Celebrated baritone Donald Gramm returned to Wolf Trap in 1980 to lead a cast of young artists in Falstaff. Didn’t find much in the files, but there were a few lovely photos.
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WTOTP 1980: Der Vampyr
Marschner’s Der Vampyr marked Sarah Caldwell’s return to the Wolf Trap Company, and expectations were certainly high. It was scheduled for a highly-anticipated, ambitious, most unusual 12:00 midnight performance in mid-July. The production files are full of various reports on the phase of the moon and its rising/setting in summer 1980. There were to be
Read MoreWolf Trap Opera Training Program 1979: Overview
1979 was a year of transition for Wolf Trap Opera. It must’ve been a huge relief to see the company rebound after the 1978 hiatus. But it seems to have come back in two incarnations: the Wolf Trap Opera Company was the producing organization for performances at the Filene Center (Kiss Me, Kate and The
Read MoreWTOTP 1979: Gianni Schicchi & Fortunio’s Song
A surprise awaited me in the archaeological dig of Wolf Trap Opera Company 1979. I had no idea that the WTOC ever did Schicchi and I had never included it on the company’s repertoire list. But here ’tis, in a production in the Wolf Trap Opera Grove (!) in 1979. The other one-act offered as
Read MoreWTOC 1979: The Taming of the Shrew
A wonderful pairing with July’s production of Cole Porter’s Kiss Me, Kate, Giannini’s version of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew took the Filene Center stage in August 1979. John DeMain conducted, Peter Mark Schifter directed, and guest artists included Anna Moffo and Spiro Malas.
Read MoreObservations from the Way-Back Machine
A month ago I started working my way through the WTOC’s 40-year history. (The 1970’s tag will show you the list of posts so far.) I was in search of a way to showcase this most unusual company that is in equal parts laboratory and real world – a place where it’s acknowledged that everyone
Read MoreBut Before the Summer…
Yes, we have a fabulous summer season on tap. But this spring has its own charms, in the form of the world premiere of The Inspector – a new comedy from John Musto & Mark Campbell – and a rare DC-area recital appearance by mezzo-soprano and Metropolitan opera artist Kate Lindsey (WTOC 2005, 2006). The
Read MoreCuriosity, Revenge, and Heartbreak: WTOC 2011
Announcing the 2011 Season of the Wolf Trap Opera Company! Featuring Wolf-Ferrari’s comedy The Curious Women, Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd with the National Symphony Orchestra, and Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffmann. Concerts include Couples: Getting Hitched & Getting Ditched with Steven Blier and Vocal Colors recitals in partnership with The Phillips Collection. Tickets go on sale Saturday,
Read More2011 Filene Young Artists
Announcing the 16 Filene Young Artists of the Wolf Trap Opera Company. 2011 season performance information will be available tomorrow! Lindsay Amman contralto Eric Barry tenor Margaret Gawrysiak mezzo-soprano Eve Gigliotti mezzo-soprano Jamie-Rose Guarrine soprano Craig Irvin bass-baritone Kenneth Kellogg bass Ryan Kuster bass Angela Mannino soprano Catherine McKay Martin mezzo-soprano Michael Anthony McGee baritone
Read MoreWe’re taking a brief break from our walk back through time in order to announce the artists and operas for our upcoming 40th Anniversary Season! (We’ll head back to 1979 later this week.)
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