After wrapping a nearly sold-out and memorable run of La Traviata all we can think about is more opera. Summer time may mean vacation for some, but for your favorite artists it's their time to "hit" both national and international stages. From London to Santa Fe, Korea to Spain all your favorites were hard at work.
Curious what they were up to?
Placido Domingo
Placido Domingo in LA Opera's 2019 - El Gato Montes
Our own Mr. Worldwide (sorry Pitbull), Placido Domingo, had a very busy summer. From the podium to the main stage Mr. Domingo was everywhere. Domingo kicked off his summer in Germany, starring in the classic Nabbuco in Semperoper, Dresden. Other highlights included an appearance in Madrid, Spain at the Almudena Cathedral, Operalia in Prague, as well as conducting Aida in Verona, Italy. In 2019-20 Placido Domingo will return to the LA Opera stage in Roberto Devereux portraying a wronged husband caught up in Devereux's web of deceit (it's reality TV, only better because of its opera.)
James Conlon
James Conlon - Richard Seaver Music Director of LA Opera - Dan Steinberg
Victoria Looseleaf said it, and we'll say it again, James Conlon was "born to lead"; and that is just what Conlon spent the summer doing. After concluding a successful run of La Traviata at LA Opera, Conlon jetted off to the international podium. Conlon kicked off his summer conducting Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco in Madrid Spain, followed by an appearance at RAI National Symphony Orchestra in Matera, Italy. Conlon concluded his successful summer in August at the Salzburg Festival before he returns in September to conduct La Boheme, his first in LA!
Matthew Aucoin
Matthew Aucoin conducting Rigoletto - LA Opera 2018 - Ken Howard
He may be an LA opera artist in residence, but this summer Matthew Aucoin's residence was anywhere but Los Angeles. The 2018 MacArthur Genius Award recipient made an appearance at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina with a performance of his Dual. Additional performances included excerpts from Crossing at the Morgan Library in New York City as well as AMOC in East Hampton, NY. Matthew Aucoin will return to the LA Opera stage, along with fellow MacArthur (Genius Award) recipient Mary Zimmerman, conducting the world premiere of his opera Eurydice in February 2020.
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming stars in The Light in the Piazza - London - Dewynters
Much like Margaret Johnson, the role Fleming will be reprising in The Light in the Piazza this October, Fleming spent her summer traveling. From the London production of The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall, in which critics called her portrayal of a distressed mother as one with "confiding poignancy," to her debut at the Santa Fe opera performing Letters From Georgia, Fleming captivated worldwide audiences with "a voice as warm and rich as a fine single malt."
Ramon Vargas
Vargas in LA Opera's 2018 Don Carlo
Tenor Ramon Vargas has captivated LA Opera audiences as Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore and in the title roles of Werther and Don Carlo. Vargas also was recently featured in Opera News as winner of the 14th Annual Opera News Award. Before he makes his return to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as Devereux in Roberto Devereux, alongside Placido Domingo, Vargas captivated audiences all across Europe. Summer appearances included Riccardo in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera at the Grand Theatre in Geneve, Switzerland.
Sarah Vautour
Vautour as the Dew Fairy - Hansel and Gretel - Corey Weaver
The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artists continue to make us proud with their captivating performances. Vautour may have been the Dew Fairy that put Hansel and Gretel to sleep, but she’s been anything but sleep-inducing this summer. Before she returns as Papagena in The Magic Flute and Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Vautour will have spent her summer as the soprano soloist in Rossini's Stabet Mater, as well as the cover for the title role of Alaide in Bellini's La Straniera.
So Young Park
So Young Park
Sorry Regina George, she's our Queen (of the Night) Bee. After a mesmerizing performance as Miss Schlesen in Satyagraha we know you were probably left wondering "when she'll be back?" Don't worry she'll be back, but before the Queen of the Night returns to her throne at LA Opera for The Magic Flute, Domingo-Colburn-Stein alumnus So Young Park will have travel to lands near and far. This summer Park appeared as Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto in St. Louis Missouri, in addition to special appearances at the Bard Music Festival and the WECLASSIC Concerts Tour in Korea.
And it's not too late to secure your chance to see these favorites (a maybe find a new favorite) this season at LA Opera.
Curtains rise September 14th will you be there?
