LA Opera

From the multi-level ship to a giant mast, the stage design of our 2014 production of Billy Budd certainly reflected the complexity and scale of Britten's operatic masterpiece. Ahead of tonight's audio stream at 5PM PT, learn from esteemed opera director Francesca Zambello (who we can’t wait to welcome back for Aida next spring) how this larger-than-life production came together.

The endlessly fabulous Susan Graham returns to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion this week for a very special #LAOperaOnNow Signature Recital dedicated to the one and only Kurt Weill. With accompaniment from our own Jeremy Frank, this superb performance will be available to watch starting Friday, April 23. Don’t have your tickets yet? Get access to all five recitals in the series on our website: https://bit.ly/3ejZadz

That feeling when you remember our audio stream of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd sets sail tomorrow. Our latest #LAOperaOnNow From the Vault offering features stunning audio and striking photography from our 2014 production, starring Liam Bonner in the titular role and direction by Francesca Zambello. This operatic adventure of unbelievable proportions goes live here and on YouTube tomorrow, April 27, at 5PM PT. ... : Robert Millard

Maestro James Conlon recently took his famous music history lectures to TEDxBeaconStreet, where he delved into his decades-long journey to resurrect and highlight music that was systematically repressed by the Nazi regime. Click below to watch this enlightening talk and check out the corresponding Spotify playlist here: https://spoti.fi/2Q56VMt

Happy Oscar Sunday from Downtown LA! We’re excited to see this year’s ceremony at Union Station, just a mile away from the Music Center. A fun fact about the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: Our beloved theater was home to the Academy Awards from 1969-1987 and then alternated with the Shrine Auditorium until 2001. Best of luck to all those nominated tonight

Friday night at the cabaret? Count us in. The beloved Susan Graham is back on the DCP stage (and sounding better than ever) in her #LAOperaOnNow Signature Recital. Featuring accompaniment from Jeremy Frank, you can watch this enchanting program of Kurt Weill classics on our website NOW. Get access to this must-see performance, as well as the rest of the series, on our website: https://bit.ly/3ejZadz

Get ready for an operatic adventure on the high seas as our audio-only #LAOperaOnNow presentation of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd sets sail on Tuesday, April 27. Relive the glory and drama of our 2014 production, directed by Francesca Zambello and conducted by Maestro James Conlon, when we go live here on Facebook and on YouTube at 5PM PT. : Robert Millard

Golden hour looks good on the DCP Spring has sprung in our ever-picturesque hometown and the air is full of hope (and pollen). We can't wait to see you all on the Plaza soon.

Seeing our orchestra rehearsing today at the baton of Maestro James Conlon was truly a sight (and sound) to behold. We’re not going to lie stepping into the house after so long away and hearing our world-class orchestra do what they do best made us a little emotional. We can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on stay tuned.

Lost film finds a new home with our newest #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short, let me come in, directed by filmmaker Bill Morrison. Composed by Pulitzer-Prize winner David Lang, and sung beautifully by our dear friend Angel Blue, this evocative piece of music breathes new life into resurrected footage from the 1928 silent movie, Pawns of Passion. Mark your calendars for Friday, April 30, at 11AM PT to watch the world premiere.

Step (and sing) into spring with your little opera fans as LA Opera Connects stages the next virtual session of Saturday Mornings at the Opera on May 22. Celebrate the joys of the season with a brand new Spring Fling episode of Sing Out Loud" featuring Maria Elena Altany, Cedric Berry, Jamie Chamberlin, Ashley Faatoalia, Shabnam Kalbasi, and Charlie Kim. Be sure to register by April 26 to receive a special care package of art supplies for your tiny tikes to delight in. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3wQzcXz : Taso Papadakis

Help us congratulate our very own Tiffany Townsend, who most recently blew us away as Leontine in "The Anonymous Lover," on receiving this year's prestigious Shoshana Foundation Richard F. Gold Career Grant : Lawrence K. Ho

LAST CHANCE ALERT Your opportunities to watch our #LAOperaOnNow digital presentation of Missy Mazzoli’s Breaking the Waves are about to set sail (with no return). Originally filmed at Opera Philadelphia, this daring and impassioned opera is available to view only until Monday, April 12. If you haven’t watched yet, or want to re-watch one more time, it’s now or never. Get free access at laopera.org/waves.... : Dominic M. Mercier for Opera Philadelphia

Here's a sneak peek of Russell Thomas and Kyung-Mi Kim's dazzling #LAOperaOnNow Signature Recital, which is available to watch starting TODAY at 5PM PT. It’s not too late to get your tickets to see Russell in all his glory plus you’ll get access to the rest of our all-star lineup of recitals. Visit our website to buy your recital pass now: https://bit.ly/3t0oZFJ

In anticipation of Russell Thomas’ #LAOperaOnNow Signature Recital, premiering tomorrow, April 9, we’re reliving some of his most memorable moments on our stage. Who could forget this especially this jaw-dropping duet with Angela Meade in our 2015 Norma? Fill your weekend with even more incredible music from our Artist in Residence by getting tickets for his (spoiler alert) sensational program, which will be available to watch starting at 5PM PT: https://bit.ly/3t0oZFJ

It’s a winning streak for Brown Sounds Our latest #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short has picked up two more awards: Best Music Video at the New York International Film Awards - NYIFA and Best Musical Short Film at the Anatolian Short Film Festival. A huge congrats to the entire creative team behind this beautiful and impactful project that's taking the world by storm: Raehann Bryce-Davis, mezzo soprano, Ayanna Witter-Johnson, Adonis Jeremy, Allan Virgo, Lateef Williams and Jeanne-Minette Cilliers - Pianist.

We are pleased and humbled to share that Terri and Jerry Kohl have made an incredibly generous donation to the company: an immediate $5 million gift and a challenge grant in support of the LA Opera Orchestra and our post-COVID recovery. With yesterday's news about openings and this inspiring gift, the imminent return of the LA Opera Orchestra looks better and brighter than ever. Learn more about the Kohls and this grant: https://bit.ly/3cZGjFr

Coming soon to a (home) screen near you: Modulation, a collection of 13 brand new digital operatic works produced in collaboration with the PROTOTYPE Festival. Choose your own adventure as you navigate through various musical portals exploring themes of isolation, identity and fear that have defined this past year. Each window will transport you to a unique composition and an accompanying visual piece. Streaming from Jan. 8 Jan. 16, get your tickets to this one-of-a-kind digital experience here: LAOpera.org/Modulation

Not only is The Five Moons of Lorca our first #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short, it’s also the first time we’ve been back at the DCP since March. Join us on Friday, December 11, as we (virtually) return to our favorite stage to watch this spell-binding expression of Gabriela Lena Frank and Nilo Cruz’s powerful work. Register here: laopera.org/lorca

A big thanks to our pals at Classical KUSC for including Friday's #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short premiere of "The Five Moons of Lorca" in today's roundup of classical music news. In case you haven't gotten your free (yes, free!) ticket yet to our 11AM PT stream, click here: laopera.org/lorca

#LAOperaOnNow Living Room Recitals continue LIVE with Michael J. Hawk, baritone as he shares some of his (and your) favorite songs from his living room to yours. LA Opera is both reliant on and grateful for your support to ensure the future of world-class opera in Los Angeles. Thank you for joining us.

If we put just as much time into setting up models for a young violinist to tutor at an impoverished school...and make that just as important and wonderful as winning a competition, then we would be better able to handle crises like this one. - Gabriela Lena Frank

If you’re not familiar with Federico García Lorca, here’s a quick history lesson: Lorca was a cherished Spanish poet and playwright who contributed to the boom of surrealist art in Europe following World War I. 70 years after his tragic assassination, composer Gabriela Lena Frank and playwright Nilo Cruz premiered their powerful operatic work, The Five Moons of Lorca ("Las cinco lunas de Lorca"). This week’s #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short premiere reimagines the opera and honors Lorca’s legacy with striking movement by flamenco dancer and choreographer, Irene Rodríguez Compañía, and music from Jacob Ingbar, Nicholas Roehler and the LA Opera Chorus. RSVP for our 11AM PT stream this Friday, December 11, here: laopera.org/Lorca.

On this day in 1964, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion opened its doors for the first time with a LA Phil performance. If there’s one undeniable fact in this world it’s this: The DCP has been, and will always be, the pinnacle of glamor. Do you remember your first visit to our beloved home?

Before he appears in our production of The Anonymous Lover next month, catch Michael J. Hawk, baritone tomorrow afternoon with a #LAOperaOnNow Living Room Recital inspired by William Shakespeare. Feast your ears on the sounds of French opera and Broadway tunes when we go live at 4PM PT.

Pour yourself a cup of coffee for today’s #LAOperaOnNow episode of Coffee with Conlon, and get ready to learn everything you’d want to know about opera and classical music.

Things that go great with your morning cup of joe: Cozy slippers, a warm breakfast pastry and Maestro James Conlon Tune in tomorrow at 10AM PT for a new #LAOperaOnNow installment of Coffee with Conlon to learn about Maestro’s Juilliard days and his favorite Halloween-adjacent operas.

Our opera pals Nathan Granner and Jamie Chamberlin are back for another episode of "Sing Out Loud," and they have some great adventures in store for your little opera fans.

Today's #LAOperaOnNow adventure is for the little opera fans at home. Jamie Chamberlin Granner and Nathan Granner are joined by Nandani Maria Sinha in a brand new "Sing Out Loud" episode dedicated to their furry friends. Gather up the kiddos and tune in at 2PM PT to watch live.

Did you catch John Holiday's electrifying performance on The Voice last night? Our dear friend brought down the house, blew away the judges and secured a spot on John Legend's team with a goosebump-inducing rendition of Etta James' "Misty." We're beyond proud and can't wait to watch the world fall in love with this incredible talent.

Wagner's epic, "Tannhauser" premiered exactly 175 years ago today, and it only seems fitting to celebrate with a conversation of literally astronomical proportions. This Thursday, Oct. 22, LA Opera Connects is uniting astronomer Dr. Laura Danly and our very own Maestro James Conlon in a discussion about Venus and her (powerful) influence in Wagner's epic. Register https://bit.ly/2FI8Ilo

Help us congratulate the incredible Gabriela Lena Frank for receiving the prestigious Heinz Award We are constantly inspired by the way Gabriela shares Latin American history and culture through her art, as well as her dedication to inspiring the next generation of music-makers. We look (very) forward to seeing her #LAOperaOnNow Digital Short, coming soon.

Our beloved Maestro James Conlon is getting ready to brew a fresh #LAOOnNow installment of Coffee with Conlon, airing next week. Have some hard-hitting opera questions only an expert can answer? Or want to learn more about Maestro’s illustrious career? Submit all your queries in the comments

#LAOOnNow Living Room Recitals continue LIVE with @Gabriela Flores, Mezzosoprano and Gilberto Amaro as they share some of their (and your) favorite songs from their living room to yours. LA Opera is both reliant on and grateful for your support to ensure the future of world-class opera in Los Angeles. Thanks for joining us as we celebrate the close of Hispanic Heritage Month!

Today marks the next and newest phase of streaming as LA Opera At Home becomes LA Opera On Now. We look forward to a long future of fresh and innovative digital opera, starting with our livestream of The Anonymous Lover on November 14. You can also continue watching all the content you’ve grown to love over the past few months. Check out what’s new at www.laopera.org/onnow.