered bluff.
~ more ~
The stellar cast includes formidable bass-baritone and two-time Grammy Award®–winner
Eric Owens, one of the most in-demand American opera stars of our day, who returns to WNO to
make his staged role debut as The Dutchman. While in Washington for this production, Owens
shows another side of his vocal prowess when he performs a program of jazz standards in the
Terrace Theater—see page 4 of this press release for more details.
A trio of bright stars make their WNO debuts in The Flying Dutchman. German soprano
Christiane Libor, an acclaimed Wagnerian in Europe, sings the role of Senta. Estonian bass Ain
Anger, a mainstay at the Vienna State Opera who has also sung at the Bayreuth Festival, is
Daland. American tenor Jay Hunter Morris, who recently starred in Wagner’s Ring cycle at both
the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera, sings the role of Erik. Michael Brandenburg,
who is in his first season of WNO’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, is The Steersman.
[Jennifer Root sings the role of Senta on March 11 in her WNO debut. Alan Held, who
stars as Wotan in WNO’s 2106 Ring cycles, sings the role of The Dutchman on March 11. And
Peter Volpe sings the role of Daland on March 19 and 21.]
WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin leads the WNO Orchestra in interpreting
Wagner’s powerful score. For the performances on March 19 and 21, conductor Eric Weimer
makes his WNO debut. The creative team includes set designer Giles Cadle, costume designer
Ingeborg Bernerth, lighting designer Joan Sullivan-Genthe, and choreographer Matthew Ferraro.
The Flying Dutchman opens on Saturday, March 7, 2015 at 7 p.m. and runs for seven
performances; other dates are March 9, 11, 13, 15m, 19, and 21. Visit WNO’s website for
complete production details and casting information.
Washington National Opera’s 2014-2015 season also includes the company premiere of
Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, February 21 to March 7 in the Opera House, and
an acclaimed new-to-Washington staging of Rossini’s Cinderella, May 9-21 in the Opera House.
The Saturday, May 16 performance will be broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera
House to the high-definition NatsHD scoreboard at Nationals Park as part of M&M’S® Opera in
the Outfield. More information can be found in the 2014-2015 season press release. WNO’s
2015-2016 season, which will include three complete cycles of Wagner’s Ring, will be
announced in the coming weeks.
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The Flying Dutchman Production Information
Music by Richard Wagner
Libretto by the composer
WNO Revival
Sung in German with projected English titles
March 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m, 19, and 21, 2015
Cast and Creative Team
Daland
Ain Anger*
(March 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m)
Peter Volpe
(March 19, 21)
Conductor
Philippe Auguin
(March 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m)
Eric Weimer*
(March 19, 21)
The Steersman
Michael Brandenburg ‡
Director
Stephen Lawless
The Dutchman
Eric Owens
Set Designer
(March 7, 9, 13, 15m, 19, 21)
Alan Held
Costume Designer
(March 11)
Lighting Designer
Sheila Nadler
Choreographer
Christiane Libor*
(March 7, 9, 13, 15m, 19, 21) Hair and Makeup
Mary
Senta
Giles Cadle
Ingeborg Bernerth
Joan Sullivan-Genthe
Matthew Ferraro
Anne Ford-Coates
for Elsen Associates
Jennifer Root*
(March 11)
Erik
Jay Hunter Morris*
*
Washington National Opera Debut
‡ Current member of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program
The Flying Dutchman Performance and Ticket Information
Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. • Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. • Wednesday, March 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 19 at 7:30 p.m. • Saturday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
Tickets start at $25 and are available online, in person at the Kennedy Center Box Office, and by
calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324. Subscription packages for the 2014-2015 season are
also available and can be purchased online or by calling at (202) 416-8500.
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The Flying Dutchman Related Programs and Events
An Evening of Jazz Standards with Eric Owens featuring the Music of Eckstine and Hartman
Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m.—Terrace Theater
A week before he stars in WNO’s Opera House revival of The Flying Dutchman, Eric Owens
takes the Terrace Theater stage for an evening of jazz standards made famous by two legendary
singers: Billy Eckstine and Johnny Hartman. Performing with Mr. Owens is the Ted Rosenthal
Trio, featuring music director Ted Rosenthal on the piano, Quincy Davis on drums, and Noriko
Ueda on bass. Tickets are $59.
Stars of Tomorrow: The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists in Concert; Eric Owens, conductor
Friday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m.—Opera House
WNO’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists perform scenes and arias from favorite operas. Taking a
break from his role in WNO’s The Flying Dutchman, Eric Owens offers his vocal mentorship to
WNO’s rising stars and showcases his conducting skills. Tickets are $15.
Opera Insights before every performance
WNO presents a free pre-performance education event prior to every performance in the Opera
House. These Opera Insights are led by WNO artistic staff members or other experts and will
take patrons inside the composer’s mind, behind the scenes of planning a production, and into
the history and social context of the opera. These events will begin one hour prior to curtain and
last approximately 20-25 minutes. (The O-Zone lecture with musicologist Saul Lilienstein on
Thursday, March 19 begins 75 minutes prior to curtain and last approximately 45 minutes.) A
complete list of participants will be posted to WNO’s website.
Artist Q&As: The Flying Dutchman
Monday, March 9 and Sunday, March 15—post-performance, Opera House
Join WNO artistic staff for a wide-ranging discussion with the artists of the production. These
events are free to patrons presenting a ticket from any performance of The Flying Dutchman.
ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA
Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, the company presents a diverse
season of grand opera—including both classics from the repertory and more contemporary
pieces—plus an annual holiday family opera, several newly commissioned American works, and
a variety of special concerts and events. The WNO Orchestra is led by Music Director Philippe
Auguin. Founded in 1956 and an affiliate of the Kennedy Center since 2011, WNO has a storied
legacy of world premieres, new productions, international tours, live recordings and radio
broadcasts, and innovative education and community-engagement programs. Throughout its
history WNO has been led by titans in the opera field, including the legendary Plácido Domingo,
who headed the company from 1996 to 2011.
WNO contributes to the future of opera through two signature artist-development
programs. The Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, now in its 13th season, has become one
of the nation’s most competitive and comprehensive professional training programs for young
singers and collaborative pianists. Alumni of the program have won major competitions and
gone on to successful careers at major operas houses in the U.S. and abroad. The WNO Opera
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Institute nurtures the ambitions of high-school-age singers from across the nation during an
intensive three-week summer program held at American University in Washington.
Among the company’s most successful recent programs is the 2012 launch of the
American Opera Initiative, a comprehensive commissioning program that works to expand the
American operatic repertory, to give WNO’s young artists the chance to collaborate with living
composers and librettists on new works, and to make American opera more relevant to 21st
century audiences. The most popular of WNO’s community-engagement programs is M&M’S®
Opera in the Outfield, during which an opera is broadcast live from the Kennedy Center Opera
House stage to the high-definition scoreboard at Nationals Park. Last season’s simulcast drew
more than 10,000 spectators to the ballpark. The company’s other education programs include
the Kids Create Opera program at local elementary schools, Look-In performances for students
in grades 4-8, and the Student Dress Rehearsal Program for middle and high school students. The
company also offers free Opera Insights programs before every performance in the Opera House.
To celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary, Washington National Opera will present
three complete cycles of Wagner’s Ring in spring 2016. These performances, featuring an
acclaimed production by Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Music Director
Philippe Auguin, will be the first time the company has presented The Ring in complete cycles in
its history.
For more information, please visit the Washington National Opera website.
Discover Washington National Opera on social media:
#DutchmanDC
FUNDING CREDITS
Major support for WNO is provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars.
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of WNO.
General Dynamics is the proud sponsor of WNO’s 2014-2015 Season.
WNO acknowledges the longstanding generosity of Life Chairman Mrs. Eugene B. Casey.
Additional support for The Flying Dutchman is provided by the
Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts.
Generous support for The Flying Dutchman is provided by Ken and Dorothy Woodcock.
PRESS CONTACT
Michael Solomon
(202) 416-8453
masolomon@kennedy-center.org
TICKETS & INFORMATION
(202) 467-4600; (800) 444-1324
www.kennedy-center.org/wno
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