Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Announces The Wolf Trap Opera, Classical Music, Film, and Dance for the 2022 Summer Season

Wolf Trap Opera’s (WTO) 2022 season features three full productions plus recitals
- Verdi’s heart wrenchingmasterpiece, La traviata, returns to the Filene Center stage in a full production by Wolf Trap Opera joined by the National Symphony Orchestra
- Weber’s Der Freischütz (The Marksman) to have its Wolf Trap Opera premiere, 201 years to the date of the original premiere in 1821
- The American opera Susannah by Carlisle Floyd will premiere at The Barns at Wolf Trap
- Wolf Trap Opera audience favorite, Aria Jukebox, where the audience chooses the songs, returns to The Barns on July 9 and the ever-popular Steven Blier leads an all-new program on June 5
A Juneteenth Celebration with Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra celebrates an historical event while combining hip-hop with classical music featuring some of the best musicians from across the country
Acclaimed mezzo-soprano, and Richmond native, Kate Lindsey, 2022 Filene Artist in Residence, performs an intimate evening of song at The Barns on July 8
Wolf Trap Opera and National Orchestral Institute + Festival partner on Take the Reins, June 3, featuring Barber's Knoxville: Summer 1915
National Symphony Orchestra summer appearances at Wolf Trap include Gil Shaham plays Tchaikovsky, Yo-Yo Ma and Paquito D’Rivera featuring the world premiere of an original composition by D’Rivera, as well as Pink Martini
An Evening with The Washington Ballet joins the Wolf Trap Orchestra for an evening of mixed repertoire

Vienna, Virginia (February 1, 2022) – Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts today announced the first performances of the Summer 2022 season, including the Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) season, classical and symphony programming, dance programing, and films with live orchestral music. These performances will take place at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts and at The Barns at Wolf Trap.

The Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) season opens in June with Der Freischütz (The Marksman) by Carl Maria von Weber. Der Freischütz is considered the first German Romantic Opera and is an irresistible mix of folklore, romance, and the ageless struggle between good and evil. Wolf Trap Opera’s premiere of this picturesque tale and lush, dramatic score will take place at The Barns at Wolf Trap on Saturday, June 18, with additional performances on Friday, June 24, and Sunday, June 26. This Wolf Trap Opera premiere will be performed 201 years to the date of the original premiere in June 1821.

July sees the return of one of opera’s most beloved tragedies Verdi’s La traviata, to the Filene Center’s stage with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) on July 15, 2022. Last performed at Wolf Trap in 2013, Verdi’s masterful opera about forbidden love and the sacrifice of a beautiful courtesan for the young aristocrat she loves plays out against the hypocritical world of upper-class, opulent Parisian society.

The American opera Susannah, by Carlisle Floyd, will premiere at The Barns at Wolf Trap on August 12, with additional performances on Sunday, August 14, and Saturday, August 20. This heartbreaking retelling of the biblical tale of “Susannah and the Elders” is considered the quintessential American opera. Set in the Appalachian Mountains, Susannah innocently incites the lust of the town elders, who demand their minister force her to repent sins for which she is not guilty. Floyd’s use of idiomatic American folk song throughout the score, captures the essence of Susannah’s plight and creates effective melodrama and lyrical storytelling.

“In the fall of 2021 we were again able to mount a national audition tour, and I was greatly impressed by the level of talent and artistry we found” said Lee Anne Myslewski, Vice President, Opera and Classical Programming. “The repertoire that we are producing this summer was selected specifically for those artists whom we found the most compelling; prepare yourself for a powerful, passionate summer."

The WTO season also includes a recital program led by Steven Blier, of the New York Festival of Song, on June 5; audience favorite, Aria Jukebox, where the audience votes on the operatic pieces to be performed, on July 9; and Studio Spotlight, where Studio Artists shine while performing opera scenes and highlights on August 18.

Wolf Trapped Opera UNTRAPPED once again partners with the National Orchestral Institute + Festival with Take the Reins on June 3, featuring soprano Tiffany Townsend performing Barber’s Knoxville: Summer 1915.

Wolf Trap Opera also welcomes internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano Kate Lindsey as the 2022 Filene Artist in Residence. A native of Richmond, VA, she is a 2005 and 2007 alumna of the Wolf Trap Opera program and appears regularly in the world’s most renowned opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Vienna State Opera, the Théâtre des Champs–Élysées, and the Bavarian State Opera. Lindsey, the recipient of many prestigious awards, holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with Distinction from Indiana University and is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Lindsey will give a public recital on July 8 and will also be conducting a master class on July 14.

As the summer home for the National Symphony Orchestra, Wolf Trap’s Filene Center will host a variety of exciting concerts including Pink Martini (July 8) with Steven Reineke conducting; Gil Shaham plays Tchaikovsky, under the baton of Ruth Reinhardt, on Aug. 5. Yo-Yo Ma and Paquito D’Rivera join the NSO in a world premiere (September 8) of a work composed by D’Rivera.

A Juneteenth Celebration with Thee Phantom and the Illharmonic Orchestra fills the Filene Center stage (June 19) for a Juneteenth concert featuring an all-Black orchestra. Their performance will feature a collaboration of hip-hop and classically trained musicians for an exciting evening of celebration.

Movie nights with the NSO include two nights of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince^TM In Concert (July 22 & 23) under the baton of Steven Reineke, plus Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back In Concert (July 29), and Disney and Pixar's Toy Story In Concert (July 30) both evening’s conducted by Emil de Cou.

Later in the summer, An Evening with The Washington Ballet will join the Wolf Trap Orchestra, (September 14) for an exciting evening of mixed repertoire of works by Balanchine, Silas Farley, and Andile Ndlovu.

Wolf Trap Opera (WTO) is a summer residency program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, offering emerging artists career development and performance experiences. WTO takes an artist-centric approach when selecting its production repertoire that best showcases the talents of the artists chosen via a rigorous audition tour. All principal roles in Wolf Trap Opera productions are performed by the selected Filene Artists. The Filene Artists are at a point in their career between training and full-time professional careers, and many have already won prestigious awards and finished professional training.

The 2022 Filene Artists are Chanáe Curtis (soprano), Washington, D.C., Sunwoo Park (soprano), South Korea, Alexandria Shiner (soprano), Michigan, Ann Toomey (soprano), Michigan, Tiffany Townsend (soprano), Mississippi, Joseph Leppek (tenor), Michigan, Richard Trey Smagur (tenor), Illinois, Robert Stahley (tenor), Massachusetts, Kidon Choi (baritone), South Korea, Cory McGee (bass), Virginia, Christian Pursell (bass), California, and David Weigel (bass-baritone), North Carolina.

Wolf Trap Opera selects Studio Artists each year, who show significant potential and who are current undergraduate juniors or seniors, or who are currently enrolled in a Master’s program. WTO cultivates these young artists by providing skill-enhancing and career-building curriculum designed around their skillsets. The Studio Artists gain professional experience by appearing in smaller roles and choruses for Wolf Trap Opera’s main-stage operas, their own scenes programs and recitals.

The Summer 2022 Studio Artists are Saane Halaholo (soprano), California, Sophia Hunt (soprano), New York, Hayley Maloney (soprano), Pennsylvania, Emma Marhefka (soprano), Pennsylvania, Ruby Dibble (mezzo-soprano), Kansas, Tessa Fackelmann (mezzo-soprano), Canada, Winona Martin (mezzo-soprano), Texas, Cecelia McKinley (contralto), Virginia, Matthew Goodheart (tenor), New York, Tayte Mitchell (tenor), Canada, Hayden Smith (tenor), Michigan, Travon Walker (tenor), Georgia, Tshegofatso Clement Baloyi (baritone), South Africa, Patrick Wilhelm (baritone), Pennsylvania, Sam Dhobhany (bass-baritone), New York, Jin Yung David Kahng (bass-baritone), South Korea, Thomas Petrushka (bass), Ohio, and Dylan Gregg (bass), Maryland.

Tickets for the summer 2022 productions go on sale to the general public beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, February 19. Wolf Trap members (donors of $80 and up) have access to presales and are beginning to purchase tickets now. An opera, symphony and dance calendar, production information and casting, and a full WTO artist roster can be found here. To view the full season, including pop, rock, musicals and more, visit www.wolftrap.org/calendar. Ticketing information and links to print-ready photography are below.

Ticketing and On-Sale Information

Tickets for these performances go on sale to the public on Saturday, February 19 at 10 a.m. at wolftrap.org.

The Wolf Trap Box Office can be reached at by email, or by phone (Monday – Friday 10AM – 4PM) at 703.255.1868

Pricing varies by performance and seat location, and are subject to change. See individual performance listings online or the calendar below for prices.

Wolf Trap members have access to exclusive presales and may purchase tickets in advance of the general public. Memberships with presale access start at $80 and are tax-deductible less the value of goods and services provided. For more information, visit wolftrap.org/membership.

Safety Guidelines

Wolf Trap will follow local, state, and federal government and health guidelines in order to welcome the public for live performances as safely as possible. Health and safety guidelines are subject to updates and change. Please check Wolf Trap’s 2022 Health and Safety Policies and Guidelines for the most current and up-to-date information.

Wolf Trap’s 2022 season is made possible by generous support from the following

Wolf Trap Foundation Official Sponsors and Partners:

Dan and Gayle D’Aniello, Wolf Trap 2022 Season Underwriters

The PNC Foundation, Premier Sponsor, 2022 Summer Season

The Boeing Company, Major Sponsor, Boeing Salutes Series

American Airlines, Official Airline

Steinway, Official Pianos

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Wolf Trap Opera is a program of Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit, produces and presents a full range of performance and education programs in the Greater Washington area, as well as nationally. Wolf Trap features three performance venues: the outdoor Filene Center and Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, both located at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, and The Barns at Wolf Trap, located down the road from the national park and adjacent to the Center for Education at Wolf Trap. The 7,028-seat Filene Center is operated in partnership with the National Park Service and annually showcases an extensive array of diverse artists, ranging from pop, country, folk, and blues to classical music, dance, and theatre, as well as multimedia presentations, from May through September. The Barns at Wolf Trap is operated by the Wolf Trap Foundation year round, and during the summer months is home to the Grammy-nominated Wolf Trap Opera, one of America’s outstanding resident ensemble programs for young opera singers. Wolf Trap Foundation’s education programs include the nationally acclaimed Wolf Trap Institute for Early Learning Through the Arts, Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods, a diverse array of arts education classes, grants, and a nationally recognized internship program.

Media Information

Contact (not for publication):

Erick Hoffman, Director, Communications
O) 703.255.1917, C) 541.731.4666 or erickh@wolftrap.org

Morgan Elwell, Media Relations Manager
O) 703.255.4096 or morgane@wolftrap.org

Jo LaBrecque, Vice President, Communications and Marketing
O) 703.255.1997 or joannl@wolftrap.org

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Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts Announces The Wolf Trap Opera, Classical Music, Film, and Dance for the 2022 Summer Season