James Conlon conducts an enchanting new staging directed by James Gray
(Los Angeles) January 5, 2023 — LA Opera continues its 2022/23 season with a new production of The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart's greatest comedy, conducted by Music Director James Conlon. The new staging, a co-production with the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris, is directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray, with costumes designed by celebrated fashion designer Christian Lacroix. Performances will take place from February 4 through 26, 2023, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.
"The Marriage of Figaro isn't just one of the greatest masterpieces in all of classical music, it's a life-affirming celebration of love and humanity," said Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera's president and CEO. " "The opera's beloved characters will be brought to life by a cast of longtime audience favorites who reflect the diversity of Los Angeles itself, and our tradition of collaboration with notable filmmakers continues through this new production created by director James Gray, with costumes by the iconic Christian Lacroix. Originally scheduled for the spring of 2020, this much anticipated staging at long last comes to our stage this season."
About the Opera
Something old, something new, something borrowed....and something threatening to throw Figaro’s wedding plans into complete disarray. Count Almaviva's wandering eye has landed on the Countess's maid Susanna, who's about to marry his manservant Figaro. Racing against the clock, Figaro and Susanna quickly concoct a plan to outwit their master. Will the wily duo outwit the Count in time to save the day?
The Performers
The cast features a number of singers who have long histories of distinguished performances with the company. Bass-baritone Craig Colclough stars as Figaro, his 12th role at LA Opera, where he was most recently seen as the Father in Hansel and Gretel. He has made recent debuts in leading roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Bavarian State Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago, among others. The role of Susanna will be performed by soprano Janai Brugger, who rose to become a star in the world's major opera houses after early training in LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. The roles of the Count and Countess will be performed by baritone Lucas Meachem, most recently seen in Los Angeles as Wolfram in Tannhäuser, and soprano Ana María Martínez, returning for her ninth leading role with LA Opera, more than any other soprano in the company's history.
The role of the pageboy Cherubino will be performed by mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb in her company debut.
Additional returning favorites include bass Kristinn Sigmundsson as Doctor Bartolo, soprano Marie McLaughlin as Marcellina and tenor Rodell Aure Rosel as Don Basilio. The cast also includes three current members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program: mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny (Barbarina), bass-baritone Alan Williams (Antonio) and tenor Anthony León (Don Curzio).
The Creative Team
James Conlon conducts a new production created by director James Gray, making his company debut. An acclaimed filmmaker, Gray is the writer and director of Ad Astra (starring Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones), The Lost City of Z (starring Charlie Hunnam and Siena Miller) and The Immigrant (starring Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix, among others.
The scenery is designed by Santo Loquasto, who made his company debut in 2008 with Il Trittico. The costumes are designed by French designer Christian Lacroix, a major force in the international fashion world since opening his own haute couture house in 1975. York Kennedy is the lighting designer, Jeremy Frank is the chorus director and Kitty McNamee is the choreographer.
Click here to download production photos and artist headshots.
Performance Dates, Times and Address
There will be six performances of The Marriage of Figaro at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, located at 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012:
Saturday, February 4, 2023, at 7:30pm
Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 7:30 pm
Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 19, 2023, at 2pm
Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 7:30pm
Sunday, February 26, 2023, at 2pm
Tickets
Tickets for The Marriage of Figaro begin at $20 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012). For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org.
Masks are no longer required indoors at the theater, although the wearing of masks is encouraged.
More information is available at LAOpera.org/Figaro.
About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.
In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects initiative offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reaches people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. The company also offers a multitude of online content via its LA Opera On Now digital offerings, which launched in 2020. Learn more at LAOpera.org.
LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554
Production made possible by generous support from
GRoW @ Annenberg
The Carol and Warner Henry Production Fund for Mozart Operas
Nanette and Keith Leonard
Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation
Ariane and Lionel Sauvage
and the
Emanuel Treitel Senior Citizen Fund
With special appreciation to
Gregory and Régina Annenberg Weingarten
Ana María Martínez’s appearance made possible by generous support from
The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund
Rihab Chaieb’s appearance is generously underwritten by a gift from
The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award
LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by
Terri and Jerry Kohl
LA Opera’s 2022/23 season is generously underwritten by
GRoW @ Annenberg
LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.
