Washington National Opera Presents Fidelio

Washington National Opera presents

Fidelio

A timely new production directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Robert Spano opens the 2024-2025 season

Kennedy Center Opera House
October 25-November 4, 2024

(WASHINGTON)-The Washington National Opera (WNO) presents a new production of Beethoven's Fidelio, a testament to the composer's lifelong belief in justice and freedom for all. This production, directed by WNO Artistic Director Francesca Zambello and conducted by Music Director Designate Robert Spano, opens WNO's 69th season, building on the momentum of the previous season which was artistically acclaimed and enthusiastically embraced by the audience.

Fidelio, a story about a woman disguised as a man in order to save her husband from unjust incarceration, demonstrates Beethoven's commitment to Enlightenment ideals. "Beethoven's only opera is set against the backdrop of a society oppressed by a corrupt government," said Zambello. "Beethoven is a composer very aware of the politics of his time. Fidelio is not only about one woman's fight to release her husband from unjust incarceration, but also a rallying cry for all the unfairly prosecuted and clandestinely executed." Her new production, which is set in the 1950s, portrays an oppressive society where all must fight for what they believe in. The creative team includes set designer Erhard Rom, costume designer Anita Yavich (Yellow Face), and lighting designer Jane Cox, who won the 2024 Tony Award^® for her lighting design on Appropriate.

Internationally acclaimed conductor Robert Spano makes his debut as WNO Music Director Designate with Fidelio. "Beethoven famously struggled writing Fidelio," said Spano. "In this opera, he wrestled with the social and political, as well as the spiritual. After all of Beethoven's toil, revising the opera four times and renaming it once, its message continues to resonate with us today. Just listen to the 'Prisoners' Chorus' and you will hear the emancipation of the human spirit."

The international cast, with several prominent WNO debuts, is led by Irish soprano Sinéad Campbell Wallace as Leonore/Fidelio and New Orleans-born tenor Jamez McCorkle as Florestan. Campbell Wallace, who "stole the show" (Bachtrack) as Salome in a recent Irish National Opera production of Salome and has sung Fidelio with Jonas Kaufmann, makes her American debut. McCorkle, who rose to prominence by playing the title role in the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar, is also making his WNO debut. Australian bass-baritone Derek Welton, a sought-after Wagner singer, makes his WNO debut as Pizzaro. Young American baritone David Leigh sings Rocco.

In a bold artistic choice, Don Fernando, a baritone role, will be sung by mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves (with the character renamed as Prime Minister). With this unconventional casting, "I want to expand the gender representation in traditional opera," said Zambello. "In consulting with Bob and Denyce, we all feel that this is a role that can be sung by a female voice. For Denyce to play this role will further strengthen the idea of the opera that women maintain the moral integrity. It also reflects on the progress women have made in politics in the more than 200 years since Beethoven wrote this opera."

"Let's Go There:" Fidelio

Nkechi Taifa, founder and convener emeritus of the Justice Roundtable and president of The Taifa Group, will curate a series of panel discussions and talks addressing social justice themes from Fidelio. Discussions will include representation from Formerly Incarcerated Persons (FIPs), advocates, scholars, as well as the Fidelio cast and creatives. Check Kennedy Center website for updates.

WNO launches a new collaboration with the DC Department of Corrections to present opera performances and educational programming for residents of the DOC's Center Detention and Correctional Treatment Facilities.

Fidelio
Music by Ludwig van Beethoven
Libretto by Joseph von Sonnleithner

October 25-November 4, 2024 in the Opera House

In German with projected English titles

Friday, October 25, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 7 p.m.
Monday, November 4, 2024 at 7 p.m.

Cast/Creatives

Leonore	Sinéad Campbell Wallace*
Florestan	Jamez McCorkle*
Pizarro	Derek Welton*
Marzelline	Tiffany Choe^
Jaquino	Sahel Salam^
Rocco	David Leigh*
Prime Minister	Denyce Graves
Conductor Director	Robert Spano Francesca Zambello
Scenic designer Costume designer	Erhard Rom Anita Yavich
Lighting designer	Jane Cox
Projection designer	S. Katy Tucker
Co-projection designer	Kylee Loera

* WNO mainstage debut
^ Member of the Cafritz Young Artist program

ABOUT WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA

Washington National Opera (WNO) is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. Under the leadership of General Director Timothy O'Leary and Artistic Director Francesca Zambello, the company presents compelling works at the highest levels of artistry across the Kennedy Center, balancing the standard repertory with new and infrequently performed works. Each season the WNO seeks to shape the future of opera through commissioned American works and a variety of special concerts, youth operas, and events.

Founded in 1956 and an artistic affiliate of the Kennedy Center since 2011, WNO has a storied legacy of groundbreaking world premieres and new productions, digitally streamed content, and innovative education and community-engagement programs. In recent years, WNO has championed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging onstage by championing artists and creators who identify as BIPOC, women, and non-binary.

Recent artistic highlights include a new production of Puccini's unfinished opera Turandot with a world premiere ending by Christopher Tin and Susan Soon He Stanton; the world premiere of Grounded by Jeanine Tesori and George Brandt; a new production of Strauss' Elektra starring Christine Goerke; the D.C. premiere of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson's Blue, commissioned by Zambello; Blanchard's Champion, commissioned by O'Leary; and the WNO's first complete Ring Cycle, helmed by Zambello.

WNO is committed to expanding opera's reach and fostering new generations of artists and audiences. The Cafritz Young Artists program is one of the most sought-after training residencies for singers and pianists on the verge of international careers. WNO's other initiatives include the American Opera Initiative, the annual Marian Anderson Vocal Award, the Artist Ambassador program, and the True Voice Award.

WNO education programs include in-person and digital Opera Look-In performances, WNO Opera Institute, Opera in the Outfield^®, free pre-concert lectures and post-show Q&As after many shows, and the Let's Go There discussion series.

Funding Credits

Major support for Fidelio provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars

Fidelio Production Sponsors: Betsy and Ed Cohen

Support for Denyce Graves generously provided by Andrew Martin-Weber

The WNO Season Sponsor is General Dynamics

The Official Airline of the WNO Season is American Airlines

Major support provided by Jacqueline Badger Mars and Mrs. Eugene B. Casey

Additional support provided by Chevron

Additional support provided by Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

Ticket Information

Tickets may be purchased online at kennedy-center.org, in-person at the Kennedy Center Box Office, or by calling (202) 467-4600.

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Media Contacts
David Hsieh
Senior Press Representative, Classical
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
(202) 416 8093
[email protected]

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