AARS:  1998
Class:  Hybrid Tea
Zones:  4b-10
Parentage:  'opening night' x 'Ingrid Bergman'
Flowers:  Dark red; High-centered, 4-5"
Size:  3 - 5  feet
Fragrance:  Light, fruity
Of note:  Gorgeous, velvet crimson flowers.
Long stems for cutting.

The first Hybrid Tea red rose to be selected an All-America Rose Selection in fourteen years, 'Opening Night' shows great promise (by the way, parent 'opening night' won in 1984).  Just introduced, this will be a year of evaluation for 'Opening Night,' so the jury (as far as I am concerned) is still out regarding disease resistance and vigor.   However, it can be stated without reservation that the flowers are stunning:   Deep, velvet (and 'velvet' is the term that comes immediately to mind) blooms of high-centered elegance.  Substance is excellent, so 'Opening Night' will make a good cut flower; further, the blooms seem to hold their color well from start to finish. 

Dark, semi-green foliage is a good backdrop for the dark red flowers, and height is to five feet.  The only drawback so far seems to be that fragrance can only be described as mild.  Lack of fragrance is a shame, especially in a red rose of such beautiful color and proportion, but based on what I've seen so far, I can forgive.