The Dwarf's Autobiographical Origins

Unrequited love is an experience that most of us have gone through or will go through at some point in our lives. This personal pain was the inspiration Alexander Zemlinsky drew from when composing The Dwarf. Inspired by Zemlinsky's relationship with fellow Austrian composer Alma Mahler, The Dwarf reflects Zemlinsky's own insecurities about his looks caused by Mahler's ultimate rejection.

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Collaborators, Mentors, & Friends

Anyone who did group projects in school will tell you that everything turns out better when pair up with your best friend. That also rings true for opera, especially when you're putting together a show like our recent El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

Composer Gabriela Lena Frank and conductor Lina González-Granados had a long history of friendship before they came together to bring the opera to our stage. Watch as they reminiscence on their first meeting, mentoring up-and-coming artists together, and bringing Frida and Diego to stage.

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Our Fall 2023 Photo Recap

Time flies when you're having fun. It seems like yesterday we were watching Don Giovanni spread his reign of seduction, laughing at Figaro's antics in Seville, or moved by Frida and Diego's love. While we're sad these productions are over, we're lucky that we have some splendid photos to look back on.

Click the link below to see some of our favorite photos from our recent productions of Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville, and El último sueño de Frida y Diego. Whether you had the chance to catch these operas or not we're sure there's a photo that will catch your eye.

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Leaving a Lasting Legacy

As a nonprofit, we rely on support from opera lovers like you to keep our productions going each season.

Consider making this art form—and LA Opera—part of your lasting legacy by making a planned gift.

Request your complimentary copy of our guide, Seven Smart Strategies for Year-End Tax Planning and Charitable Giving, by clicking the link below.

REQUEST GUIDE

Best field trip ever? (We sure think so)

This spring, school administrators can introduce students to the magic of opera with our Elementary Student Matinees. You'll take a field trip to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to hear Puccini's most famous arias in Puccini Opera Tales, a show written especially for kids. Accepted teachers will be required to attend an in-service on Thursday, February 22, 2024 via Zoom. Sign up now for this free experience at the link below.

APPLY HERE

Norton Simon's Benevolent Beings

Benevolent Beings: Buddhas and Bodhisattvas from South and Southeast Asia brings together rarely seen works of art—which spans 2,000 years of production—from the Norton Simon collections to explore the diverse ways in which buddhas, bodhisattvas and other protective deities have been seen to offer blessings, guidance and security to their devotees. On view through February 19, 2024.

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