Wolf Trap Opera Company
Encyclopedia
The Wolf Trap Opera Company produces a summer opera festival as part of the program of the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
in Vienna, Virginia
.
The program was established in 1971, and has developed into one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for emerging professional opera singers. Its mission is to discover and encourage emerging talent in the opera field, and it serves young singers of exceptional achievement and potential by giving them training and performance experience with opera productions, concerts and recitals each summer at the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap.
Productions also feature the work of rising directors, conductors, designers, coaches, stage managers, scenic artists, and technicians.
The Company provides performance and career development opportunities for two tiers of emerging professional singers. Filene Young Artists have typically recently finished academic study and apprentice training and are about to enter the full-time professional stage of their careers. They sing all featured and supporting roles in WTOC productions and are featured in concert and recital.
Studio Artists are either about to finish their undergraduate study or have just begun work on a graduate degree. They sing ensemble and small roles in WTOC productions and present a staged scenes program.
From a pool of over 1,000 singers, typically 400-500 are chosen to audition. From that group 15-20 are selected as Filene Young Artists and 12-16 are selected as Studio Artists.
Over 90% of recent Filene Young Artists are working as professional singers. Among notable alumni are Stephanie Blythe
(1995 and 1996), Lawrence Brownlee
(2001), Elizabeth Futral
(1991), Denyce Graves
(1989), Christine Goerke
(1995), Nathan Gunn
(1994 and 1995), Lisa Hopkins
(2007), Michael Maniaci
(2002), Simon O'Neill
(2003), Dawn Upshaw
(1985), Jennifer Larmore
(1983), Mark Delavan
(1988), Paul Austin Kelly
(1987), James Maddalena
(1975, 1976, and 1977), Mary Dunleavy
(1993 and 1994), Robert Orth (1975, 1976, and 1979), Rockwell Blake
(1974 and 1976), Richard Croft
(1985), and Anna Christy (2000 and 2001).
In December 2009, the Company's 2007 live recording of John Musto's Volpone
was nominated for a GRAMMY in the category of Best Opera Recording.
The company typically presents three operas at the Filene Center and/or The Barns at Wolf Trap. In addition, recitals and other performances take place. In 2010 the company presented Zaide
, Il Turco in Italia
, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
.
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts
Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, known locally in the Washington, D.C. area as simply Wolf Trap, is a performing arts center located on 130 acres of national park land in Wolf Trap, Virginia...
in Vienna, Virginia
Vienna, Virginia
Vienna is a town in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, it had a population of 15,687. Significantly more people live in zip codes with the Vienna postal addresses bordered approximately by Interstate 66 on the south, Interstate 495 on the east, Route 7 to...
.
The program was established in 1971, and has developed into one of America's outstanding resident ensemble programs for emerging professional opera singers. Its mission is to discover and encourage emerging talent in the opera field, and it serves young singers of exceptional achievement and potential by giving them training and performance experience with opera productions, concerts and recitals each summer at the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap.
Productions also feature the work of rising directors, conductors, designers, coaches, stage managers, scenic artists, and technicians.
The Company provides performance and career development opportunities for two tiers of emerging professional singers. Filene Young Artists have typically recently finished academic study and apprentice training and are about to enter the full-time professional stage of their careers. They sing all featured and supporting roles in WTOC productions and are featured in concert and recital.
Studio Artists are either about to finish their undergraduate study or have just begun work on a graduate degree. They sing ensemble and small roles in WTOC productions and present a staged scenes program.
From a pool of over 1,000 singers, typically 400-500 are chosen to audition. From that group 15-20 are selected as Filene Young Artists and 12-16 are selected as Studio Artists.
Over 90% of recent Filene Young Artists are working as professional singers. Among notable alumni are Stephanie Blythe
Stephanie Blythe
Stephanie Blythe is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.-Biography:Blythe graduated from Monticello High School in 1987 and the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam in 1992. She was the recipient of the prestigious Richard Tucker Award in 1999...
(1995 and 1996), Lawrence Brownlee
Lawrence Brownlee
Lawrence Brownlee is an American operatic tenor particularly associated with the bel canto repertoire. In 2001 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He was named Seattle Opera's Artist of the Year in 2008 for his performances as Arturo in Bellini's I puritani. He has also...
(2001), Elizabeth Futral
Elizabeth Futral
Elizabeth Futral is an American coloratura soprano who has won acclaim throughout the United States as well as in Europe, South America, and Japan....
(1991), Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.-Early life:Graves was born on March 7, 1964, to Charles Graves and Dorothy Graves-Kenner. She is the middle of three children and was raised by her mother on Galveston Street, S.W., in the Bellevue section of Washington...
(1989), Christine Goerke
Christine Goerke
Christine Goerke is a Grammy Award winning American dramatic soprano who has performed with many of the world's best opera companies, orchestras, and musical ensembles.-Early life and education:...
(1995), Nathan Gunn
Nathan Gunn
Nathan Gunn is an operatic baritone from the United States.He has appeared in many of world's well-known opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Dallas Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh Opera,...
(1994 and 1995), Lisa Hopkins
Lisa Hopkins
Lisa Hopkins Seegmiller , usually credited as Lisa Hopkins, is an American classical singer and actress from Simi Valley, California. She holds a B.A. in Theater Studies and Acting from Yale University and a M.M...
(2007), Michael Maniaci
Michael Maniaci
Michael Maniaci is an American opera singer who has appeared at many of the world's best opera houses. Possessing a unique male soprano voice, Maniaci is noted for his unusual ability to sing into the upper soprano register without using falsetto...
(2002), Simon O'Neill
Simon O'Neill
Simon O'Neill is a New Zealand-born operatic tenor.-Biography:O'Neill was born in Ashburton, New Zealand and received his musical training at the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with an honours degree in music, before receiving scholarships to the Manhattan...
(2003), Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
(1985), Jennifer Larmore
Jennifer Larmore
Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer, noted for coloratura and bel canto.- Career :Jennifer Larmore is an American mezzo-soprano, well known for her versatility, natural beauty and stage craft...
(1983), Mark Delavan
Mark Delavan
Mark Delavan is an American operatic bass-baritone. He made his professional debut in 1986 at the San Francisco Opera in a small role in Giuseppe Verdi's Don Carlos. He spent the next three years performing in numerous comprimario roles with the company...
(1988), Paul Austin Kelly
Paul Austin Kelly
Paul Austin Kelly is an American opera tenor and former rock musician who also writes, records and performs music for children.He was born in Kingston, New York.-Musical beginnings:...
(1987), James Maddalena
James Maddalena
James Maddalena is an American baritone who is chiefly associated with contemporary American opera. He gained international recognition in 1987 when he created the role of Richard Nixon at the premiere of Adams's opera Nixon in China at Houston. He has since reprised the role on many occasions,...
(1975, 1976, and 1977), Mary Dunleavy
Mary Dunleavy
Mary Dunleavy is an American soprano who has performed with major opera companies and orchestras around the world. She is a native of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.She grew up in New Jersey and graduated from Pascack Hills High School in 1984...
(1993 and 1994), Robert Orth (1975, 1976, and 1979), Rockwell Blake
Rockwell Blake
Rockwell Blake is an American operatic tenor, particularly known for his roles in Rossini operas. He was the first winner of the Richard Tucker Award.-Biography:...
(1974 and 1976), Richard Croft
Richard Croft (tenor)
Richard Croft is an American tenor.Richard Croft debuted in the United States , by singing the major roles of Mozart and Rossini, before being invited on the leading international stages Richard Croft is an American tenor.Richard Croft debuted in the United States (including at the Metropolitan...
(1985), and Anna Christy (2000 and 2001).
In December 2009, the Company's 2007 live recording of John Musto's Volpone
Volpone
Volpone is a comedy by Ben Jonson first produced in 1606, drawing on elements of city comedy, black comedy and beast fable...
was nominated for a GRAMMY in the category of Best Opera Recording.
The company typically presents three operas at the Filene Center and/or The Barns at Wolf Trap. In addition, recitals and other performances take place. In 2010 the company presented Zaide
Zaide
Zaide is an unfinished opera, K. 344, written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1780. Emperor Joseph II, in 1778, was in the process of setting up an opera company for the purpose of performing German opera. One condition required of the composer to join this company was that he should write a...
, Il Turco in Italia
Il turco in Italia
Il turco in Italia is an opera in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The Italian-language libretto was written by Felice Romani...
, and A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream
A Midsummer Night's Dream is a play that was written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1596. It portrays the events surrounding the marriage of the Duke of Athens, Theseus, and the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta...
.