Wolf Trap Opera Visits Lake Wobegon

As has been the tradition for the past decade – Garrison Keillor is opening Wolf Trap’s summer season with his beloved Prairie Home Companion this weekend. However this year, we have a rare treat in store for you, an alumnus from the Wolf Trap Opera Company tenor Paul Appleby (pictured right) will be joining the PHC band on stage for a few songs, and later accompanied by Wolf Trap’s own Kim Pensinger Witman on piano for a rendition of Lensky's Aria from Eugene Onegin.

Keillor has shown a soft spot for opera singers on a few occasions in the past, however it’s by no means the norm for his line-up of guest performers. Bringing out a tenor to join his crew of regular characters and guests demonstrates just how much he considers opera to be part of the American music scene. It’s an interesting side note that Appleby got his start with a Bruce Springsteen tribute band – the epitome of American rock and roll. This all fits together so nicely for Memorial Day weekend at Wolf Trap –America’s only National Park for the Performing Arts.

The other songs Appleby will perform (as of now) include:

Day After Tomorrow by Tom Waits and

An American Tune by Paul Simon.

Stay tuned for video from tomorrow night's show right here on the blog...