Our acclaimed digital production is available to stream on Marquee TV
LA Opera proudly presents The Anonymous Lover (L'Amant Anonyme), an unjustly neglected 1780 chamber opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a pioneering Black composer who was a contemporary of Mozart.
The comic romance tells the story of Léontine, a beautiful young widow who has become disillusioned with love. Much to her surprise, she receives a steady stream of letters and gifts from an unknown man professing his undying passion. This amuses her friend Valcour, who also claims to have no interest in romance. But now, after hiding his true feelings for years, Valcour works up the courage to reveal that he himself is the devoted secret admirer. Will his (inevitably awkward) confession sway a woman sworn to resist all affairs of the heart?
Directed by Bruce A. Lemon, Jr., in a socially distanced stage setting that blends both modern film and traditional opera staging, the performance will be streamed online, to reach a wide audience, with the cast and musicians performing at the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall. Bologne's brilliant score is conducted by Music Director James Conlon, leading the LA Opera Orchestra in a separately recorded session.
LA Opera audiences get 50% off an annual subscription to Marquee TV where you can watch The Anonymous Lover now start your free trial
Click here to read James Conlon's program note on The Anonymous Lover.
Click here to read a note from director Bruce A. Lemon, Jr.
Want to dig deeper into the world of Joseph Bologne? Click here for your one-stop shop to all things The Anonymous Lover.
"Sparkling originality...astonishing musical and dramatic complexity...razor-sharp comic precision"
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Tiffany Townsend as Léontine in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Robert Stahley as Valcour, the title character in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Robert Stahley as Valcour, the title character in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Alaysha Fox as Dorothée in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Michael J. Hawk as Ophémon in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Michael J. Hawk as Ophémon in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Tiffany Townsend as Léontine in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Tiffany Townsend as Léontine in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Tiffany Townsend as Léontine in "The Anonymous Lover"
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Alaysha Fox as Dorothée
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Alaysha Fox as Dorothée, Michael J. Hawk as Ophémon, Tiffany Townsend as Léontine, Robert Stahley as Valcour, Jacob Ingbar as Colin and Gabriela Flores as Jeannette
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Tiffany Townsend (left) as Léontine and Robert Stahley (right) as Valcour, with dancers Andrea Beasom and Daniel Lindgren
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Gabriela Flores as Jeannette and Jacob Ingbar as Colin
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Gabriela Flores (left) as Jeannette and Jacob Ingbar (right) as Colin, with dancers Daniel Lindgren and Andrea Beasom
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Dancers Daniel Lindgren and Andrea Beasom
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Dancers Daniel Lindgren and Andrea Beasom
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Dancers Daniel Lindgren and Amanda Beasom
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James Conlon conducts the LA Opera Orchestra in a rehearsal of "The Anonymous Lover"
Melanie BroussalianCast
- Léontine
- Tiffany Townsend
- Valcour
- Robert Stahley
- Ophémon
- Michael J. Hawk
- Dorothée
- Alaysha Fox
- Jeannette
- Gabriela Flores
- Colin
- Jacob Ingbar
Creative Team
- Conductor
- James Conlon
- Director
- Bruce A. Lemon, Jr.
- Dramaturg
- Ariane Helou
- Projection and Set Design
- Hana S. Kim
- Costume Design
- Misty Ayres
- Lighting Design
- Pablo Santiago
- Choreographer
- Andrea Beasom
Creators
- Composer
- Joseph Bologne
- Librettist
- Madame de Genlis

Read the synopsis
Sung in French (subtitled in English), with dialogues spoken in English translation.
Estimated running time: one hour and 45 minutes, including one 10-minute intermission.
Production made possible with generous support from the Colburn Foundation.
Special production support from Lawrence A. Kern.
The singers in the cast are all members of the company's young artist program.
LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program is generously underwritten by the Colburn Foundation, Eugene and Marilyn Stein, and Richard and Lenore Wayne.
The Anonymous Lover is produced and streamed in partnership with the Colburn School, which will concurrently and collaboratively engage in a performance-based exploration of the works and legacy of Joseph Bologne.
By arrangement with Opera Ritrovata, publisher and copyright owner; engraving and editing by George N. Gianopoulos, Stephen Karr, Leila Núñez-Fredell, and Mishkar Núñez-Fredell.
For additional cast and production credits, click here.