Music & Concerts

Epic beginnings

Washington National Opera starts first full season under new leadership

Published

12 years ago

September 11, 2013

Ian Storey in ‘Tristan und Isolde’ coming to the Washington National Opera. (Photo courtesy of the Washington National Opera)

‘Tristan und Isolde’
Sept. 15-27
‘The Force of Destiny’
Oct. 12-26
$25-$300
Kennedy Center
2700 F St., N.W.
dc-opera.org

Washington National Opera fall season can best be described as fateful, in no small part due to the repertoire chosen by artistic director Francesca Zambello. Although she took over the helm of the company in January of this year, the 2013-2014 lineup marks the first full season she’s planned, so it’s fitting that both of this fall’s main stage operas hinge on inscrutable turns of fortune’s wheel.

Richard Wagner’s legendary love story “Tristan und Isolde” opens the gate, in a production borrowed from Opera Australia and directed by Neil Armfield, a gay theater and opera director who makes his WNO debut with this production. Swedish soprano Irene Theorin will star as Isolde. She replaces Deborah Voight, who withdrew from the production. British soprano Alwyn Mellor will sing the final performance on Sept. 27.

Joining Theorin are two Tristans, the primary being Ian Storey (last seen here in a 2008 “Flying Dutchman”) with one performance taken by Clifton Forbis in his company debut. Storey has a rich history with Tristan, including opening the 2007 opera season at La Scala with the role. His 20-plus year career has brought him all over the world — a far cry from his humble upbringing as the youngest in a long line of English coalminers — but his La Scala Tristan reportedly lacked some of the Wagnerian heft sought after by enthusiasts. Hopefully, the intervening years have helped him round out his interpretation.

This production marks the 200^th birthday anniversary of Wagner, whose operatic version of the Tristan myth was first performed in 1865. The story follows the star-crossed title lovers, but more than just a simple love-gone-awry cautionary tale, “Tristan und Isolde” highlights themes of personal transfiguration through love’s transcendent consummation.

Forces beyond the protagonists’ control rule the lives of WNO’s next offering, Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino” (here titled in English as “The Force of Destiny”). Zambello directs this new production of Verdi’s mammoth story about the cruel twists of fate that plague the Incan hero Alvaro and his Spanish love Leonora. WNO audiences haven’t seen “Forza” in decades and Zambello has assembled a strong cast of singers for this sweeping work.

Adina Aaron takes on the role of Leonora, sharing it for two performances with Amber Wagner. Opera fans will wait breathlessly for her famous final act aria “Pace, pace mio Dio,” where the heroine begs God for emotional peace despite the tumultuous love she still feels raging in her heart for a man she’s forsworn. It’s Verdi at his best, and Aaron’s career features a strong Verdian presence, most notably Aida, Amelia in “Ballo” and now “Forza’s” Leonora. Her large voice and stage command might just be an electrifying presence in a sometimes-wandering piece, although in many ways, the grounding force of the opera is the tenor.

Chilean singer Giancarlo Monsalve plays Alvaro, sharing the role only briefly with Rafael Davila (seen here last year as Pollione in the company’s hauntingly beautiful “Norma”). His ringing heroic tenor also seems like a dream for the tormented Alvaro, although his real challenge will be to scale the voice back when appropriate, adding human warmth to the drama instead of overdone Italianate bellowing, a temptation for any spinto style tenor.

Leonora’s brother Don Carlo is shared between Ángel Ódena and Luca Salsi, both bringing strong pedigrees to the role.

Part of the excitement around “Forza” is the conductor Xian Zhang. A diminutive Chinese woman who has quickly risen to great heights on the world conducting podium, Zhang’s reviews have hailed her ability to draw riveting performances from orchestras in complex works as diverse as Brahms and Chinese composer Chen Yi. While seeing a woman conducting opera isn’t a novelty, it’s rare enough to take note. In an interview with the Blade last spring, Zambello alluded to the fact that audiences could plan on seeing more women involved in top positions during upcoming WNO seasons.

Along with that promise is the premiere of Jeanine Tesori’s opera “The Lion, the Unicorn and Me,” a musical version of Jeanette Winterson’s charming children’s book of the same title. The story takes place shortly before the birth of Jesus, when a donkey is up for a very special job — carrying the Virgin Mary to Bethlehem. Tesori is best known for her Tony-nominated musical theater scores: “Twelfth Night,” “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Caroline, or Change.” WNO will run Tesori’s opera in December as its holiday offering.

At the start of her tenure, Zambello talked about wanting a more interactive opera experience, and with the plethora of post- and pre-performance talk-backs and lectures, the company appears hopeful of courting burgeoning opera fans, as well as the old standbys.

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Music & Concerts

Kylie brings ‘Tension’ tour to D.C.

Performance on Tuesday at Capital One Arena

Published

2 weeks ago

April 5, 2025

Tinashe Chingarande

Kylie Minogue visits D.C. on Tuesday.

Aussie pop icon Kylie Minogue brings her acclaimed “Tension” world tour to D.C. next Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Capital One Arena. Tickets are still available at Ticketmaster.

The show features songs spanning her long career, from 1987 debut single, “The Loco-Motion,” to “Padam, Padam” from her album, “Tension.”

Music & Concerts

Busy season for live music in D.C.

Erivo, Kylie, Sivan, and more headed our way this spring

Published

1 month ago

March 14, 2025

Joe Reberkenny

Cynthia Erivo plays WorldPride in D.C. on June 7. (Photo courtesy of World Pride)

One sure sign of spring’s arrival is the fresh wave of live music coming to Washington. With more than 10 venues and a diverse lineup of artists, the city offers no shortage of live performances for the new season.

In addition to this impressive list, don’t forget the many artists coming to town for WorldPride, May 17-June 8. In addition to headliner Cynthia Erivo performing on Saturday, June 7 at the two-day street festival and concert, many other performers will be in town. Jennifer Lopez, Troye Sivan, and RuPaul are among the featured performers at the WorldPride Music Festival at the RFK Festival Grounds, June 6-7. Visit WorldPrideDC.org for a list of other performers.

MARCH

Grammy and Emmy Award-winning Mary J. Blige will take the stage at Capital One Arena on March 26 for her For My Fans tour. Two days later, on March 28, J Balvin will also perform at Capital One Arena for his Back to the Rayo tour.

The Lincoln Theatre will host the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington for three performances—one on March 15 and two on March 16.

If dance parties are more your vibe, you’re in luck. DC9 is hosting a series of themed dance parties this month, starting with Poker Face: 2000s + Dance Party on March 14, the ever-popular Peach Pit ’90s dance party on March 15, H.O.T.S.: A Sapphic Dance Party on March 22, and RageRiot!—a burlesque and drag revue featuring a lineup of local drag kings, queens, and everything in between on March 29.

APRIL

Australian queen of pop Kylie Minogue will bring her Tension tour to Capital One Arena on April 8, with British dance artist Romy as her special guest.

Indie singer-songwriter mxmtoon will stop in D.C. for their Liminal Space tour on April 4 at the 9:30 club, followed by indie rock band Gossip on April 5. The 9:30 club will also host two dance parties in April: Gimme Gimme Disco – a dance party inspired by ABBA on April 11 and Broadway Rave on April 18.

The Atlantis will feature Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad on April 2.

Comedy duo Two Dykes and a Mic will bring their Going Hog Wild tour to the Howard Theatre on April 19.

DC9 has two dance parties lined up this month: Bimbo Night on April 4, hosted by Baltimore’s “premier red-tattooed Filipina diva” Beth Amphetamine, and Aqua Girls: A QTBIPOC Dance Party on April 5, celebrating “queer transcendence through music, movement, and community.”

The Anthem will welcome a lineup of big names in April, starting with Alessia Cara on April 8. Lucy Dacus will take the stage on April 18 and 19 for her Forever Is a Feeling tour, while funky pop artist Remi Wolf will headline on April 27, joined by special guests Dana and Alden.

MAY

Indie-pop artist Miya Folick will bring her Erotica Veronica tour to The Atlantis on May 1, followed by multi-genre musician SASAMI on May 2. Pop artist Snow Wife will close out the month at The Atlantis on May 31 as part of an official WorldPride 2025 event.

Queer rock band Lambrini Girls will perform at the Howard Theatre on May 4, while rock trio L.A. Witch will take the stage at DC9 on May 12.

Union Stage will feature Rachel Platten on May 3 for her Set Me Free tour, followed by Femme Fatale: A Queer Dance Party later that night.

The popular DJ festival Project Glow will return to RFK Stadium grounds on May 31 and June 1.

JUNE

Pride month kicks off with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Trixie Mattel, who will perform at Echostage on June 3 as part of a series of official WorldPride 2025 events.

Queer icons Grace Jones & Janelle Monáe will take over The Anthem on June 5 for a WorldPride 2025 event performance.

Perfume Genius will bring his signature sound to the 9:30 club on June 7 as part of WorldPride 2025 festivities. Later in the month, Blondshell will hit the 9:30 club for her If You Asked for a Tour on June 24.

Music & Concerts

Pride concert to take place at Strathmore after Kennedy Center rescinds invitation

International Pride Orchestra ‘heartbroken’ event ‘would no longer be welcome’ at DC venue

Published

2 months ago

February 27, 2025

Jaylon Curry-Hagler

The Kennedy Center (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The International Pride Orchestra has announced its Pride concert will take place at the Strathmore Music Center on June 5 after the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts disinvited the group.

Since President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center during his first month in office, LGBTQ events and performances have been banned with community allies withdrawing in solidarity.

The Kennedy Center has cancelled “A Peacock Among Pigeons: Celebrating 50 Years of Pride,” a May 21 concert that was to feature the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. The International Pride Orchestra on Monday said its concert will now take place at the Strathmore.

“We were heartbroken when we learned that our concert would no longer be welcome at the Kennedy Center,” said International Pride Orchestra Founding Artistic Director Michael Roest in a statement released by the orchestra’s media page. “The Kennedy Center has long been a symbol of artistic excellence, inclusivity, and freedom of expression. However, we are profoundly grateful to the Strathmore Music Center for opening their doors to us. Their willingness to host our Pride Celebration Concert ensures that our message of love, pride, and resilience will be heard on the doorstep of the nation’s capital.”

The Pride concert is among the events that have faced uncertainty since the Trump-Vance administration took office on Jan. 20. Many, however, are fighting back and looking for ways to push back against the bans and cancellations.

“We aim to create a powerful and positive representation of the queer community through music,” said Roest. “We want to show the world who we are, celebrate our queer identities, and amplify the work of organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.”

WorldPride is scheduled to take place in D.C. from May 17-June 8.