1982 was a difficult summer, for in the wake of the big Filene Center fire, nothing could be taken for granted. Yet the Company had one of its most ambitious seasons to date, with performance in all three venues – ranging from an adventurous sampling of chamber operas in the new Barns at Wolf Trap
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WTOC 1982: King Roger
Karol Szymanowski’s only full-length opera, King Roger, was performed in a concert version at the temporary Meadow Center in August 1982. it was only the second time this opera had been performed in the U.S., and it was scheduled in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Szymanowski’s birth. (I stumbled onto this dissertation recently –
Read MoreWTOC 1982: Regina
Elizabeth Taylor was quite active at Wolf Trap in these early years*, and she must’ve been thrilled to see the Wolf Trap debut of Blitzstein’s Regina – an opera based on the play in which Miss Taylor had so much success, Lillian Hellman’s The Little Foxes. (*Elizabeth Taylor is still an director emeritus of the
Read MoreWTOC 1982: Cosi fan tutte, Lo speziale, L’histore du soldat, & Dr. Miracle!
The Opera Company moved into its new home at The Barns in the summer of 1982, with productions of Cosi fan tutte and a double bill of Haydn’s Lo speziale (seen at left) and Stravinsky’s L’histoire du soldat. They also mounted Bizet’s Dr. Miracle at the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods (photo below) and performed in a production
Read MoreApril 4, 1982
Most people who were in the Washington, D.C. area in the spring of 1982 remember it. In the early morning of April 4, 1982, Wolf Trap’s Filene Center burned to the ground. (It was actually the second time that fire had threatened Wolf Trap, as the original structure had suffered a fire during its construction.)
Read MoreWolf Trap Opera Company 1981: Overview
The Company’s first decade was exhilarating – big guest stars and lots of time on the outdoor stage at the Filene Center. There were high-powered guest conductors and directors generating adrenaline to spare, expensive productions and a world premiere. The 80’s seem to have started off in a more subdued fashion. Adelaide Bishop and Richard
Read MoreWTOC 1981: Enchanted Child, Rapunzel & a Barns Delay
The Company returned to the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods in ’81 with two terrific vehicles – Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges and Brooks’ Rapunzel. I find it amazing and charming that these TITW operas in the early days were done with orchestra! There’s a missing piece of the puzzle in 1981 – there are references to a
Read MoreWTOC 1981: The Marriage of Figaro
The 1981 season was a bit more conservative than the previous summer’s offerings. The Filene Center was host to two performances of Figaro, in a production rented from New York City Opera. Donald Gramm returned to the Company as a director, and Richard Woitach (who was to become instrumental in my own path to WTOC)
Read MoreWolf Trap Opera Training Program 1980
It must’ve been a crazy summer. From big star appearances in Falstaff (Donald Gramm) and Fledermaus (Anna Moffo) to the unthinkable challenge presented by Sarah Caldwell’s Der Vampyr – I’m sure a good time was had by all. In addition, the young artists made what I believe was their first foray in the woods over
Read MoreWTO 1980: Die Fledermaus
Anna Moffo was the big draw for the August 1980 Die Fledermaus at the Filene Center. Nat Merrill directed, Franz Allers conducted, and Adele was sung by Erie Mills. Press wasn’t particularly favorable, focusing mostly on the adaptation used – called the “Rosalinda version”, with additional music by Korngold. Iconic Washington Post critic Paul Hume
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