The Passion of Opera

Last month we took a look at Washington National Opera’s first-ever production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle . While such a momentous undertaking does take up a large amount of the company’s time and money, it is not the only thing on the docket for the season. Here’s a look at the other shows upcoming over the next several months. First up is Bizet’s Carmen , September 19-October 3. It is a safe bet for the company, though, with famous showstoppers such as the Habanera, “ L’amour est un oiseau rebelle , ” and the Toreador song, “ Votre toast! ,” both of which have made their way into popular culture with their instantly recognizable tunes. The next show up is Appomattox , November 14-22. As an opera by Philip Glass, this show fits into the style of minimalism popularized in the 20 th century. This may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Glass is known for writing music that is highly cyclical, repeating themes hundreds of times with slight modification time after time...