LOS ANGELES NEWS
LOS ANGELES OPERA
Los Angeles Opera will have a busy spring, with two operas and a recital scheduled. The operas are AIDA (May 21-June 12) and ON GOLD MOUNTAIN (May 5-8 and 12-15). The recital, THE BRIGHTNESS OF LIGHT (June 18), stars Renee Fleming and Rod Gilfry in Kevin Puts’ song cycle based on the love letters of Georgia O’Keeffe and her mentor-turned-husband, Alfred Stieglitz. Gemma New is the conductor.
Verdi’s AIDA will be performed in a new production helmed by Francesca Zambello with decor by the LA-based artist, RETNA. The featured singers are Latonia Moore and Russell Thomas. With a huge chorus and orchestra, a ballet, and music that is both intimate and epic, this is truly the grandest of grand operas.
AIDA and THE BRIGHTNESS OF LIGHT will be performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave. Call 213-972-8001 or visit laopera.org
ON GOLD MOUNTAIN tells a quintessentially American story. Composed by Nathan Wang with a libretto by best-selling author Lisa See, the opera highlights the journey of See’s grandfather Fong See, who overcame obstacles at every step to become the 100-year-old founder of Los Angeles’ Chinatown.
See’s
libretto was crafted for LA Opera over 20 years ago, upon the urging of
founding general director Peter Hemmings. At its premiere in 2000, ON
GOLD MOUNTAIN was part of “Voices for California,” Hemming’s
project to turn L.A. stories into community operas.
The May production of ON GOLD MOUNTAIN will be the second opera in “The
Song of Los Angeles,” a five-opera cycle with community opera performances
around the country leading up to the Olympic celebration in L.A. in 2028.
ON GOLD MOUNTAIN will be performed in the newly expanded Garden at the
Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens. For details visit
huntington.org/on-gold-mountain.