We saw Placido Domingo in concert at the Hollywood Bowl this summer. We really enjoyed the show so we started to research LA Opera, which Domingo directs. The season was about to start, so my husband and I decided to take the plunge and get a full year subscription. It was a great investment. Our first show was, "The Two Foscari." The music was amazing, the story tragic, the costumes were beautiful, and the cast was top notch. There was a standing ovation at the end of the show for over 5 minutes. The audience just wouldn't let the performers go. We were so happy that this was the first opera of the season and set the bar for our next opera, "Don Giovanni." This show was amazing also. We are definitely hooked! My husband and I never thought we would like opera. I am glad that they brought the prices down. Opera can be pricey, especially if you would like to see several shows. The subscription makes it worth it if you want to see at least 2+ shows. It helps to lock in the price of your seat. One last thing, if you are new to opera, really plan on attending the talk before the show. James Conlon, the conductor, gives the talk and the information he gives helps you to really appreciate the opera you are about to see. He is funny and passionate about what he does, which makes the talk very interesting. I highly recommend to anyone and everyone to give opera a chance! read more

I first visited the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in April 2010. I was very excited to see "Götterdämmerung" and attend Maestro James Conlon's pre-preformance lecture. I was so taken by the the opera that I decided there and then that I was going to see the preceding operas. So what if I saw the last installment, first?! A few weeks later I saw "Das Rheingold " and "Die Walküre" as evening performances and "Siegfried" on a Sunday afternoon. It was a sight to behold: a fully lit courtyard [for the evening performances], gowns and tuxedos. These are a few reasons why I love opera. I was taken aback by this production of Der Ring, as it is avant-garde: bold, luminous, minimalistic, [all] reasons why I found this production outrageously beautiful, spectacular. The production has been received in controversy. I spoke with several people in attendance and the opinions were polarized: horrendous or absolutely brilliant. Consensus however is that "Der Ring des Nibelungen" is Wagner's masterpiece, and each opera with the leimotifs, characterizations, and music, touches your ears, intellect and heart in all the right places. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is part of the Los Angeles Art Complex. It is across the street from the Colburn School of Arts (the West Coast counterpart to the prestigious Juilliard School), and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Pavilion with its tiers, its halls, courtyard and the operas either on an afternoon or late at night is gorgeous! Next stop: Bayreuth! read more

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LA Opera has figured out that people in LA are cheapos and care about looks and not content. They also assume the average opera goer is short-sighted and wont be able to quite tell how poorly their decor and costumes are. So you have a show for people who are hard of hearing (or at least, not audiophiles) and hard of seeing. Wait, are they only targeting the geriatric? My mother-in-law is a big part of their league and does a lot of sh** work for them and pays them a lot each year. The place is set up like a pyramid marketing scam and It is ridiculous what cult of personality they have just from the stories that she tells us. But she is too naive to realize how they are milking her. Once she asked us to go to their "dress rehearsal" for B. Britten's Albert Herring that she was invited to. As an audiophile, I avoid large venues for any kind of serious listening experience, as the acoustics of a large venue is ALWAYS sh** due to the distance, people and unwanted reflections. Don't try to prove me wrong. I have a PhD in physics, I am an artist and I had a recording studio at home. Outdoor venues are a joke. Hollywood Bowl? You have to be deaf to go there. But the words "dress rehearsal for the league members" meant a lot to me, as it usually means sitting close to the performers. So we drove from Brentwood 90049, thru ridic traffic to get there on a Friday night. 405 is and was a joke back then and we had to carve our way out thru the jungle that is Westwood, West Hollywood, Hollywood, Wilshire, Korea Town, DTLA etc on a Friday night when we could have really partied right there in WEHO. My mother in law was in the loge on the 4th floor! I told her the loge is usually not the best place for sound and she told us it is actually "the best" and they are told that many times. I sat there during the first half of the performance and the sound was sh**, the stage was too far and you really could not see the performers. You're also looking from so far up that the performers looked warped and shortened like little pawns on the floor. I noticed the entire front 20 rows were empty except for the sound console, video people and about 10-15 people scattered here and there. After the break, I decided to be a good Persian guy and take what is good and nobody apparently cares for. So I went and sat near another lady around the 10th row. I did not want to be fully Persian and go sit in the front row, even though I knew visually and acoustically that would mean a world of difference. Your distance goes down to half, the sound becomes 4 times stronger and a lot less muddled and the visual field is also much wider. I chatted with the lady near me and she was not a big shot in the place or anything apparently so I felt comfortable. 20 minutes later, they came over and asked me to move a few seats back. They didn't ask the lady next to me. I asked specifically where and they moved me quite a bit. Then another person came over 10 minutes later questioned me about who I am and who I knew and finally told me to go way back. I decided to just go back to the loge. Once you have experienced the front rows, you will not be able to focus on the sh** they are serving you 5 miles away. After the show, we headed over to the Blue Whale jazz in DTLA, where Bevan Manson, Tom Rizzo and Brad Dutz were still playing as a replacement for another band. The place was empty and we got to hear an intimate music played just for the two of us. Listen to what I recorded that night: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=304756032919797&set=vb.100001562074692&type=3&theater Even though we got to hear 3 songs, I tipped the band a Benjamin Franklin since the acoustic experience we had was superior to what we got at the LA Opera. LA Opera is hurting financially because they are greedy. There are not enough opera patrons and LA Opera is cutting corners on production sets, artists and music and spending more and more on BS marketing. The pyramid marketing targeting the elderly is just abominable. Some folks at LA-op are probably way overpaid. We went to another performance of Donn Giovanni and it looked like a school play. The set design was a joke and not only lacked creativity, it lacked raw material. It was so barren. Save your money and help your local jazz musician. They are really suffering in LA. Go to Typhoon at SM Airport and see how Bryan the owner is (I assume) paying heavily out of pocket to have a 22 member big jazz band every Monday or Tuesday night for a half empty restaurant. Sure the food is not great but the experience is. BMPAC's Monday night jazz jam in Leimert Park had to close last year due to money issues. Support your local small venue! read more

What do I know about opera? Almost nothing. I've tried it a couple of times and was amazed by the singing, but hated the acting, and have stayed away since. My friend, an opera aficionado since he had a pot-induced epiphany during Gotterdammerung, told me: "Come on, it has everything you love! Theatre, music, artistic design...you just haven't seen the right one." He got us all tickets for TOSCA, saying, "No one doesn't like Tosca." Indeed, "This is Tosca's KISS!" is one of the all-time great theatrical moments. I have to admit, I liked all the trappings. Sitting outside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on a June evening with all the other dressed-up opera-goers, going inside that beautiful old building and watching Sharon and Rosie vote on "Best Dress." I asked a dumb-guy question: "Is best dress like the most outrageous or the nicest looking?" Der. Well, there WERE plenty of both. I still thought the acting was dreadful, but the singing was gorgeous, the sets were amazing (all of them were framed like giant paintings, with a steep rake that made each set look like forced-perspective, highlighting the big parapet that Tosca has to leap off...oops, SPOILER ALERT! We're lucky to have the LA Opera in the Dorothy Chandler (where Rosie found a huge bowl full of free cough drops - ahem - lots of coughers at the opera), and it's kind of a thrill to see Placido there, down in the pit, getting an ovation like the rock star that he is. If we go again, I think we'll try one of those really crazy modern operas that everyone hates, but for a traditional night at the opera, I must say, a great time was had by all. read more

I'll never profess to being an expert at opera, nor would I extend an opinion that would mislead others to think that I am. But I do appreciate good music and good performance. I think I have gone to the opera a handful of times, but those were all wasted because I was younger and in a different frame of mind. A little older and little wiser I would hope to think I have a broader appreciation for all arts and music. My snobbiness for ANY genre has diminished over the years. I was recently invited to escort a lovely lady to see Wagner's Ring of Fire by the LA Opera. Part dinner mate and bodyguard, I gladly accepted the date eagerly. I've been familiar with Wagner's music but I've never seen it performed. I was told that I was spared with shortest cycle (3 hours nonstop) of all the performances this season. First, if you've never seen any performance at the Dorothy Chandler -- you must. Its an experience every Angeleno should have under their belt. Remove all the snobbery about opera and classical music. Support the arts and the traditions that continue in our modern day. The Music Center is a beautiful space. A wonderful excuse to get dressed up and listen/see great music. (I wasn't bothered at all by any acoustic problems people complain about). The Wagner piece was just stunning. I kept my mind and ears open. I had no choice because I do not know German or Italian ;) Seeing the tale of the Ring of Fire come to life was amazing. The music, the performers, stage direction and art direction turned the abstract work into a feast for the senses. If you know the backstory, great. If you can follow along to the lyrics they project it will help. But even if you just listen and feel the energy of the music it will take you to another place. LA Opera puts some excellent production value into their performances. LA Opera is worth seeing and supporting. Performance arts are an undervalued niche in our world. Go take a look and a listen at the Dorothy Chandler. p.s. thank you cherry blossom girl for sharing a beautiful thing :) read more

I am not exactly sure how I am every going to thank Yelp enough for an experience I wont forget. Let me first say that after years of attending shows at the Ahmanson and the Taper, I had yet to see an Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Its like Yelp knew I was missing out on a cultural experience that is so often underappreciated. I received an email from Yelp Elite stating a giveaway for free comp-ed tickets to the Opera, "The Turk in Italy", for the very next day. I don't think I blinked between clicks on my mouse. I RSVPd that very minute and then crossed my fingers. That night I received an email that I was going to the Opera!!! ( 2 tickets, myself and a guest). Now, I know what you're thinking...balcony or terrible seats. NOOOO WAY! Orchestra section, row M, right in the middle of the row. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? We were looking at each other like this has to be a joke. We couldn't have asked for better seats. The beautiful chandeliers and outstanding ambiance made the experience that much more magical. The production itself was so light hearted, funny and beautifully done. We had a great time. I have surely been transformed into a fan of the LA Opera and the Chandler. I am grateful to Yelp, who made my first time at the Opera so memorable. THANK YOU!!!! read more

I dedicate my 200th review to LA Opera. Courtesy of Yelp elite, I was able to get two FREE tickets to the showing of The Turk in Italy at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. And these weren't just any seats, we got Main Orchestra seats. That's 11th row from the stage!! The seats were amazing! 11th row from the front - close enough to see the performers' facial impressions but also far enough to see the translation screen at the top without tilting our heads all the way back. This was my first time at the opera. And it was a fabulous experience. The music was beautiful, the singing was marvelous! This was a great first-time opera since there were some comedic parts. After this first taste of opera, I'm definitely intrigued! Can't wait to go see more operas!! read more

This is a nice place to eat, drink, and rest. However as for watching and experiencing opera, it is sooooo unparalleled than many other operas I've watched. Acting needs to be polished. Not enough background singers and there were not enough activity from actors and actress. They were not attempting to act their part and not enthusiastic. You can definitely tell. The signal bell needs to ring louder and they need to have at least the workers remind afterwards for people to come into the theatre to watch. We barely heard the bell ring and since the women's restroom was sooooo full with long lines, many of us were unable to see the second act for 40 minutes! Majority of the watchers are women and us women were left out there to look at a flatscreen tv. I paid to see an opera! Not a cheap flatscreen with bad reception. I know for sure, definitely won't be coming back here. I will just go see opera with a different company and pay a little more for better service. read more

LA Opera is pretty great. I have been going for a few years now. I think the productions are pretty solid. Some are better than others. Overall, this is one of the few places in LA where you can get your good dose of arts and culture. I recommend that everyone goes at least once. The music and singing is beautiful. Tickets are pretty cheap too, especially during the week. If you are sitting in the top level, bring binoculars. After the show, you can head downstairs to Kendall's and grab a drink or dinner. Often times the singers will stop by there too. read more

Great opera! We went there yesterday to see La Boheme. I love the opera. 2 act was the best. But at the end I almost fall asleep (it was too sad the main female character Mimi died. To be honest I wanted to see THE HAPPY END but it didnt happen) Tickets are expensive but it totally worths it. There was no free seats. Actors are great. Music is cool. Great decoration During the intermission there was a nice bar with snacks. My advice to people who wants to go there PLEASE dress up nicely! I saw several people (thanks God only a couple of them) who were dressed like they went to buy some groceries and for some strange reason went to opera. Great place! read more

Time Machine would have been a useful invention, but due to clear lack of thereof performances at LA Opera are a great substitute to transcending time and space while enjoying wonderful masterpieces skillfully performed by word-renowned musicians. I have been enjoying LA Opera for over a decade now. What I love the most about LA Opera productions is the imaginative interpretation of the classics, combined with unparalleled drama of opera and high class delivery of musical performances. LA Opera is an escape - an incomparable trip into the intrigue of emotions, inspired by the majesty of music and power of high caliber vocal performances. Thank you, James Conlon and Placido Domingo for giving Angelinos a place to forget our everyday stress and to revel in the magic of the emotional power of opera. read more

"Placido Domingo is the general director of the LA Opera? He's not the GD of, say, La Scala in Italy, or the Met? Wow." - my conversation with my friend Rebecca upon entering Verdi's La Traviata this last Saturday. I'm an opera fan. I grew up singing opera, studying opera and loving opera. I saw three performances this year at the San Diego Opera (my hometown) and loved them all. However, Nothing in my life has ever come close to this past's Saturday's performance of La Traviata at the Dorothy Chandler Paviliion. Nothing. The sets were impeccable, stunning, dramatic. The costumes were perfect mid 19th Century opulence. The music, oh the music...haunting, beautiful, goose bump, chills type of music. This opera was everything an opera should be, and more. Both myself and my friend Rebecca kept saying we never wanted it to end. We're big theater goers and it's hard for us to grade any performance, let alone opera at 100%, but we did. A +++++ You must go see this opera. It's so incredible. It might have been the best opera I've ever seen. I laughed, I cried, but mostly, I cried. My friend said "the music sounds like you're falling in love, like you've lost all control," and she was right on. BRAVO!!!! read more

This is a wonderful company that puts a lot of thought and care into their work.The costumes and sets are luscious. Although I love the Dorothy Chandler and canonical works, I highly recommend contemporary and Off Grand productions. It is a window into something new. read more

You will have a wonderful time at the LA Opera if you get there early. So remember, even if Siri tells you you'll be there in 30 minutes, she doesn't take into account the crazy-ass traffic that sucks you into slow-mo once you get off the freeway and attempt to make your way into the god forsaken lot. I gave myself an hour and a half to get from DTCC to DTLA (on a weekday). Left at 6, figured I'd be nursing my first Manhattan by 7. At 7:03 I exited Temple, and it took 15 excruciating minutes to enter the lot (travel a measly block), then another ten minutes circling down and under, into the bowels of Grand Park. With just five minutes to spare I had to run up the stairs of Grand Park, cross Grand, run up more stairs, knock over a lady in a mink coat, claim my ticket, pee, then find my seat. All while wearing four inch heels. The house lights dimmed when my jacket came off. (Unfortunately, the drink would have to wait until intermission.) A spectacular evening, despite the initial anxiety and frustration with myself. I left the same way I came in: breathless! But now it was a result of the brilliant 1927 production of The Magic Flute, and, of course, the sublime music of Mozart. read more

The Los Angeles Opera is a respectable institution that Downtown is lucky to house. I've been to four operas here and they just keep getting better. The 2008-2009 season looks to be fantastic (Wagner's Ring cycle!) and got off to a great start; The Fly and Il Trittico were so impressive. I'm no expert, and it's true that some parts can be tedious, but come with an open mind, some money for the bar and preferably a full night's sleep beforehand (I really don't understand the soporific effect an aria can have sometimes). Unless otherwise noted, evening performances start at 7:30 sharp with a great informative lecture on the second floor at 6:30 or 7 which is nice to attend; it gives some good history and things to notice during the show. There are occasional Sunday afternoon performances at 2pm. Parking in the music center lot is $8 (cash) and has been crazy lately due to some issues with the lots there. When I went to see The Fly we got there late and were directed to park in the Disney Hall structure across the street. For this season especially, and certainly if you want to buy rush tickets, arrive a couple of hours early because those seniors get crazy about their parking come 7pm. If you do arrive with time to spare, take advantage of the opportunity! You're in the heart of downtown. The imposing structure a block away is the Taj Mahoney, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. I'm not religious, but there is a mausoleum open there during the day that contains, among others, the resting place of Gregory Peck. The little bistro between the Dorothy Chandler and the Mark Taper is of course overpriced, but a nice way to grab a bite beforehand with a glass of wine. Tickets can be outrageously priced, but it's so easy to take part in the rush ticketing program ($20 cash) if you're a student or senior. They say you have to show your student ID AND proof of full-time enrollment, but when the line starts moving they just want to get going. I've seen "students" in their mid-thirties standing in rush lines. Just have a student ID ready and you should be fine. If you're not in the area to check for rush ticket availability at the box office, they usually announce the number of seats they'll release for rush the weekend of the performance on their hotline. I'm giving them 4 stars because their parking has been wonky lately (the lot fills up and spills into the Disney Hall's or public lots nearby) and sometimes there's a delay or lack of supertitles, which drives me crazy. I know some parts aren't meant to be completely translated, but occasionally there are whole lines by characters in which I feel the audience is missing a lot by not knowing what's being sung. I've seen dress range from casual to gaudy to trophy-wifey to elegant. However, most people don't get a chance to dress up that often so the opera is an ideal excuse to buff those shoes. Plus, considering the average runtimes of 3.5 hours, leaving a night performance can put you at 11pm easily. What better time to go for a nightcap in your formalwear? It's a lovely way to end the evening. I've definitely gone to Daikokuya afterward in my fancy dress and slurped down some ramen. The best way to go would be to pack a little gourmet spread, arrive mid-afternoon, sit at one of the tables near the "fountain" and people watch in your fancy clothes. When you're done eating just drop your things back in your car, take a stroll around the area and then head in to watch the lecture. That's if you have time. If you don't have time, the way I go is rush Downtown at 6, grab a parking spot, starve quietly during the performance and starve loudly in line at Daikokuya. End the night with a cold Sapporo, a full belly and a full heart, which is how the LAOpera's stagings always leave me. read more

Agree with J.E. Q.'s review regarding Einstein on the Beach. LA Opera released discount tickets through Goldstar after my friend splurged and bought us full price tickets. The admin office wouldn't accommodate us in any way, even after a phone rep said they would do something 'nice' if we just wrote to them. It isn't necessarily the pricing that's disappointing - this once in a lifetime event is certainly worth it. But every contact with the LA Opera staff has been off-putting. I found them rude and somewhat condescending. At the performance, after getting numerous emails about taking breaks during the show and that special "relativity" snacks would be offered for sale, we found barely anything except cookies and bratwurst cooked on the Dorothy Chandler balcony. My friend is vegetarian and I can't eat sugar right now so for the 5 hours at the theater, we had to "go without." With all of the hype about the production and the repeated emails about "how to watch Einstein on the Beach" and the 'take breaks' advice, the LA Opera didn't provide enough refreshments for a huge theater full of guests. It was poor planning. When you pay $20 a ticket, that's forgivable, but when you're paying $200-$300 per ticket and are treated rudely by management, it's ridiculous. We'll probably skip coming back unless it's a landmark event like "Einstein." read more

Il Postino -- he loves without fetter! A poet who delivers a letter! While it's fun to admire All the fancy attire The film told the same story, but better. read more

LOVE the LA opera - I try to visit at least once every season. I've seen countless shows here - my favorites so far being La Traviata, Carmen, and La Boheme. Like all performance venues, bathroom and snack lines are horrendous at breaktimes. Parking is good albeit a little pricey (but still, nowhere near the shitshow that arises at the Hollywood Bowl). I wish there were better dining options within walking distance of the Dorothy Chandler, though. read more

Let me start by saying that the music and singing were beautiful. My husband and I bought the complete cycle tickets about a year and a half ago when they first went on sale and we had no idea what the production was going to be like. I had always wanted to see the ring cycle ever since I saw Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny do the Flight of the Valkyries (kill the wabbit...). When I learned that the production was going to be "new age" I was hoping that it would still be good, but I hoped in vain. Two minutes into the performance I thought to myself, this is the stupidest thing I've ever seen. The costumes and set are distracting, confusing, and do not support the performance. Rather, they overshadow it in a very bad way. No classic opera should have people waving fluorescent lights around and wearing giant gold monopoly top hat pieces on their head. My husband and I left Das Rheingold after forcing ourselves to sit through two hours of it. We donated our tickets for the next three performances back to the theater so that some poor other unsuspecting fool can purchase them instead. read more

Amazing work! Placido Domingo is the artistic director. What more could anyone ask for? Okay what about an incredible cast of singers/performers, amazing musicians, easy to read subtitles, beautiful sets and costumes... the list goes on. If you have never been to the opera the Los Angeles Opera it is truly an amazing treat! Give it a try. La Traviata is one of the first performances this year. I saw it at the Los Angeles Opera several years back and absolutely loved the production. Bravo! Brava! Bravi!! - it just might make you cry! Romance Factor: 9 Hobnob Potential: 6 Destination Rating: 9 If you are interested in Opera and want to meet other people who feel the same way. There are PLENTY of single people at Opera fund raising events, and there are exceptional lectures before select performances. read more

I like comedic operas and LA Opera generally delivers a good season. Although, this year is a major downer! All this heavy stuff. Hmm. And I can't believe they're doing The Fly, The Opera next season. Oh well, I'm still looking forward to their productions because they do bring in outstanding singers and have amazing sets. In comparison, LA Opera has several productions a season (at least 8) and Opera Pacific down in Orange County now only has 3. Santa Barbara Opera is now doing the summer festival thing (but their singers and sets were horrible anyway) so other than much smaller opera companies, LA Opera is the way to go if you can't afford a plane ticket to NY. Or Europe for that matter. The only time I walked out of an LA Opera production was last season (the Sex season as I termed it) when I saw Mahagonny. My goodness, they were borderline XXX! Don't believe me? Watch the videos online archived on their website. read more

As a frequent live theatre goer, I finally decided to go to a few live performances for opera. I have been enjoying MET Opera in HD in the theaters and they always encourage people to support local opera companies. So for the very first time I purchased my mini-subscription for LA OPERA and so far my experience is HORRIBLE HORRIBLE...beyond HORRIBLE and I haven't even seen a show yet! So, I placed my order about 6 weeks prior to the shows and now, 3 days before the first show, I still haven't received my tickets. So, logically, I called to find out what is going on and hoping that the tickets just got lost in mail or something simple like that. And wow, that was not the case at all. Here is what happened.... 1. I ordered my subscription online, received confirmation email, credit card got charged. 2. I didn't get ticket...I called. 3. Representative told me, there was a computer glitch. The order was never completed. IT guys never caught the error. 4. Representative told me the only option I have is to get individual tickets, which means....I get worse seat than my original order and I have to pay the difference for them. Because when I ordered on subscription there was a discount and since those seats are completely sold out, I have to settle for worse seats but I have to pay the extra $$ for it..and there is nothing they can do about it. I even talked to the manager and I pretty much got the same answer. 5. I cancelled my subscription!! And I guess they can't even send me an confirmation email that my order got cancelled and credit card refunded. Now..I really hope there isn't ANOTHER computer glitch on refunding process. All I can say is that, this is totally unprofessional....HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE. I go to live shows like more than 20 times a year and I have never seen a box office that is so unprofessional as LA OPERA. And here I was, thinking that I wanted to subscribe for the next season if I like the shows, I guess that is most likely out of the question. I am just hoping MET OPERA will continue put on lots and lots of good shows in HD. read more

So! I finally got a hold of someone that could do something to make me feel better about the hassle of it all! AND - I saw my first Opera - Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, which was wonderful! It was a great experience and I can't wait for the next one. In response to my bimonthly calls and complaints, the Opera finally acknowledged that something was wrong (definitely not taking the blame, but acting to stop my haranguing). They gave me two tickets to Lucia di Lammermoor in April, which is enough to satisfy me :) All in all - I stick by my advice. The LA Opera and any other production company like or modeled after the LAO, need to get their ducks in a row and send a confirmation receipt for all transactions over the phone or at the box office; describe and itemize the conversation, show taxes and fees, etc. Tickets don't count if they're not in your hand, therefore an email works best to instantly inform any patron. If anything, consider a 3rd party or consultant to help build the infrastructure you truly need to run a smooth operation. Also - check in on your staffers now and then. Their disgruntled affect on those who don't or can't give right when they're asking for money is appalling and reflects discord within the company- it borders on collection officer maltreatment of the innocent. Maybe it was just the one woman, but it shouldn't have happened even once! That's what training is for, right? In conclusion, I'm enjoying what I've seen so far, now that this is all behind me. I'm going to be an opera lover for years to come, and hopefully long enough to forget the hiccup. Thank you LAO, for solving the issue, I hope you take reviews seriously and consider any positive or negative criticism with equal weight and implement new ideas with enthusiasm when deemed in the customers' and your best interest. Erin read more

I can't say enough good things about LA opera. I am the rare 28 year old straight dude that loves opera, especially live. Everything I have seen there has be through the roof. I even enjoyed the 4 1/2 hour, butt numbing Wagner Tristan and Isolde they did last season. They have a student rush which is great and they have program called OperaU where they send you email updates about happening and special student priced shows. You need to be a student for that. read more

I've been to LA Opera for more than a decade. Meanwhile, I've been to San Francisco Opera, the MET and others. LA Opera's productions are second to none. But, LA opera carries two disadvantages for the opera aficionado: 1) limited acoustic quality and 2) Less than seasoned audiences. The Pavilion is not a house built for opera. The stage is wider than the War Memorial Opera House and MET. So the sound is not as sharp and focused as in the other houses. This is especially noticeably if you seat in the upper balconies. How to say this gently? The audiences here are definitely neophytes for the most part and their behavior (texting, talking, laughing when there is no reason to laugh because it is a tragic moment, applauding during arias) is a severe turn-off. But aside from this, the performances are certainly world class. read more

I have been here 3 years in a row, travelling from Chicago specifically for the unique programming. Forget the standard repertoire, which I avoid like the plague. They have a new work or revival per season lately (not to mention the experimental RedBox) which is a major US event for opera. Einstein on the Beach, Ghosts of Versailles, and finally this year Moby Dick. The production values are to the highest standard and James Conlon always amazes, the top singers in opera pepper the cast. They are ahead of the standard company with new productions. Unfortunately Moby Dick was a major disappointment for me personally, but you win some and lose some with modern music. read more

I appreciate that free lectures about opera appreciation are available. I saw Madama Butterfly here but I sat near the back on almost literally nosebleed seating. When I saw a staging at the Met later, LA Opera's lighting and set design was more enjoyable. Who knew that they can build seats on such an incline? I wish I didn't miss the Bill Viola staging of Tristan et Isolde. read more

Came here to see Audra McDonald. She was amazing, but this place needs an update very badly. All the wood paneling and color scheme makes it look like it's stuck in the 70's. Beautiful chandeliers, cheap carpet. The seats in the balcony are made for hobbit-sized people. read more

LA Opera - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Los Angeles, California

One of the best operas in the world! Fantastic coreagraphies and beautiful operas every time.

The Los Angeles Opera at the Dorothy Chandler is amazing and that is not solely because Placido Domingo is the artistic director, although that certainly helps. In southern California the LA Opera has the longest season and provides more productions singularly and simultaneously than the Pacific & San Diego Opera companies combined. read more

Seriously, LA Opera? How are you still in business? For my mom's 60th birthday, I bought a pair of tickets for my parents so they'd enjoy Madame Butterfly, which they had talked about for ages but never had the chance to go. I viewed the view from their seats via their online ordering, and figured, hey. Not bad for $109.00 and it was a few of the only ones close to the stage that were next to each other. Great. The night they arrived, there was this huge pole between their seats. Never was it mentioned anywhere, nor was it shown on the screen that there was this thing separating the two seats. Basically, I paid $250 for my parents to sit a few feet apart. Neither can they read the subtitles at all. Contacted them after the show and still haven't heard a word. Been about a week now. Not expecting one anymore, but I'm gonna spend every chance I get to tell everyone what kind of shitty service they've got here and how to avoid it like the plague. P.S. A few hours after this review, I was contacted by a nice customer service agent who offered recompense for my mother's disastrous 60th birthday night. I will update the review after the show, based on my parents' opinions, and hopefully, the Opera will make this a more memorable night for them. read more

Keep culture alive in LA and support the LA Opera from time to time. Something about going to the Opera makes me more sophisticated, even just for one evening. read more

Been a big fan of LA Opera going on 2 years now. Watching Placido Domingo perform the leading role in Il Postino was enchanting. Their recent production of Rigoletto was to die for... absolutely breathtaking! I also saw Lohengrin, Simon Boccanegra and Le Nozze di Figaro all of which were great times. I love going to the opera on a week night. People watching. Sipping whiskey. Eating cheese and crackers. And even making the commute to downtown. It really feels like I'm living. I feel like I'm indulging in an LA culture that most of the year seems non-existent. An excellent operation that I'm so happy to have in Los Angeles. Thank you LA Opera. Look forward to your production of Don Giovanni! read more

Over the last several seasons I have attended Tosca, Falstaff, Hansel and Gretel and Don Carlo. The vocalists are all absolutely top notch and the LA Opera orchestra consistently performs on a high level, night after night. LA is indeed fortunate to have an opera company that rivals the top companies of the world. The LA Opera Orchestra consists of musicians of the highest caliber and training and their pay certainly deserves to be much higher, certainly in line with the MET. For a moving and memorable evening a night at the LA Opera is a must! read more

This company rocks! It has a great and laid back group of people working here. The productions are all top-notch, and they ihre the best singer-actors of this generation. They're truly the force for opera on the west coast as far as I am concerned. read more

LA Opera - Great production of "Streetcar Named Desire". - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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LA Opera has been on my bucketlist before I leave LA, and I finally made it! Came to see Carmen a couple week ago. Arrive early for a lecture - the one on 9/20/17 began at 630 pm by the conductor, a wonderful man who went into details about the musical foreshadowing of Carmen that reinforces the destiny aspect of the study. Having studied classical singing for years while growing up/through college, it was truly a treat to listen to his take and bring out things that I hadn't thought about before. Dorothy Chandler is an incredible venue - beautiful, elegant, everything you would expect out of an opera house. The show was, overall, amazing. The production on 9/20/17 featured a Bass as Escamillo, which was highly unusual but kind of interesting. Sure made the Toreador powerful! The Habanera left MUCH to be desired. We had heard incredible things about the young Soprano performing that night - notably, that she was young, fiery, and a quickly rising star. However, her Habanera was weak and underwhelming. Even my friend that I was with, who enjoys opera but doesn't have a musical background, remarked on how disappointed she was. Carmen is such a powerful, progressive female role, and it just didn't set the tone well. However, the soprano's performance only got better as the acts progressed, and by the end she was fantastic. Just a bummer that the song so many of us were SO excited for (especially since "back in the day" I used to sing it!) was such a bummer. It was only exacerbated given that the Soprano playing Micaela was AMAZING - she was so beautiful to listen to. Oh, well - the rest of the cast/show was very good. Would love to come back and see another opera, with a stronger lead. I LOVE classical music, and would be very interested to see what LA Opera may bring the next time! read more

You want to get dressed up and have a fabulous night out on the town, head to the LA Opera. I saw Madame Butterfly here and it was a wonderful production filled with emotion. The Founders Circle affords a great view and comfortable seats! read more

I have gone there three times this year, and the time has come to review this organization. To sum up, you would get a very good opera going to their production. It's not MET or Bayreuth, but for a local and even domestic production, it has churned out good performances. Let me allow to describe my experience in the reverse-chronological order. I attended a Carmen production a week ago. The soprano casted for Carmen did a great job acting a sexy gypsy she's supposed to be. What she did to the poor soldier was a little sleazy, but that's the purpose of the first act: the seduction of Carmen to Jose, the poor sap who got seduced by her only to be dumped in the third act. Of course, men attending to see operas to see these sort of scenes are well-advised to remind opposite-gender dates that they are much sexier than that sleazebag. I do mean it when I say that to my date. My interpretation of this opera is not just based on watching these scenes. It's the ying/yang of superficial, carnal desires coming to realization that lives ultimately end. Carmen might have been stabbed, but she chose to confront Jose instead of escaping from his crazed intention. Jose on the other hand could not handle the passionate, hot-tempered girl, and ended up himself into the doom. So a more traditional interpretation would be that Jose is the tragic figure in this opera instead of Carmen. A counteracting interpretation would be that Carmen took charged of her life only for Jose to be at her mercy. But given the generation we live in, I think it's fair to say that Carmen the opera should be be treated as the story of two persons losing something important. You can make a much more superficial story like that in 30 minutes. The reason this opera lasts more than 2 hours is to give depth to the two main characters. Carmen gradually shows her resolute, firm stance against more-aggrevating Jose after she found out her fate through fortune telling. We see Jose torn between the passion he cannot control and end if needed, and the longing to the past that he so cherished through his mother and fiancee. So yes, one can say that Carmen ultimately triumphs by being truthful to her feeling. But she gets killed. One can also say that Jose was manipulated by Carmen, so he gave her a well-deserved receipt. But he loses his love. Tragedy is not just getting killed physically; it's also losing something so important in one's life, and the life afterward becomes meaningless. The bullfighter lost his new love interest. Michela lost her faint hope of getting married to her village sweetheart. Everyone loses, and thus frames the tragedy. I probably had too much time at the beginning of this year when I was looking for a job full-time and watched this opera carefully for the first time and ended up having the above opinion :D. At the same time, one should also enjoy even more superficial fun this opera displays, such as dancing sequences and very famous arias and interludes. They definitely give popularity this opera deservedly has. That's what I meant as ying/yang, such that you need to have these fun elements to counterweigh against the serious, tragic underlining of story. No wonder this opera has been produced so often. In any case, the above thinking was how I would measure productions. A perfect production has to have the over-pouring dosage of superficial fun and the dreadful fateful episodes. The production I recently observed at LA opera had a very good amount of both, yet the last ounce of intensity or quality was missing for me to give it a five-star. Maybe because I sat near the end of the first floor, the orchestral sound was not as strong as I wanted. It should be very close to over-the-top. Other casts were very good, especially Michele who sang a heart-felt aria in the third act. But something else prevented me from being so absorbed to what's happening on the stage. It may be the lack of transparency and depth the stage production had. Having some sky definitely helps. read more

I give LA Opera five stars because I just experienced my first opera! Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata. The soprano Marina Poplavskaya who played violetta valèry is amazing! Her voice is amazing and truly gave me chills during the performance. The sets were beautiful, the costumes elaborate and gorgeous. The entire ordeal is just breath-taking. However, I understand I am an opera novice, so my observations are a bit immature. The dorothy chambers pavilion on the other hand, is not the most amazing piece of architecture. It harks back to the era of terrible designs of the 1960's and 70's. The most amazing aspect of the whole thing is that i bought the tix for 20 BUCKS! You have to sign up for OperaU and it's only for students. Signing up is FREE, but you need to act quick about getting the tickets. They sell out quickly! Despite it all, I really enjoyed myself and the performance of La Traviata. read more

It probably helped that I had a prejudice against the LA Opera -- not many people rave about it in San Francisco or New York. But they should. We saw La Traviata and it was the most satisfying opera performance that I have seen. But why? Everything was impeccable, but that was true in San Francisco and New York, which appeared to spend more lavishly and get bigger stars. So what gives? There was a cohesive, right-sized artistry to the execution. All the elements fit in a single artistic expression that concluded in the last act act with a scene that pulled on every tendril of aesthetic neurology. Bravo. Now, about the prices . . . read more