Gianandrea Noseda, conductor
Nicole Heaston, soprano (Vanessa)
J’Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano (Erika)
Matthew Polenzani, tenor (Anatol)
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano (The Old Baroness)
Thomas Hampson, baritone (The Old Doctor)
Passion, secrets, and unforgettable music. Don’t miss this grand American opera!
Unfolding through bright, cinematic scenes and haunting twilight moments, Samuel Barber’s Vanessa casts a spell of densely layered emotion and the hopeless yearn for immortal love. NSO Music Director and renowned opera conductor Gianandrea Noseda—along with five acclaimed soloists in major roles—bring the timeless tale of love and longing to life.
Vanessa tells the story of three generations of women whose lives are upended by the arrival of a mysterious stranger. As passions flare and long-held secrets unravel, Barber’s score captures the intensity of desire, regret, and the enduring hope for redemption.
Nicole Heaston, J’Nai Bridges, Matthew Polenzani, Susan Graham, and Thomas Hampson join the orchestra in the major roles.
“Vanessa is a mirror of our society; one we often refuse to look into—much like the protagonist who covers the mirrors in her villa to avoid seeing the marks of time on her face. It’s an extraordinary opera following the 20th-century tradition of Puccini and Strauss, uniquely and profoundly combining European and American style.”
—Gianandrea Noseda
Sondra Radvanovsky has withdrawn from the National Symphony Orchestra’s performances of Vanessa on January 30 & February 1 due to personal reasons. We are delighted to announce that Nicole Heaston will join the NSO to sing the role of Vanessa for these concerts.
