Best Upcoming Operas In Los Angeles
Did you know Los Angeles has an opera house? Well, it does! The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was built in 1964 and took over as the official opera house in 2003 when the LA Phil relocated to the Walt Disney Hall. Hundreds of spectacular operas have been performed at the pavilion since then. And unlike other big cities, the opera season is year-round with longer run times. The 2016/17 opera schedule is up and looks to be amazing. If you're an opera fan, here are a few you'll definitely want to catch.
Thumbprint
LA Opera House
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-972-0711
www.laopera.org
Dates: June 15 through June 18, 2017
Thumbprint makes its West Coast premiere come June of 2017 with the harrowing based-on-true-events story of Mukhtar Mai, the first woman to bring her attackers to justice in Pakistan. After surviving a brutal situation issued as retribution for an "honor crime" committed by her brother, Mai finds courage and empowerment as she fights for not just her rights as a woman but for all women in her country. The show features deeply powerful performances by Susan Yankowitz and an intense score by Kamala Sankaram.
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Macbeth
LA Opera House
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-972-0711
www.laopera.org
Dates: September 17 through October 16, 2016
If you're a fan of the classic Shakespearean play Macbeth you'll absolutely love the opera. World renowned tenor Plácido Domingo and the unprecedented talent of conductor James Conlon makes LA Opera's Macbeth a true masterpiece. With Domingo's flawless performance as Macbeth and Conlon's of equally perfect execution of Giuseppe Verdi‘s original score, Macbeth is the opera of the year.
Salome
LA Opera House
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-972-0711
www.laopera.org
Dates: February 18 through March 19, 2017
Allow yourself to become enthralled in a complex and wicked tale of violence and seduction that is Salome. A princess becomes infatuated with prisoner and holy man John the Baptist. Lust and jealousy ensue as Salome pursues him, determined to have him at any cost, including her own life. Based on Oscar Wilde's scandalous play and original score by Richard Strauss, Salome is riveting and a must-see with the exceptionally talented Patricia Racette and Tómas Tómasson as leads.
Tosca
LA Opera House
135 N. Grand Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-972-0711
www.laopera.org
Dates: April 22 through May 13, 2017
Tosca is Giacomo Puccini's Italian opera adaptation of French playwright Victorien Sardou's La Tosca. It took Puccini four years to to convert the play into a passionate and dramatic force only Italian operas can deliver. Impeccable casting with Sondra Radvanovsky as Tosca, a woman caught in a deadly triangle between two men; Russell Thomas as her lover Mario Cavaradossi; and Egils Silins as the police chief, Scarpia. This story of love and betrayal will captivate you from beginning to end. Run time is 2 hours and 50 minutes with two intermissions.
NOSFERATU
The Theater at Ace Hotel
929 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 623-3233
www.nosferatuopera.com
Dates: October 29-31, 2016
Nosferatu is not at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, but it's something you'll want to see if you're a Dracula fan. Turning F.W. Murnau's classic silent film into an opera is no small feat considering most of Hans Erdmann original score has been lost. However, composer and conductor Matthew Aucoin has created a new score that is sure to thrill and chill audiences. The Ace Hotel Theater is in the historic United Artists building built in 1927 and adds to the atmosphere of what will be an evening on the edge of your seat. There's also a Halloween after party for ticket holders.
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Kristine G. Bottone is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
