Another New Tradition For The Washington National Opera?

"The trustees of Washington National Opera are giving a gift to the citizens of Washington, D.C. -- a special big-screen simulcast performance of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess on the National Mall, Sunday, November 6 at 2:00 p.m. WNO will transmit the performance of Porgy live from the Kennedy Center stage to a huge 18' x 32' LED video screen located near the Capitol, marking the first time a live performance has ever been transmitted to the Mall. Thousands of people are expected to bundle up as they do for football games and gather on the Mall to watch and listen to a spectacular performance of America's most popular opera, highlighted by almost a dozen of Gershwin's gorgeous melodies such as "Summertime," "It Ain't Necessarily So," and "Bess, You Is My Woman Now." ...

General Director Plácido Domingo stated, "Opera is for everyone, of all ages and backgrounds. It's an amazing experience--an art form full of glorious music, passion, and spectacle. As the General Director of Washington National Opera for the last ten years, I join the Opera's trustees in giving the city the gift of this marvelous free simulcast performance on the National Mall. You will know all the music and you will hear some of the greatest African-American singers in the world. I am very happy that thousands of people will be able to enjoy this opera for free. I hope this is the beginning of a new tradition for Washington National Opera!"

Source: http://www.dc opera.org/newsupdates/documents/
SimulcastRelease_webversion.pdf

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Thank you WNO President Michael R. Sonnenreich, WNO Trustees, and WNO General Director Plácido Domingo. This is indeed a promising new tradition. At the same time, I hope that the Washington National Opera will continue to honor its commitment to program one American opera each and every season -- preferably on the stage of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

















Javanese Shadow Puppet Theater

Photo credit: www.virtualmuseum.info