LOS ANGELES NEWS
CARMEN
Los Angeles Opera will open its 2017/2018 season with a production of Georges Bizet’s CARMEN, with soprano Ana Maria Martinez in the title role. Ron Daniels, who directed LA Opera’s 2010 world premiere of “Il Postino,” returns to direct CARMEN for the first time in L.A.
The production, which will run for seven performances Sept. 9-October 1, will be conducted by Music Director James Conlon, announced General Director Placido Domingo.
“Carmen may very well be the world’s most popular opera, and
it’s easy to see why,” said Domingo. “It’s a masterpiece
blessed with unforgettable characters, heart-stopping drama, vivid dances,
thrilling spectacle and a seemingly endless bounty of wonderful melodies.
It’s the perfect way to begin our new season.”
The role of Don Jose will be shared by Italian tenor Riccardo Massi and
tenor Brandon Jovanovich. In other leading roles, Russian bass Alexander
Vinogradov will make his company debut as the bullfighter Escamillo, and
soprano Amanda Woodbury, an alumna of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein
Young Artist Program, will return as Micaela.
The production features sets (previously seen in L.A. in 2004, 2008 and
2013) designed by Gerardo Trotti with new costumes designed by Denitsa
Bilzakova, who makes her company debut. Duane Schuler is the lighting
designer, Grant Gershon directs the chorus, Nuria Castejon is the choreographer.
For tickets and information, call 213-972-0777 or visit laopera.org
The Sept. 23 performance of CARMEN will be broadcast in high definition
video from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to large outdoor screens at two
locations: Exposition Park and Santa Monica Pier. Although tickets are
not required for entrance, guests are encouraged to sign up in advance
to receive important information about parking, traffic, a digital program
and a free gift on-site. Visit either
laopera.org/operainthepark or laopera.org/operaatthebeach.