Wolf Trap Opera Company
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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 young 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 fully-staged performances each summer at the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap.
Productions also feature the work of rising directors, conductors, designers, stage managers, scenic artists, and technicians.
From a pool of over 500 singers, typically 250 are chosen to audition. From that group about 20 are selected each season, the singers having already finished the academic and apprentice phases of their early careers. Over 90% of recent summer singers are now full-time professional singers. As of 2006, alumni from past Wolf Trap seasons have appeared with 77 different opera companies in the United States and Canada and with 42 companies in Europe.
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), Michael Maniaci (2002), Mel Ulrich (1993 and 1994), 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), Marie Plette (1993), John Aler (1973), and Phyllis Treigle (1985 and 1986).
The company typically presents one or two fully-staged operas at the Filene Center and two at the Barn of Wolf Trap. In addition, recitals and other performances take place. In 2006 the company presented The Marriage of Figaro, Telemann's Orpheus, Rossini's Le Comte Ory, and a concert presentation of Gounod's Romeo et Juliette in collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra.
