New Washington National Opera Performance Series Premieres on XM August 28

“Washington National Opera on XM” to feature performances by Plácido Domingo, Heinz Fricke, Sonia Ganassi, Alan Held, Hei-Kyung Hong, André Previn, and Verónica Villarroel

Washington, D.C., August 22, 2007 – XM, the nation’s leading satellite radio service with more than 8.2 million subscribers, and Washington National Opera (WNO) under General Director Plácido Domingo, today announced a new series featuring performances from Washington National Opera. Premiering Tuesday, August 28 on XM, the inaugural run of “Washington National Opera on XM” will include operas from WNO’s recent seasons, including Norma, La Cenerentola, Die Walküre, A Streetcar Named Desire, Manon Lescaut, and La traviata.

Featured artists in the series will include Plácido Domingo, Heinz Fricke, Sonia Ganassi, Alan Held, Hei-Kyung Hong, André Previn, and Verónica Villarroel, among many others.

“Washington National Opera on XM” will debut with WNO’s production of Norma, Bellini’s bel canto drama about a Druid high priestess betrayed by her lover during the era of Roman occupation, which features two of opera’s most memorable tunes “Mira, O Norma” and “Casta Diva.” Hasmik Papian sings the title role with Irina Mishura as Adalgisa and Richard Margison as Pollione.

“Washington National Opera on XM” will air Tuesdays at 12 noon ET on XM’s dedicated classical vocals and opera channel VOX (XM 112), with encore broadcasts Fridays at 6 p.m. ET and Saturdays at 12 midnight ET.

“Washington National Opera on XM” Schedule

Vincenzo Bellini’s Norma
August 28, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
August 31, 6 p.m. ET
September 1, 12 midnight ET
Emmanuel Villaume, conductor
Norma: Hasmik Papian
Adalgisa: Irina Mishura
Pollione: Richard Margison

Gioachino Rossini’s La Cenerentola
September 4, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
September 7, 6 p.m. ET
September 8, 12 midnight ET
Riccardo Frizza, conductor
Angelina: Sonia Ganassi
Don Ramiro: Jesús Garcia
Dandini: Simone Alberghini
Don Magnifico: Alfonso Antoniozzi

Richard Wagner’s Die Walküre
September 11, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
September 14, 6 p.m. ET
September 15, 12 midnight ET
Heinz Fricke, conductor
Brünnhilde: Linda Watson
Sieglinde: Anja Kampe
Fricka: Elena Zaremba
Siegmund: Plácido Domingo
Wotan: Alan Held
Hunding: Kurt Rydl

André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire
September 18, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
September 21, 6 p.m. ET
September 22, 12 midnight ET
André Previn, conductor
Blanche DuBois: Susannah Glanville
Stella Kowalski: Peggy Kriha Dye
Mitch: Anthony Dean Griffey
Stanley Kowalski: Teddy Tahu Rhodes

Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut
September 25, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
September 28, 6 p.m. ET
September 29, 12 midnight ET
Plácido Domingo, conductor
Manon: Verónica Villarroel
des Grieux: Franco Farina
Lescaut: Roberto Servile

Giuseppe Verdi’s La traviata
October 2, 12 noon ET
Encore broadcasts:
October 5, 6 p.m. ET
October 6, 12 midnight ET
Giovanni Reggioli, conductor
Violetta: Hei-Kyung Hong
Alfredo: John Matz
Germont: Jorge Lagunes

About Washington National Opera
Washington National Opera is recognized internationally as one of the premier opera companies. Under the leadership of General Director Plácido Domingo, Washington National Opera attracts critically-acclaimed artists and is dedicated to broadening the public’s awareness and understanding of opera.

The company has earned its position through the number and quality of its new productions and by championing lesser known works of significant musical worth rarely presented on today's opera stages. The company is committed to sustaining new American opera and presenting new works in crucial second productions to expand the operatic repertory.

Washington National Opera also is known for its discovery and nurturing of important young talent through the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program and the international collaboration system it has pioneered with leading foreign opera companies. The company reaches a wide-ranging audience locally, nationally and internationally through its access initiatives, the Center for Education and Training, and Generation O, a young patrons program for adults age 18 to 35.

For more information about membership, programs, and how everyone can experience the opera, visit www.dc-opera.org.

About XM
XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 8.2 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota, is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements in this press release include demand for XM Satellite Radio's service, the Company's dependence on technology and third party vendors, its potential need for additional financing, as well as other risks described in XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc.'s Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 3-1-07. Copies of the filing are available upon request from XM Radio's Investor Relations Department.

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Source: XM / Washington National Opera

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