2018 Wolf Trap Opera and Classical Programming Report

Rigoletto

2018 WOLF TRAP OPERA AND CLASSICAL PROGRAMMING REPORT Thank you for supporting Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) and Classical Programming. We are pleased to share highlights of the ambitious 2018 season with you in this report. Your philanthropy touches the lives of the emerging artists who grace our stages, as well as the thousands of individuals in the community who enjoy WTO’s work. We are truly grateful.

Special thanks to Dan and Gayle D’Aniello, Wolf Trap 2018 Season Underwriters

THE 2018 WOLF TRAP OPERA SEASON

Rigoletto

Five Fully Staged Operas This year, Wolf Trap Opera produced five fully staged operas in another ambitious summer season. In early August on the Filene Center stage, WTO performed Verdi’s Rigoletto, its sixth consecutive grand opera production in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) under maestro Grant Gershon. A splendid new production, directed by Crystal Manich, had custom scenic, costume, and projection designs.

Sponsored by Virginia McGehee Friend, the performance featured six Filene Artists and six Studio Artists.

The title role of Rigoletto was performed by South Korean baritone Kidon Choi, who adeptly performed this ambitious role early in his career.

At The Barns, Mozart’s Idomeneo, sponsored by Ed and Andy Smith, and Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, sponsored by Anne R. Kline and Geoffrey Pohanka, rounded out the summer season. Both of these new contemporary productions were designed and built specifically for The Barns, and had four-performance runs. The productions were also recorded for future radio broadcast by Classical WETA 90.9 and by Blue Land Media for six-month video streaming periods in 2018–2019. Studio Artists had the opportunity to prepare roles in each of these shows as understudies for the lead cast. They were then able to present a performance on the stage with piano accompaniment for an invited audience, giving them a professional performance experience.

“This summer, tenor Ian Koziara’s turn in the title role of “Idomeneo” at the Wolf Trap Opera epitomized the excellence and true artistry among the many talented artists pouring sweat and heart into young-artist programs across the country. This is partly because of the tremendous dedication of people such as Kim Pensinger Witman, who has maintained the Wolf Trap Opera at the top of the training-program field for so many years.” –The Washington Post’s “Best of Classical Music 2018” As a part of WTO’s UNTRAPPED initiative to perform in new spaces, WTO staged its original children’s opera Listen, Wilhelmina! at Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods for the second year in a row, for students and teachers through Wolf Trap Education’s Field Trips program, and again as part of the Children’s Theatre-inthe-Woods season later in the summer. At Dock 5 at Union Market, five Filene Artists and five dancers from the Hong Kong Ballet performed Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins staged as a part of Halcyon’s inaugural

By The People Festival.

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Christine Goerke

FILENE ARTIST IN RESIDENCE CHRISTINE GOERKE This summer was the fifth season of the Filene Artist in Residence Program, sponsored by The Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation.

Dramatic Soprano Christine Goerke (WTO 1995) was in residence from July 16–30, 2018. Throughout her residency, she worked with Wolf Trap’s young artists on individual roles, general repertoire, and vocal technique, as well as in small group settings to discuss industry trends and challenges. Ms. Goerke attended all WTO performances while at Wolf Trap and provided feedback and support during rehearsals. Additionally, Ms. Goerke led a public master class in which she offered guidance to Studio Artists in performance, language, and technique. She made a guest appearance at WTO’s annual Aria Jukebox performance, and performed in The Best of Wagner’s Ring at the Filene Center alongside colleagues and fellow Wolf Trap Opera Alumni Simon O’Neill, Alan Held, and Eric Owens.

Artist Preparation Behind the Scenes

SUMMER STORIES: WHEREFORE ART THOU JULIETTE?

254.2 hours

In a dramatic turn of events poetically fitting with the story of Roméo et Juliette itself, WTO lost its Juliette at the very last minute due to illness. Filene Artist Madison Leonard rose to the challenge, performing double duty as the lead female role of Ilia in Idomeneo while also rehearsing for her unanticipated portrayal of Juliette.

97.8 hours

973 total hours Rehearsals and Coachings

177.5 hours General Repertoire

317.2 hours Idomeneo

358.25 hours Roméo et Juliette

Rigoletto

The Seven Deadly Sins

22 hours Headshots

MEET THE 2018 ARTISTS

58.3 hours

2018 Filene Artists are in the early stages of their freelance professional careers, with 2018-2019 season engagements in the U.S. including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, and Houston Grand Opera, and performances abroad at Frankfurt Opera and Lausanne Opera. These 18 artists, 12 debut and six returning, represented 10 states and Armenia, Poland, South Korea, and Ukraine, and the top 2.6% of applicants.

Guest Faculty Coachings

This season’s 18 Studio Artists, 13 debut and five returning, represented nine states with an acceptance rate of 3.4%. This year, 13 of the 18 Studio Artists are graduate students from programs such as Yale University, Rice University, Mannes School of Music, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

31 hours Filene Artist in Residence Seminars and Coachings

84.5 hours Studio Curriculum, with courses including Donor Relations, Vocal Technique, a Tax Seminar, and Yoga.

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2017–18 CLASSICAL PROGRAMMING AT THE BARNS AND THE FILENE CENTER

Bernstein at 100: A Celebration

Bernstein at 100: A Celebration On July 27, Wolf Trap Opera presented a 100th birthday celebration for the late American composer, Leonard Bernstein. Current Filene Artists, Filene Artist alumnae, and all 18 Studio Artists performed various roles in this stunning multi-genre event, under the baton of Bernstein protégé Michael Barrett. Other special guests included Tony Yazbeck, Misty Copeland, George Takei, Paquito D’Rivera, The Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, and more, making this performance one of the most robust Bernstein tributes produced as part of the 100th birthday celebration in the D.C. metro area.

CHAMBER MUSIC AT THE BARNS THE ARTISTIC ADVISOR

Lara St John, 2017–2018 Artistic Advisor

As part of Wolf Trap’s Chamber Music at The Barns series, the Artistic Advisor carefully curates the season with inspiring programming unique to their individual background and musical tastes. Canadian-born Lara St John, Wolf Trap’s 2017–2018 Artistic Advisor for the Chamber series, planned performances exploring the influence of folk music on classical music, while drawing on her own international travels. Ms. St. John also curated performances by several young and emerging artists, including 22-year-old Cameron Crozman and the Attacca Quartet.

“I think there is a perception that chamber music can be dull, which does happen from time to time when players are not fully involved or are not well connected to each other. However, I have heard every performer on this year’s season many times, and I’m utterly confident that each very distinct concert will be brimming with intensity, dedication, energy and innovation.” –Lara St. John

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Shostakovich and the Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy

CLASSICAL VARIETY ON WOLF TRAP’S STAGES In traditional Wolf Trap fashion, the classical performances of the 2018 season ranged from ballet to highlights from Wagner’s Ring, and everything in between.

The Emerson String Quartet returned to The Barns for a special one-night performance of Shostakovich and the Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy. An original theatrical imagining of the relationship between Shostakovich and Stalin, this sold-out multimedia performance featured actors David Strathairn and Sean Astin as well as the Emerson’s transcendent performance of Shostakovich’s last string quartet.

The Washington Ballet kicked off the summer season at The Filene Center with a gorgeous performance of Giselle, generously sponsored

by Virginia McGehee Friend.

Later in the summer, under the baton of Bramwell Tovey and in collaboration with The Washington Chorus, WTO artists performed a stunning rendition of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, sponsored by Deborah F. and David A. Winston. Filene Artists Yelena Dyachek, Thomas Glass, Zoie Reams, and Richard Trey Smagur were the featured soloists in this performance. Filene Artists joined current and former Filene Artist in Residence Christine Goerke, Alan Held, Simon O’Neill, and Eric Owens on stage with conductor Patrick Summers for a performance highlighting Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle sponsored by Anne R. Kline and Geoffrey Pohanka.

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UNTRAPPED Performance Oriented Approach During the 2018 season, Filene Artists prepared, rehearsed, and performed in 25 roles, 13 recital assignments, and 10 orchestral soloist assignments with an impressive total of 28 performances over nine weeks.

Studio Artists prepared, rehearsed, and performed chorus roles in two operas, three supporting roles in Idomeneo, seven comprimario roles in Roméo et Juliette and Rigoletto, four featured roles in Listen, Wilhelmina!, and five recital assignments. Studio Artists also studied and covered the 19 leading roles in Idomeneo, Roméo et Juliette, and Rigoletto.

For more information about the Filene and Studio Artists, visit wolftrap.org/opera/people.

The Seven Deadly Sins

Halcyon’s By The People Festival In collaboration with Halcyon’s By The People Festival, five Filene Artists joined the Hong Kong Ballet and Terra Firma Dance for Kurt Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins at Dock 5 at Union Market.

Studio Artists also performed pop-ups at Union Market and The Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building as part of WTO’s participation in the festival.

“At a time when some opera companies are struggling just to maintain the status quo, the Wolf Trap Opera has considerably expanded its reach. Not only is it offering opera at the Barns at Wolf Trap, but it also has extended its collaborations so that its singers appear around the city—at The Phillips Collection, at Union Market, in College Park.”

–The Washington Post

NOI+F BERNSTEIN’S SONGFEST As a part of the National Orchestral Institute + Festival (NOI+F), five Filene Artists and one Filene Artist alumna performed in Bernstein’s Songfest under the leadership of James Judd, in a concert celebrating Leonard Bernstein’s 100th birthday. This performance took place at The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at University of Maryland and was recorded for future release on the NAXOS label.

VOCAL COLORS After a one-year hiatus due to construction, WTO’s partnership with The Phillips Collection resumed for its ninth season. Five Filene Artists, in collaboration with two WTO pianists, researched and developed recital programs in response to works of art in the collection. The Vocal Colors performances included HD images of the works encompassing painting, sculpture, and digital media. WTO presented one of these programs at OPERA America’s National Opera Center in November 2018 in New York City.

THE RETURN OF LISTEN, WILHELMINA! Back by popular demand, WTO staged its original children’s opera Listen, Wilhelmina! following its premiere in 2017. This year’s production featured a new cast of Studio Artists. As part of Wolf Trap’s Field Trip performances, 625 children from all around the D.C. Metro Area came to experience music and opera, some for the first time, in a unique outdoor setting.

Wolf Trap’s 2018 UNTRAPPED series was sponsored by Dan and Gloria Logan | The Revada Foundation.

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THANK YOU Wolf Trap Foundation is deeply grateful to each of the following individuals and institutions for their support of $25,000 or more through philanthropic donations, sponsorships, fundraisers, and endowment giving between July 1, 2017 and December 31, 2018.

To donate, please contact Wolf Trap Development at 703.255.1927 or visit wolftrap.org/give.

2018 SEASON UNDERWRITERS Dan and Gayle D’Aniello* $250,000+ The Boeing Company County of Fairfax, Virginia Department of the Interior, National Park Service Shashikant and Margaret Gupta PNC David M. Rubenstein $100,000 TO $249,999 Anonymous Anonymous Foundation* Hillary and Tom Baltimore Capital One Lincoln and Therese Filene Foundation* Dan and Gloria Logan | The Revada Foundation* Gary D. Mather and Christina Co Mather National Endowment for the Arts* Northrop Grumman Foundation Michael Saylor Estate of Henry J. Schalizki Karen and Fred Schaufeld $50,000 TO $99,999 Amazon Web Services Booz Allen Hamilton Cox Business Deloitte Double Wood Farm Jean and Ric Edelman

Kenneth W. and Janice W. Freeman Family Foundation Virginia McGehee Friend* General Dynamics Grant Thornton LLP Sue J. Henry and Carter G. Phillips Calvin and Janet Hill Hilton Robert M. and Joyce A. Johnson John and Susie King John C. Lee, IV and Cindy Lee Lockheed Martin Jacqueline B. Mars* Microsoft Corporation Noblis Northrop Grumman Anne R. Kline and Geoffrey Pohanka* Ed and Andy Smith* F. Chapman and Grace Taylor Telos Corporation Tickets.com, LLC Robert and Lisa Van Hoecke Virginia Commission for the Arts Estate of Ronald V. Villafranco The Volgenau Foundation The Webber Family Deborah F. and David A. Winston* WHITE64 Suzanne and Glenn Youngkin $25,000 TO $49,999 Anonymous C.E. and Jean Andrews

American Airlines Battelle Bentley Motors Mark and Jennie Bishof The Scott and Patrice Brickman Family Foundation The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Choice Hotels International Danaher Corporation Kimberly Engel/The Dennis and Judy Engel Charitable Foundation Gil and Janice Guarino The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Hearst Foundation, Inc. IBM Don and Angela Irwin Matt Korn and Cindy Miller JP Morgan Chase & Co. KPMG Nancy Laben and Jon Feiger The Martore Family Stephen and Betsy Mundt National Counseling Group Diane and Tim Naughton NBC4 Laura and Sean O’Keefe PwC LLP Norma and Russ Ramsey SAP NS2 TTR/Sotheby’s International Realty The Anthony and Beatrice Welters Family

*donors who designate all or a portion of their support to Wolf Trap Opera and Classical Programming 7

THANK YOU Support for Wolf Trap Opera and classical programs is also provided by the following Endowed Funds: Mary H. Beggs President’s Fund

Ann McKee Fund for Opera

Robert M. Coffelt, Jr. in honor of Annetta J. and Robert M. Coffelt, The Coffelt Fund for Wolf Trap Opera and Education

National Endowment for the Arts

Estate of Carol V. Harford, Carol V. Harford Fund for Wolf Trap Opera in Memory of Catherine Filene Shouse The Paula A. Jameson Fund for Wolf Trap Opera Mr. and Mrs. Stuart C. Johnson, Stuart C. and Nancy M. Johnson Fund for Wolf Trap Terre and Polly Jones Endowed Fund for Artistic Initiatives Fund for Artistic Excellence in Honor of Audrey M. Mars John and Adrienne Mars/Jacqueline Badger Mars/Mars Foundation, Mars Fellowship Fund for Wolf Trap Opera

David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Packard Fund Catherine Filene Shouse Education Fund Catherine Filene Shouse Foundation, Kay Shouse Great Performance Fund Estate of Arthur Tracy, “The Street Singer,” Arthur Tracy Fund for Wolf Trap Opera The Trojanger Fund for Wolf Trap Earle C. and June A. Williams Fund for Wolf Trap

Wolf Trap Foundation Arvind Manocha, President and CEO Beth Brummel, Chief Operating Officer

DEVELOPMENT SENIOR AND LEADERSHIP GIVING STAFF

WOLF TRAP OPERA AND CLASSICAL PROGRAMING STAFF

Sara Jaffe, Vice President Margaret Berardelli, Director, Annual Giving Annie Coppola, Director, Planned Giving Andrea Edwards, Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations Lisa Herzog, Director, Leadership Giving Kara Kurtz, Director, Special Events Sarah Goodman, Manager, Leadership Giving Katie Greer, Coordinator, Leadership Giving

Kim P. Witman, Vice President Lee Anne Myslewski, Director, Artistic Administration Morgan Brophy, Manager, Artistic Operations Tehvon Fowler-Chapman, Coordinator, Company Management

To learn more about how to support Wolf Trap Foundation’s Opera and Classical programs, please contact Development at 703.255.1927 or give@wolftrap.org.

Wolf Trap Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Photo credits: Clive Barda, Angelina Namkung, Scott Suchman, Rob Wallace, Kim Pensinger Witman