Washington National Opera previous WNO seasons ("Das Rheingold" in 2006, "Die Walküre" in 2007, and "Siegfried" in 2009), the fourth opera, "Götterdämmerung", was given in a concert performance in November 2009. During the 2007/08 season, WNO produced three rarely staged operas: William Bolcom's "A View from the Bridge", G.F. Handel's "Tamerlano", and Richard Strauss' "Elektra". During the following season Gaetano Donizetti's "Lucrezia Borgia" and Benjamin Britten's "Peter Grimes" were given, while the 2009-2010 season featured Richard Strauss' "Ariadne auf Naxos" and Ambroise Thomas' "Hamlet". In May 2012 the Washington premiere of Verdi's "Nabucco" took place, directed by the rising star Thaddeus Strassberger. He
Peter Ibbetson (opera) is trying to flirt with Mrs. Deane, and in an aria insists on reciting an "original" poem. Peter joins the party late and brings in the poem, which is actually by Alfred de Musset, exposing his uncle as a fake. The Colonel curses Peter, and there is a tense moment, but the party resumes as Peter and Mrs. Deane become friends. As Peter recounts his melancholy circumstances, a longing theme,which will return many times in the course of the opera, accompanies the words "only you..." Peter tells Mrs. Deane of his childhood friend Mimsey, "toujours mal a la tete" and