Performances Magazine | LA Opera, March 2024

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CONTENTS

6 A WELCOME FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO CHRISTOPHER KOELSCH

12 THE 2024/25 SEASON

Highlights include four productions completely new to Los Angeles (including the company premiere of a modern-day classic), along with the return of an iconic favorite and a series of concerts starring four of today’s greatest leading ladies.

14 EXILED TO AMERICA, EXILED IN AMERICA

Music Director James Conlon explores the parallels between two very different composers: the Viennese Alexander Zemlinsky and the American William Grant Still.

18 A NOTE FROM KANEZA SCHAAL

The visionary director of our 2022 blockbuster hit Omar returns for a new production of Highway 1, USA

P1 T ODAY'S PERFORMANCE

40 THE LEARNING NEVER STOPS

Take a deep dive into the world of opera through LA Opera Connects continuing education programs.

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Clockwise from top: a cinematic production of Madame Butterfly, new to Los Angeles, opens the season to come; Alexander Zemlinsky, composer of The Dwarf; William Grant Still, composer of Highway 1, USA

Welcome to LA Opera

Dear friends:

This season’s double bill of Highway 1, USA and The Dwarf, now on stage, represents a long-awaited return to a groundbreaking artistic initiative that we launched in 2007. The Recovered Voices series was created to introduce audiences to operas by major composers whose work, lauded in their time, has fallen into obscurity due to oppression.

With our new production and company premiere of Highway 1, USA, we hope to help establish a permanent place in the operatic repertoire for the music of William Grant Still. A longtime resident of Los Angeles, Still composed this opera here during the 1940s, but it has never (to our knowledge) been performed in Los Angeles until now. Alexander Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf was a major artistic success for us when we first staged it in 2008, and I welcome its return to our stage in this highly anticipated revival. Both operas take a unique approach to unrequited love and both stories are told through powerful, emotional music. I’m eager for Angelenos to experience these wonderful works.

Music Director James Conlon, who has long been a champion of music that has unfairly fallen through the cracks of history, is the conductor for both operas. Kaneza Schaal, the wonderful director of last season’s hit production of Omar, will stage Highway 1, USA with a cast led by Norman Garrett, Nicole Heaston and Chaz’men Williams-Ali. Darko Tresnjak returns to direct The Dwarf, along with the star of our 2008 production, tenor Rodrick Williams, reprising his beautiful interpretation of the title role. The fantastic cast also includes Kristinn Sigmundsson and Emily Magee, with Erica Petrocelli, a distinguished alumna of our Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, in the co-starring role of Donna Clara.

Our presentation of this double bill would not have been possible without the generosity and vision of some of LA Opera’s most important longtime supporters. I am grateful to Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and GRoW @ Annenberg for their production underwriting and to Marilyn Ziering and the Ziering Family Foundation for their founding and ongoing leadership support for the Recovered Voices project. I must also recognize Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation, Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, the National Endowment for the Arts and OPERA America/ Next Stage for their crucial support, as well as The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award for underwriting Kaneza Schaal’s direction of Highway 1, USA.

I hope you enjoy your experience with these musical treasures, ripe for rediscovery.

Sincerely,

Christopher Koelsch

SEBASTIAN PAUL AND MARYBELLE MUSCO PRESIDENT AND CEO

LA OPERA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Marc Stern* HONORARY CHAIRMAN

Keith R. Leonard, Jr.* CHAIRMAN

Carol F. Henry* CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Leslie A. Dorman* Robert Ronus* Eugene P. Stein* Régina Weingarten* Marilyn Ziering* VICE CHAIRMEN

Penelope D. Foley* TREASURER

Paul D. Tosetti* SECRETARY

Bernard A. Greenberg* VICE CHAIRMAN EMERITUS AND FOUNDING BOARD MEMBER

Ahsan Aijaz

Patricia Artigas

James R. Asperger

Haig S. Bagerdjian

Paul Bloch

Lisa Bratkovich

Iman H. Brivanlou, Ph.D.

Brian P. Brooks

Barbara Burtin

Marlene Schall Chávez, Ph.D.

Janet J. Ciriello, Ed.D.

James Conlon†

Robert Cook

Alexis Deutsch-Adler

Kathleen Kane Eberhardt

Chaz Hammel-Smith Ebert

Geoff Emery

Dr. Annette Ermshar

Michael A. Friedman, M.D.

Gordon P. Getty**

Ambassador Frank E.

Baxter

Alicia Garcia Clark

Alice Steere Coulombe

Juan Carlos Gonzalez

Thomas Gottschalk

Diane Gray

Mónica Gutiérrez Roper

Cornelia Haag-Molkenteller, M.D.

Nicolas Hamatake

Mary Hayley

Catherine H. Helm

William Chase

Hodge-Brokenburr

Tim C. Johnson*

Janet Jones

Richard Jones

Monique Regine Kagan

Lawrence A. Kern

Christopher Koelsch†*

Thomas F. Kranz

Scott R. Lord

Hon. Nora M. Manella

Don Franzen

Alexander Furlotti

Joan Hotchkis

Sherry Lansing

Claude Mann

Jennifer McCormick

Patricia McKenna*

Bryan Moeller

James Mulally

Gary W. Murphy

Gregory Nava

Leslie A. Pam, Ph.D.

Linda Pascotto*

Andrea Pessino*

Linda Pierce

Ceil Pulitzer**

Barry A. Sanders*

Lionel M. Sauvage*

Heinrich Schelbert, M.D., Ph.D.

R. Carlton Seaver*

Lisa See*

Tina L. Segel

Joan Seidel

LIFE TRUSTEES

Harold B. Ray

Mrs. Joseph A. Saunders

Marvin S. Shapiro

Mrs. Dennis Stanfill

Linda Shaheen*

Marilyn Shapiro

Susan Shapiro*

Eric L. Small

Dr. Vina Spiehler

Janet Stanford

Deanie Stein

Dr. Ellen G. Strauss

Mimi Won Techentin

Barbara Augusta Teichert

Sandra W. Terner‡

Brigitta B. Troy

Gillian Wagner

Christopher V. Walker*

Geoffrey P. Wharton

Andrew Xu

Zev Yaroslavsky

Ellen Zetcher

Joakim Zetterberg

Ann Ziff

Richard E. Troop

Alyce Williamson

Dr. A.M. Zarem‡

PRESIDENTS / CHAIRMEN OF LA OPERA SINCE ITS INCEPTION

Stephen D. Gavin

John A. McCone

Lawrence Deutsch

Bernard I. Forester

Kyhl Smeby

Edward W. Carter

Thomas Wachtell

Roy L. Ash

Bernard A. Greenberg

Richard Seaver

Leonard I. Green

Marc Stern

Frank E. Baxter

Carol F. Henry

Keith R. Leonard, Jr.

The 2024/25 Season

LA Opera’s 39th season embraces opera’s unparalleled sweep, grandeur and enchantment, with repertory spanning from the 17th century through works being written right now. For details, head to LAOpera.org

Madame Butterfly

Madame Butterfly

SEP 21 – OCT 13, 2024

James Conlon begins his 19th season as music director with Puccini’s tearjerker, starring Karah Son and Jonathan Tetelman, in a cinematic new-to-Los Angeles production from Madrid by director Mario Gas.

Romeo and Juliet

NOV 2 – 23, 2024

Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers return in a revival of LA Opera’s popular staging of Gounod’s French operatic adaptation, with performances conducted by Domingo Hindoyan and Lina González-Granados.

Così fan tutte

MARCH 8 – 30, 2025

James Conlon will conduct Mozart’s classic comedy battle of the sexes, with a cast led by longtime company favorite Rod Gilfry. The delightful production resets the action to a swanky 1930s country club.

Romeo and Juliet

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

PHOTO BY CORY WEAVER

Così fan tutte

Ainadamar

APR 26 – MAY 18, 2025

Lina González-Granados conducts this flamenco-inspired opera by Argentine composer Osvaldo Golijov about the final days of poet/playwright Federico García Lorca, starring Ana María Martínez, Daniela Mack and Vanessa Becerra.

Rigoletto

MAY 31 – JUNE 21, 2025

James Conlon conducts one of the most heartbreaking operas of them all. Quinn Kelsey, the premier Verdi baritone of his generation, sings the title role in a stunning production updated to Mussolini’s Italy.

Ainadamar

Rigoletto

PHOTO BY JAMES GLOSSOP

Dracula

OCT 25 – 27, 2024

Oscar-winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla (left) creates an LAOcommissioned score for a 1931 Spanishlanguage film shot on the same sets as the Bela Lugosi classic. Shows will take place at the Theatre at Ace Hotel, with Santaolalla performing as soloist with the LA Opera Orchestra.

Les Talens Lyriques

NOV 13, 2024

The Paris-based ensemble, led by founder/conductor Christopher Rousset, will transport audiences to the Court of Versailles, with a concert of French Baroque music at The Colburn School’s Zipper Hall.

Adoration

FEB 19 – 23, 2025

LA Opera’s longstanding collaboration with Beth Morrison Projects continues with composer Mary Kouyoumdjian’s riveting operatic adaptation of Atom Egoyan’s 2008 film of the same name, presented at REDCAT.

Adoration

Les Talens Lyriques

Dracula

PHOTO BY MARIA BARANOVA

©ERIC LARRAYADIEU

GLASSHOUSE IMAGES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Concerts at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

LA Opera's 2024/25 season will include concerts headlined by four of today's greatest star sopranos in appearances with the LA Opera Orchestra. First up is a holiday concert starring Kristin Chenoweth (December 14, 2024) followed by the first LAO appearance by Kelli O'Hara (February 1, 2025). Last seen at LAO as Tosca in 2022, Angel Blue (March 15, 2025) returns for a concert under the baton of Lina González-Granados. Finally, the iconic Renée Fleming (June 14, 2025) and special guests will take us on a sensational journey through your favorite musical showstoppers.

Recitals at The Wallis

LA Opera partners with The Wallis to present a trio of intimate recitals at that venue in Beverly Hills. Perhaps the greatest French lyric tenor of his generation, Benjamin Bernheim (November 9, 2024) makes his Los Angeles debut with pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson. After his recent Wotan in Das Rheingold with the LA Philharmonic, bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green (January 19, 2025) returns to Los Angeles with pianist Adam Nielsen. Joshua Guerrero (June 7, 2025), who started his career at LAO and is now one of the most in-demand tenors in the world, returns in recital with pianist Peter Walsh.

Angel Blue

Renee Fleming

Joshua Guerrero

Kristin Chenoweth

Kelli O’Hara

PHOTO BY JOHN RUSSO

Benjamin Bernheim

PHOTO BY EDOUARD BRANE

Ryan Speedo Green

PHOTO BY JIYANG CHEN

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MUSIC DRAMA SONG DANCE LITERATURE ART

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EXILED TO AMERICA, EXILED IN AMERICA

“I dream a world where man no other man will scorn, where love will bless the earth, and peace its paths adorn.” —Langston Hughes

“He who stands most remote from his age mirrors it best.” —Oscar Wilde

Alexander Zemlinsky fled the Nazi Regime, first from Berlin to Vienna, and then from Vienna to New York. His music had been banned, and there was no longer any possibility of continuing his public life as composer and conductor.

William Grant Still, born in Mississippi, was educated and lived his entire life in the U.S., the last 30 years in Los Angeles. Although his survival may never have been seriously in danger as an artist, he was consistently hampered and blocked by racial prejudice. Despite his prodigiously disciplined and inspired productivity, his merits as a composer have been undervalued.

These men, as far as there is any record, probably had no contact with each other, and may never have heard each other’s music or even known each other’s name. They were born only two decades apart, Zemlinsky in 1871 and Still in 1895. Despite their relatively contemporaneous lives, their music has almost nothing

The 2008 company premiere of The Dwarf starred soprano Mary Dunleavy as Donna Clara and tenor Rodrick Dixon in the title role.

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

Alexander Zemlinsky

William Grant Still

A NOTE FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR JAMES CONLON

in common and would probably (at least on Zemlinsky’s part) not have appealed to one another.

But Still and Zemlinsky are linked in other arcane and synchronistic ways, as are their operas Highway 1, USA and The Dwarf

Langston Hughes (1901-1967), a leading figure and writer of the Harlem Renaissance, collaborated with Still on the libretto for the opera Troubled Island. Written in 1939 but not performed until 1949, it was a public success at the New York City Opera but dismissed and blocked by the New York press. Zemlinsky also set the words of Hughes. He wrote a song cycle in 1929 (dedicated to his recently deceased wife) for baritone and orchestra called Symphonische Gesänge [Symphonic Songs], which included four songs based on a German translation of Hughes poems.

In 1930, Still met Verna Arvey, a distinguished concert pianist and journalist. The daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, born in Los Angeles and educated in Los Angeles public schools, she became his principal librettist and literary partner. They eventually married and remained together until the end of his life. She was, and her daughter Judith Anne remains, the greatest advocates of the composer’s legacy.

In 1939, Arvey performed one of Still’s solo works for piano and orchestra with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the direction of conductor Otto Klemperer, a titanic force in classical music both before and after fleeing the Nazi regime in 1933. Klemperer had conducted the premiere of Zemlinsky’s Dwarf at the Cologne Opera in 1922.

In addition to their prodigious composing careers, both Zemlinsky (in Europe) and Still (in the United

States) were significant conductors in their different worlds. Still was the first Black American conductor to appear before a major American orchestra, conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic in a concert of his own works at the Hollywood Bowl in 1936.

Quite aside from these coincidental links, the composers’ deepest indirect bond lies in the fact that their lives were negatively impacted, and the ultimate dissemination of their music blocked to varying degrees, by racial prejudice. In Zemlinsky’s case, it was literally with genocidal intent, and in Still’s case, metaphorically so. For an unacceptably long period, classical music lovers have been unjustly deprived of the pleasure and inspiration of hearing their music regularly.

The time to rectify past wrongs is always now. Both composers, and so many of their compatriots, deserve to be heard. We, the public and musicians, are fortunate to be able to enjoy their very different musical voices.

Highway 1, USA

Still’s aesthetic is one that emphasizes a straightforward and direct contact with the common person in all of us. He rearticulated a famous phrase of Giacomo Puccini, “I write operas about the tragedies of little souls.” (In my mind, I can even hear the distant strains of that Italian operatic giant in the American composer’s music.) Still has a moral cosmology, a sense of morality, of right and wrong, of fairness.

Highway 1, USA is not a tragedy, but neither is it a comedy, nor trivial. It has a hopeful ending, if not an unclouded one: a dream of a better life. It is a portrait

Christopher Myers is the production designer for Highway 1, USA with co-scenic designers Amy Rubin and Cheyanne Williams.

A NOTE FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR JAMES CONLON

of domestic life, in a domestic drama, placed in the small apartment of owners of a vintage gas station.

This was a period in American operatic theater— the era of Samuel Barber’s Vanessa, Marc Blitzstein’s Regina and Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium —where the pendulum had swung away from the grandiose melodramas of the Italian 19th century and the excesses, mythology and superhuman themes of the early German 20th century.

In Highway 1, USA, Still pours his African American experience and soul into the mold, syntax and grammar of traditional and operatic convention. Taking heed of Antonín Dvořák’s admonition to American composers to write music born from America’s earth, taking inspiration from both Black and indigenous music, Still successfully fulfills that mandate. And in so doing, he mirrors Dvořák’s own essential history, for Dvořák has poured his Czech soul into the canonic forms of the German classical tradition dominant in his time.

Still’s hopeful vision of humanity and the future transcends cultural experience, racial issues and societal tensions. His is a universal message. In stark contrast to Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf — several times removed from our daily lives through the prism of Oscar Wilde’s exotic and highly original narrative, itself born of a painting by Diego Velazquez at the height of the Spanish Empire in the Court of Felipe IV of Spain — one could not imagine a greater contrast, style, world view, music, theatricality. But vive la différence! Stark contrasts make for great theater and illustrate the richness of opera.

Zemlinsky’s Time Has Come

The music of Alexander Zemlinsky remained buried for decades in the wake of the destruction caused by the totalitarian Nazi regime. Dozens of composers and thousands of compositions are still largely unknown to lovers of classical music and opera. In an ironic paradox of history, by proclaiming themselves a master race and attempting to impose this on the rest of the world, the Nazis dealt the most self-destructive blow possible to their own proud culture. They murdered some of their greatest talent, forced others to flee, and scorched the earth of the precious milieu that had nurtured this great culture.

The composers whose music they banned were a diverse group. Some were celebrated in their own time. Others struggled for recognition. There were the avant-garde, the conservatives, those who flirted with jazz, cabaret and popular music and those who were musical elitists. Many were closely acquainted and were lifelong friends. Others competed and disliked each other. Still others were completely isolated from the mainstream. What unites them under the heading of “Recovered Voices” is the fate of their music. Much of it seemed buried with them and remained so in neglect, some for half a century.

The Dwarf

“Write for me a text on the tragedy of the ugly man.” With these words, spoken in 1909 by Zemlinsky to his colleague, the composer-librettist Franz Schreker, the seeds were planted that would eventually cause The Dwarf (Der Zwerg) to spring forth. Schreker accepted the commission to write a libretto but liked it so much he asked Zemlinsky to release him from the contract in order to use it for his own opera. This he did, and it was to be known as Die Gezeichneten [The Marked Ones / The Stigmatized]. Zemlinsky was surely familiar with Schreker’s ballet The Birthday of the Infanta, and he had conducted the Viennese premiere of Richard Strauss’s Salome. Both works were based on Oscar Wilde, and Zemlinsky’s fascination with the Irish author would first produce the opera A Florentine Tragedy (1917). But the idea of “the ugly man” persisted to haunt him. He would find his subject also in Wilde, taking inspiration from the same 1891 short story that inspired Schreker’s ballet. Zemlinsky’s opera would emerge as The Dwarf and come to life at the Cologne Opera in 1922, conducted by Otto Klemperer (as previously mentioned).

But the story really begins in 1900. Zemlinsky meets and takes on a beautiful and fascinating young music student. They fall in love. She mocks his ugliness although

Left to right, costumes for Bob, Mary and Nate, created by Highway 1, USA costume designer Charlese Antoinette Jones

A NOTE FROM MUSIC DIRECTOR JAMES CONLON

she is madly attracted to him and his charismatic personality. She abandons him for composer Gustav Mahler in 1901. Zemlinsky will spend decades exorcising the ghost of this passionate love. He suffers from complexes about his own ugliness and small stature. Alma remarks how strange it was to walk with him, for he only came up to her shoulders. He will treat this subject finally after 20 years. The Dwarf, together with A Florentine Tragedy, will plumb these psychological depths. Together with Strauss’s Salome, they produce a trilogy of three oneact masterpieces, in my opinion, based on Wilde.

This is not the Wilde of the comedy of manners of The Importance of Being Earnest, but the dark penetrating author of The Picture of Dorian Gray. The themes are vintage Wilde: beauty and ugliness, desire and disillusionment, the paradox of the human soul, the hypocrisy of society. Outward beauty and inner corruption and…the mirror!

Wilde’s idea for this story owed its genesis to Diego Velazquez’s 1656 masterpiece of Spanish painting, Las Meninas [The Ladies in Waiting]. King Philip IV’s court painter portrays a female dwarf in this painting, and he depicts the court dwarf Sebastian de Morra in another. Like Rigoletto’s Duke of Mantua (really King Francois I of France in the Victor Hugo drama on which Verdi’s opera is based), many members of the royalty retained dwarfs for their personal amusement. Eduardo Zamacois was another Spanish painter drawn to the subject.

Zemlinsky’s Dwarf is physically ugly and misshapen but possesses a generous, loving and artistic soul. The Infanta, daughter of King Philip II of Spain (the father of Don Carlos), is outwardly gracious but inwardly shallow, the child of privilege. She is fascinated, even attracted to him at first, because he speaks with a voice that has a depth she has never heard at the court. The parallels with Salome are several. The daughter of Herodias is enthralled with Jokanaan (John the Baptist) for similar reasons. Salome and the Infanta are outwardly beautiful and inwardly corrupt. The Dwarf and Jokanaan are outwardly grotesque and inwardly inspired and inspiring. The Dwarf (Zemlinsky) loves the unattainable Infanta (Alma). Salome desires the inaccessible prophet and destroys him through her cruelty to satisfy those desires. The Infanta plays with the Dwarf, as a young girl with a toy, and destroys him by her incomprehension. Only the empathic menina Ghita, the Infanta’s favorite maid (an invention of the composer) feels his pain, realizes the danger for him and warns him not to approach the throne, where a mirror is to be found.

The Dwarf’s tragedy is that of lost innocence. Having been brought up in the wild, he has never seen a mirror.

He does not know he is misshapen. He knows only that, wherever he goes, people gather and laugh and are joyful when they see him. With his poetic and humane soul, he naively believes himself as beautiful physically as his intentions. He does not realize that those who see him are mocking him. His enemy is the mirror because it will reveal the harsh truth. From their preand post-Freudian perspectives, author and composer are peering into the unconscious. The answer is chilling. “Dwarf, o Dwarf…God has created all of us blind about ourselves,” Ghita cries out. Is it not perhaps better that we remain so? Contrary to the ancient Greek admonition, is it better not to know thyself?

Zemlinsky knew himself and had the strength to remain true to himself. He followed his isolated path, stubbornly refusing the least artistic compromise. Considered too modern by the conservatives, too resistant to serialism by the avant-garde, he walked alone, assuming all of the consequences. His was a life of consistent disappointment and ill fortune. He was to flee the Nazis twice, from Berlin in 1934 and Vienna in 1938. He was to live out his last years alone and virtually forgotten in Manhattan until his death in 1942. His friend, brother-in-law and one-time student Arnold Schoenberg penned these words from his home in Hollywood in 1949. “I have always firmly believed that he was a great composer, and I am still convinced of this today…I know of no other post-Wagnerian composer who was able to fill the requirements of the theater with a nobler musical substance… Perhaps his time will come sooner than one expects.”

We perhaps can learn much about today’s world from Wilde’s admonition and from his mirror into the past. Perhaps we can realize Langston Hughes’ dream from his distant words. Perhaps the music of Still’s and Zemlinsky can accomplish that for us.

James Conlon is the RIchard Seaver Music Director of LA Opera. This essay is partially revised and revisited from 2008. © 2024 James Conlon

Tenor Rodrick Dixon reprises his star turn as the Dwarf.

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

Highway 1, USA represents an interesting moment in American history. A pivot of a thousand sorts, and artists caught between these moments. There is on one hand the American dream, the dream of the 1940s, hard work, meritocracy, the promise of the road and the west, and the kinds of independence that signified for African Americans, indeed for all Americans. But then there is this other model of success, a new thing that happened at that time when, for the first time, a university education became accessible for so many more folks: for Black folks, for G.I.s through the G.I. Bill. This was another order of aspiration. Composer William Grant Still and librettist Verna Arvey are thinking about all of this, which would eventually be the beginning of the end of the middle class.

So here are two models of success. Two models of hopes and dreams. Two models of where we ought to send the arrow of our aspiration. And what do we gain with that? What do we lose?

Still’s music itself is reaching to build a new world—you feel it in every note, this future building. The mythological path of the Highway. Its road of dreams. Its promises. And the filling station to ignite and fuel the journey.

While the libretto reads with the crisp clarity of a morality play, the music sends us into the complexity of thought in each character. We’re invited to consider the competing dreams and the different Americas they might birth. Mary begins the opera singing about the fox and hare, invoking the African American folklore of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox, trickster figures that journeyed across the Atlantic from Africa. These tricksters remind us to listen to these struggles beyond moralism.

When I first listened to Highway 1, I kept getting swept off my feet into the strings, running a film score around in my mind. Then I remembered that falling is a familiar feeling, it’s the same swell and release of Wagner, or Verdi, or Puccini. And in fact, that film score in my mind, that sound was built in Hollywood studios by musicians who had played all those works and fled in exile to dream a new world.

This production is set in Still’s imagination, his own dream of what was possible for Americans, for music, for the future. The piece takes place in the cracks between when Still composed the opera in the 1940s and when it first premiered in the 1960s—I suppose that leaves us somewhere between the clean façade and dark underbelly of the 1950s. In that spirit of fracture, I looked at the works of James Rosenquist

and Alma Thomas, two American painters, contemporaries of Still, who in very different ways address pieces and wholeness.

All of the action takes place in a small apartment— one could imagine a sitcom set, almost. Still composed Highway 1 alongside the birth of American sitcom, born of world war, a truly American form, for dreaming our aspirational class stories. Of course, so is the operatic canon, rife with class sagas, loving or wishing or dying beyond one’s station. Dangerous times have built many of the forms we come to take as familiar.

Tonight is a profoundly American night of music. Birthed from layers of exile, war, cruelty and dreaming that are the fabric of this country. The danger I feel today, in our global processing of war, our national election year terror, the both immediate and existential crisis that is global warming. There is a move right now to get a gun and sit on the porch, proverbially—strap up and go it alone. But perhaps if we remember our dreamers, the artists who built new worlds, and who left us blueprints to keep us stretching towards each other… we might do better.

Costume designs by Charlese Antoinette Jones

LA Opera is delighted to thank GRoW @ Annenberg for their underwriting support of Highway 1, USA and The Dwarf. A steadfast partner of LA Opera over many years, GRoW @ Annenberg has provided foundational support to the company, underwriting numerous productions, championing its education programming, and joining the Angels initiative. LA Opera also extends its deep appreciation to board member Régina Weingarten and her husband Gregory Annenberg Weingarten for their personal commitment to exceptional artistry, cultural enrichment and providing access to the arts and arts education.

A philanthropic initiative led by Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, vice president and director of the Annenberg Foundation, GRoW @ Annenberg is world renowned for its extraordinary support of organizations that address social and cultural issues and meet urgent community needs. At LA Opera, GRoW @ Annenberg’s support has brought many productions to the stage, including Salome (2017); Orpheus and Eurydice, Hansel and Gretel and Rigoletto (2018); The Clemency of Titus (2019); La Cenerentola (2021); and St. Matthew Passion (2022). The

company was honored to recognize GRoW @ Annenberg (“GRoW”) as its 2022/23 Season Underwriter in gratitude for their underwriting support of four productions in that season: Lucia di Lammermoor, The Marriage of Figaro, Pelléas et Mélisande and Otello. GRoW also generously supported the company’s production of Don Giovanni, which launched the current season.

Through the years, GRoW @ Annenberg has supported the company’s educational programming and special funding initiatives as a member of the Angels and the Campaign for LA Opera. Thanks to GRoW’s generosity, LA Opera has been recognized for its artistic excellence and its arts education programming, helping to make Los Angeles one of the world’s premier cultural centers. GRoW @ Annenberg has also engaged students in the arts through a sponsored poster art contest focused on LA Opera productions, inspiring hundreds of young people to discover opera.

In 2015, Gregory and Régina moved their family to Los Angeles from Paris, where they made significant contributions to the arts, as well as other prominent organizations. In recognition of their dedication to the arts, they both received the prestigious distinction of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, France’s Legion of Honor Award. LA Opera salutes Régina and Gregory Weingarten’s generosity and is honored to be a recipient of GRoW @ Annenberg’s foundational support of the arts.

Régina Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten

UNDERWRITER RECOGNITION

Marilyn Ziering

It is through the extraordinary generosity of one of LA Opera’s longtime, loyal supporters, Marilyn Ziering, that the company has been able to stage some of its most significant artistic initiatives. LA Opera is honored to acknowledge Mrs. Ziering and the Ziering Family Foundation for their ongoing leadership support of the Recovered Voices project and for making this important double bill of Highway 1, USA and The Dwarf possible.

James Conlon, LA Opera’s Richard Seaver Music Director, conceived of Recovered Voices as an in-depth survey of operas by composers silenced by the Nazi regime. It was Mrs. Ziering’s transformative philanthropy and extraordinary leadership efforts that enabled the dream of Recovered Voices to become reality. Working together, Mrs. Ziering and Mr. Conlon assembled an impressive roster of national arts philanthropists who provided the critical support needed to mount these productions. Speaking about the project, Mrs. Ziering said, “It is deeply moving to me to know that so many people care so much about Recovered Voices and understand that our efforts are meant to educate and inform not just the current audience but also those who will listen to broadcasts and watch recordings far into the future.”

Mrs. Ziering subsequently provided the leadership support for every Recovered Voices production mounted by LA Opera, including semi-staged performances of Alexander Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy (2007) and fully-staged productions of Viktor Ullmann’s The Broken Jug (U.S. premiere) and Alexander Zemlinsky’s The Dwarf (2008), Walter Braunfels’ The Birds (2009), and Franz Schreker’s The Stigmatized (U.S. premiere, 2010).

BEYOND THE OPERA A COMPOSER’S LEGACY LIVES ON

Beyond the Recovered Voices project, Mrs. Ziering’s generosity extends to nearly every element of LA Opera. She has graciously shared her leadership on the board, serving as a vice chairman since 2009, and is a member of the 20th, 25th, and 30th Anniversary Angels. In addition, she has provided critical underwriting support for LA Opera productions including La Bohème and Don Giovanni in 2012, Nabucco in 2017 and Aida in 2022.

Mrs. Ziering is retired after three decades as Senior Vice President of Diagnostic Products Corporation, a company she founded with her late husband, Sigi Ziering. Among many philanthropic initiatives, she and Mr. Ziering were founders of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and she is chair emeritus of the American Jewish University, where she created The Sigi Ziering Institute, which supports the exploration of the ethical and religious implications of the Holocaust.

She supports the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School. She is the President of the Ziering Family Foundation and was honored in Israel by Chaim Sheba Medical Center for her support of the Sigi and Marilyn Ziering National Center for Newborn Screening, a program that tests every baby born in Israel for treatable genetic diseases, regardless of race or religion. She also served on the board of the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and on the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association.

The company is grateful for Mrs. Ziering’s extraordinary generosity and her philanthropic spirit, which has been an inspiration to the entire LA Opera family.

The William Grant Still Arts Center, a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, was established to carry on the mission of the trailblazing composer, who believed that music was a means to achieve cross-cultural understanding. Learn more at wgsac.wordpress.com.

PHOTO BY MEMORYWRKER, CC BY-SA 4.0

PHOTO BY STEVE COHN

Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation

LA Opera is honored to thank Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation for their special underwriting of the Recovered Voices project, which supports this historic LA Opera premiere of Highway 1, USA and revival of the company’s acclaimed production of The Dwarf

Mr. Smithgall is an arts consultant who has been an artist representative and producer of opera in concert in Alice Tully Hall. The Lanie & Ethel Foundation, an organization founded and chaired by Mr. Smithgall, is dedicated to promoting the careers of young performing artists, educational outreach, and the performance of neglected musical compositions.

Mr. Smithgall has been a champion of the Recovered Voices initiative at LA Opera since the program’s inception, providing major support for the first two seasons of the project and underwriting the company’s 2010 production of Franz Schreker’s The Stigmatized. He also underwrote a critically acclaimed recording of this Schreker masterpiece. Additionally, he and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation were members of LA Opera’s Friends of the Ring Leadership Council, providing generous support for the company’s first Ring cycle in 2010. He served on LA Opera’s board

Across the nation, Americans are participating in the arts, exercising their imaginations, and developing their creative capacities, thanks in part to generous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts. For 24 years, the Arts Endowment has been integral to LA Opera’s growth—helping to build the company in its early years, supporting the commissioning and development of new productions, aiding in the creation of educational programs, and helping opera companies reach new and underserved audiences. LA Opera is honored to have the National Endowment for the Arts’ support for the company's new production of Highway 1, USA, as well as 19 additional past productions, including the world premiere

of directors for over ten years, from 2010 to 2023, and was an active member of the development committee.

A native of Atlanta, Mr. Smithgall was trained as a professional oboist. He attended Oberlin College and the Aspen School of Music, and graduated from the New England Conservatory. He has performed under such noted conductors as William Steinberg, Gunther Schuller, Walter Susskind and John Nelson, among others. His wide philanthropic reach includes having served as secretary of the George London Foundation for Singers, a member of the board of overseers of New England Conservatory, and a member of the Kuratorium of the Bayreuth Festival. He served as a trustee of the Hudson Review and the American Symphony Orchestra, both in New York City; the Goethe Zentrum in Atlanta, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Botanical Garden; and currently serves on the board of the Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival in Blue Hill, Maine. He has written music criticism and numerous articles on music for United Press International.

LA Opera extends its deep gratitude to Mr. Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation for their longtime generosity and their support of the Recovered Voices initiative.

of Eurydice and recent productions of El Gato Montés, Orpheus and Eurydice, The Tales of Hoffmann, anatomy theater, The Ghosts of Versailles, and Otello, among others

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is committed to making the arts a part of the lives of all people across the nation. Several of LA Opera’s signature community initiatives were originally developed with the Arts Endowment’s support, including the Community Opera at the Cathedral, programs for the military and veterans, and educational initiatives for thousands of teachers and students.

LA Opera is proud to be recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts. Through this important public support, the company brings the magic of this art form to thousands of people each year, making significant contributions to the economic vitality of Los Angeles, and enhancing the civic and cultural life in our community.

The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award

Piera Barbaglia Shaheen had a passion for opera and cared deeply about the welfare of young people beginning their careers. Her generosity of spirit is honored in a fund created by a special gift from Linda and David Shaheen. The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award supports rising artists at LA Opera, for whom an opportunity to work at a prominent company can be a major career breakthrough. This season, the Shaheens have chosen to honor director Kaneza Schaal as the recipient of the Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award. Her direction of Highway 1, USA is made possible thanks to their generosity. The program previously supported the standout performances of Sean Panikkar as Gandhi in Satyagraha, Lisette Oropesa as Eurydice in Orpheus and Eurydice, J’Nai Bridges as Nefertiti in Akhnaten, Issachah Savage in Tannhäuser and Rihab Chaieb as Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro.

Named for Mr. Shaheen’s mother, the program promotes the ideals of this successful woman who was a strong proponent of education, built and ran a multinational business and was the center of a home infused with classical music and opera. Piera was born in America to Italian immigrants. Due to widespread discrimination against foreigners, her mother moved the family back to Italy when Piera was only two years old. Instilled with her mother’s strong work ethic and commitment to education, she earned her degree in

WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST BOARD MEMBERS

Juan Carlos Gonzalez has been a labor arbitrator, hearing officer and mediator since 2012. A bilingual licensed attorney, he is also a hearing officer for the Personnel Commission of the LA Unified School District and LA Community College District.

Attorney Monique Kagan worked for the LA City Council as chief legislative deputy for Councilwoman Ruth Galanter and chief of staff to Councilmember Alex Padilla. She and her husband co-chaired the Philharmonic Council of the LA Philharmonic.

economics from a top university in northern Italy. As World War II raged around her, she joined the resistance efforts of the American underground to battle the fascists. After the war, she returned to America, furthering her education, marrying, raising a family, building her business, and becoming a generous contributor to her community.

She deeply believed in the power of education as a principal force for change, says David Shaheen, and through her generosity she provided college scholarships for over 2,000 children of her employees. She passed these ideals onto her son and daughter-in-law, who created The David & Linda Shaheen Foundation, supporting LA Opera’s education programming, scholarships for inner-city youth, as well as numerous arts, education and reproductive health programs. The legacy of Piera is also honored through the recent naming by Linda and David of the Alliance Piera Barbaglia

Shaheen Health Services Academy. This public high school in South Los Angeles provides students with a college preparatory environment in which to develop academic and technical skills along with leadership qualities that allow for a successful transition into college careers and adulthood.

The company extends its gratitude to Linda and David Shaheen for honoring such a remarkable woman and supporting the next generation of artists at LA Opera.

Jennifer McCormick came to the U.S. from China in 1997. She is CEO and owner of American Freight Logistics, Inc., which she started in 2005. She serves on the National Council of the American Red Cross Tiffany Circle and the board of ARC's LA region.

Swedish native Joakim (Jay) Zetterberg is EVP at Heroic Signatures, which owns and develops intellectual properties in all media. In addition to overseeing merchandising and licensing, he is editorin-chief for the book and comics publishing division.

Don Giovanni

WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

September 23 – October 15, 2023

Production made possible by generous support from Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg; The Blue Ribbon; The Carol and Warner Henry Production Fund for Mozart Operas; and Alfred and Claude Mann Fund. With special appreciation to Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. Isabel Leonard’s appearance made possible by generous support from The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund.

The Barber of Seville

October 21 – November 12, 2023

GIOACHINO ROSSINI

Production made possible by generous support from Andrea and Janie Pessino and the Tarasenka Pankiv Fund (Tara Colburn). With special support from Laura and Carlton Seaver. Isabel Leonard’s appearance made possible by generous support from The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund.

The Bride of Frankenstein with Live Orchestra

FRANZ WAXMAN

October 27-28, 2023, at the Theatre at Ace Hotel

Off Grand productions are supported by a consortium of generous donors to LA Opera’s Contemporary Opera Initiative, chaired by Barry and Nancy Sanders. Piano graciously provided by Yamaha.

El último sueño de Frida y Diego

November 18 – December 9, 2023

GABRIELA LENA FRANK / NILO CRUZ

Production made possible by generous support from the Bernard A. and Lenore S. Greenberg Opera Fund and Margo Leavin. Additional support provided by a consortium of generous donors to LA Opera’s Contemporary Opera Initiative, chaired by Barry and Nancy Sanders.

Rodelinda

November 21, 2023

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

Special support from Mr. Robert Finnerty and Mr. Richard Cullen.

Audra McDonald in Concert

December 2, 2023

Piano graciously provided by Yamaha.

Highway 1, USA

WILLIAM GRANT STILL

The Dwarf ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY

February 24 – January 17, 2024

Production made possible by generous support from Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg. Founding and ongoing leadership support for the Recovered Voices project provided by Marilyn Ziering and the Ziering Family Foundation. Principal underwriting support provided by a generous anonymous gift. Special additional support from Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation. With special appreciation to Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten. Special additional support for Highway 1, USA from National Endowment for the Arts and OPERA America/Next Stage. Kaneza Schaal’s direction of Highway 1, USA is generously underwritten by a gift from The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award.

2023/24 SEASON

LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by Terri and Jerry Kohl

La Traviata

April 6 – 27, 2024

GIUSEPPE VERDI

Production made possible by generous support from the Jane and Peter Hemmings Production Fund, a gift from the Flora L. Thornton Trust; Andrea and Janie Pessino; and the Emanuel Treitel Senior Citizen Fund. Special additional support from the Armenian Consortium; the family of Ginger Conrad; The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation; and the Orden Family in memory of their beloved patriarch and matriarch, Ted and Hedy. Rachel Willis-Sørensen’s appearance made possible by generous support from The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund.

Book of Mountains and Seas HUANG RUO

April 10 – 14, 2024, at the The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage

Off Grand productions are supported by a consortium of generous donors to LA Opera’s Contemporary Opera Initiative, chaired by Barry and Nancy Sanders.

Patti LuPone in Concert

April 20, 2024

Piano graciously provided by Yamaha.

Noah’s Flood

May 3 – 4, 2024, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

BENJAMIN BRITTEN

Production made possible by a generous grant from the  Dan Murphy Foundation. Special support also received from the City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs; Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture; and Mrs. Joseph A. Saunders.

Turandot

May 18 – June 8, 2024

GIACOMO PUCCINI

Production made possible by generous support from Alfred and Claude Mann Fund and Barbara Augusta Teichert. Additional generous support from The Estate of Cat Pollon.

Fire and Blue Sky

June 6, 2024

Renée Fleming in Recital

June 15, 2024

JOEL THOMPSON

30th Anniversary Angels

MARC STERN, CHAIR

We celebrate our 30th Anniversary Angels who build on the inspiring legacy of the company’s Founding Angels and the many generous Angels who followed them. (See pages P14 and P15.) They have provided the necessary foundational support for world-class opera in Los Angeles.

Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco

Marc and Eva Stern Foundation

GRoW @ Annenberg

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Colburn Foundation

County of Los Angeles

Dunard Fund USA

Gordon Getty

The Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund

Carol and Warner Henry

Terri and Jerry Kohl

Claude Mann and Alfred E. Mann Estate

Ronus Foundation

The Seaver Family

Marilyn Ziering

Mr. Harold Alden and Dr. Geraldine Alden

The Blue Ribbon

Ana and Robert Cook

Mark Houston Dalzell and James Dao-Dalzell

Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman

The Alexander Furlotti Foundation

Max H. Gluck Foundation

Peter and Diane Gray

The Green Foundation

Margo Leavin

Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation

Nanette and Keith Leonard

LGHG Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

Dan Murphy Foundation

The Okun Family, in memory of Milton Okun

Linda and Alvaro Pascotto

Andrea and Janie Pessino

Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer

Suzanne Rheinstein, in honor of Fred Rheinstein

Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation

Kenneth D. Sanson, Jr., Trust

Ariane and Lionel Sauvage

David and Linda Shaheen

Eugene and Marilyn Stein

Barbara Augusta Teichert

Emanuel Treitel Trust

Christopher V. Walker

Richard and Lenore Wayne

Ann Ziff

Selim K. Zilkha and Mary Hayley / Selim K. Zilkha Foundation

CHRISTOPHER KOELSCH , SEBASTIAN PAUL AND MARYBELLE MUSCO PRESIDENT AND CEO

JAMES CONLON , RICHARD SEAVER MUSIC DIRECTOR

PRESENTS

WILLIAM GRANT STILL

Highway 1, USA

Libretto by Verna Arvey

CREATIVE TEAMS

CONDUCTOR

James Conlon

Highway 1, USA

DIRECTOR

Kaneza Schaal

PRODUCTION DESIGN

Christopher Myers

CO-SCENIC DESIGNERS

Amy Rubin

Cheyanne Williams*

COSTUME DESIGNER

Charlese Antoinette Jones*

The Dwarf DIRECTOR

Darko Tresnjak

SCENIC DESIGNER

Ralph Funicello

COSTUME DESIGNER

Linda Cho

CHOREOGRAPHER

Bill Burns*

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Pablo Santiago

CHORUS DIRECTOR

Jeremy Frank

FIGHT DIRECTOR

Andrew Kenneth Moss

STAGE MANAGER

Whitney McAnally

ASST. DIRECTOR (Highway)

Sara E. Widzer

ASST. DIRECTOR (Dwarf)

Erik Friedman

ASST. CONDUCTOR (Highway)

Kevin Miller

ASST. CONDUCTOR/PROMPTER (Dwarf)

Andreas Heinzmann

MUSICAL PREPARATION

Bryndon Hassman

Lucas Nogara †

Nicholas Roehler ‡

Peter Walsh ‡

ALEXANDER ZEMLINSKY

The Dwarf

Libretto by Georg C. Klaren, after Oscar Wilde’s The Birthday of the Infanta

SUPPORT

Production made possible by generous support from Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg

Founding and ongoing leadership support for the Recovered Voices project provided by Marilyn Ziering and the Ziering Family Foundation

Principal underwriting support provided by a generous anonymous gift

Special additional support from Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation

With special appreciation to Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten

Special additional support for Highway 1, USA from National Endowment for the Arts OPERA America/Next Stage**

Kaneza Schaal’s direction of Highway 1, USA generously underwritten by a gift from The Piera Barbaglia Shaheen Next Generation Artist Award

LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by Terri and Jerry Kohl

Please refrain from talking during the performance, and turn off all cell phones, electronic devices and watch alarms. If you are using an assistive hearing device, or are attending with someone who is, please make sure that it is set to an appropriate level to avoid distracting audio feedback. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the house management. Members of the audience who leave during the performance will not be shown back into the theater until the next intermission. The use of cameras and recording equipment is strictly prohibited. Your use of a ticket acknowledges your willingness to appear in photographs taken in public areas of the Music Center and releases the Center and its lessees and others from liability resulting from use of such photographs.

Scan image at left with smartphone camera (or text “LAO” to 55741) to access the complete digital program.

PRODUCTION NOTES

The running time is approximately two hours and 50 minutes, including one intermission.

Supertitles for Highway 1, USA created by Linda Zoolalian. Supertitles for The Dwarf written by Cori Ellison.

**The production of Highway 1, USA received funding from OPERA America’s Next Stage program, which was funded with gifts from OPERA America’s 50th Anniversary Campaign, including a leadership gift from Frayda B. Lindemann. Supplemental support for revisions was generously provided by the Mellon Foundation.

James Conlon’s pre-performance talks are generously sponsored by the Flora L. Thornton Foundation and the Opera League of Los Angeles.

Highway 1, USA published by W.G. Still Music, Flagstaff, Arizona

The Dwarf (Der Zwerg), Op. 17.

Critical edition by Antony Beaumont. Used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Universal Edition Vienna, publisher and copyright owner.

Highway 1, USA scenery constructed by CBS Television City, Los Angeles.

The Dwarf scenery constructed by R.A. Reed Productions, Portland, Oregon. Costumes constructed by the Los Angeles Opera Costume Shop. Wigs constructed by the Los Angeles Opera Wig & Make-Up Department.

* LA Opera debut

† Member of the Domingo-ColburnStein Young Artist Program

‡ Alumnus of the Domingo-ColburnStein Young Artist Program

CASTS & SYNOPSES

Highway 1, USA

CAST

BOB Norman Garrett

MARY Nicole Heaston

NATE Chaz’men Williams-Ali*

AUNT LOU

Deborah Nansteel*

SHERIFF Alan Williams †

CHORUS SOLOISTS Sarabeth Belón, Clara Chung*, Christopher Craig, Corey Estelle*, Sabrina Langlois, Solomon Reynolds*

FOX Kiara Benn

HARE Cheyanne Williams*

Bob, the manager of a filling station, and his wife Mary have worked hard and sacrificed a great deal in order to put Bob’s younger brother Nate through college. Mary dreams of the life they will soon have once Nate’s education is completed. Bob had promised his mother on her deathbed that he would do whatever necessary to ensure that Nate would become successful. He intends to support Nate until he has established himself financially. The couple’s friends arrive to wish Bob well as he departs to attend his brother’s graduation. Mary stays behind to look after the filling station. She tells Aunt Lou of her distrust of Nate.

Having completed his education, Nate remains idle for the next year, living with Bob and Mary and contributing nothing to the household. Bob wonders if Nate will ever get a job. When Bob is out, Nate tries to seduce Mary, telling her that he is the better of the two brothers. When Mary laughs at him, Nate becomes enraged and stabs her.

Mary’s screams bring Bob running, followed by their neighbors. Nate begs Bob to protect him from the police. With Mary presumed dead, a devastated Bob tells everyone that he himself is to blame, but nobody believes him. Mary regains consciousness and names Nate as her assailant. As he is led away, Nate pleads in vain for Bob to help him. Finally realizing what kind of man Nate has turned out to be, Bob promises Mary a brighter future.

In fond memory of Tara Colburn, supertitles are underwritten by Dunard Fund USA

Additional support in honor of Chaz’men Williams-Ali provided by Carolyn L. Miller

Additional support for Highway 1, USA provided by Studio KNZ, with special thanks to Michael Ellis Ingram, Colm Seery and Sheldon Williams.

The Dwarf

CAST

THE DWARF Rodrick Dixon

DONNA CLARA

GHITA

DON ESTOBAN

Erica Petrocelli ‡

Emily Magee *

Kristinn Sigmundsson

FIRST MAID Kathleen O’Mara †

SECOND MAID Deepa Johnny †

THIRD MAIRD Sarah Saturnino †

FIRST COMPANION Tiffany Townsend ‡

SECOND COMPANION Madeleine Lyon †

It is the 18th birthday of Donna Clara, the Spanish Infanta. Don Estoban, the court chamberlain, supervises as the servants prepare a sumptuous birthday party. The Infanta’s favorite maid, Ghita, marvels at the splendor of the decorations and gifts. The beautiful Infanta and her playmates soon arrive to marvel at her birthday gifts. Don Estoban implores the girl to wait for the ceremony.

Don Estoban describes some of the fabulous gifts to the maids. The most wonderful of them all, he says, is also the most repulsive, for a Sultan has sent the Infanta a hideously misshapen dwarf. The dwarf is completely unaware of his ugliness for he has never seen himself in a mirror; he thinks he is a handsome knight. The maids hurry to cover the mirrors before the gift ceremony begins.

After the Infanta and her retinue have taken their places, the dwarf is brought in. Gazing at the Infanta’s beauty, the dwarf sings an impassioned song of love. The girls laugh at the idea that the dwarf wants to be loved.

The Infanta tells the dwarf that he may choose any of the ladies in the court as a wife, and the dwarf tells her that the only one he could love is the Infanta herself. She tells him that if he wants to love her, he must be a valiant knight; he must also be very handsome, for beauty is sacred to her.

The maids observe the scene in the ballroom, watching as the Infanta presents the dwarf with a white rose in front of the assembled guests. Lost in rapture, the dwarf returns. Ghita tries unsuccessfully to bring the dwarf back to reality. His beautiful dream finally collapses when he inadvertently uncovers a mirror and suddenly finds himself face to face with his reflection.

When the Infanta returns, he begs her to tell him that he is handsome and that she loves him. The Infanta tears herself away from him, saying “I want to dance and play with you, but I can only love a man, and you are an animal.” The dwarf falls dying at her feet, as the Infanta hurries back into the ballroom to dance.

* LA Opera debut

† Member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

‡ Alumnus of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program

MEET

James

Conlon

CONDUCTOR

From: New York City, New York.

LA Opera: La Traviata (2006, debut); 67 different operas and over 455 performances to date. He has been Richard Seaver Music Director since 2006. Later this season, he will conduct La Traviata and Turandot.

About: He has led virtually every major North American and European orchestra and over 270 performances at the Metropolitan Opera. He has been Principal Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra of the RAI in Torino (2016-20), Music Director of the Ravinia Festival (2005-15), Principal Conductor of the Paris National Opera (1995-2004), General Music Director of the City of Cologne (1989-2002), Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic (1983-91) and Music Director of the Cincinnati May Festival (1979-2016), where is now Music Director Laureate. He has won three Grammy Awards and was awarded France’s Légion d’Honneur. (JamesConlon.com)

Christopher Myers

PRODUCTION DESIGN (Highway 1, USA)

From: New York City, New York.

LA Opera: Omar (2022, debut).

About: An artist and writer widely acclaimed for his work with literature for young people, he is also an accomplished fine artist who has lectured and exhibited internationally. He is interested in the aesthetic bridges that have been built organically across cultures, classes and geographies, and has been creating work in those in-between spaces for years. He has curated shows in Vietnam; worked with traditional shadow puppet makers in Jogjakata, young musicians in New Orleans, and weavers in Luxor; designed theater that has travelled from PS122 in New York City to the Genocide Memorial Theater in Kigali, Rwanda; and collaborated with Hank Willis Thomas on a short film Am I Going Too Fast which premiered at Sundance. He participated in the Whitney Independent Studio Program and has written essays that have been published by The New York Times.

Kaneza Schaal DIRECTOR (Highway 1, USA)

From: New York City, New York. LA Opera: Omar (2022, debut). About: Based in New York, she works in theater, opera and film. Her work has shown in divergent contexts from courtyards in Vietnam, to East African amphitheaters, to European opera houses, to U.S. public housing. By creating performances that speak many formal, cultural, historical, aesthetic and experiential languages, she seeks expansive audiences. Domestically, her work has been shown at LA Philharmonic, San Francisco Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Kennedy Center, Detroit Opera, The Shed, Walker Arts Center and Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. She is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, Herb Alpert Award in Theatre, United States Artist Fellowship, SOROS Art Migration and Public Space Fellowship, Ford Foundation Art for Justice Bearing Witness Award and Creative Capital Award. (KanezaSchaal.com)

Amy Rubin

CO-SCENIC DESIGNER (Highway 1, USA)

From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. LA Opera: Omar (2022, debut). About: She designs environments for theater, opera, dance and live events. Recent credits include Paola Prestini’s Aging Magician for San Diego Opera, Joel Thompson’s Snowy Day for Houston Grand Opera, Jeannine Tesori’s Blue for Detroit Opera, Dave Malloy’s Octet for Signature Theatre and Berkeley Rep, and Cyrano for the New Group starring Peter Dinklage. (AmyCRubin.com)

Cheyanne Williams

CO-SCENIC DESIGNER / HARE (Highway 1, USA)

From: Los Angeles, California. LA Opera: debut. About: Cheyanne Williams (she/ they) is an NYC-based theater artist whose longstanding collaboration with Kaneza Schaal has seen her as technical director for Omar (Carolina Performing Arts, Boston Lyric Opera) and Jack & (BAM, Seattle, Chicago), among others. Cheyanne is resident technical director and designer for Towards a New Collectivity, a summer residency program hosted at NYC’s Performing Garage.

PHOTO ©ROLEX/BART MICHIELS

MEET THE ARTISTS

Charlese Antoinette Jones

COSTUMES (Highway 1, USA)

From: Germantown, Maryland.

LA Opera: debut.

About: She has designed costumes for feature films starting with Newlyweeds, which won an Independent Spirit Award and premiered as part of 2013 Sundance NEXT. She then designed George Tillman’s Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete with Anthony Mackie and Jennifer Hudson, which also premiered at Sundance in 2013. Her most recent film work includes the Oscar-winning Judas and the Black Messiah (2021), with Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, and Air (2023), directed by Ben Affleck. Television credits include the Macro/ Netflix Original Raising Dion with Michael B. Jordan and the Netflix Original sketch comedy show, Astronomy Club. She has worked on projects with Warner Brothers, Columbia Pictures, NBC, ABC, Fox, Showtime, Sony and Hulu. She is the creator of Black Designer Database and of her lifestyle brand Char Ant Gold. (CharleseAntoinette.com)

Jeremy Frank

CHORUS DIRECTOR

From: Glendive, Montana.

LA Opera: He became Chorus Director in 2022, after working on over 75 productions as associate chorus director and/or assistant conductor. He is a coach for the Domingo-ColburnStein Young Artist Program.

About: He has collaborated with major opera houses throughout the United States and has prepared operas and vocal chamber music at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, working with Gustavo Dudamel, Esa Pekka Salonen, Phillipe Jordan, Grant Gershon, Barbara Hannigan and Pablo Heras-Casado. A pianist and vocal coach, he is an Adjunct Lecturer in Vocal Arts and Opera at the University of Southern California. As a pianist, he has partnered with Sondra Radvanovsky, Eric Owens, Brandon Jovanovich, J’nai Bridges, Dolora Zajick, Kate Lindsey and Susan Graham. He helped prepare Seattle Opera’s Ring cycle in 2013 and has been a guest faculty member for young artist programs at Utah Opera and Seattle Opera. (JeremyMFrank.com)

Nicole Heaston

MARY (Highway 1, USA)

From: Chicago, Illinois.

SOPRANO

LA Opera: Musetta in La Bohème (2007, debut).

About: She has appeared with opera companies throughout the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, Dallas Opera, Washington National Opera, Semperoper Dresden and the Glyndebourne Festival in England. Her 2023/24 season includes Alice Ford in Falstaff with Houston Grand Opera, the unique combination of Anna/Dido in Errollyn Wallen’s Dido’s Ghost and Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with Philharmonia Baroque, and the title role of Thaïs with Utah Opera. Further ahead, she will sing leading roles with Lyric Opera of Chicago and Opera Philadelphia. She began the 2022/23 season with the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners at the Norwegian Opera. She also sang Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice with San Francisco Opera and the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro with Houston Grand Opera. (NicoleHeaston.com)

Norman Garrett

BOB (Highway 1, USA)

PHOTO BY ARIELLE DONESON

BARITONE

From: Lubbock, Texas. LA Opera: Abdul in Omar (2022, debut).

About: This season’s appearances include his San Francisco Opera debut as Abdul and Abe in Omar, Masetto in Don Giovanni in a return to Houston Grand Opera, and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall. In the 2022/23 season, he appeared in the world premieres of The Factotum and Proximity, both at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, as well as Ned in a new edition of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Additional highlights of recent seasons include the Count in The Marriage of Figaro with Seattle Opera, Ríolobo in Daniel Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas with Houston Grand Opera, the title role in Chausson’s Le roi Arthus with Bard SummerScape, and the Foreman/Adult James in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones with Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera, where he also appeared as Jim in Porgy and Bess

MEET THE ARTISTS

Chaz’men Williams-Ali

NATE (Highway 1, USA)

From: St. Louis, Missouri.

LA Opera: debut.

TENOR

About: This season’s appearances include Cavaradossi in Tosca at Cedar Rapids Opera and Rodolfo in La Bohème at Florentine Opera in Milwaukee. Recent highlights include his Metropolitan Opera debut as Zorn in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, also covering the role of Spinner in Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones, which he created in the 2019 world premiere at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. He sang Narraboth in Salome at Madison Opera, Rodolfo in La Bohème at Kentucky Opera and the Prince in Rusalka at Opera Idaho. As principal tenor at Theater und Orchester Heidelberg in Germany, his roles include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Florestan in Fidelio, Canio in Pagliacci and the Prince in Rusalka. He made his international debut as Robbins and the Crab Man in Porgy and Bess with English National Opera, where he also appeared in a staged production of Britten’s War Requiem (ChazmenWilliamsAli.com)

Alan Williams

SHERIFF (Highway 1, USA) BASS

From: San Bernardino, California.

LA Opera: several roles including Abe in Omar (2022, debut); Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia (2023); Masetto in Don Giovanni (2023). Upcoming roles include Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata and the Mandarin in Turandot. He is a member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. About: In August, he appeared with Aspen Opera Theater as Neptune in Idomeneo. He was a 2022 apprentice at Des Moines Metro Opera, where he performed Theseus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He will return there this summer as the First Soldier in Salome and the Physician in Pelléas et Mélisande

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Deborah Nansteel

AUNT LOU (Highway 1, USA)

MEZZO-SOPRANO

From: Havelock, North Carolina. LA Opera: debut. She will return in June for Fire and Blue Sky. About: She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette, her Carnegie Hall debut in Mozart’s Coronation Mass and her New York Philharmonic debut in In Their Footsteps: Great African American Singers and Their Legacy. This season, she debuts with the Atlanta Opera as Rossweisse in Die Walküre, and performs Azuecena in Il Trovatore with Opera Santa Barbara and Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel with Opera San Antonio. She recently returned to the Met as Annina in La Traviata and for a concert tour of Otello, debuted with San Francisco Opera in Eugene Onegin and Dialogues des Carmélites, and performed Amneris in Aida for both Opera Grand Rapids and Finger Lakes Opera, and Gertrud in Hansel and Gretel for New Orleans Opera. (DeborahNansteel.com)

PHOTO BY REBECCA OVIATT

Kiara Benn

FOX (Highway 1, USA) DANCER

From: Brooklyn, New York. LA Opera: choreographer of Omar (2022, debut). About: A movement artist and producer, she danced with the Brooklyn youth company Dancewave, performing works by Kyle Abraham, Camille A. Brown and Andrea Miller, among others, at venues including the Pocantico Center and Jacob’s Pillow. She has produced the choreographic pieces just for (you), Will You Reminisce For Me?, and tempo take me.... Her artistry often asks how music serves as a portal to privately experienced memories and triggers our bodies to move in ways that reference the past.

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Darko Tresnjak

DIRECTOR (The Dwarf)

From: Zemun, Serbia.

LA Opera: The Broken Jug / The Dwarf (2008, debut); The Birds (2009); The Ghosts of Versailles (2015); Macbeth (2016).

About: He won the 2014 Tony Award, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award for his direction of the Broadway musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. He won the Obie Award in 2015 for his direction of The Killer starring Michael Shannon. He was the artistic director of the Old Globe Shakespeare Festival (2004-09) and Hartford Stage Company (2011-19). After a two-year Broadway run, his production of Anastasia has been seen in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and Japan. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2018 with Samson et Dalila. Favorite productions include Rear Window with Kevin Bacon, The Merchant of Venice with F. Murray Abraham and Kate Forbes, and The Winter’s Tale with Kandis Chappell. He is writing a musical comedy, Ask for the Moon, with composer Oran Eldor.

Linda Cho

COSTUME DESIGNER (The Dwarf)

From: New York City, New York.

LA Opera: The Broken Jug / The Dwarf (2008; debut); The Birds (2009); The Ghosts of Versailles (2015).

About: She received the Tony Award and Henry Hewes Design Award for the Broadway musical A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and was nominated for a Tony, Outer Critic’s Circle and Drama Desk Award for the Broadway production of Anastasia. She was part of Broadway’s first all-female creative team for Lifespan of a Fact. She has worked extensively across the U.S. and her work has been seen in Europe, Asia and South America. Her work in ballet and opera can be seen at the Metropolitan Opera, Washington National Opera, American Ballet Theater, and others. She is the recipient of the Theatre Development Fund’s Irene Sharaff Young Master Award and the Ruth Morely Design Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women and is currently serving on the Advisory Committee of the American Theatre Wing. (LindaCho.com).

Ralph Funicello

SCENIC DESIGNER (The Dwarf)

From: Portchester, New York.

LA Opera: The Broken Jug / The Dwarf (2008, debut).

About: He has designed the scenery for over 300 productions of plays and operas throughout the world including Broadway productions of Julius Caesar, Brooklyn Boy, Henry IV (Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Tony nominations), King Lear, QED and Division Street, and Off-Broadway productions including Saturn Returns, Ten Unknowns (Lortel nomination), Pride’s Crossing and Labor Day. He is an Associate Artist at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He has designed for companies including the American Conservatory Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, Seattle Rep, Lincoln Center Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, Berkeley Rep, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Guthrie Theatre, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Theatre Royal Bath, Stratford Festival of Canada and the Royal Shakespeare Company. He holds the position of Powell Chair in Set Design at San Diego State University.

Pablo Santiago

LIGHTING DESIGNER

From: Chiapas, Mexico.

LA Opera: prism (2018, debut); The Anonymous Lover (2020, LAO On Now); Breaking the Waves (2021, LAO On Now); Omar (2022); Pelléas et Mélisande (2023); The Barber of Seville (2023). About: He is a winner of the Richard Sherwood Award, Stage Raw Award and multiple Ovation nominations. He has worked at Santa Fe Opera, Opera Omaha, Boston Lyric Opera, Detroit Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Long Beach Opera, Prototype Festival, The Industry, Opera Columbus, LA Philharmonic, SF Symphony, LA Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Music Academy of the West, Opera Santa Barbara, Kennedy Center, Teatro Municipal São Paulo, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodman Theater, Arena Stage, BAM-Harvey Theater, Geffen Playhouse, Mark Taper Forum, South Coast Rep, Broad Museum, Kirk Douglas Theater, Majestic Theater Boston, Broad Theater and Hollywood Bowl. (PabloSantiagoDesign.com)

Bill Burns

CHOREOGRAPHER (The Dwarf)

From: Los Angeles and New York City. LA Opera: debut. About: He was tour choreographer for the North American productions of Anastasia. He has directed and choreographed U.S. and international companies of The Producers, Japanese productions of On the Town, Curtains, My One and Only, and was resident choreographer for the U.S. premiere of Dirty Dancing. He began in nightclubs, dancing with Juliet Prowse, and was selected by director Arthur Laurents to play Hanna in La Cage Aux Folles and by Jerome Robbins for several roles in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. Additional Broadway and touring credits include Fosse, Guys and Dolls, Chita & All That Jazz, Beauty and the Beast and Victor/Victoria. On television, film and stage, he has performed with the likes of Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, Ann Miller, Julie Andrews, Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters, Gregory Hines, Michael Jackson and Paula Abdul. Currently, he can be seen in Ryan Murphy’s Feud: Capote vs. The Swans

Andrew Kenneth Moss

FIGHT DIRECTOR

From: Corning, New York. LA Opera: Il Trovatore (2021, debut); Aida (2022); Lucia di Lammermoor (2022); Tosca (2022); Otello (2023); Don Giovanni (2023).

About: He has worked on productions including Armida at the Metropolitan Opera, SAFE at the Edinburgh Theatre Festival, A Little Night Music at the Huntington Theatre Company, Cold Mountain at Music Academy of the West and Carmen, Don Giovanni, I Puritani and Greek at Boston Lyric Opera. New York credits include Forever Dusty for New World Stages and Pinocchio’s Ashes for Theater for a New City. He staged combat for Dead Man Walking, West Side Story, The Seven Deadly Sins and Oklahoma! as resident fight director at Central City Opera.

Rodrick Dixon

THE DWARF

From: Queens, New York.

TENOR

LA Opera: Walther von der Vogelweide in Tannhäuser (2007, debut); Recovered Voices concert (2007); title role in The Dwarf (2008).

About: Notable 2023 engagements include 2023 debuts with the Royal Opera House in Das Rheingold (Froh), Royal Concertgebouw in The Death of Klinghoffer and the Nashville Symphony's world premiere of The Jonah People. Other debuts include the Enescu Festival in the title role of The Dwarf and Rai National Symphony and St. Louis Symphony as Erik in The Flying Dutchman. He created the role of the Shaman in the world premieres of One Land, One River, One People and Healing Tones with the Philadelphia Orchestra. Concert highlights include performances with the Cincinnati May Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Sydney Arts Festival, Ravinia Festival, Aspen Music Festival and Choral Arts Society at the Kennedy Center. (TenorRodDixon.com)

Erica Petrocelli

DONNA CLARA (The Dwarf) SOPRANO

From: East Greenwich, Rhode Island.

LA Opera: roles include Mrs. Naidoo in Satyagraha (2018, debut); Musetta in La Bohème (2019); title role in Eurydice (2020). She will return as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (2025). She was a member of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program (2018-20). About: Her concert appearances this season include Strauss’s Four Last Songs with the Peoria Symphony, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Florida Orchestra, Fauré’s Requiem at San Diego's Mainly Mozart festival and Puccini concerts with Sarasota Opera. Recent opera appearances include Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Stella in The Tales of Hoffmann with Opernhaus Zürich and Pamina in The Magic Flute and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Sarasota Opera. Concert highlights include Mozart’s Requiem under James Conlon at the Cincinnati May Festival as well as with the Saint Louis Symphony.

Emily Magee

GHITA (The Dwarf) SOPRANO

From: New York City, New York.

LA Opera: debut.

About: Emily Magee is internationally celebrated for her operatic interpretations of Wagner, Strauss, Verdi and Puccini. She has brought to life such roles as Elsa, Elisabeth, Tosca, Chrysothemis, Sieglinde, Marschallin, Kaiserin, Ariadne, Arabella and Minnie on leading opera stages in Europe, North America and Asia. She has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Covent Garden, La Scala, Zurich, Paris, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Salzburg and Bayreuth. She has also performed concerts throughout Europe and the USA. Her recordings have been nominated for a Grammy Award and for Gramophone Video of the Year. Her most recent appearances include Turandot at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Elsa in Lohengrin at Opera Australia in Melbourne, Elsa and Gutrune in Leipzig, the title role of Tosca in Barcelona and The Girl of the Golden West with the Cleveland Orchestra. (EmilyMagee.com)

Kristinn Sigmundsson

DON ESTOBAN (The Dwarf) BASS

From: Reykjavík, Iceland.

LA Opera: King Marke in Tristan und Isolde (2007, debut); King Heinrich in Lohengrin (2010), King Louis XVI in The Ghosts of Versailles (2015); Basilio in The Barber of Seville (2015); Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro (2015, 2023); St. Matthew Passion (2022). About: One of the world’s most sought-after basses, he has sung nearly his entire repertoire with the Opéra National de Paris and his many Metropolitan Opera roles include Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier and Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio. He has regularly sung with the Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera and Semperoper Dresden. Recent appearances include La Roche in Capriccio in Munich, Vodnik in Rusalka in San Francisco, Daland in The Flying Dutchman with Utah Opera and Fasolt in Das Rheingold in Atlanta. His engagements this season include appearances with San Francisco Opera as King Heinrich in Lohengrin and in Kaija Saariaho’s Innocence.

Kathleen O’Mara

FIRST MAID (The Dwarf) SOPRANO

From: Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.

LA Opera: Berta in The Barber of Seville (2023, debut); Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. About: This summer, the Juilliard graduate will be a Gaddes Festival Artist with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, performing Duchess Christina in Galileo Galilei by Philip Glass (KathleenOMaraSoprano.com)

Deepa Johnny

SECOND MAID (The Dwarf) MEZZO

From: Alberta, Canada. LA Opera: roles including Eliza in Omar (2022); Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro (2023); Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. About: Roles elsewhere include Carmen with Opéra de Rouen Normandie and Cherubino with Opera San Jose. Upcoming: Penelope in Il Ritorno d’Ulisse at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence. (DeepaJohnny.com)

Sarah Saturnino

THIRD MAID (The Dwarf) MEZZO

From: Grass Valley, California. LA Opera: roles including Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia (2023); Emilia in Otello (2023); Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. Upcoming: Maddalena in Rigoletto (2025). About: A 2023 winner of the Met’s Laffont Competition, she has performed Carmen in Santa Barbara and Dorabella in Tel Aviv. (SarahSaturnino.com)

Tiffany Townsend

FIRST COMPANION (The Dwarf) SOPRANO

From: Jackson, Mississippi. LA Opera: roles including Léontine in The Anonymous Lover (2020); Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni (2023); DomingoColburn-Stein Young Artist Program (2019-22). About: Recent appearances include Donna Elvira with Wolf Trap Opera and Kate Soper’s The Romance of the Rose with Long Beach Opera. (TiffanyTownsendSoprano.com)

Madeleine Lyon

SECOND COMPANION (The Dwarf) MEZZO

From: San Marcos, Texas. LA Opera: roles including Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor (2022); Bianca in The Rape of Lucretia (2023); Geneviève in Impressions de Pelléas (2023); Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. About: This summer, she performs Nireno in Julius Caesar with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as a Gerdine Young Artist. (MadeleineLyonMusic.com)

PHOTO BY KRISTINN INGVARSSON

LA OPERA CHORUS

Highway 1, USA

SOPRANO

Andrea Alderman

Sabrina Langlois

Erin McGlover

Thalia Moore

Janet Todd

Chloe Vaught

ALTO

Sarabeth Belón

Aleta Braxton***

Clara Chung

Zineb Fikri

Julia Metzler

TENOR

Christopher Craig

Corey Estelle

Charles Lane**

JJ Lopez

Solomon Reynolds

Patrick Tsoi-A-Sue

BASS

Paul An

Ralph Cato

Abdiel González*

Shyheim Selvan Hinnant

Jared Jones

Michael Washington

The Dwarf

SOPRANO

Andrea Alderman

Christina Borgioli*

Lisa Crave*

Sabrina Langlois

Erin McGlover

Lori Stinson*

Courtney Taylor

Janet Todd

Chloe Vaught

Sunjoo Yeo

ALTO

Elizabeth Anderson

Natalie Beck***

Sarabeth Belón

Aleta Braxton***

Sara Campbell*

Veronica Christenson**

Clara Chung

Kelly Krantz*

Adriana Manfredi

Julia Metzler

Bonnie Snell Schindler

Jennifer Wallace**

* Has appeared in 50 or more productions

** Has appeared in 100 or more productions

*** Has appeared in 150 or more productions

DANCERS

Highway 1, USA

Nekai Abriol, cover

The Dwarf

Alec Lloyd

Maxwell Simoes, cover

Nicholas Sipes

Taylor Stanger

Karl Warden

THE DWARF SUPERNUMERARIES

Everleigh Kim-Bergman

Jeff Cook

Tony Cronin

Daisy Donohue, cover

Stephen Juhl

Slim Khezri

ARTISTIC PERSONNEL

LA OPERA ORCHESTRA

Roberto Cani

STUART CANIN

CONCERTMASTER

Armen Anassian

ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER

Lisa Sutton

ASSISTANT CONCERTMASTER

Margaret Wooten

Hana Kim

Olivia Tsui

Loránd Lokuszta

Kathleen Sloan

Radu Pieptea

Heather Powell

Adam Millstein

Matt Oshida

SECOND VIOLIN

Ana Landauer

PRINCIPAL

Marisa Sorajja

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Florence Titmus

Michele Kikuchi

Cynthia Moussas

Ina Veli

Irina Voloshina

Elizabeth Hedman

Nina Evtuhov

Cheryl Kim

VIOLA

Erik Rynearson

PRINCIPAL

Shawn Mann

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Karie Prescott

Dmitri Bovaird

Kate Vincent

Alma Fernandez

Aaron Oltman

Diana Wade

CELLO

John Walz

PRINCIPAL

Rowena Hammill

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Dane Little

Michael Kaufman

Helen Altenbach

Nadine Hall

Trevor Handy

Andrew Lemus

JC O’Connell

Alex Penn

Kristen Refermat

Jaylin Soto

Harrison White

generously underwritten by Terri and Jerry Kohl

BASS

Nathan Farrington PRINCIPAL

Frances Liu Wu ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Tim Eckert

Sukyun Chun

Abe Gumroyan

FLUTE

Heather Clark

PRINCIPAL

Angela Wiegand, piccolo

Sarah Weisz, piccolo

OBOE

Leslie Reed PRINCIPAL

Jennifer Cullinan

Sarah Beck, English horn

CLARINET

Stuart Clark PRINCIPAL

Donald Foster, E-flat clarinet

Stephen Piazza, bass clarinet

BASSOON

William May PRINCIPAL

Damian Montano

William Wood, contrabassoon

HORN

Steven Becknell

PRINCIPAL

Daniel Kelley

Jenny Kim

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

James Atkinson

TRUMPET

Ryan Darke PRINCIPAL

David Washburn

ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL

Drew Ninmer

TROMBONE

William Booth

PRINCIPAL

Alvin Veeh

Terry Cravens

TUBA

James Self PRINCIPAL

HARP

JoAnn Turovsky PRINCIPAL

TIMPANI

Gregory Goodall PRINCIPAL

PERCUSSION

Theresa Dimond

PRINCIPAL

John Wakefield

Dante Luna

Jonathan Schlitt

CELESTE

Bryndon Hassman

PRINCIPAL

GUITAR

Paul Viapiano

PRINCIPAL

Brady Steel ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER

Melisandra Dunker MUSIC LIBRARIAN

Stuart Canin

Concertmaster Chair made possible by a deeply appreciated gift from Dunard Fund USA

PRODUCTION STAFF

ASSISTANT LIGHTING DESIGNER

Azra King-Abadi

INTIMACY DIRECTOR

Sara E. Widzer

SUPERTITLE PREPARATION / CUER

Linda Zoolalian

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS

Hannah Blaile

Hannah Holthaus

Lisa Kable-Blanchard

HEAD STUDIO TEACHER

Marie Wilson-Rogers

STUDIO TEACHER

Albert Barrientos

COSTUME SHOP

Lindsey Ellison

Robbie Monsod

JoEllen Skinner

Enrique Urbina

CUTTER/DRAPERS

Alexandra Babec

Adle Smithson

Clara Weidman

Haley Williams FIRST HANDS

Cesar Cisneros

Erica Fromdahl

Rosa Limon-Cervantes

Katherine Kincaid

Melissa Meza

Blanca Miranda

Carmen Muñoz

Elissa Perrin

Johanne Piantieri

Anna Wong SEAMSTERS

Wing Cheung

Michael Sloan MASTER TAILORS

Manuel Medina

Kelvin Small, Jr. TAILORS

Joseph Aragon

Dahlia Gonzalez

Alexa Marron CRAFTSPERSONS

Miranda Orellana

Haley Silver

PRODUCTION SUPERVISORS

Emily Frank

Rhiannon Smith

COSTUME ASSISTANTS

Jacqueline Colindres Paz

Gwyneva Rosales

PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS

WARDROBE

Lee Smilek HEAD OF WARDROBE

Mary Basile

Charlyn Trenier WARDROBE ASSISTANTS

Charlie Fleiss

Shelley Graves-Jimenez Mary Lehman

Glen Moore

Tyrell Pickett

Danyele Thomas SEASONAL DRESSERS

WIGS AND MAKE-UP

Samantha Wiener WIGMASTER

Danielle Richter ASSOCIATE WIGMASTER

Brandi Strona DEPARTMENT COORDINATOR & CREW FOREMAN

Nicole Rodrigues

Morgan Sellers SENIOR WIG & MAKE-UP ARTISTS

Nathalie Eidt

Kelso Millett WIG & MAKE-UP ARTISTS

Jacki Nocerino LEAD STYLIST

STAGE CREW

Scott Papez OPERA CARPENTER

Robert Colby Klein OPERA ELECTRICIAN

David Salas OPERA ASSISTANT CARPENTER

Alerton Perez ASSISTANT ELECTRICIAN

Scott Shepherd OPERA PROPERTY MASTER

Heather Orozco

OPERA HEAD AUDIO

Kelly Richard Travis OPERA HEAD VIDEO

Brad Cobb

OPERA AUDIO ENGINEER

DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION

HOUSE STAFF

Timothy L. Conroy MASTER CARPENTER

Ryan Lebetsamer

HOUSE HEAD ELECTRICIAN

Dennis Holbrook MASTER OF PROPERTIES

Todd Reynolds HOUSE HEAD AUDIO

Robert Devis HOUSE MANAGER

Demetra Willis HEAD USHER

Carolyn Van Brunt VICE PRESIDENT OF GUEST SERVICES

VARI-LITE AUTOMATED LIGHTING PROVIDED BY Vari-Lite Inc.

THE DOMINGO-COLBURN-STEIN YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program supports the future of opera by discovering and developing the talents of highly gifted young artists to become the stars of tomorrow. Since the company’s inception, LA Opera has been committed to nurturing a resident ensemble of young singers who would benefit from long-term professional development. The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, which builds on the success of the company’s earlier, highly respected Resident Artist Program, has the goal of developing the talents of exceptionally gifted young artists to become performers of potentially international stature, whose first loyalty would be to LA Opera.

The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program is generously underwritten by the Colburn Foundation and Eugene and Marilyn Stein Additional generous underwriting support is provided by Terri and Jerry Kohl Special support for young artist stipends is graciously provided by The Lenore and Richard Wayne Young Artist Fellowship. Additional support provided by the Young Artist Circle. The program was created with funding from the Flora L. Thornton Foundation

2023/24 PARTICIPANTS

Manuel Arellano

PIANIST/COACH

Deepa Johnny

MEZZO-SOPRANO

Anthony León TENOR

Madeleine Lyon

MEZZO-SOPRANO

Lucas Nogara PIANIST/COACH

Kathleen O'Mara SOPRANO

Sarah Saturnino

MEZZO-SOPRANO

Alan Williams

BASS-BARITONE

Ryan Wolfe BARITONE

Special thanks to the staff of the Music Center. Principal Singers, Narrators, Performers who have speaking parts, Stage Directors, Associate and Assistant Directors, Stage Managers, Assistant Stage Managers, Choreographers, Assistant Choreographers, Principal Dancers, Corps Dancers, and Chorus Singers appear under terms of an agreement between Los Angeles Opera and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AFL-CIO), the national guild of classical singers, dancers and production staff. Orchestra musicians are represented by the American Federation of Musicians, Local 47. The following employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Machine Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States and Canada, AFL-CIO, CLC,: Stage Crew, Local 33; Treasurers and Ticket Sellers, Local 857; Wardrobe Crew and Costume Crew, Local 768 ; Makeup Artists and Hair Stylists, Local 706. Interns in the Technical Department are students at California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, California). All editorial materials copyright Los Angeles Opera, 2023. The opinions expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Los Angeles Opera.

Christopher Koelsch

SEBASTIAN PAUL AND MARYBELLE MUSCO PRESIDENT AND CEO

James Conlon

RICHARD SEAVER MUSIC DIRECTOR

John P. Nuckols EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF STRATEGIC OFFICER

Diane Rhodes Bergman, APR VICE PRESIDENT, MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Jill Boyd VICE PRESIDENT, LABOR RELATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES

Rupert Hemmings VICE PRESIDENT, ARTISTIC PLANNING

Tehvon Fowler-Chapman VICE PRESIDENT, CONNECTS

Kathleen Ruiz VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Lina González-Granados RESIDENT CONDUCTOR

Jeremy Frank CHORUS DIRECTOR

Russell Thomas ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Renée Fleming ADVISOR, SPECIAL PROJECTS

Susan Graham ARTISTIC ADVISOR, YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Patricia McLeod SENIOR DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

Paul Hopper SENIOR DIRECTOR, ARTISTIC PLANNING

Eric Bornemann SENIOR DIRECTOR, MARKETING

Chul Park SENIOR DIRECTOR, TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

BOX OFFICE

Shane K. Morton

BOX OFFICE TREASURER

Shawnet Sweets

FIRST ASSISTANT TREASURER

Dale Bridges Johannsen

Michael Meyer

Brenda Roman

Andrew Tomasulo

Susan Wong

SECOND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

Joseph Howells

Joseph Selway

THIRD ASSISTANT TREASURERS

Kiana Culpepper

Liz Mancia

Andy Phu TICKET SELLERS

CONNECTS

Andréa Fuentes, Ed.D.

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Natalie Ramirez

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Adam LeBow

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMMING

Tate Shoebridge LEARNING AND ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

Jake Ryan Lindsey ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

Kirsten Anderson COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

Victoria Mestas OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE

Ishika Muchhal PROGRAM ASSOCIATE, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Janice Buenrostro

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR

Carmen Recker SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER

Eli Villanueva RESIDENT STAGE DIRECTOR

COSTUMES

Jeannique Prospere COSTUME DIRECTOR

Gregory White COSTUME DEPARTMENT MANAGER

Corrine Roache

PRODUCTION, STOCK & RENTAL COORDINATOR

Manuel Garcia

WAREHOUSE MANAGER

John Musselman

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Neal Anderson MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATE

DEVELOPMENT

Joslyn Treece DIRECTOR, INSTITUTIONAL GIVING & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Janneke Straub DIRECTOR, LEADERSHIP GIFTS

Josh Harrold DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT OPERATIONS

Christian Johnsten ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, MAJOR AND PLANNED GIFTS

Kellynn Meeks SENIOR BOARD AND EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

Robin Green

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND OFFICE MANAGER

Grace Piper RESEARCH OFFICER

Zade Dardari

ANNUAL FUND SPECIALIST

Kylie Smith

ANNUAL FUND COORDINATOR

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Benji Railton-Ashe DIRECTOR, MAJOR GIFTS

Weston Olson

SENIOR MAJOR GIFTS OFFICER

Evangeline Santos INDIVIDUAL GIVING OFFICER

Claudia Giugni INDIVIDUAL GIVING COORDINATOR

INSTITUTIONAL GIVING

Meredith Ernstberger INSTITUTIONAL GIVING OFFICER/ GRANT WRITER

Olivia Adair INSTITUTIONAL GIVING COORDINATOR

SPECIAL EVENTS

Jill Michnick DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIPS

Caitlin Harper EVENTS DESIGN SPECIALIST

FINANCE

Deborah Gould CONTROLLER

Sandra Vazquez DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING

Daisy Lopez PAYROLL MANAGER

Brian Stefanko ACCOUNTS PAYABLE MANAGER

Jing Hu ACCOUNTING MANAGER

Rowena Matibag-Potter SENIOR FINANCIAL ANALYST

HUMAN RESOURCES

Esmeralda Marroquin SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATOR

MUSIC ADMINISTRATION

Melisandra Dunker MUSIC LIBRARIAN

Brady Steel ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER

Ignazio Terrasi MUSICAL ASSISTANT TO JAMES CONLON

Blair Salter HEAD COACH, YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Caroline Boyce ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN

PRODUCTION

Michelle Magaldi PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Nicki Harper DIRECTOR OF ARTISTIC OPERATIONS

Jasna Gara PRODUCTION MANAGER

Kayla Siembieda MANAGER, ARTISTIC PROGRAMS AND REHEARSAL

Whitney McAnally PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER

Maya Ordoñez ARTISTIC OPERATIONS COORDINATOR

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Marlene Meraz DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

Mark Lyons ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS, PUBLICATIONS

Melanie Broussalian ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND VIDEO

Daniel Calderon CONTENT MEDIA SPECIALIST

SALES AND MARKETING

Elizabeth Galvan ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, LOYALTY MARKETING

Keith J. Rainville ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, BRAND & DESIGN

Pauline Hwa ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ACQUISITION MARKETING

Terrance Lovecraft INTERACTIVE & GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Yesenia Vargas MARKETING STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

Victoria Rey MARKETING ASSISTANT

TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT

Jeff Kleeman TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Carolina Angulo DESIGN MANAGER

Margie Schnibbe TECHNICAL ADMINISTRATOR

James Pomichter

PRODUCTION MEDIA MANAGER

Lisa Coto PROPERTIES COORDINATOR

Damon Schindler RESIDENT LEAD SCENIC ARTIST

Chris Carey TECHNICAL PAYROLL OFFICER

Stephanie Santiago TECHNICAL MANAGER

Violet Smith LIGHTING ASSISTANT

Dani Monterroso TECHNICAL ASSISTANT

TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Michael Masuda NETWORK MANAGER

Tommy Mam TECHNOLOGY SERVICES MANAGER

Alex Badali

Jordan Tan

Brian Urrutia APPLICATIONS ADMINISTRATORS

ACADEMY INTERNS

Scarleth Arias

Diego Castro

J.J. Flores

Elise Fukuda

Alan Munoz

Elisa Raya

Cristian Venegas

CONSULTANTS

Leonard Samuels (Zayde Creative)

KEY ART DESIGN

Stephen King

HEAD OF VOCAL INSTRUCTION

DOMINGO-COLBURN-STEIN YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Studio Fuse

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Marlinda Menashe

DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT

25th Anniversary Angels

MARC STERN, CHAIR

LA Opera recognizes and thanks those who made extraordinary leadership commitments in honor of the 25th Anniversary Season, ensuring the company’s continued artistic excellence and prominence in the worldwide cultural community.

Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco The Seaver Family

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Colburn Foundation

County of Los Angeles

Mr. Harold Alden and Dr. Geraldine Alden

Annenberg Foundation

Ambassador Frank and Kathy Baxter

The Blue Ribbon

Alex Bouzari

Robert Day

Dunard Fund USA

Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman

Gordon Getty

Carol and Warner Henry

Alfred and Claude Mann

Brindell Roberts Gottlieb

The Green Foundation

Bernard and Lenore Greenberg, in honor of Leonard Green

LGHG Foundation

Rosemary and Milton Okun

The Milan Panic Family

Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer

20th Anniversary Angels

Marc and Eva Stern Foundation

Flora L. Thornton

Marilyn Ziering

Lloyd E. Rigler - Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation

Ronus Foundation

Eugene and Marilyn Stein

Christopher V. Walker

Richard and Lenore Wayne

Ziering Family Foundation

Selim K. Zilkha and Mary Hayley / Selim K. Zilkha Foundation

MARC STERN, CHAIR

LA Opera wishes to honor those individuals who have made an extraordinary leadership commitment to the company. Building upon the remarkable foundation created by the Founding and Domingo’s Angels, the outstanding support of the 20th Anniversary Angels has helped ensure an artistically vibrant and financially secure future for LA Opera.

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Colburn Foundation

County of Los Angeles

Mr. Harold Alden and Dr. Geraldine Alden

Annenberg Foundation

Ambassador Frank and Kathy Baxter

Yuki and Alex Bouzari

Nancy Daly

Edgar Foster Daniels

Kelly and Robert Day

Leslie and John Dorman

Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman

Carol and Warner Henry

Alfred and Claude Mann

Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco

Richard Seaver and Sara Jayne Kimm

Brindell Roberts Gottlieb

The Green Foundation

Bernard and Lenore Greenberg, in honor of Leonard Green

Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation

LGHG Foundation

Beatrix F. Padway, in honor of Nathaniel W. Finston

Mr. and Mrs. Milan Panic

Domingo’s Angels

Marc and Eva Stern Foundation

Flora L. Thornton

Marilyn Ziering

Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer

Tarasenka Pankiv Fund (Tara Colburn)

Barbara Augusta Teichert

The Joop van den Ende Foundation

Christopher V. Walker

Richard and Lenore Wayne

Ziering Family Foundation

Selim K. Zilkha and Mary Hayley / Selim K. Zilkha Foundation

MARC STERN, CHAIR MARY HAYLEY, CO-CHAIR WARNER

HENRY, CO-CHAIR

Domingo’s Angels are individuals who made a leadership commitment to fulfilling the artistic initiatives of the Domingo Seasons, 2001-2005. Their remarkable generosity provided a new threshold from which the artistic professionals associated with LA Opera created and produced opera that thrilled and inspired Los Angeles audiences and the world.

Robert V. Adams and Barbara Abercrombie

Ambassador Frank and Kathy Baxter

Colburn Foundation

Kelly and Robert Day

Marta and Plácido Domingo

Leslie and John Dorman

The Green Foundation

Lenore and Bernard Greenberg

Carol and Warner Henry

Walter Lantz Foundation / Edward A. Landry, Trustee

Rosemary and Milton Okun

Mr. and Mrs. Milan Panic

Richard Seaver and Sara Jayne Kimm

Marc and Eva Stern Foundation

The Skirball Foundation

Flora L. Thornton Foundation

Selim K. Zilkha and Mary Hayley / Selim K. Zilkha Foundation

SUPPORTERS

Founding Angels

WARNER HENRY, CHAIR

LA Opera is grateful for the vision, boldness and extraordinary generosity of the Founding Angels, whose commitment to the company in its early years helped ensure the future of opera in Los Angeles.

Mr. and Mrs. Roy L. Ash

Dorothy Collins Brown

Mr. Richard D. Colburn

The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation Forman Family Foundation

Gordon Getty

The Emese and Leonard Green Foundation

Carol and Warner Henry

Opera League of Los Angeles

Artistic Excellence Circle

Richard Seaver

The Skirball Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Leonard H. Straus

Flora L. Thornton Foundation

LA Opera recognizes the dedicated individuals whose annual support ensures that the finest singers, conductors, directors and designers bring the power and beauty of the art form to our stage. To learn more, call John Nuckols at 213.972.7256.

PREMIER DIAMOND PATRON ($500,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous

The Ahmanson Foundation

GRoW @ Annenberg

Herbert Berk Estate

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Colburn Foundation

Cosgrove Family Trust

Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman / Pacific Theatres Foundation

Dunard Fund USA

Penelope Foley

Valerie Franklin Estate

Gemini Industries, Inc.

Gordon Getty

Bernard A. and Lenore S. Greenberg Opera Fund

DIAMOND PATRON ($250,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous

Mr. Harold Alden‡ and Dr. Geraldine Alden‡

Ana and Robert Cook

Leslie and John Dorman

Mr. Alex Furlotti

Nancy Geller Trust

Carol and Warner Henry

Terri and Jerry M. Kohl

Margo Leavin

Nanette and Keith Leonard

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors

Supervisor Janice Hahn

Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath

Claude Mann and Alfred E. Mann Estate

Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco

The Tarasenka Pankiv Fund

(Tara Colburn)

Linda and Alvaro Pascotto

Andrea and Janie Pessino

Suzanne Rheinstein, in honor of Fred Rheinstein

Peter and Diane Gray

The Green Foundation

Cornelia Haag-Molkenteller, M.D.

Latham & Watkins, LLP

Lauren B. Leichtman and Arthur E. Levine Family Foundation

Dan Murphy Foundation

PREMIER PLATINUM PATRON ($150,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (3)

The Armenian Consortium

Patricia Artigas and Lucas Etchegaray

Stanley Black; in memory of Joyce Black

The Blue Ribbon

Max H. Gluck Foundation

The Norman and Sadie Lee Foundation

Patty and Ken McKenna

James Mulally

The Music Man Foundation

Michele and Dudley Rauch / The Rauch Family Foundation

PLATINUM PATRON ($100,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (2)

Dr. Robert Adler and Alexis Deutsch-Adler

Karen Beecher Trust

Jules Brenner Trust

The Capital Group Companies

Charitable Foundation

Family of Ginger Conrad

Estate of Edgar Foster Daniels

Kathleen and Jerrold Eberhardt

Manuel Gutierrez, in memory of George Sponhaltz

Hispanics for Los Angeles Opera

Joan H. Hotchkis

Freya and Mark Ivener

Richard Kendall and Lisa See

Lawrence A. Kern

LGHG Foundation, in memory of Louise Garland

L.L. Foundation for Youth

The Opera League of Los Angeles

Ronus Foundation

Kenneth D. Sanson, Jr., Trust

Ariane and Lionel Sauvage

The Richard Seaver Trust for the Opera

Eugene and Marilyn Stein

Marc and Eva Stern Foundation

Ms. Barbara Augusta Teichert

Emanuel Treitel Trust

US Small Business Administration

Gregory and Régina Weingarten

Marilyn Ziering

Ann Ziff

Selim K. Zilkha and Mary Hayley / Selim K. Zilkha Foundation

Ceil and Michael E. Pulitzer

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

The David and Linda Shaheen Foundation

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter and Hampton LLP

Wells Fargo

Barry and Nancy Sanders

David Sanders Living Trust

Laura and Carlton Seaver

Elizabeth Segerstrom

Christopher V. Walker

In loving memory of our beloved parents, Ted and Hedy Orden

Dr. Heinrich and Barbara Schelbert

Susan R. Shapiro

Thurmond Smithgall and The Lanie & Ethel Foundation

South Coast Plaza

Alyce de Roulet Williamson

Ellen and Arnold Zetcher

Jane D. Zimmerman Trust

THE OPERA COUNCIL

Chaired by Paul and Catherine Tosetti

The dedicated support of the Opera Council enables LA Opera to achieve its artistic goals. This program offers exclusive privileges and behind-the-scenes opportunities to those individuals, foundations and corporations who make annual gifts of $25,000 or more. For information, please call 213.972.3160.

GRAND GOLD PATRON ($75,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (2)

Ahsan Aijaz

Mr. Haig S. Bagerdjian

Lynn A. Booth and Kent Kresa

The Otis Booth Foundation

Barbara Burtin

California Arts Council

Stephen A. Kanter Estate

Susan Lord and Scott Richard Lord

Paul and Sandra Montrone

OPERA America/Opera Fund

Linda Pierce

Caroline and Andrew Randall, in memory of Ann Ronus

Michelle Rohé

John and Gill Wagner

“You are all magicians. When I come to LA Opera, I enter a world of beauty. You always lift me to heights I’d never reach on my own.” —Lisa (donor)

GRAND GOLD PATRON ($50,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous

Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation

Mr. James Asperger and Ms. Christine Adams

Raffaela and John Belanich

Paul and Marie-France Bloch Fund at The Miami Foundation

Maynard and Linda Brittan

Brian P. Brooks

Janet and Nicholas Ciriello

Mark H. Dalzell and James Dao-Dalzell

De Marchena-Huyke Foundation

Elsa and Craig Donohue

Michael and Jane Eisner

Geoff Emery

GOLD PATRON ($25,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (5)

Gregory A. Adams

Maria Altmann; in memory of Fritz Altmann

Debbie and Mark Attanasio

Shirley Barasch Family Trust

Ambassador Frank and Kathy Baxter

Thomas and Judith Beckmen

Beverly Hills Porsche

Hans and Dianne Bozler

Carol Bramont and David Chesley

Drs. Maryam and Iman H. Brivanlou

Marlene Schall Chávez, Ph.D.

Edward E. and Alicia Garcia Clark

Ginger Conrad

Mrs. Alice S. Coulombe

John and Gina Despres

Kiki and David Gindler

Goldman Sachs & Co.

Sally and Irwin Goldstein

Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development

Em Green

Gary Gugelchuk

Annette Ermshar and Dan Monahan

Mr. Robert Finnerty and Mr. Richard Cullen

Catherine and Andrew Garroni

Betty L. Hall Trust

Ms. Janet Jones

Monique and Jonathan Kagan

Travis and Thomas Kranz

Renee and Meyer Luskin / Scope Industries

LLWW Foundation

Fredrik Malmberg and Joakim Zetterberg

The Rafael and Luisa de Marchena-Huyke Foundation

Michael and Lori Milken Family Foundation

National Endowment for the Arts

Wendy and Ken Ruby

George and Terry Schreyer

Nicolas Hamatake

Eloisa and Chris Haudenschild

In memory of Morris A. Hazan

Catherine and Mark Helm

HUB International Insurance Brokers

Mr. and Mrs. David K. Ingalls

Rian Johnson

Tim Johnson and Jean Cunningham

Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Jones

James P. Kelley and Joseph W. Lund

William and Priscilla Kennedy

Landmann Family and the Rivelle Family

Drs. Anu and Ali Leemann

Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture

City of Los Angeles, Department of Cultural Affairs

Merrill Lynch

J.H.B. Kean and Toby E. Mayman

Carolyn L. Miller, in honor of Chaz’men Williams-Ali

Mr. and Mrs. Carlos Mollura, Sr.

Anthony and Olivia Neece

Tina L. Segel

Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Seidel

Dr. Vina Spiehler

Alan and Janet Stanford

Jay and Deanie Stein

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Stein

James and Ellen Strauss

Mrs. Laney G. Techentin

Warren and Mimi Techentin

Sandra W. Terner

Paul and Catherine Tosetti

Brigitta B. Troy

Richard and Lenore Wayne‡

Estate of Monica Weil and Paul Schrade

Dr. Leslie A. Pam and Dr. Ann Christie

Petersen / Esper A. Petersen Foundation

The Louis and Harold Price Foundation

Mrs. Rita Coveney Pudenz

Penny and Harold B. Ray

Courtney Reum

Koni and Geoff Rich

Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation

Mimi Rotter

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Saunders

Natalie K. and Marvin S. Shapiro

Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Carol and James Sterling

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund

Richard and Cynthia Troop

Donna Wagner

Libby Wilson, M.D.

Andrew Xu and Timothy Iverson

Zev Yaroslavsky

Tamsen Z

Esther and Abe Zarem

Next Steps

March 2024

Belles-Lettres

Justin Peck/César Franck

Frank Bridge Variations

Hans van Manen/Benjamin Britten U.S. PREMIERE

NEW WORK

Melissa Barak/Kris Bowers WORLD PREMIERE

At The Broad Stage

Mar 22 7:30 pm

Mar 23 2:00 pm & 7:30 pm

Mar 24 2:00 pm

LEGACY DEBUSSY + HAMELIN

MAR 2 | THE WALLIS

MAR 3 | ZIPPER HALL

EXPLORE LACO’S 2023/24 SEASON

Margaret Batjer DIRECTOR OF CHAMBER MUSIC

Marc-André Hamelin PIANO

LEGACY: DEBUSSY + HAMELIN is made possible, in part, with the generous support from Anne-Marie + Alex Spataru.

TRADITIONS PERGOLESI’S STABAT MATER

MAR 30 | ALEX THEATRE

MAR 31 | ROYCE HALL

Jaime Martín CONDUCTOR

Amanda Forsythe SOPRANO

John Holiday COUNTERTENOR

PERGOLESI’S STABAT MATER is made possible, in part, with the generous support from Cheryl K. Petersen + Roger H. Lustberg.

HORIZONS BEETHOVEN + SKYE

APR 20 | ALEX THEATRE

APR 21 | ROYCE HALL

Jaime Martín CONDUCTOR

Tereza Stanislav VIOLIN

Yura Lee VIOLA

The featured performance of Tereza Stanislav is made possible, in part, with the generous support from Terri + Jerry Kohl and Ruth Eliel + Bill Cooney. Additional support for BEETHOVEN + SKYE provided by Carol Eliel + Tom Muller.

ORCHESTRAL

ORCHESTRAL

CHAMBER

JIJI + VIVALDI

MAY 4 | THE WALLIS

MAY 5 | THE HUNTINGTON

Margaret Batjer LEADER

JIJI GUITAR

Andrew Shulman CELLO

JIJI + VIVALDI is made possible, in part, with the generous support from June + Simon Li.

DEPARTURES MONTERO+MOZART

MAY 24

PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY

MAY 25 | ALEX THEATRE

Jaime Martín CONDUCTOR

Gabriela Montero PIANO

CHAPLIN +THE IMMIGRANT

MAY 26 | LINWOOD DUNN THEATER

Gabriela Montero PIANO

Dive deep into masterpieces by Stravinsky, Shostakovich, and Rachmanino featuring LACO musicians and Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero. Then take a cinematic journey with a special, live, improvised performance by Montero to Charlie Chaplin’s timeless 1917 classic The Immigrant.

BAROQUE SPECIAL

ORCHESTRAL

PATRONS OF LA OPERA

Chaired by Kathleen and Jerrold Eberhardt

Patrons of LA Opera, who contribute gifts of $3,500 or more, enjoy exclusive ticket services, benefits and activities to enhance their opera experience. For more information, please call 213.972.7655.

GRAND SILVER BENEFACTOR ($20,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous

John and Linda Kay Abdulian

Emily Arms and Steven Johnson

Bank of America Foundation

Allen Briskin and Gerry Hinkley

The Capital Group Companies, Inc.

The Sirpuhe and John Conte Foundation

Dr. and Mrs. Paul Eisenberg

Mr. and Mrs. David Elmore

Dr. Ronald Gabriel

Linda and Bobby Hanada

Lenny‡ and David Kelton

Micheal and Stephanie Landes

Mr. and Mrs. David Mgrublian

Judith S. Mishkin

Eduard Morf

PREMIER SILVER BENEFACTOR ($15,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous

Kay Anderle

Susan and L. David Cole

Laura Donnelley and the Good Works Foundation

First American Title Insurance Co., National Commerical Services

Further Global Capital Management / Olivier Sarkozy

SILVER BENEFACTOR ($10,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (5)

Manny Abascal

Adams/Cohen Family

Adar Family Trust

Rachel and Bulent Altan

Patti and Harlan Amstutz

Margaret Campbell Arvey

Esther M. Baird and Stanley Fimberg

Jill C. Baldauf and Steven L. Grossman

Mrs. Any Yakoub-Barr and Mr. Michael Barr

Sandy Behrens

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford Beim

Dr. Sheldon D. Benjamin and Constance Chesnut

Beatrice and Paul Bennett, in honor of A. Coulombe

Leah S. and Gregory M. Bergman

Anne Boundy

Lisa Bratkovich

Warren Breslow and Gail Buchalter

Vladimir and Araxia Buckhantz Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Cannon

Canyon Partners, LLC

Victor Carabello, M.D.; in honor of my beloved parents Oscar and Elisa

Laurel K. Clark

Claytor Family Foundation

V. Shannon and Pamela Clyne

Corinna Cotsen and Lee N. Rosenbaum

Myron and Margie Crain

Elizabeth Hofert Dailey Fund

Dain Torpy/Tim Pecci

Drs. Nazareth and Ani Darakjian

Dr. and Mrs. Donald E. Dickerson

Tom Dolby

Mr. Michael Dreyer; in memory of Warner Henry

Betty and Brack Duker

Susan and John Ebey

Ms. Gail Eichenthal

Danielle Nelson Erem and Vivian Nelson

Stephen M. Erhart

GRAND

BENEFACTOR ($7,000 & ABOVE)

Anonymous (2)

Jerome M. Applebaum

Aversa Foundation

Linda Maddocks Brown

Nicholas Chrisos

Marie M. Cohen and Jared Diamond

Cecelia Cole

Ms. Sheila Coop

‡ in memoriam

In memory of Maggi Gordon

Monica Gutierrez-Roper and Trevor Roper

Diane Henderson

Suzanne Kayne

Keller Anderle LLP

Jennifer L. Keller

Anita Lorber

Emily and Sam Mann

Dr. Randall T. Espinoza

David and Marianna Fisher

Alan J. Freeman

Dr. Elizabeth Short and Dr. Michael Friedman

The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Gramling

Beverly and Felix Grossman

Alma Guzman and Susan Stamberger

Jessica Harper

J. Ira and Nicki Harris Foundation

Betty Hayman

Robert and Denise Hayman

Freddi and Dr. Kenneth D. Hill

Linda Joyce Hodge

Chase Hodge-Brokenburr

Dr. Ronald Hopkins

Stuart and Simone Isen

Stella Jeong and Randall Lee

Bruce Johansen

Ms. Ratna Jones

Phyllis H. Klein, M.D.

Elaine F. Kramer

Renee Kumetz

Edward and Marie Lewis

Leonard M. Lipman Charitable Fund

Mr. and Mrs. David B. Lippman

Sam Losh and Judith Lovely

Hon. Nora M. Manella

Judy and Steve McDonald

Diane Hickingbotham McNabb

Marlane Meyer

Mrs. Synne Hansen Miller

Ms. Judy Miner

Mintz

Carol Mitchell

Nancy-Gene Morrison

Barbara and Norman S. Namerow

Gregory Nava and Barbara Martinez Jitner

Chris and Dick Newman / C and R Family Foundation

The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc.

Michele M. Crahan

Patrick Dickey

Dr. and Mrs. William M. Duxler

W. Allan Edmiston, Jr., M.D.

Dr. Jon Fellows and Judith Hemenway

Nancy Fleischer and Libby Wilson, M.D., in honor of Ida and Max Fleischer

Harry and Cheryl Nadjarian

The Stephen Philibosian Foundation

Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation

Terry and Dennis Stanfill

Karen and William Timberlake

Michael Weber and Frances Spivy-Weber

Linda May and Jack Suzar

The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation

The Recording Industries’ Music Performance Trust Fund

The SahanDaywi Foundation

Evy and Fred Scholder Family

Michael Nohaile and Kristin Yarema

Carolyn R. Novin

Christine Marie Ofiesh

Orange County Opera

Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts

Thomas Patrick and Stephen Rulo

John S. Perkins

Gary and Arsine Phillips

Ali Razi and Shelley Reid

Rodrigo J. Rocha, M.D.; in memory of my beloved parents

Jutta Romero

Lars Roos and Dr. Estelita Calica Roos

Mrs. Barbara C. Rosenthal

Matthew and Jennifer Rowland

Barbara Sadoff; in honor of Armin Sadoff

Sakana Foundation

Mr. and Mrs. Alexander A. Sawchuk

Amy and Andy Schwartz

Dr. Sharron L. Seal and Mr. Lawrence Seal

Dr. Donald Seligman and Dr. Jon Zimmermann

Dr. Bertrand and Joan Shapiro

Eric L. Small

Mr. Burnie Sparks; in memory of Warner Henry

Bette I. Tatge

Michael and Suzanne Tennenbaum

Kyle Thorpe

Mr. and Mrs. Andy Torosyan

Elinor and Rubin Turner

Mr. and Mrs. Dale Ulman

Nancy Valentine

Drs. Francine Bartfield and Martin Wasserman

Mark A. Weaver

Aviva Weiner and Paulino Fontes

Sheila and Wally Weisman

Doris Weitz and Alexander Williams

Robert E. Willett

Wendy and Jay Wintrob

Susan Zolla; in memory of Edward M. Zolla

Mrs. Elaine Galanti

Larry and Marlis Gilman

Claire and Robert Heron

Patricia Houston; in loving memory of Chet Houston

Nancy Katayama

Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Landry

June and Simon K.C. Li

PATRONS OF LA OPERA

GRAND BENEFACTOR

($7,000 & ABOVE)

Mrs. Isabel Markovits-Rosenberg

James and Grace McAdams

Ernest and Anne Prokopovych

Drs. Michael and Marion Quinn

Cliff and Toni Reston

Elizabeth Loucks Samson

Robert and Linda Smith

Charles Souw, in loving memory of Bill Maldonado

Dennis Wasser and Ruth Roberts

PREMIER BENEFACTOR

($5,000 AND ABOVE)

Anonymous (7)

The Maurice Amado Foundation

The Amphion Foundation, Inc.

Tracy Stone and Allen Anderson

Anne Andrews and John Thornton

Ruth Bachofner

Ms. Sunny Baey

William Blair

Judith F. Blumenthal

Employees Community Fund of Boeing

Bonnie Brae

Gary and Johanna Brown

Mrs. Michele Brustin

Michael and Tania Cahill

Todd L. Calvin

Evelyn and Stephen Cederbaum

Diana and Marc Chazaud

Laura K. Christa

Rhoda Coleman, in loving memory of Howard Coleman

Christina and Bill Conkle

Ms. Joanne Dallas Davis/Dauray

Family Fund

Jack and Barbara Dawson

Jennifer Diener

David A. Drummond

Linda L. Duttenhaver

Helen Funai Erickson

Mr. Robert Estrin, in memory of Mary Lloyd Estrin

Evelyn & Norman Feintech Family Foundation

Theodore Finney Hill

Mr. and Mrs. Don Erik Franzen

Elisabeth and Tony Freinberg

Dr. and Mrs. Santo Galanti

Dr. Patricia Goldring

Charles and Marian Goldsmith

Patrick and Mary Goshtigian

Wendy and Luis Guerrero

Manuel R. Gutierrez

Dr. Ann M. Hirsch and Dr. Stefan J. Kirchanski

David L. and Susan H. Hirsch

In Sook Hong

Cameron Hotchkis

Dr. Judith Hyman

Ms. Marsha Hymanson

Mr. Daniel J. Jaffe and Ms. Cynthia S. Monaco

Elizabeth and Nicandro Juárez

Jee Sung and Hun Ku Kang

Mr. Howard B. Klein

Ellen and Harvey Knell

Mr. Joel and Mrs. Sharon Koppelman

KPMG LLP

Sherry Lansing and William Friedkin

PATRONS OF LA OPERA

PREMIER BENEFACTOR ($5,000 AND ABOVE)

C. Deborah Laughton; in memory of Charles (Terry) Hendrix

Larry Layne and Sheelagh Boyd

Christine and Jay Lee

Mr. Leonard Levine and Dr. Mateo Ledezma

Marilyn Lightner

The Lilly Family Foundation

Lilly Fong Liu

Mr. Mark Loewen

Mr. Paul Lombardi and Mr. Jeffrey B. Soref

Dr. Liana Lucaric Boghossian

Mr. Nigel Lythgoe

John and Jill Manly

Tracey Alden Martin

Edeltraud McCarthy

Jennifer and Mark McCormick

Mr. Richard J. Meyer

Bo Mills

Cindy Miscikowski

Carol Mitchell

Mr. Shannon J. Morton

Mr. and Mrs. Bengt Muthen

BENEFACTOR ($3,500 AND ABOVE)

Anonymous (6)

In memory of Dr. Yoshio Akiyama

Honey Amado

Mr. Robert C. Anderson

Ron and Perky Apperson

Shirley Ashkenas; in memory of Irving Ashkenas

David Baltimore and Alice Huang

Howard Barmazel

Randall C. Bassett

Shelley and Rick Bayer

Christine Benchay

John R. Benfield and Mary Ann Shaw

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bennion

Dr. Dietmar P. Berger

Leigh Lindsey and Andrew Blaine

Mr. William J. Bracken and Ms. Mary Jo Markey

Langley B. Brandt

Barbara and Richard Braun

Dr. Martin J. Brickman

Patsy Burke

Drs. Carol and David Cass

CBRE National Partners West / Darla Longo, Barbara Perrier, Michael Longo

Mr. Joseph Cochran

Nancybell Coe and William Burke, in honor of James Conlon

Dr. Malcolm and Gabrielle Cosgrove

Joan and Donald Damask

Michael Dillon

Mr. and Mrs. R. Stephen Doan

Dan and Carol Donlan

Larry and Jan Duitsman

Mr. and Mrs. Karl J. Durow

Susan Edelstein

Craig Emanuel and Deborah Zipser

Margaret Epstein

John Farrell and Corey Spivey

Joyce and Mal Fienberg

Mrs. Frances R. Flanagan

John Fleming and Kris Maine

David F. Freedman, in memory of Joan Freedman

Dr. Jerry and Jean Friedman

Scott and Elizabeth Frost

Ronald Frydman

Arthur and Helen Geoffrion

Jerome J. Glaser / International Curtain Call

Dr. and Mrs. Steven M. Goldberg

Mr. Ronald Goldman

Nora Gordon and Brent Bryan

Christine Gregory

Dr. and Mrs. Steven Nagelberg

The E. Nakamichi Foundation

David Drew Neer, M.D., J.D.

Ms. Michelle Newberry

Frank and Andrea Newman

Mrs. Inna Ockelmann

Jenny Okun and Richard Sparks

Mr. and Mrs. Peter O’Malley

Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Oppenheimer

Park Bixby Tower, Inc.

Partner Engineering and Science, Inc.

Mary E. Petit and Eleanor Torres

Frank and Betty Pinkerton

Eileen and Charles Read

Ms. Margaret Rose, in memory of Ronald Dolkart

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Rountree

Ms. Allison Sampson; in memory of Warner Henry

Brad Schlei and Jamie Price-Schlei

Robert Segal; in loving memory of Jeanne Segal

Richard and Ellyn Semler

Marilyn Shapiro

Peter and Elizabeth Goulds

Charles F. Hanes

Dr. and Mrs. Irwin Harris

Norma A. Harris & Frank Packard III

Marie O. Hedlund

Jeff and Yolanda Heller

Marcia and Dr. Paul Herman

Larry and Lilia Hershenson

Mrs. Phoebe Ann Heywood

Gary Ho and Aihua Gan

Richard Holland Trust

Barbara Holman

Mrs. Maria Antonia Horne‡

Adel F. Jabour, M.D.

Dr. Thomas D. Johnson, Ph.D., and Stacy B. Young

Gary and Denise Kading

Gloria Kaplan

Drs. Nedeen and Alan Kaufman

Gayle Kirschbaum and Scott D. Baskin

Christopher Koelsch and Todd Bentjen

Ronald and Joann Kramar

Diane S. Lake

Peter and Electra Lang

Dr. Paul E. LeMal

Irwin and Rachel Levin

Dr. Cheryl D. Lew, M.D.

Clark and Karen Linstone

Dr. Leonard Lipman

Robert and Susan Long

Gerrie Maloof

Michael and Claudia Margolis

Daniel Marshak

Ms. Faydell P. Martin

Robert Mendow

Bryan Mershon

Adam Mielke and Angel Blue Mielke

Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Miller

Carol Mitchell

Olga Moretti

Jane Gray Morrison

Diane Williams Murphy

Gary W. Murphy

Mr. Emory Ron Myrick

Ms. Laurice Myron

Robert and Sally Neely

Barbara and Lawrence Nevens

Mary Ruth and Jeff Newman

Jerry and Elaine Offstein

Dr. Edward O’Neill

Dr. Sophia Y. Pak, M.D.

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Dr. and Mrs. Neil J. Sherman

Joyce and Al Sommer

Philip Starr and Michael Simental

John and Beverly Stauffer Foundation

Yvonne Stevens and Paul Schickler

Dr. Roger D. Stewart

Dr. Julie Stindt

Philip and Kristan Swan

Mr. Eliazar Talamantez

Lisa Tatge

Ms. Joanne L. Dallas and Mr. Frank A. Traficante

Ms. Barbara A. Van Postman

Larry Verdugo

Cynthia Walk

Barbara and Ken Warner

David and Michele Wilson

Mrs. Joan A. Winchell; in memory of Verne Winchell

Clemence Yi

Martin and Rosalind Zane

Dr. and Mrs. Nissan Pardo

Ms. Karen A. Pederson

The Muriel Pollia Foundation

Ruth Popkin

Mr. and Mrs. Roger H. Porter, Jr.

Peggy and Peter Preuss

Kai-Li and Hal Quigley

Madeline and Bruce Ramer

Sonia Randazzo and Family

Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Reid

Fen Rhodes and Nancy Corby

Ken and Erika Riley

Craig and Janis Risch

JoAnna Rodriguez

Charleen Rohde

Diana Romero

Rikki Rosen

Paula and Allan Rudnick

Lynn and Michael Russell

Mr. and Mrs. Neal Schmale

John Schunhoff and Ken Titley

Albert Sepe

Ruth Simon

Mr. and Mrs. John B. (Jack) Simon

Dr. Joan E. Smiles

Judith L. Smith

Debra Vilinsky and Michael Sopher

Steven and Eleanor Sorenson

Shirley Earlise Starke-Wallace

Sidney Stern Memorial Trust

Ms. Donna Lynn Stillo

Dr. and Mrs. Edward C. Stone

Francine Swain and Robert Murdock

Dr. I. Maribel Taussig

Mr. Andrew Tavakoli

Dr. and Mrs. Jose Torreblanca

Eve C. Van Rennes

Ms. Carol Vernon and Mr. Robert Turbin

James and Robin Walther

Martin Washton

Dr. Robert W. Weinman

Tina H. Wilson

Jan and Steve Winston

Dr. William Wishner

Dr. Judith G. Wolf

Sharon and Fillmore Wood

David A. Workman

Mr. Rudolf Ziesenhenne

SHINING A LIGHT ON THE PERFORMING ARTS

CAP UCLA continues to welcome a bevy of today’s most searching, innovative and compelling artists throughout 2024.

VISIT

The brand new UCLA Nimoy Theater, Royce Hall and The Theatre at Ace Hotel.

EXPLORE

A genre-defying lineup of music, dance, theater and literary arts.

by Jeff Busby

SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

> Urban Bush Women > Martha Redbone > Samora Pinderhughes

> Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana > UnCabaret > Magos Herrera > Meshell Ndegeocello

> Third Coast Percussion > Maya Beiser > LADAMA > John Cameron Mitchell

> Luciana Souza > Eighth Blackbird > Meow Meow > Alfredo Rodriguez

AND MANY MORE!

cap.ucla.edu/2023–24

Urban Bush Women by Ian Douglas

Meow Meow

PATRONS OF LA OPERA

ARTISTS CIRCLE ($2,000 AND ABOVE)

Anonymous (2)

Ms. Mary Anderson

Patrick Anderson and Ron Koren

Stephanie Barron and Max Rifkind-Barron

Heather and Stephen Bedikian

Nancy Berman and Alan Bloch

Mr. William Stewart Buettner

James and Debbie Burrows

Ms. Marion A. Cameron

Ms. Julia Cherry

Dr. Timothy Ching

Antonio and Hanna Damasio

Fred Dear

Donald and Jackie Feinstein

Dr. Michele A. Felix

Irwin Field and Helgard Lion

Dr. and Mrs. Santo Galanti

Mr. Manolo F Galindo

Constance Towers Gavin

Grace on Earth Foundation

Lee Hendrix

Ms. Florence A. Hoffman

Ms. Nancy Irwin

SPONSOR ($1,000 AND ABOVE)

Anonymous (3)

John Abbott

In memory of Dr. Yoshio Akiyama

Henning Andersen and Mary Pottala

Larry Hawley and Barbara Aran

Mr. Yigal Arens

Melanie and George Arms

Mr. Stefan Ashkenazy

Sharon Azerrad

Pamela Bailis

David Baltimore and Alice Huang

Rachel and Meir Bartur

Frederick and Julianne Baumann

Dr. Marjorie Beale

Lydia Matkovich and Drazen Begovic

Lanie Diamond Bernhard; in memory of Margot and Henry Bamberger

Ms. Deborah Beveridge

Sue Bienkowski and Wang Lee

Mr. Richard H. Bigelow

Dr. Peter and Mrs. Helen Bing

Cheryl and Anthony Bledin

Robert and Barbara Boies

Mrs. Loyda Bolivar Leon

Leslie and Diane Botnick

Thomas Botz

Jonathan Braun and Lynn Gordon

Mrs. Carla Brand Breitner

Jeffery Britting

Rob Brofman

Edwin and Bea Buchman

John Bunge

Oleg and Tatiana Butenko

Dr. and Mrs. David Michael Butler, MD

Dr. and Mrs. Norman Cadman

Dr. and Mrs. David S. Cannom

Ms. Nic Carmon

Elizabeth Casey and Jim Burgess

Katherine Chang and Thomas Einstein

Mr. Seth Chazanoff

Mr. Keith D. Chen

Mr. Ellis Chernoff

Esther Chicaferro

Ms. Allison Clago

Betty Cleeland

Susan and Craig Cooning

Mr. Earle Crandall

Joseph and Farima Czyzyk

Emil Davtyan

Claus Dieckell

David A. Drummond

William Isacoff

Brenda Izzi

Alan and Amy Karbelnig

Jim and Jean Keatley

Jill Kent

Marylyn and Chuck Klaus

Rosalie Kornblau

Mr. Bruce Lassen

Mr. Robert M. Lea

Ms. Janet Levin and Mr. Frank Gruber

Mary H. Lewis

Randall and Janell Lewis

Mr. Michael Lindsay

Ms. Blanca Lucero and Mr. Charles Romero

Patrick Lyden and Laurie Schechter

Joseph H. MacDonald

Kathleen Martin

Barbara Merkle

Ms. Margaret Austin Moir

Dr. and Mrs. G. Arnold Mulder

Lorenzo Murguia, M.D.

Ms. Lois A. Murphy

Ms. Heidi Novaes

Van and Francine Durrer

Gail and Jim Ellis, in honor of

Carol and Warner Henry

Mr. Michael A Enomoto

Paul A. Erskine Family Fund

Ms. Perla Eston

Ms. Charlotte E. Eubanks

Ms. Deborah K. Evans

Chester and Joy Everline

Janet Fahey

Natalie Farnham

Mr. Thomas Farrell

John and Joycelyn Fawaz

Thomas and Marilyn Feiman

Jacqueline G Feinstein

Mr. Guy V. Ferland

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Fishbach

Mr. Michael Fishbein

Ms. Yvonne Flint

Nathan Frankle

David Freeman

Fred Fuller and Karen Scott

Joaquin and Elisabeth Fuster

Mr. and Mrs. Sanford M. Gage

Bruce and Adele Gainsley

Arthur and Helen Geoffrion

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Gold and Family

Sandra Goodenough

Philip and Cassandra Grant

Linda Leech Graul

Ms. Lorellen Green

Ms. Cynthia Griffin

Annie Gross

Richard Gruner and Marie Beall

Mrs. Tatiana Gurarie

Harvey and Carolyn Gurman

Erica Hahn

Bernard and Carolyn Hamilton

Whitcomb Hayslip

Ms. Nita Heimbaugh

Mr. Edwin Henderson

Ms. Nancy H. Hensel

Phil and Gage Hewes

Ms. Dima Hilal

John Hofbauer and Laura Fox

Elisa Hubbard

Ms. Lisa Hubbard

Mr. Irwin Jacobson

Paul and Missy Jennings

Ms. Elaine D Johnson

Rosemarie Johnstone

Beatrice H. Nemlaha

Liza and Thomas Newbauer

Doerthe Obert

Mr. Phil Ockelmann

Kenneth and Terry O’Dell

Ron and Pat Oguss

William and Carol Ouchi

Michael and Beverly Phillips

Ms. Sarah Phillips

Mr. Christopher A. Reed

Mr. Herbert Schraibman

John Serpe and Tracy Maddox

Laurie Samitaur Smith

Mr. Don Simkin

Mr. Lynn Foster Sipe

Ms. Katherine Sung

Michael Frazier Thompson

The Tourist Office of Spain

Mary Ann Twitty

Max and Diane Weissberg

Marty, Sara and Samantha Widzer

Eddie and Mary Williams

Brian Wong

Ms. Kathleen E. Jolly

Brenda Jones

Elizabeth and Nicandro Juárez

Ms. Elizabeth F. Kitchen

Leana Kleinman and Jerald Johnson

Michael and Elaine Kleinman

Henry and Ramona Kline

Norman and Leslie Koplof

Mr. Jay Lee

Dr. Eric Levander

Dr. Phillip and Lynda Levin

Ms. Evangelia Lieberman

Mr. Stephen Lindquist

Fong Liu

Ms. Margaret G. Lodise

Nina and David Luce

Masako Maki

Drusilla Margolis

Jay and Marilyn Marks

Kelsey N. Martin

Stephen Martinez and Lindalee Iverson

Ms. Patricia V. Mayer

Ms. Bridget McCann

Theodore McCombs

Patricia and Ramon McLeod

Margaret Meehan and Joaquin Nunez

Linda and Sheldon Mehr

Mr. Tony (Anthony) F. Melia

Drs. Anne and Ronald Mellor

Nicholas Menzies and Melinda Herrold-Menzies

David and Betty Mill

Mary E. Miller

Andrew Millstein and Rosemarie Fall

Sarah Purefoy Morris and John Papadopoulos

Vickie Mortensen

Jan Munroe

R. Chandler Myers

Michael and Marianne Newman

James and Melanie Nickel

David and Marcia Nimmer

Ms. Teresa Norton

Mary and Kevin O’Connell

Mr. Howard Okin

Ms. Joan Oliver

Dr. Sophia Y. Pak, MD

Victor and Cathryn Palmieri

Ms. Ellen A. Pansky

Alex W. Papalexis

Mrs. Hoyt S. Pardee

Robert and Brana Paster

Dr. Michael and Susan Patzakis

WEST COAST PREMIERE MAR 27–APR 28

WRITTEN BY JAMES IJAMES

ORIGINAL DIRECTION BY SAHEEM ALI DIRECTED BY SIDEEQ HEARD

PRODUCED IN ASSOCIATION WITH NO GUARANTEES, PUBLIC THEATER PRODUCTIONS & RASHAD V. CHAMBERS

FEATURING

MARCEL SPEARS

PRODUCTION SPONSOR

NIKKI CRAWFORD

CHRIS HERBIE HOLLAND BILLY EUGENE JONES

ADRIANNA MITCHELL

BENJA KAY THOMAS MATTHEW ELIJAH WEBB

PATRONS OF LA OPERA

SPONSOR ($1,000 AND ABOVE)

David L. Paul and Leyla V. Woods

Ms. Janet Petersen

Ms. Catherine Petit

Mr. and Mrs. Leo J. Pircher

Carmen Popa

Ms. Mary R. Power

Mr. Scott F. Reed

Jeffrey and Susan Reiner

Mr. William J. Renton

Dr. and Mrs. Madison Richardson

Tania Richter-Prinz

Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Ritchie

Patrick Ritto

Peter Robinson and Buffy Shutt

Dr. William W. Robinson

Robert Rothschild

Mr. Frank D. Rubin

Dr. Michael Rudolph

Kim Ruys de Perez

Robert and Maggi Salfi

Shefali Samant

Ann Scheid

Mr. John H. Scott

Sarkis Sepetjian

June Sewell

Prof. John J. Shaak

Rita Shamban and Richard Hahn

Dr. Bertrand and Joan Shapiro

Susan Shapiro and Leon Worden

Mr. Gregory B. Shapton

Dr. Stephen A. Shectman, Ph.D.

Ross Shideler and Kathleen Komar

Elena Shoch

Dean Shoffeitt

Robert and Kerry Shuman

Judith L. Smith

William Smith and Carol Harter

Mr. Zohar Sorek

Steve and Nancy Speier

Adrian Spence

Lorraine Stark

Ms. Corey E. Stein

Mr. Trevor Stockinger

Catherine Stone

BELLA VOCE PATRONS (IRREVOCABLE ESTATE GIFTS)

Philip and Kristan Swan

Lavette Cox Teague, Jr

Mr. Jesse R. Telles

Mr. Eldon Teper

Mark Theodore

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Towbes

Linda and Sorrell Trope

Marian Tully

Ms. Elizabeth P. Turner

Ms. Leah Turner

Mr. Moses Urbano

Mary Urquhart

Mark Eugene Villalobos

Joanne Weidman

Ian and Barbara White-Thomson

Ms. Marie Wiley

Mr. Scott Wingate

Dr. Nai-Chang Yeh

Dr. Maral Yeranossian-Babian

Ms. Maria Ziegler

LA Opera is grateful for the generosity and foresight of opera lovers who have established future gifts to the company in their estate plans.

Natsuko Akiyama, in memory of Yoshio Akiyama

Dr. & Mrs. Julio Aljure

Gracia Alkema & C. Terry Hendrix

Karen Alpert Trust

Mr. Marvin Antonowsky

Mr. and Mrs. Roy Ash

Shirley Ashkenas

Shirley Lee Barasch

Ms. Angela Bardowell

Estate of Margaret and David N. Barry III

Ambassador Frank & Kathy Baxter

Karen M. Beecher

Anne Boundy

The Samuel M. Brainin Trust

Carol & Normand Brewer

Jacqueline Briskin

Maynard & Linda Brittan

The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation

Christine Brodie

Richard & Norma Camp

T. Robert Chapman Trust

David Chierichetti

Edward E. & Alicia Garcia Clark

Richard D. & Lisa K. Colburn

The Tarasenka Pankiv Fund (Tara Colburn)

Nancy Cook

Cosgrove Family Trust

Michele McGarry Crahan

Estate of Nancy Daly

Janet & Roger DeBard

Teresa DeCrescenzo

Estate of Phyllis & Donal Dreifus

The George A.V. Dunning Fund/ California Community Foundation

Allan & Diane Eisenman

Gerald Faris

Adell Fink

Theodore Hill Finney

Claudia & Mark Foster

Herbert O. and Jean Fox

Kara Kass Fox

Estate of Valerie Franklin

Allen B. Freitag Trust

Ronald Frydman

Gerri Lee Frye

Roger Gallizzi and James Willey

Nancy Gentry Geller Trust

Gwynne M. Gloege

Estate of Barbara Goldenberg

Eric A. Gordon

Leonard Green

Bernard and Lenore Greenberg

Susan R. Greer

Joyce and Joelle Grinker

Estate of Walter O. Halden

Betty Hall Trust

Roy Hamilton

The Jerome G. Handelsman Trust

Hildegard Harris

Lee & David Hayutin

Anne Heineman

Estate of Harvey B. Heller

Warner & Carol Henry

Yvonne & Gordon Hessler

Joan & John Hotchkis

Drs. Herbert and Judith Hyman

Mr. & Mrs. David K. Ingalls

Robert Jesberg and Michael J. Carmody

Estate of H. Kirkland Jones

Sylvia & Vernon D. Jones

Estate of Stephen A. Kanter

Lawrence A. Kern

Joyce and Kent Kresa

Helen LammIvan and Hilda Layda / Layda Family Trust

Margo Leavin

The Norman & Sadie Lee Foundation

Lauren B. Leichtman & Arthur E. Levine

Dr. Paul E. LeMal

Raymond A. Lieberman Trust

Robert & Marguerite Marsh

In memory of Terry Roberta Matthies

Linda May Suzar

Dr. Michael McGuire

Paula Kent Meehan

Mr. & Mrs. Paul A. Miller

The Jane Moore Family Trust

Diane and Leon Morton

Sebastian Paul and Marybelle Musco

Anthony & Olivia Neece

Joan Harding Newman

Mei-Lee Ney

Estate of Beatrix F. Padway

Mr. Milan Panic

Chloe Pollock-Mieczkowski

Cat Jagger Pollon

Mrs. Jean Powell

Nan Rae

Suzanne Rheinstein

Christine P. Ries

Kenneth D. Sanson, Jr., Trust

The L. Franc Scheuer Trust

The Malcolm Schneer LAOC Trust

The Richard Seaver Trust for the Opera

Archie Sharp

Milton Singer

Mr. & Mrs. William Smollen

Ellen & Harry Sondheim, in memory of Betty & Felix Leibholz

Estate of Mr. Arthur Spitzer

Marilyn & Eugene Stein/ Capital Group Companies

Marc & Eva Stern

Estate of Gaby K. Tanas

Flora L. Thornton & Eric L. Small

Estate of C. Dickson Titus III

Emanuel Treitel Trust

Ms. Carol Vernon and Mr. Robert Turbin

Magda & Frederick R. Waingrow

Richard and Lenore Wayne

Mark A. Weaver

Estate of Monica Weil and Paul Schrade

Douglas B. Wood

Sharon and Fillmore Wood

Irene Zimmerman

MARGARET

ZANAIDA

BELLA VOCE PATRONS (FUTURE GIFTS)

Anonymous (9)

Doris Alexander

Helen Mae Almas

John Altschul

Patti Amstutz

Robert C. Anderson

Sharon Baranoff

James C. Bassett, Ph.D.

Randall C. Bassett

Nancy Griffith Baxter

James M. Bell

Herbert M. Berk

Lorna D. Blancaflor

Dr. Judith F. Blumenthal

Rebecca Bowne

Hans and Dianne Bozler

Ms. Dale Bridges Johannsen

Mrs. Michele Brustin

Sharon A. Bryan

Elizabeth B. & Elwood S. Buffa

Jacqueline & Henry Cahn

Todd Calvin

Dr. Alisa Cone Camberlan

Leigh Robinson Cartwright

Drs. Carol & David Cass

Julia Cherry

Cecelia R. Cole

Bernice Colman

Ginger Conrad

Hilary Crahan

Keith Crasnick Family Trust

Drs. Nazareth & Ani Darakjian

Lawrence E. Deutsch

Amy Lyn DeZwart and George Betar

Leslie & John Dorman

Mary Kathryn Dunn

Gerald Elijah/Octaveous Starr

Maureen Engelhard

Daniel Fink, M.D.

Richard Cullen and Robert Finnerty

David F. Freedman

Dr. Michael A. Friedman and Dr. Elizabeth M. Short

Mr. & Mrs. John Garvey

James Gelb and Diane Morton

Dr. Melinda Gilmore

Jerome J. Glaser

Joyce & Eric Goldman

Rebecca Gomez

Marielle Gottlieb

Ms. Nancy A. Grant

Donna & Greg Griffith

Alma Guzman and Susan Stamberger

Susan D. Heard

Laura C. Hecht

Ms. Nita Heimbaugh

Bonnie Helms

Dr. Jon Fellows and Judith Hemenway

Malcolm T. Henderson

Marcia and Dr. Paul Herman

Freddi and Dr. Kenneth D. Hill

Mike Hiscocks, in memory of Carol Roberts

Judge Judith O. & Dr. Glen L. Hollinger

Dr. Ronald Hopkins

Sharon & Donald Jackley

Norman W. & Rose M. Jaffe

Bruce Johansen

Dr. Barbara Johnston

Ms. Mary Teresa Johnston

Dr. & Mrs. William Kern

Dr. Stephen Knafel

Linda L. R. Knight

Richard P. & Meredith B. Kramer

Victoria and Douglas Lane

Larry Layne

Robert M. Lea

Elaine Otter Leventhal

Mr. and Mrs. Lou D. Liuzzi

Gloria Lothrop

Mr. Jeff MacKey

Gerrie Maloof

Hon. Nora M. Manella

Wolfgang E. Marum Trust

Sam I. Matsumoto/Gordon J. Geever Trust

Melissa Machin Mazur

Edward McCann

McCone Grand Opera Fund

Steven D. McGinty

Cynthia McWhirt

The Minturn Family Charitable Foundation

Michael and Lorraine Mohill

Nancy-Gene Morrison

Barbara and Maury Mortensen

Mary Jane Myers

Gordon & Rosie Ornelas Olson

Dr. Sophia Pak

Lenore and Carl Pearlston

Janet Petersen

Mr. & Mrs. Nathan Prusan

Dr. and Mrs. Robert H. Pudenz

Jeanne E. Roerig

Mr. & Mrs. Patrick T. Rogers

Mimi Rotter

Lawrence Rubenstein, Ph.D.

Frank D. Rubin

Dr. Jeanne W. Ruderman

Maged Salib

Elizabeth Loucks Samson

Melody & Warren Schubert

Mr. & Mrs. Christof E. Schwab

Dr. Donald Seligman and Dr. Jon Zimmermann

Richard and Ellyn Semler

Olga Sevilla

John Jacob Shaak

Marilyn Shapiro

Lynn Foster Sipe

Audre Slater

Terry & Dennis Stanfill

R. Rhoads Stephenson

Donna Stillo

James and Ellen Strauss

Ms. Amanda F. Susskind

Elisabeth Tamari

Iris & Robert Teragawa

Dr. Elaine Totten and Mr. Barclay Totten

Mrs. Ella Upsher

Dr. Michael Upsher

Rose Vardanian

Larry Verdugo

Barbara and Ken Warner

Michael Weber & Frances Spivy-Weber

Aviva Weiner

Janice and Mitchell Wellsteed, in memory of Robert Tomson

Linda & Robert E. Willett

Wesley and Rachel Williamson

Mr. & Mrs. Lorin H. Wilson

Tana Wong

Gregory

July

August

OFFICIAL PROVISIONERS & IN-KIND DONORS

Serena Malfi, Cinderella (2021). Photo: Eliza Logan

LA OPERA CONNECTS

The Learning Never Stops

Are you looking to expand your horizons and recapture the magic of discovery and creativity? Shake things up with LA Opera Connects Continuing Education programs and take a deep dive into the fascinating world of opera with both virtual and in-person content that you won’t find anywhere else. Learning about opera has never been easier. (Or more fun.)

Break out of your weekend routine and join Connects’ own Dr. Andréa Fuentes for a Saturday full of art and exploration with Opera for Educators. You and your friends will hear from a curated roster of renowned speakers and listen to beautiful music in a convenient online format. This is a great opportunity for lifelong learners and opera lovers alike, and the deal is made even sweeter for teachers, who can earn UCLA and LAUSD credits by attending each session. Get the latest scoop in opera scholarship and spend a day with LA Opera, all from the comfort of your own home.

We know just how hard it can be to find the time to nurture your natural spark of curiosity. When you’re short on time, you can always listen to our Behind the Curtain podcast series on the go. You’ll hear interesting conversations with composers, artists and more—all on your schedule. Join our thousands of listeners who love opera just as much as you do and enjoy exclusive interviews and lectures from guests such as tenor Russell Thomas, composer Gabriela Lena Frank and director Kasper Holten, to name just a few.

¿Hablas español? Check out Detrás del telón, a podcast series produced especially for LA’s vibrant community of Spanish-speakers. For a more interactive

experience, sign up for this season’s virtual workshop series led by celebrated music critic and former director of the National Opera of Mexico Gerardo Kleinburg. Perfect for both native speakers and those looking to practice, these insightful commentaries on our upcoming operas are presented entirely in Spanish.

Of course, nothing compares to seeing an opera live. Next time you visit LA Opera, join us an hour before each show for a pre-performance talk in the stunning Eva and Marc Stern Grand Hall on the second floor of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Our expert speakers will walk you through the music, plot and background of the show you’re about to see, giving you a deeper understanding of the piece and pointing out important details to watch and listen for. Don’t worry if you’re running late, you can always listen to a recorded version on our website or YouTube page, as well as browse the catalog of fascinating talks from past shows. Whether you listen in person or virtually, you’re certain to learn something new and enhance your overall experience.

We’re excited to take learning beyond the classroom and share our educational programs so you can explore the world of opera, anytime and anywhere. Try something new today and see what we can discover together.

At the pre-show talk for last season's Omar, audience members had the opportunity to ask the composers direct questions about the opera.

SUPPORTERS

MATCHING GIFTS

LA Opera is pleased to acknowledge the companies that support our company with matching gift programs. Under a corporate matching gift program, cash gifts from eligible employees are matched with company or corporate foundation funds. This additional contribution increases a participating employee’s membership level, enhancing their benefits and privileges of membership. Please call 213.972.7277 for more information.

AmazonSmile

Amgen Foundation

Bank of America Charitable Foundation

Benevity

The Boeing Company

The Capital Group Companies

Charitable Foundation

Chevron Corporation

CNA Foundation

Colony NorthStar

Employees Community Fund of Boeing

Goldman Sachs & Co.

The J. Paul Getty Trust

Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies

Merrill Lynch & Co. Foundation, Inc.

Morgan Stanley

Netflix

PPG Foundation

Sempra

Sony Pictures Entertainment

Thrivent

The Walt Disney Company

YOU’RE HERE.

Congrats, You’ve Picked a Great Performance! Check out the interactive version of this theater program magazine and enjoy even more insight into the performers, creative talent and theater activities that are behind it all.

LINKS TO PERFORMERS’ SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

MULTI - MEDIA PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE.

UNDERSTUDY UPDATES

THEATER SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES

UPCOMING SHOWS AND CONCERTS AROUND TOWN

INSIDER SCOOPS FROM THEATER AND MUSIC PROFESSIONALS

It’s the new way to read the program, it’s

Recovered Voices is one of the company's signature artistic initiatives, presenting operas by composers affected by the rise of the Nazis. It is Music Director James Conlon's personal mission to spotlight these works for muchdeserved recognition.

The Broken Jug Viktor Ullmann (2008) U.S. premiere

A Florentine Tragedy Alexander Zemlinsky (2007)

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

James Conlon conducting the inaugural Recovered Voices concert (2007)

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

The Dwarf Alexander

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

PHOTO BY ROBERT MILLARD

The Birds Walter Braunfels (2009) West Coast premiere

Welcome to The Music Center!

Thank you for joining us.

The Music Center is your place to experience all the arts have to offer, where you can express yourself, connect with others and enjoy incredible live performances and events in our four beautiful theatres, at Jerry Moss Plaza and in Gloria Molina Grand Park.

We promise to provide you the best, safest experience possible on our campus.

Be sure to visit musiccenter.org to learn about upcoming events and performances.

Enjoy the show!

#BeAPartOfIt

@musiccenterla

General Information (213) 972-7211 | musiccenter.org

Support The Music Center (213) 972-3333 | musiccenter.org/support

TAKE A TOUR OF THE MUSIC CENTER

Free 90-minute docent-led tours take you through the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Walt Disney Concert Hall, along with Jerry Moss Plaza. You’ll learn about the history and architecture of the theatres along with The Music Center’s beautiful outdoor spaces. Tours are offered daily. Check the schedule to plan a fun-filled day in Downtown L.A.! Visit musiccenter.org for additional information.

2023/2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

OFFICERS

Cindy Miscikowski Chair

Robert J. Abernethy Vice Chair

Darrell R. Brown Vice Chair

Rachel S. Moore

President & CEO

Diane G. Medina

Secretary

Susan M. Wegleitner

Treasurer

William Taylor Assistant Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer

MEMBERS

AT LARGE

Charles F. Adams

William H. Ahmanson

Jill C. Baldauf

Susan E. Baumgarten

Phoebe Beasley

Thomas L. Beckmen

Kristin Burr

Dannielle Campos

Elizabeth Khuri Chandler

Amy R. Forbes

Greg T. Geyer

Joan E. Herman

Jeffrey M. Hill

Mary Ann Hunt-Jacobsen

Carl Jordan

Richard B. Kendall

Terri M. Kohl

Lily Lee

Cary J. Lefton

Keith R. Leonard, Jr.

David B. Lippman

Susan M. Matt

Elizabeth Michelson

Darrell D. Miller

Teresita Notkin

Michael J. Pagano

Cynthia M. Patton

Karen Kay Platt

Joseph J. Rice

Melissa Romain

Beverly P. Ryder

Maria S. Salinas

Corinne Jessie

Sanchez

Mimi Song

Johnese Spisso

Michael Stockton

Philip A. Swan

Timothy S. Wahl

Jennifer M. Walske

Jay S. Wintrob

GENERAL COUNSEL

Rollin A. Ransom

DIRECTORS

EMERITI

Wallis Annenberg

Peter K. Barker

Judith Beckmen

Ronald W. Burkle

John B. Emerson **

Richard M. Ferry

Brindell Gottlieb

Bernard A. Greenberg

Stephen F. Hinchliffe, Jr.

Glen A. Holden

Kent Kresa

Edward J. McAniff

Mattie McFaddenLawson

Fredric M. Roberts

Richard K. Roeder

Claire L. Rothman

Joni J. Smith

Lisa Specht **

Cynthia A. Telles

James A. Thomas

Andrea L. Van de Kamp **

Thomas R. Weinberger

Alyce de Roulet

Williamson

** Chair Emeritus

Current as of 1/22/24

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Yannick Lebrun.

Photo by Dario Calmese.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES

Support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors plays an invaluable role in the successful operation of The Music Center.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As a steward of The Music Center of Los Angeles County, we recognize that we occupy land originally and still inhabited and cared for by the Tongva, Tataviam, Serrano, Kizh and Chumash Peoples. We honor and pay respect to their elders and descendants — past, present and emerging — as they continue their stewardship of these lands and waters. We acknowledge that settler colonization resulted in land seizure, disease, subjugation, slavery, relocation, broken promises, genocide and multigenerational trauma. This acknowledgment demonstrates our responsibility and commitment to truth, healing and reconciliation and to elevating the stories, culture and community of the original inhabitants of Los Angeles County.

Janice Hahn Supervisor, Fourth District

Hilda L. Solis Supervisor, First District

Lindsey P. Horvath Chair, Third District

Kathryn Barger Chair Pro Tem, Fifth District

Holly J. Mitchell Supervisor, Second District

We are grateful to have the opportunity to live and work on these ancestral lands. We are dedicated to growing and sustaining relationships with Native peoples and local tribal governments, including (in no particular order) the:

• Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians

• Gabrielino Tongva Indians of California Tribal Council

• Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians

• Gabrieleño Band of Mission Indians-Kizh Nation

• San Manuel Band of Mission Indians

• San Fernando Band of Mission Indians

To learn more about the First Peoples of Los Angeles County, please visit the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission website at lanaic.lacounty.go

(From left to right)

Live at The Music Center

SAT 2 MAR / 8:00 P.M.

Dirty Projectors with the LA Phil: David Longstreth’s "Song Of The Earth"

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

SUN 3 MAR / 2:00 p.m.

Double Feature: Highway 1, USA & The Dwarf

LA OPERA

@ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Thru 3/17/24

SUN 3 MAR / 7:30 p.m.

Dianne Reeves

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

TUE 5 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Chamber Music by Brahms and Amy Beach

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

THU 7 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 3/10/24

SAT 9 MAR / 11:00 a.m.

Symphonies for Youth Swan Lake: Reimagined

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Also 3/23/24

FRI 15 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

John Williams Spotlight: "Superman" in Concert

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

FRI 15 MAR / 7:30 p.m.

MAR 2024

Magic Hour in Los Angeles: America’s Cultural Renaissance of 1974 CENTER THEATRE GROUP

Presented in association with MUSE/IQUE

@ Mark Taper Forum Thru 3/17/2024

SAT 16 MAR / 8:00 P.M.

Bernstein and Wooten

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Also 3/17/24

TUE 19 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Green Umbrella Philip Glass: The Complete Etudes, 1 - 20

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

WED 20 MAR / 7:30 p.m.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

THE MUSIC CENTER

@ Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Thru 3/24/24

FRI 22 MAR / 11:00 a.m.

John Adam's City Noir

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 3/24/24

FRI 22 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

TUE 26 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Alex Edelman’s Just for Us CENTER THEATRE GROUP

@ Mark Taper Forum Thru 3/31/2024

SUN 24 MAR / 7:00 p.m.

Sounds About Town: Colburn Orchestra

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

TUE 26 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Hindemith and Nielsen Chamber Music with the LA Phil

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

WED 27 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Ray Chen

Colburn Celebrity Recital

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

THU 28 MAR / 8:00 p.m.

Michael Tilson Thomas

Leads Tchaikovsky

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall Thru 3/30/24

SUN 31 MAR / 7:30 p.m.

Caetano Veloso

LA PHIL

@ Walt Disney Concert Hall

Visit musiccenter.org for additional information on all upcoming events.

Photo by John McCoy.