You deserve to treat yourself, Los Angeles. After all we’ve been through, it’s time for the ultimate night out. Luckily, LA Opera is here, making a historic return with a season opener that delivers all the music and drama you’ve been missing. Whether it’s your first opera ever or just your first one since reopening, you can’t go wrong with Verdi’s Il Trovatore.
Il Trovatore is one of opera’s best-loved works, but it’s been nearly 20 years since it was last performed by LA Opera. Visionary Mexican director Francisco Negrin brings an all-new production with twists and turns that hit every hallmark of a binge-worthy drama. Two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of a war, as well as fighting for the love of the same woman. But it wouldn’t be opera without some irony: the two don’t know that they’re related. Jealousy, revenge, and earth-shattering secrets all combine to an explosive end.
Your ticket isn’t just a purchase, it’s an experience. Wear the outfit you’ve had in your closet all through quarantine. Sip some champagne under the stars at The Music Center Plaza. Sit back as swordfights and sworn enemies light up the stage (literally—they had to fireproof the costumes). Let yourself be carried away by a brilliant and memorable score, including the famous Anvil Chorus, all while being serenaded by a world-class cast with full orchestra and chorus. And if you want to impress your date, you can drop the knowledge that lead soprano Guanqun Yu made her highly-celebrated U.S. debut in the same role at the Metropolitan Opera (and the critics went wild). Another fun fact: conductor James Conlon is widely known as a Verdi master, with over 500 Verdi performances to his name. See, you’re not just getting any old night out in LA.
As the first major opera house to reopen in North America (with a concert version of Oedipus Rex back in June), LA Opera is more than ready to welcome audiences back to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Thanks to a new state-of-the-art air filtration system and enhanced cleaning procedures, the Chandler is now a UL Verified Healthy Building. A vaccination requirement and mask mandate are also in place to keep audiences and performers safe.
Il Trovatore runs from September 18 to October 10. This is an opera that has something for everyone—and every budget, with tickets starting at just $19. Best of all, audiences can rest easy with LA Opera’s new safety measures and ticket guarantee, which offers no-fee returns and exchanges. LA Opera has been hard at work since March 2020 with everything from podcasts to digital shorts, but there’s nothing like live music. This fall, you have the chance to be part of the history as the curtain rises once more.
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