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47-863: Typically, WCO presents two operas each season, one each in the autumn and spring, in Lisner Auditorium located on the campus of the George Washington University . During the early 2000s, the company presented operas in the Kennedy Center 's Concert Hall, but with rather disastrous economic consequences: As of the 2005 season, WCO returned to the Lisner Auditorium. Performers are often internationally acclaimed singers, professional musicians and chorus members who give rarely heard, full-length operatic works. Washington Concert Opera has presented almost 50 operas in

94-478: A Georgian style they thought appropriately "domestic" for a women's dormitory. According to the National Register of Historic Places registration form, Lisner Auditorium's stripped classicism "expresses its modern roots in the basic geometric form of a cube." The structure is "sheathed in a tight skin of light colored limestone"; the "alternating limestone courses of square and rectangular blocks and

141-572: A cold initial reception by the critics. In short, Rossini's prediction came entirely true, and Cenerentola soon overshadowed even Barber throughout the nineteenth century. Nonetheless, the collaboration between composer and librettist got no easier, and Ferretti wrote only one more libretto for Rossini, Matilde di Shabran , in 1821. 19th century At the first performance, the opera was received with some hostility, but it soon became popular throughout Italy and beyond; it reached Lisbon in 1819, London in 1820 and New York in 1826. Throughout most of

188-418: A dream. Magnifico frets over the competition his daughters now face from the strange lady ("Sia qualunque delle figlie"), but Cenerentola isn't interested in the "prince," saying she's fallen in love with his servant. An overjoyed Ramiro steps forward; however, Cenerentola tells him that she's going home and doesn't want him to follow her. If he really cares for her, she says, he will find her, giving him one of

235-476: A full block of Georgian Revival buildings enclosing what is now University Yard. This combination of modernist Bauhaus and Art Deco styles represents the architects' interpretation of university president Cloyd Heck Marvin 's distaste for the Colonial Revival style and his insistence on "useful" architecture instead. Marvin and Faulkner's one exception in this era is Hattie M. Strong Hall, designed in

282-709: A glass slipper but by her silver ring. The supernatural elements that traditionally characterize the Cinderella story were removed from the libretto simply for ease of staging. Angelina, known to her stepfather and stepsisters as "Cenerentola," is forced to serve as the maid in her own home. She sings of a king who married a common girl chosen for her kindness against the beauty and adornment of her competitresses ("Una volta c’era un rè"). A beggar arrives; her stepsisters, Clorinda and Tisbe, want to send him away, but Cenerentola gives him bread and coffee. Courtiers follow, announcing that Prince Ramiro will visit while he searches for

329-626: A group of white and Black ticket-holders, including the Dean of the Howard University Medical School , tried to attend a ballet performance but were denied entry based on race. Days later, Ingrid Bergman , star of the opening play, Joan of Lorraine , publicly denounced GW's racial exclusion policy and circulated a protest letter signed by the cast. GW students from the American Veterans Committee and

376-420: A libretto for the tale; Ferretti retorted with a dare for Rossini to clothe it in music. Rossini then asked the librettist if he had some verses ready to start working on. Ferretti replied, "despite my tiredness, tomorrow morning!" The composer nodded, wrapped himself in his clothes, and fell asleep. Ferretti worked through the night and had the first parts of the work ready as promised in the morning. He finished

423-467: A matching pair of bracelets. The prince determines to do exactly that ("Sì, ritrovarla io giuro"). Meanwhile, Magnifico confronts the disguised Dandini, insisting that he choose one of his daughters to marry. Dandini tries to stall but is forced to admit that he's actually the valet and not the prince at all (duet: "Un segreto d’importanza"). A furious Magnifico and his daughters return home, where they order Cenerentola, back in rags, to serve them. A storm

470-459: A mural by Augustus Vincent Track , and the Dimock gallery is located on the lower Lisner Lounge. La Cenerentola La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo (" Cinderella , or Goodness Triumphant") is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini . The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti , based on the libretti written by Charles-Guillaume Étienne for

517-459: A new generation of Rossini mezzo-sopranos ensured that La Cenerentola would once again be heard around the world. The opera is now considered a staple of the standard repertoire. In this variation of the fairy tale, the wicked stepmother is replaced by a stepfather , Don Magnifico. The Fairy Godmother is replaced by Alidoro, a philosopher and tutor to the Prince. Cinderella is identified not by

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564-534: A six-month-long series given by many different local, national, and international organisations in Washington, DC, all reflecting multiple facets of Shakespeare's work. In his interview with Susan Galbraith, tenor Michael Fabiano , who appeared in the March 2014 presentation of Verdi's early Il corsaro ( The Corsair ), expands upon the appeal of concert opera and defines what, for him as a performer, are some of

611-416: A third daughter in the house; Magnifico claims she has died and stealthily threatens to murder Cenerentola if she reveals herself. Left alone with Cenerentola, Alidoro promises to take her to the ball himself and that God will reward her kindness ("Là del ciel nell’arcano profondo"). The prince and his valet have retired to Ramiro's country house in some confusion, as neither of Magnifico's daughters resembled

658-543: Is a performance venue sited on the Foggy Bottom campus of George Washington University at 730 21st Street Northwest, Washington, D.C. Named for Abram Lisner (1852-1938), a university trustee and benefactor whose will provided one million dollars towards its construction, it was designed in 1940 and completed in 1946. Constructed in the stripped classicist style of the late Art Deco and host to major classical, folk, rock, blues, opera, and theatrical performances over

705-429: Is overwhelmed and flees. Finally, the "prince" arrives – the real valet, Dandini, who has taken his master's place – and Magnifico, Clorinda, and Tisbe fall over themselves to flatter him. He invites the family to a ball that evening, where he plans to find his bride; Cenerentola asks to join them, but Magnifico refuses (quintet: "Signor, una parola"). This callousness isn't lost on Ramiro. Alidoro returns to inquire after

752-428: Is thundering outside. Alidoro sabotages Ramiro's carriage so that it breaks down in front of Magnifico's manor, forcing the prince to take refuge within. Ramiro recognizes Cenerentola's bracelet on her right arm; the others comment on the situation (sextet: "Siete voi?"). When Ramiro threatens Cenerentola's recalcitrant family, she asks him to forgive them. Ramiro and Cenerentola are married and celebrate their wedding at

799-1559: The 15th Anniversary concert in 2002); 1994: Ben Heppner (as the title character in Andrea Chenier ); 1995: James Morris (as the Dutchman); 1998: Patricia Racette (in Guillaume Tell ); 2007: Kenneth Tarver (in Rossini's Otello , and in La Cenerentola in 2010); 2008: Vivica Genaux (in Rossini's Bianca e Falliero , and in La cenerentola in 2010); 2009: Stephanie Blythe in concert; 2009: John Reylea (in Faust , as well as Attila in 2011); 2009: Elizabeth Futral (in Il giuramento ); 2009: James Valenti (in Il giuramento and as Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvrer in 2010); 2010: Jennifer Larmore (the American mezzo-soprano sang Charlotte in Werther ); 2013: Lisette Oropesa (in I masnadieri as Amalia); Young artists such as Celena Shafer (in Esclarmonde in 2005), and both Sarah Coburn and Lawrence Brownlee —winner of

846-501: The 1930s. Lisner Hall (housing Lisner Library), in whitewashed brick, was completed in 1939 to match the Bauhaus style of flanking Bell Hall (1935) and Stuart Hall (1936). Hall of Government (1939) was the first university building clad in limestone (and in 1951, he designed the adjoining Monroe Hall in similar style). These 1930s modernist additions represented a sharp departure from the university's 1920s Harris Plan, which had called for

893-405: The 19th century, its popularity rivalled that of Barber , but as the coloratura contralto , for which the leading role was originally written, became rare, it fell slowly out of the repertoire. 20th century and beyond In the years following Glyndebourne Festival 's celebrated 1952 revival, conducted by Vittorio Gui , and recorded for LP by EMI , Rossini's work enjoyed a renaissance, and

940-403: The 2006 Richard Tucker and Marian Anderson Awards—who both appeared in I Puritani in 2007, have also made their area debuts with WCO. In March 2014, up-and-coming tenor Michael Fabiano appeared in a rarely performed early Verdi opera, Il corsaro . Washington Concert Opera has repeatedly and consistently been acclaimed in the local, national, and international press as one of the finest in

987-659: The 2012 performance of La sonnambula —Anne Midgette, the Washington Post music critic, noted: In an interview with Gary Tischler, who believes that "the work [Walker] does with the WCO is close to his heart", Antony Walker presented his own "take" on what concert opera means to him: In 2007, with the presentation of Rossini 's Otello , the WCO was a part of the Shakespeare in Washington Festival ,

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1034-634: The DC area, specifically at the Wolf Trap Park summer festival season. In addition, Stephen Crout was a recipient of the "OMTI Bravo International Award" from the Washington, DC area based Opera Music Theater International organisation. In reference to Crout's conducting of Rossini's William Tell , in August 1998 Opera News notes: In 2012, with the 25th Anniversary of WCO, Crout, as well as Russell (the former WCO artistic adviser, in addition to being

1081-706: The Trustees did not drop the racial exclusion of African Americans until 1954. In 1971, Lisner Auditorium was the site of a follow-up protest against Marvin's segregationist policies. In March 1970, in the wake of the Kent State shootings , students had dedicated their new student center, opened in 1969, as the Kent State Memorial Student Center. In 1971, the university renamed it the Cloyd Heck Marvin Center, holding

1128-653: The University Veterans Club printed flyers and, with the Southern Conference on Human Welfare, picketed outside. The National Symphony Orchestra canceled performances. In 1947, the Board of Trustees changed the theatre policy to admit African-Americans to sponsored public events, but President Marvin often denied such public uses. As students began to call for the desegregation of the university itself, Marvin publicly defended segregation, and

1175-582: The account given by librettist Jacopo Ferretti , the genesis of this work – whose literary and musical aspects were both created with surprising speed – began in December 1816. Rossini was in Rome and tasked with writing a new opera for the Teatro Valle , to be staged on Saint Stephen's Day . An existing libretto, Francesca di Foix, had unexpectedly been vetoed by the papal censor, leaving no time to amend

1222-539: The building's function as a prominent center for the performing arts in Washington." Lisner Auditorium's resonance with the 1938 and 1939 First Medal winners of the Beaux Arts Institute's Paris Prize Competitions speaks to its communication with international movements in architecture at the time. Construction of Lisner Auditorium was initially funded by Abram Lisner, a German-born owner of Washington's Palais Royale department store. Additional funding for

1269-412: The concert format since 1986, and they have featured world-class singers who regularly appear on the stages of major opera houses. Under Stephen Crout, 1986 to 2002 The company was founded in 1986 by Stephen Crout along with Peter Russell. Crout served as General Director and conductor for 15 years in presenting rarely seen or relatively rare concert versions of significant operas. He also conducted in

1316-645: The construction project was provided by the George Washington Memorial Association and the Dimock Estate. The building was designed by Faulkner & Kingsbury and built by Charles H. Tompkins Company. The groundbreaking ceremony was in 1940; work commenced on the Auditorium in 1941; it opened in 1946. Lisner Auditorium's opening set the stage for a city-wide effort to desegregate the venue. In early October 1946,

1363-481: The decades, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990 for its dual significance as an architectural work and as a performance venue. The auditorium played a key role in desegregation at George Washington University and in Washington, D.C. ; its 1946 grand opening became a city-wide target for the desegregation of the city's theaters and a catalyst for George Washington students calling on

1410-933: The distinctive elements of concert opera production which distinguish it from fully staged and costumed productions: In describing the special challenges or opportunities for the singer in concert opera, Fabiano goes on to explain: Over the years, the company has brought, and often introduced, to local audiences singers of the caliber of 1988: Jerry Hadley (in Werther ); 1988: Sumi Jo (in I Capuleti e i Montecchi , and in I Puritani in 1990); 1989: Alessandra Marc (in Ariadne auf Naxos ); 1991: Renée Fleming (in Thais ); 1992: Denyce Graves (in Anna Bolena ); 1992: Deborah Voigt (in Der Freischütz , as well as

1457-591: The field, having been designated by critics as “integral to the musical fabric of this city” (in The Washington Post ) and praised as offering “....performances of the highest order” (in Opera News ). Critic Tim Page of The Washington Post has noted on more than one occasion, some distinguishing features of the company and its contribution to the artistic life of Washington, DC: Notes Sources Lisner Auditorium Lisner Auditorium

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1504-614: The former Director of the Wolf Trap Opera Company and presently Artistic Director of the Vocal Arts DC) were honored for their service. Under Antony Walker, since 2002 In 2002, Antony Walker became Artistic Director and conductor. He is also Music Director of Pittsburgh Opera and co-artistic director of Pinchgut Opera, a chamber opera company, in Sydney, Australia. Describing Walker's strengths—in regard to

1551-579: The libretto in twenty-two days of breakneck work, and Rossini completed the score in an equally hectic twenty-four days. The poet had serious doubts about the success of this opera; Rossini, on the other hand, predicted that it would conquer Italy in a year and spread to France and England in another: "the impresarios will fight for staging it, as well as the prima donnas for being able to sing it". La Cenerentola premiered on 25 January 1817, and quickly gained popularity both in Italy and internationally, despite

1598-497: The most beautiful girl in the land to wed. Cenerentola's stepfather, Don Magnifico, hopes to use this as an opportunity to save his own failing fortune. When the room is empty, Ramiro enters alone, disguised as a valet. The "beggar" – in fact, his tutor, Alidoro – has informed him of a goodhearted young woman spotted here. Ramiro intends to find her incognito. Cenerentola returns, and she and Ramiro are attracted to each other (duet: "Un soave non-so che"), but when he asks who she is, she

1645-737: The naming ceremony in Lisner Auditorium across the street. Students attended the ceremony en masse, verbally denounced Marvin, and staged a walkout, citing Marvin's racism as a key reason for their actions. The first known public performance at Lisner without racial restriction was the 1955 National Symphony Orchestra concert. A diverse schedule soon followed through the late 1950s and early 1960s, with opera singers Licia Albenese and Giuseppe Campora, folk singer Pete Seeger , and blues harmonica player Sonny Terry , rock and roll stars Jackie Wilson , Bo Diddley , Jerry Lee Lewis , and folk singer Joan Baez . On December 14, 1963, Bob Dylan performed there on his first national tour outside of coffeehouses;

1692-481: The new work, one after another was rejected: too serious for the Carnival season in which the opera would premiere; too frivolous; too expensive and difficult to stage. Ferretti proposed more than two dozen subjects without success. Finally, between yawns, and with Rossini half asleep on a sofa, the poet mentioned Cinderella . At this, Rossini roused himself sufficiently to challenge Ferretti on whether he dared write

1739-449: The opera Cendrillon with music by Nicolas Isouard (first performed Paris, 1810) and by Francesco Fiorini for Agatina, o la virtù premiata  [ it ] with music by Stefano Pavesi (first performed Milan, 1814). All these operas are versions of the fairy tale Cendrillon by Charles Perrault . Rossini's opera was first performed in Rome's Teatro Valle on 25 January 1817. Rossini composed La Cenerentola when he

1786-414: The palace. Magnifico tries to win the new princess's favor, but she asks only to be acknowledged, at last, as his daughter. She reflects on the misfortune to which she was born and the sudden reversal of her fate, then forgives her family for all her past unhappiness, adding that her days of sitting sadly by the fire are over ("Nacqui all'affanno... Non più mesta"). Everyone present acknowledges that she truly

1833-468: The precise placement of joints present a pleasing pattern to the stonework." The "projecting box-like portico offers the only relief to the severe geometrical form of the building," with its "scale and abstracted columns echo[ing] classical qualities." Doors, grates, and lighting features of "loosely" Art Deco origin provide minimal ornamentation, a theme continued on the interior. Overall, "its modern and formal character are skillfully manipulated to speak [to]

1880-464: The quality of the recording, are crisp, with precisely the kind of moments live albums should catch and usually don't." It was certified Gold in 1979. Outside of the Auditorium is the River Horse sculpture. In 1996 George Washington University President Stephen Joel Trachtenberg presented this bronze statue of a hippopotamus as a gift to the university's Class of 2000. The auditorium contains

1927-473: The secco recitatives and three numbers (Alidoro's " Vasto teatro è il mondo ", Clorinda's " Sventurata! Mi credea " and the chorus " Ah, della bella incognita "). The facsimile edition of the autograph has a different aria for Alidoro, " Fa' silenzio, odo un rumore "; this seems to have been added by an anonymous hand for an 1818 production. For an 1820 revival in Rome, Rossini wrote a bravura replacement, " Là, del ciel nell'arcano profondo ". According to

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1974-433: The seventeen tracks on Little Feat 's 1978 double LP, Waiting for Columbus , were recorded at Lisner on August 8, 9, and 10, 1977, as were five additional tracks included on the "deluxe" 2002 two-CD re-release, along with three more tracks first issued on the 1981 compilation Hoy-Hoy and also included on the 2002 re-release. Stereo Review's 1978 review praised the album's "spontaneity," declaring that "the performances, like

2021-748: The show sold out, and three rows of overflow seating was placed on stage behind the singer. The 1970s brought Rush , Pink Floyd , Kiss , Little Feat , Emmylou Harris , Grand Funk Railroad , Joe Cocker , B.B. King , Derek and the Dominoes , Jimmy Buffett , Billy Joel , Blondie , and the Jerry Garcia Band. In the 1980s, Lisner hosted The Replacements , Alex Chilton , Billy Bragg , Midnight Oil , The Church , 10,000 Maniacs , Michelle Shocked , The BoDeans , Thomas Dolby , A Flock of Seagulls , and Red Hot Chili Peppers . Several live recordings of shows at Lisner have been produced. Nine of

2068-408: The text so that it might satisfy all parties involved ( censorship , impresario , and authors). A replacement would have to be found. Ferretti, despite harboring some ill-will against Rossini (the maestro had refused a libretto of his for The Barber of Seville ), nonetheless met with the composer and the impresario Cartoni and agreed to join the project. However, when he began to suggest topics for

2115-583: The university to admit African American students. The auditorium seats 1,350 and is the home of the Washington Concert Opera . Lisner Auditorium extends the modernist ethos favored by its architect, Waldron Faulkner (1898-1978), who was born in Paris, France , educated at Yale University , and became influential in Washington, D.C., area architecture, where he designed numerous institutional and residential structures. His work at GW began in

2162-417: The worthy bride Alidoro had described. When Clorinda and Tisbe arrive, Dandini gives them a little test: he offers his "valet" to whichever sister the "prince" does not marry. The ladies are outraged at the idea of marrying a servant. Alidoro then arrives with a beautiful, unknown lady who strangely resembles Cenerentola. Unable to make sense of the situation, they all sit down to supper, feeling like they are in

2209-413: Was 25 years old, following the success of The Barber of Seville the year before. La Cenerentola , which he completed in a period of three weeks, is considered to have some of his finest writing for solo voice and ensembles. Rossini saved some time by reusing an overture from La gazzetta and part of an aria from The Barber of Seville and by enlisting a collaborator, Luca Agolini, who wrote

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