Washington National Opera’s Spring Season

Cosi Fan Tutte — Mozart’s dense, stylish, comic opera called by one critic a “mix of comedy and psychological pain.” Directed by English giant theater-opera man Jonathan Miller, starring Elizabeth Futral, Renata Pokupic, Joel Prieto, Teddy Tahu Rhodes, William Shimell and Christine Brandes. February 25-March 15.

Nabucco — Verdi’s rarely done opera about an epic royal family battle for power in the ancient world with the Babylonian king, Nabucco (aka Nebuchadnezzar, he who defeated and enslaved the Jews), in the foreground. Lavishly directed by Thaddeus Strassberg, with WNO Music Director Philippe Auguin conducting and Franco Vassallo and Csilla Boross debuting for the WNO in the starring roles. April 28-May 21.

Werther — Considered to be Massinet’s finest work about the young poet Werther (of Goethe fame) who falls in love with the beautiful Charlotte in a doomed love affair. Italian tenor Francesco Mell stars as Werther with mezzo-soprano Sonia Ganassias as Charlotte. Chris Alexander directs, and Emmanuel Villaume conducts. May 12-27.

Angela Gheorghiu in Concert — The famed Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu performs in concert March 7 at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House with a program of selections from operas by Mozart, Massenet, Puccini and others. Part of this season’s Placido Domingo Celebrity Series.

Diva Light: An Evening with Deborah Voigt — The noted Wagner singer takes a break from “Sturm und Drang” and performs songs from the Great American Songbook with Teddy Tahu Rhodes (who is also in “Cosi,” accompanied by the WNO Orchestra, conducted by Ted Sperling. Also part of the Domingo series, March 17.