(Photos above and below: Karin Cooper- Washington National)
Washington National Opera, that sweet little gub'mint pearl under the nurturing hand of Placido Domingo, is giving back to the American Armed Forces as part of their 54th Season Opener. Tomorrow night, as the 2009/10 season opens at the Kennedy Center opera House with Rossini's Barbiere, a free simulcast party will be held at Nationals Park (home of the Eastern Division expansion team the Washington Nationals) with a live HD stream from the Kennedy Center Opera House. Out of an expected 25K turn-out, 5K will be military personnel and their families, invited by the American Armed Forces Foundation. That means no monkey business, guys...you've been warned!
Tomorrow night's Barbiere premiere will be the second year of the WNO's new "Opera in the Outfield" simulcast spectacle. OC scored the images above and below of Barbiere's stellar cast, donning Washington Nationals' red & white baseball caps in support of their home team. Lawrence Brownlee is Count Almaviva (who sang live the National Anthem at the Nationals vs. the Phillies game on Wednesday...the Nationals got served!), Simone Alberghini is Figaro, Eric Owens is Don Basilio, and Silvia Tro Santafe is Rosina. The production is a David Gately revival, and Michele Mariotti conducts.