L.A. Opera Opens 2017/18 Season with CARMEN

General Director Plácido Domingo has announced that due to overwhelming ticket demand, LA Opera has added a seventh performance of the company's season-opening production of Carmen, conducted by Music Director James Conlon and starring company favorite Ana María Martínez. Tickets for this newly scheduled performance on September 28 are on sale as of today.

"Carmen may very well be the world's most popular opera, and it's easy to see why," said Mr. 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 2017/18 season."

Mr. Domingo also announced final casting and new details about the production of Georges Bizet's beloved masterwork, which runs from September 9 through October 1 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Performance Dates and Times
There will be a total of seven performances of Carmen presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012):

• Saturday, September 9, 2017, at 7pm
• Thursday, September 14, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, September 17, 2017, at 2pm
• Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Saturday, September 23, 2017, at 7pm
• NEW: Thursday, September 28, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, October 1, 2017, at 2pm

The Cast
Carmen features a cast led by soprano Ana María Martínez in the title role. The role of Don José will be shared by Italian tenor Riccardo Massi in his company debut (September 9, 14, 17, 28) and tenor Brandon Jovanovich (September 20, 23; October 1). 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 Micaëla.

Bass Philip Cokorinos will return as Zuniga, and mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor will make her LA Opera debut as Mercédès. The cast will also include four current members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program: soprano Liv Redpath as Frasquita, tenor Brian Michael Moore as Le Remendado, baritone Theo Hoffman as Le Dancaïre and baritone Juan Carlos Heredia in his company debut as Moralès.

The Creative Team
Ron Daniels, who directed LA Opera's 2010 world premiere of Il Postino, will return to direct Carmen for the first time in Los Angeles. The production features sets (previously seen in Los Angeles in 2004, 2008 and 2013) designed by Gerardo Trotti with new costumes designed by Denitsa Bilznakova, who makes her LA Opera debut. Duane Schuler is the lighting designer, Grant Gershon is the chorus director and Nuria Castejón is the choreographer.

Advance Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. Tickets begin at $25 and can be purchased in person at the LA Opera Box Office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, by phone at 213.972.8001 or online at LAOpera.org. For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org.

Simulcasts on September 23
The September 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 no tickets are required for entrance, guests are encouraged to sign up in advance to get important information like parking and traffic notifications, a digital program and a free gift on-site.

For information about the Opera in the Park simulcast at Exposition Park, please visit LAOpera.org/OperaInThePark.