Washington National Opera marches onward with a joyous Treemonisha

Viviana Goodwin (Treemonisha) and Jonathan Pierce Rhodes (Zodzetrick)

Kevin Short (Ned) and Tichina Vaughn (Monisha)

Treemonisha at Washington National Opera

Viviana Goodwin (Treemonisha) and ensemble

By Sam Jacobson, 20 March 2026

Loading, please wait...

See full listing

“reminding us that the arts are owned by we, the people”

Reviewed at George Washington University: Lisner Auditorium, Washington on 15 March 2026

Joplin, Treemonisha

Washington National Opera

Kedrick Armstrong, Conductor

Denyce Graves, Director

Lawrence E Moten III, Set Designer

Lynly Saunders, Costume Designer

Jason Lynch, Lighting Designer

Washington National Opera Orchestra

Washington National Opera Chorus

Viviana Goodwin, Treemonisha

Justin Austin, Remus

Tichina Vaughn, Monisha

Jonathan Pierce Rhodes, Zodzedrick

Kevin Short, Ned

Nina Evelyn, Lucy

Hakeem Henderson, Andy

Ernest Jackson, Cephus

Jim Williams, Luddud

Nicholas LaGesse, Parson Alltalk

Thandolwethu Mamba, Simon

WNO's Samson et Dalila shows how sweet love's poison can sound

Sydney Boyd, 1st March

Strong singing but a stellar orchestra and staging make for a riveting production at the Kennedy Center.

****1

A #metoo Don Giovanni at Washington National Opera

Sydney Boyd, 29th February

Lots of people talk about keeping opera relevant. WNO shows why this opera always has been.

****1

Washington National Opera's merry take on Mozart's Magic Flute

Sydney Boyd, 2nd November

Could The Magic Flute be the next Nutcracker? A child-friendly take on the classic in a mash-up of pyramids and petticoats.

***11

Russell Thomas shines in gloomy David Alden's Otello

Vishnu Bachani, 26th October

The combination of a strong, spirited cast and a first-rate orchestral performance led by Daniele Callegari rendered the opera a moving experience in spite of drab staging and latent, unexplored tensions.

***11

Venera Gimadieva leads a moving Traviata in DC

Ako Imamura, 21st October

A strong new Traviata from Washington National Opera with the welcome house debut of Venera Gimadieva as a fabulous Violetta.

****1

Musically resplendent Don Carlo in Washington

Edward Sava-Segal, 3rd March

The team of soloists, the chorus and the orchestra, under the baton of Philippe Auguin, powerfully conveyed the spectacular qualities of Verdi's Don Carlo.

****1

More reviews...

Sam Jacobson

Sam Jacobson has been writing for Bachtrack since 2015 and is currently in Pittsburgh, having previously lived throughout the Midwest. A keen traveler, he endeavors to see all the great orchestras and opera houses across the US and abroad. Outside of music, he works as a software engineer. He also maintains a blog which can be read here.