Contact: Angela Olson, 202.295.2468
Second Annual Simulcast on National Mall
Public Invited to Free Performance of
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m.
Washington National Opera—the nation’s opera company—will present a special bigscreen simulcast performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly on the National Mall on Sunday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. WNO will transmit the performance of Butterfly live from the Kennedy Center stage to a huge 18' x 32' LED video screen located near the U.S. Capitol. The simulcast is expected to draw one of the nation’s largest known opera audiences and is part of WNO’s continuing commitment to broadcast one opera on the Mall each year, following the company’s groundbreaking simulcast of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in November 2005, which attracted over 13,000 in attendance.
“This is our continued demonstration of the company’s ongoing commit ment to bring opera to all audiences, exemplified by our recent, soldout Welcome to Opera Concert and our Generation O program, offering discounted tickets and special events for 18—35 year olds,” said John Pohanka, Chairman of the Board for Washington National Opera.
Thousands of people are expected to gather for the spectacular performance of Puccini’s legendary opera, highlighted by such melodies as “Un bel dì,” the “Flower Duet,” and the “Humming Chorus,” and featuring an outstanding cast led by internationally renowned singers Tatiana Borodina and Arturo ChacónCruz. The free performance is a gift from the Trustees and other underwriters of Washington National Opera to the citizens of Washington, D.C. No tickets are necessary.
Last year’s wildly successful simulcast of Porgy and Bess drew a crowd of 13,000 people of all ages to the Mall and met with resounding praise from the Washington community. The 2005 simulcast of Porgy and Bess marked the first time a live performance had ever been transmitted to the Mall. Combined with the live audience in the Kennedy Center Opera House, the over 15,000 total viewers made up the largest single audience in WNO’s 50 year history.
“Washington National Opera is thrilled to continue to find new ways of bringing opera to anyone. With our overwhelming success of last season’s simulcast, we are confident our Butterfly simulcast will draw another large and enthusiastic audience,” said Plácido Domingo, General Director of Washington National Opera.
Polish director Mariusz Trelinski’s production of Madama Butterfly was mounted by Washington National Opera in 2001 to popular and critical acclaim. Tim Smith of The Baltimore Sun and Opera News called the 2001 production “gripping theater....Removed from its usual sentimental, picture-postcard environs, this Madama Butterfly soars in new ways that likely will have audiences thinking and debating for a long time to come.” Written by Giacomo Puccini, Madama Butterfly premiered at Teatro alla Scala, Milan in 1904 and is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Italian opera and one of the most beloved operas of all time.
For more information on the screening of Madama Butterfly on the Mall please call 202.295.2400 or visit www.dcopera.org. Regular performances at the Kennedy Center Opera House will take place November 4 (7:00 p.m.), 7 (7:30 p.m.), 9 (7:30 p.m.), 11 (7:00 p.m.), 12 (2:00 p.m.), 13 (7:00 p.m.), 15 (7:30 p.m.), 16 (7:30 p.m.), and 19 (2:00 p.m.). All programs, artists, and dates are subject to change.
American Airlines is the Official Airline of Washington National Opera.
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You may recall my blog post last year when I went to the outdoor Porgy and Bess simulcast and had a great time. I may actually pack a picnic basket for this year's performance! Trevor Ian, my spitz/beagle, unfortunately, is previously engaged in Oklahoma and will not be able to appear.
Copyright 2004 World Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Photo credits: KELLY KERR
This is me the last time I sang a Butterfly
