National Symphony Orchestra: Samuel Barber’s Vanessa

NSO continues a series begun last season of presenting an opera in concert under Music Director Gianandrea Noseda with Samuel Barber’s Vanessa, featuring an all-star cast of soloists: soprano Nicole Heaston, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, tenor Matthew Polenzani, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, and baritone Thomas Hampson. These performances of Barber’s Vanessa showcase Noseda’s experience in and passion for both opera and symphonic works. Vanessa is a tale of self-discovery, longing, and the consequences of choices made in the pursuit of love.  At its Metropolitan Opera premiere in 1958 the work was enthusiastically received by the audience, and one reviewer called it “the finest and most truly ‘operatic’ opera ever written by an American.”  The work won a Pulitzer prize and was performed by the Metropolitan Opera on tour and the Salzburg Festival of 1958.

Performances on Thursday, January 30 at 7 PM and Saturday, February 1 at 8 PM