Two weeks ago, we were telling you about the first opera in the Washington National Opera season. Last night, this DCist heard the second one, a gala production featuring the company’s superstar music director, renowned tenor Plácido Domingo. The fact that he is singing in all three acts of this production, in alternation with working at the conductor’s podium for the other production, I Vespri Siciliani, is remarkable for a musician of his age. As…

Washington National Opera is celebrating its 50th anniversary season this year, at the same time as the National Symphony Orchestra marks its 75th. Last night, WNO inaugurated its golden anniversary year by the premiere of a lesser-known opera, I Vespri Siciliani (The Sicilian Vespers), by a great and justly famous composer, Giuseppe Verdi. As an opera never mounted in the company’s history, it was an odd choice, since it is neither an old-guard favorite…

Now that we are almost in October, the fall season of classical music is heating up, and we have put together a list of highlights through December for you over at Ionarts. But, this week, you should give some thought to hearing some of the good music out there (we have a more complete listing at Ionarts). We reiterate our recommendation from last week: the first opera in the 50th anniversary season of the Washington…

Friday, DCist went to the symphony, and we told you about the National Symphony’s first concert and the schedule for the rest of their 75th anniversary season. September is also the time when our minds start to turn to thoughts of opera in Washington. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some way to hear an opera and at the same time help suffering people? OPERA THIS WEEK: >> This Wednesday (September 14 at 7…