Washington Opera To Get New, Improved Facility

<H1> Washington Opera To Get New, Improved Facility</H1>By Barbara Cook

<I>Washington, D.C. </I>- If time allows, business travelers soon will be able to take a cultural side trip when they visit the nation's capital. An unexpected $18 million gift has allowed the Washington Opera to purchase a landmark building in the heart of downtown, which it plans to convert into a state-of-the-art opera facility by the year 2000.

If successful, the opera house will join other new construction in the center of Washington-including a new convention center-that is designed to attract more travelers to the District of Columbia.

In early July, the Washington Opera won a significant decision from the D.C. Zoning Commission, which voted to allow it to convert the former Woodward & Lothrup flagship store at 11th and F Streets N.W. to an opera house. Opera officials were successful in convincing the commission that such a facility, rather than more office space, would help invigorate the city's aging downtown area by stimulating the building of more restaurants and stores. The Washington Opera, directed by world-class tenor Placido Domingo, now performs at the Kennedy Center.

As envisioned, the main auditorium at the new opera house would have seating for 2,150 plus room for a 110-member orchestra. Plans also call for a rooftop restaurant and retail space, and the complex will house a 400-seat lecture hall and classrooms. The 95-year-old building is located over Metro Center, a major subway stop.

The Opera will offer 10 operas annually, plus more than 100 other musical, dance and theatrical performances.

The Opera House is expected to generate $70.6 million in annual income to the city. A spokesperson for the Opera pointed out that other cities that have developed opera houses-Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Diego-have contributed substantially to the city's bottom line from travel suppliers such as restaurants and hotels.

Obtaining approval from the zoning commission was a critical victory, but it still remains a first step in the process toward the opera house's opening. The board of directors said it now will undertake a two-year fund-raising effort to generate $105 million to pay for the conversion of the former department store. Construction will begin when 75 percent of the fund raising is complete, a spokesperson said.