National Opera Announces 5 New Productions For D.C.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Washington National Opera says it will bring five new productions to the nation's capital in the final season developed by Placido Domingo before he steps down as director.

The 2011-2012 season announced Tuesday will include Puccini's "Tosca," Donizetti's "Lucia di Lammermoor," Mozart's "Cosi Fan Tutte," the company premiere of Verdi's "Nabucco," and Massenet's "Werther."

In a statement, Domingo says the season's hallmarks will be "dramatic tension and sparkling scores."

Domingo previously announced he would step down as general director in June after 15 years of leading the company. He says he plans to stay involved and will return in September to conduct "Tosca."

The opera recently announced an affiliation with the Kennedy Center on July 1 after years of financial troubles.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)