LA Opera’s season breaks boundaries as it encompasses three centuries of the human experience, in all its passions, tragedies and triumphs. 

(Los Angeles) February 6, 2022 — LA Opera President and CEO Christopher Koelsch today announced details for the company's groundbreaking 37th season. Music Director James Conlon will conduct three mainstage productions and Colombian-American conductor Lina González-Granados will make her company debut as Resident Conductor, the first Latina to hold a high-ranking conducting position with a major U.S. opera company. 

The company will return to pre-pandemic levels with six mainstage productions—four of which will be new to Los Angeles—along with three concerts presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Several additional performances will be presented elsewhere through the company's Off Grand and Connects initiatives.

Mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion will include:

  • a new production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, conducted by Lina González-Granados in her debut as the company’s Resident Conductor, and starring Amanda Woodbury and Liv Redpath in the title role, along with Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Alexander Birch Elliott and Eric Owens

  • the West Coast premiere of Omar by Grammy and MacArthur Award-winning composer/librettist Rhiannon Giddens and celebrated composer Michael Abels, based on the autobiography of Omar Ibn Said, a West African scholar enslaved in the American South, starring Jamez McCorkle, Daniel Okulitch and Jacqueline Echols, and conducted by Kazem Abdullah

  • a revival of Puccini’s Tosca starring Angel Blue, Gregory Kunde and Ryan McKinny, conducted by Oksana Lyniv in her company debut

  • a new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by James Conlon and directed by James Gray, with costumes by Christian Lacroix and featuring a cast of company favorites including Craig Colclough, Ana María Martínez, Janai Brugger and Lucas Meachem

  • the company’s first production since 1995 of Debussy’s Pelléas and Mélisande, conducted by James Conlon and directed by David McVicar, starring Sydney Mancasola, Will Liverman, Kyle Ketelsen, Susan Graham and Ferruccio Furlanetto

  • a revival of Verdi's towering masterpiece Otello, not performed at LA Opera since 2008, conducted by James Conlon and starring Artist in Residence Russell Thomas, Rachel Willis-Sørensen and Igor Golovatenko

  • Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez in recital with pianist Vincenzo Scalera

  • a concert performance of Handel’s Baroque masterpiece Solomon, with Harry Bicket conducting The English Concert

  • an evening with superstar soprano Renée Fleming

LA Opera Off Grand performances will include: 

  • Halloween screenings of the 1931 Boris Karloff classic Frankenstein at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, with composer Michael Shapiro conducting his newly revised soundtrack score, played by musicians from the LA Opera Orchestra and singers from the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

  • a recital featuring tenor Russell Thomas, the company’s Artist in Residence, at The Colburn School

  • a recital featuring mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and Spanish guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas at The Colburn School

  • the West Coast premiere of a double bill by composer Emma O’Halloran and librettist Mark O’Halloran, Mary Motorhead and TRADE (the latter starring Marc Kudisch)presented at REDCAT in collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects

LA Opera Connects performances for the season will include:

  • BambinO, a groundbreaking new touring opera created especially for babies and toddlers

  • the world premiere of a trio of one-act operas for the Song of Los Angeles project, exploring what it means to be an Angeleno in the past, present and future

  • a revival of Moses, by composer Henry Mollicone and librettist Shishir Kurup, conducted by James Conlon and performed by hundreds of singers and musicians of all ages at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

Additional information can be found below, with complete casting, schedules and additional details at LAOpera.org.

LA OPERA'S LEADERSHIP WEIGHS IN
Christopher Koelsch, President and CEO"Both the individual elements and the overall sweep of the 2022/23 season were curated to be emblematic of the company’s celebrated and longstanding legacy of innovation and excellence, and reflective of the incredible diversity and vibrancy of our own community. I am certain that this new season will inspire our entire community to rejoice in the splendor of opera, and to bask in the soul-stirring experience of a return to live performance, and to each other."

James Conlon, Richard Seaver Music Director"As someone who is devoted to promoting the next generation of artists, I am pleased to welcome three highly gifted young conductors to the podium: Lina González-Granados, Kazem Abdullah and Oksana Lyniv, all making their company debuts. As for my own productions, I look forward to revisiting both Otello and The Marriage of Figaro and I am particularly passionate about reintroducing our audiences to Pellèas and Mèlisande, which hasn't been seen at LA Opera since 1995. I'm proud that my colleagues in the LA Opera Orchestra and Chorus all returned so impressively to music making after the unanticipated interruption that has affected all of us. They—together with our soloists and audiences—constitute a significant force that is devoted to preserving and maintaining the importance of operatic culture in our country."

Keith R. Leonard, Jr., chairman of the board of directors"As LA Opera continues to grow, I am profoundly grateful to see how proudly our community stands on our side. Thanks to the loyalty of our audiences and supporters, especially our incredibly dedicated board of directors, LA Opera is financially stable and planning a bold future. I am continually inspired by the visionary leadership of Christopher Koelsch and James Conlon; the new season is a tribute to their extraordinary commitment to artistic creativity, diversity and excellence."

MAINSTAGE PERFORMANCES AT THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION(135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012)The season’s mainstage productions notably include four former members of the company’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program returning to the company in starring roles—as well as a fifth former member of the program returning as conductor—after major successes in the world’s greatest opera houses.

A season-opening new production of Lucia di LammermoorGaetano DonizettiSeptember 17, 21, 24 and 28, October 2 and 9, 2022LA Opera’s new season launches with a spellbinding tale of marriage, madness and murder. Lina González-Granados leads the proceedings in her first outing as the company's new Resident Conductor. Director Simon Stone creates a powerful new production, a co-production with the Metropolitan Opera, that moves the story to a present-day world of desperation and decline.

   Lucia (Sep. 17-24): Amanda Woodbury ‡   Lucia (Sep. 28-Oct. 9): Liv Redpath ‡   Edgardo: Arturo Chacón-Cruz   Enrico: Alexander Birch Elliott*   Raimondo: Eric Owens   Arturo: Anthony Ciaramitaro ‡

   Conductor: Lina González-Granados*   Production: Simon Stone*   Set Designer: Lizzie Clachan*   Costume Designers: Alice Babidge* and Blanca Añón*   Lighting Designer: James Farncombe*   Projection Designer: Luke Halls*

* LA Opera debut‡ Former member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

A new LA Opera co-production with the Metropolitan Opera. LAOpera.org/Lucia

The West Coast premiere of OmarRhiannon Giddens and Michael AbelsOctober 22 and 30, November 2, 5, 9 and 13, 2022Omar Ibn Said's remarkable life is retold in an inspirational West Coast premiere inspired by his 1831 autobiography (the only known surviving American slave narrative written in Arabic). Composed in a collaboration by Grammy and MacArthur award winner Rhiannon Giddens (who also wrote the libretto) and Michael Abels, who composed the score for the Oscar-winning film Get Out, the luminous score incorporates captivating West African traditions with traditional opera instrumentation. 

   Omar: Jamez McCorkle*   Johnson/Owen: Daniel Okulitch   Julie: Jacqueline Echols   Omar’s Brother: Norman Garrett*   Auctioneer/Taylor: Barry Banks   Katie Ellen: Briana Hunter*

   Conductor: Kazem Abdullah* ‡   Production: Kaneza Schaal*   Production Designer: Christopher Myers*   Set Designer: Amy Rubin*   Costume Designers: April M. Hickman* and Micheline Russell-Brown*    Lighting Designer: Lucrecia Briceno*   Projection Designer: Joshua Higgason

* LA Opera debut‡ Former member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

West Coast premiere; co-commissioned by LA Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Carolina Performing Arts, Boston Lyric Opera, San Francisco Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago.LAOpera.org/Omar

Angel Blue stars in ToscaGiacomo PucciniNovember 19 and 27, December 1, 4, 7 and 10, 2022One of today's brightest superstars, soprano Angel Blue takes on the iconic role of Puccini's glamorous but tough-as-nails heroine. Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv leads a revival of the heart-pounding production staged by legendary director John Caird.

   Tosca: Angel Blue ‡ °   Cavaradossi: Gregory Kunde   Scarpia: Ryan McKinny   Angelotti: Wei Wu*   Sacristan: Philip Cokorinos   Sciarrone: Zachary James

   Conductor: Oksana Lyniv*   Production: John Caird   Scenery and Costume Designer: Bunny Christie   Lighting: Duane Schuler

* LA Opera debut‡ Former member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program° Recipient of the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award

Revival of a production from Houston Grand Opera.LAOpera.org/Tosca

A new production of The Marriage of FigaroWolfgang Amadeus MozartFebruary 4, 11, 16, 19, 23 and 26, 2023James Conlon conducts a new production directed by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray, with costumes designed by iconic fashion designer Christian Lacroix. 

   Figaro: Craig Colclough °   Susanna: Janai Brugger ‡ °   Count: Lucas Meachem   Countess: Ana María Martínez   Cherubino: Rihab Chaieb*   Doctor Bartolo: Kristinn Sigmundsson   Marcellina: Marie McLaughlin   Don Basilio: Rodell Aure Rosel

   Conductor: James Conlon   Production: James Gray*   Scenery: Santo Loquasto   Costumes: Christian Lacroix*

* LA Opera debut‡ Former member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program° Recipient of the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award

A new LA Opera co-production with Théâtre des Champs-Elysées (Paris, France).LAOpera.org/Figaro

Pelléas and Mélisande returns to LA Opera for the first time since 1995Claude DebussyMarch 25, April 2, 5, 8, 13 and 16, 2023James Conlon conducts Debussy’s enigmatic operatic masterpiece. David McVicar’s celebrated staging, which comes from Scottish Opera, captures an exquisitely nuanced dream world where forbidden love blossoms. 

   Mélisande: Sydney Mancasola*   Pelléas: Will Liverman*   Golaud: Kyle Ketelsen   Geneviève: Susan Graham   King Arkel: Ferruccio Furlanetto

   Conductor: James Conlon   Production: David McVicar    Stage Director: Leah Hausman*   Scenery and Costumes: Rae Smith*   Lighting: Paule Constable    Projections: Jack Henry James Fox*

* LA Opera debut

Production (new to Los Angeles) from Scottish Opera.LAOpera.org/Pelleas

Russell Thomas stars in the company’s first Otello since 2008Giuseppe VerdiMay 13, 17, 20 and 28, June 1 and 4, 2023Hailed as the crowning achievement of Italian opera, Verdi’s extraordinary transformation of Shakespeare’s play brilliantly portrays a hero’s descent into misguided obsession as he destroys everything that he holds dear. Verdi master James Conlon takes command of the truly epic musical forces, with a powerhouse cast led by Artist in Residence Russell Thomas in the title role.

   Otello: Russell Thomas   Desdemona: Rachel Willis-Sørensen*   Iago: Igor Golovatenko   Cassio: Anthony Ciaramitaro ‡   Lodovico: Morris Robinson

   Conductor: James Conlon   Production: John Cox   Scenery and Costume Designer: Johan Engels

* LA Opera debut‡ Former member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

Revival of an LA Opera co-production with Opéra de Monte-Carlo and Teatro Regio di Parma.LAOpera.org/Otello

RECITALS AND CONCERTS AT THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION(135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles CA 90012)

Tenor Juan Diego Flórez in recitalJanuary 23, 2023Juan Diego Flórez is recognized as one of the most admired artists of our time, hailed for his fearless vocal agility, unparalleled lyrical elegance, dashing stage presence and glorious high notes. Returning to the company for the first time in over a decade, the Peruvian tenor will perform a program of rapturous arias by his favorite composers along with a selection of beloved Spanish songs, partnering with his longtime collaborator, pianist Vincenzo Scalera.LAOpera.org/Florez

Concert: Solomon with The English ConcertGeorge Frideric HandelMarch 10, 2023Harry Bicket conducts The English Concert, the internationally acclaimed period-instrument orchestra, in a concert performance of Handel's 1749 English-language oratorio. A magnificent song of celebration, Solomon paints a portrait of the wise and just king through a cornucopia of musical delights, filled with dazzling arias, ravishing duets and thrilling choruses. (Cast to be announced later.)LAOpera.org/Solomon

An Evening with Renée FlemingJune 10, 2023A one-night-only performance by one of the greatest artists of our time—whose unforgettable LA Opera appearances include Violetta in La Traviata, Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire and Margaret Johnson in The Light in the Piazza, along with numerous recitals and concerts—will highlight her sumptuous voice, her unparalleled command of the stage and her wide-ranging musical curiosity. This performance will be a highlight of Ms. Fleming's annual residence as the company’s Advisor for Special Projects.LAOpera.org/Fleming

LA OPERA OFF GRAND PRESENTATIONSEach season, the company explores a range of unusual repertoire through the Off Grand initiative, performed in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The goal is to redefine what an opera company can be, and who it's for. Be prepared for anything: exquisite chamber music concerts, fun events that blur the line between performance and party, or funky new music-theater pieces created by the most innovative artists of our time. Off Grand highlights of the 2022/23 season include:

FrankensteinFilm (1931) by James Whale; score (2002; revised 2022) by Michael ShapiroOctober 28 and 29, 2022This 1931 masterpiece of horror was originally released without a musical score, and composer Michael Shapiro was inspired to fill in the void by creating his own original new soundtrack, first performed in 2002. LA Opera will present the premiere of a new version of his score, which will include vocalists. As the classic film plays on the big screen, Shapiro himself will conduct his gorgeous, atmospheric score, performed live by members of the LA Opera Orchestra and members of the company’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program.Presented at the Theatre at Ace Hotel (929 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90015)LAOpera.org/Frankenstein

Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard and guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas in recitalDecember 3, 2022It’s such a classic combo: solo voice with guitar. This intimate evening of Spanish music pairs Isabel Leonard, the glamorous mezzo-soprano who has dazzled opera lovers worldwide, with Pablo Sáinz-Villegas, praised by Billboard as “the soul of the Spanish guitar.”Presented at The Colburn School’s Zipper Hall (200 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012)LAOpera.org/Leonard

Tenor Russell Thomas in recitalFebruary 25, 2023Audiences cheer Russell Thomas’s performances in the heroic tenor repertoire, but that’s just one facet of his remarkable artistry. Join LA Opera's Artist in Residence for an intimate journey through his superlative musical and curatorial imagination in a recital featuring music by some of his favorite composers including Adolphus Hailstork and H. Leslie Adams.Presented at The Colburn School’s Zipper Hall (200 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012)LAOpera.org/Thomas

Mary Motorhead / TRADEApril 27, 28 29 and 30, 2023LA Opera’s multi-season collaboration with the groundbreaking Beth Morrison Projects continues with the West Coast premiere of a double bill by Irish composer Emma O’Halloran and Irish playwright Mark O’Halloran. 

In the compelling monodrama Mary Motorhead, a convicted murderer shares her secret history to shine some light on her actions. Naomi Louisa O’Connell stars as the woman pushed to the edge by circumstance. 

TRADE is the story of a rent boy and his closeted client in working-class Dublin. Meeting secretly in a cheap hotel, they wrestle with their own inner demons and their need for each other. Three-time Tony nominee Marc Kudisch (star of LA Opera’s Wonderful Town and anatomy theater) portrays a family man whose world is crumbling apart, with Kyle Bielfield as the young hustler determined to take charge of his future.Presented at REDCAT (631 West 2nd Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
LAOpera.org/Motorhead

For more information about LA Opera’s Off Grand initiative, visit LAOpera.org/OffGrand

LA OPERA CONNECTS: COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL OFFERINGSMany thousands of Angelenos experience the magic of opera throughout the year, and not just through the musical events presented on the stage. LA Opera Connects offers an astonishing variety of programs that share the wonder and promise of the art form with all ages, neighborhoods and communities. Highlights of these numerous initiatives include: 

Moses
Two performances on March 11, 2023
James Conlon conducts an inspiring tale of hope and faith by composer Henry Mollicone and librettist Shishir Kurup. Bringing together hundreds of singers and musicians of all ages, this heart-warming opera (which includes audience participation) is presented through the community opera initiative of family-friendly productions performed free of charge every spring.Presented at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012).

BambinONew in the 2022/23 season, BambinO is an opera specially designed for babies between six and 18 months old and their accompanying adults. Created by composer Lliam Paterson and directed by the ever-imaginative Phelim McDermott (director of LA Opera's Akhnaten and Satyagraha), it's a groundbreaking work full of enchantment and imagination.

Song of Los AngelesThe multi-season Song of Los Angeles project continues with a trio of one-act operas directed by Bruce A. Lemon, Jr., and curated by composer-conductor Michael Abels, with text by celebrated poet Imani Tolliver. This triptych of world premieres explores what it means to be an Angeleno in the past, present and future.Presented at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area (4100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90056).

For more information about LA Opera Connects programming, visit LAOpera.org/Community.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONSeason subscription tickets for the 2022/23 season are now available, starting at $104 for all six mainstage opera productions. For more information, please visit LA Opera’s website at LAOpera.org or call LA Opera’s box office at 213.972.8001.

Unless otherwise specified, performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012). 

Visit LAOpera.org for continually updated casting information and performance dates. 

Artist headshots and production photographs are available on the LA Opera Press Gallery: LAOpera.org/press/Press-Photos

All programs, artists and dates are subject to change.

ABOUT LA OPERALos 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 productions 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 company also offers a multitude of online content via its LA Opera At Home digital offerings, which launched on March 17, 2020.

The LA Opera Connects initiative, which offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings, is as integral to the company's artistic identity as mainstage productions and Off Grand performances. These broad-based engagement programs reflect the vibrancy and diversity of Los Angeles, reaching people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County.

Learn more about the company at LAOpera.org.

LA OPERA MEDIA CONTACT
Luz VillarrealDirector of Communications lvillarreal@laopera.org213.972.7554

LA Opera is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.

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