Artistic risk vs 'bread and butter': L.A. Opera general director Plácido Domingo introduced the 2008 / 2009 season that will see mezzo-soprano Viktoria Vizin in Carmen. It will also include Walter Braunfels' The Birds continuing James Conlon "Recovered Voices" series that surveys composers changed by the Holocaust.
During the Monday press conference, it was asked if this may be too safe a season. Domingo replied that any company requires a scope of work to be accessible, and market, to expand the reach of an ambitious, opera company.
L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon also responded,
stating that while the "fundamental risk lays with the conductor", the
season was designed to fuel interest in the novice opera attendee,
while challenging the base of devoted L.A. Opera subscribers.
Hurry or Wait: Downtown development could interfere with the
highly marketable 100th anniversary's of Richard Wagner and Giuseppe
Verdi's birthdates in 2013. During the press conference, a loose time
table with preliminary plans to update the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion
was revealed by Music Center President Stephen Roundtree.
The multistory office space at Temple and Grand, currently a two story building that houses the Center Theatre Group, has begun being discussed. After the press conference, Roundtree stated at this stage the land has only been surveyed.
view LAT [Los Angeles Opera will have a familar look] + [Variety] via [LAO]
In the current 2007/2008 season, the adulterous Tristan Und Isolde opens Jan 19 with sets designed by David Hockney.
2008/2009
IL TRITTICO
William Friedkin directs Il Tabarro and Suor Angelica
Woody Allen makes opera debut directing Gianni Schicchi
Giacomo Puccini
Sep 6 - 26, 2008
THE FLY
U.S. Premiere/New Production
Howard Shore
Director David Cronenberg
Playwright David Henry Hwang
Sep 7 - 26, 2008
MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Liping Zhang debut
Giacomo Puccini
Oct 2 - 18, 2008
CARMEN
Bizet's "sizzling" opera
Georges Bizet
Nov 15 - Dec 14, 2008
THE MAGIC FLUTE
(Die Zauberflöte)
A lavish cartoon world
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Jan 10 - 25, 2009
THE BIRDS
U.S. Premiere/New Production
Walter Braunfels
Apr 11 - 26, 2009
LA TRAVIATA
Verdi's heart-rending story
Giuseppe Verdi
May 21 - Jun 21, 2009
DAS RHEINGOLD
Company Premiere/New Production
Richard Wagner
Feb 21 - Mar 15, 2009
DIE WALKURE
Company Premiere/New Production
Richard Wagner
Apr 4 - 25, 2009
Photo/viewfromaloft
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