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Ruth Bader Ginsburg to Make Opera Debut With Washington, D.C. Production

She'll take the stage on Nov. 12 at The Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera announced Friday.
Image: Placido Domingo escorts U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg off the stage
Placido Domingo escorts U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Anthony M. Kennedy, far left, off the stage after they played the roles of themselves along with fellow Justice Stephen Breye in the Washington Opera's production of "Die Fledermaus" at Independence Hall in Washington, on Sept. 6, 2003. Despite their limited performing arts resumes, the three made rare special appearances, with non-singing roles, in the opera.GERALD HERBERT / AP, file
By Erik Ortiz

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is hanging up her robe — for one night only.

Ginsburg has landed the part of The Duchess of Krakenthorp in "The Daughter of the Regiment," an 1840 operatic rom-com by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti.

She'll take the stage on the show's opening night Nov. 12 at The Kennedy Center, the Washington National Opera announced Friday.

Image: Supreme Court Justices Ginsburg and Scalia after an opera performance
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, left, and Antonin Scalia, center, poses with members of the cast of "Ariadne auf Naxos" following a performance at the Washington opera on Jan. 8, 1994 in Washington, D.C.STEPHEN R. BROWN / AP, file

It will be the 83-year-old justice's official debut with the company, although she had previously appeared as an extra on stage in three previous productions.

While Ginsburg is known for her love of the operatic art form — a passion she shared with the late Justice Antonin Scalia — audiences won't actually get to hear a soaring oratory told in song. Her part is strictly a speaking role.

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Some of her character's lines, however, will be modified to reflect her real-life job, and her costume will include duchess attire and a big feathery hat, according to NPR.

Washington National Opera's artistic director, Francesca Zambello, had asked Ginsburg to perform during the production's entire run through Nov. 20, NPR reported, but she turned them down. She reportedly said she couldn't have both a "day job and a night job."

Erik Ortiz

Erik Ortiz is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital focusing on racial injustice and social inequality.