Wolf Trap Opera Company
The Wolf Trap Opera Company was founded in 1971 as part of the program of the Wolf Trap Foundation located near the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Fairfax County, Virginia. The company is a residency and training program for aspiring opera professionals, with its major production being a summer opera festival.
Mission and development
The company's mission is to discover and develop talent in the opera field and to serve young singers by giving them training and performance experience with opera productions, concerts and recitals each summer at the Filene Center and The Barns at Wolf Trap. Productions also feature the work of rising directors, conductors, designers, coaches, stage managers, scenic artists, and technicians.The company typically presents three operas at the Filene Center and/or The Barns at Wolf Trap. In addition, recitals and other performances take place. Wolf Trap Opera also regularly presents operatic rarities in full production.
Achievements
Over 90% of recent Filene Young Artists are working as professional singers. Among notable alumni are Stephanie Blythe, Lawrence Brownlee, Elizabeth Futral, Denyce Graves, Christine Goerke, Nathan Gunn, Beverly Hoch, Lisa Hopkins, Michael Maniaci, Simon O'Neill, Dawn Upshaw, Jennifer Larmore, Mark Delavan, Paul Austin Kelly, James Maddalena, Mary Dunleavy, Robert Orth, Rockwell Blake, Richard Croft, and Anna Christy.In December 2009, the Company's 2007 live recording of John Musto's Volpone was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Opera Recording.