LA Opera Presents DON CARLO Starring Placido Domingo

Plácido Domingo, LA Opera's Eli and Edythe Broad General Director, has announced final details about the company's season-opening presentation of Giuseppe Verdi's monumental Don Carlo.

"I have long considered Don Carlo to be one of Verdi's greatest achievements," said Mr. Domingo. "Earlier in my career, I had the honor of performing the leading tenor role opposite a number of distinguished baritones as Rodrigo. I always felt that Verdi's deep admiration for the freedom-loving Rodrigo shines through in his beautiful music. It is a thrill for me now to take on this gratifying role myself."

Don Carlo will be presented from September 22 through October 14 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

About Don Carlo
With rich orchestrations, thundering choruses and an endless flow of rapturous melodies, one of Verdi's grandest and greatest works is an enthralling tale of resistance, romance and rivalry. When the king of Spain marries a young French princess, the crown prince Don Carlo is devastated to lose the woman who had captured his heart. Inspired by his heroic best friend, he rebels against his father, incurring the wrath of the Spanish Inquisition.

The Performers
Mexican tenor Ramón Vargas sings the role of Don Carlo, his first appearance with LA Opera since 1999. Soprano Ana María Martínez, an Operalia winner, performs the role of Elisabeth de Valois-her seventh leading role in Los Angeles. Russian mezzo-soprano Anna Smirnova makes her LA Opera debut as the fiery Princess Eboli. Plácido Domingo sings the baritone role of Rodrigo, Carlo's devoted friend. Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto-who made his company debut in 2006 as King Philip II-reprises the role of King Philip for the two September performances; the remaining performances will feature bass Alexander Vinogradov in that role, returning after his 2017 company debut as Escamillo in Carmen. Bass Morris Robinson returns as the Grand Inquisitor, and bass Soloman Howard returns as the Friar.

The cast will also feature three members of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program: mezzo-soprano Taylor Raven as Tebaldo, tenor Joshua Wheeker as Count di Lerma, and soprano Liv Redpath as the Celestial Voice.

The Creative Team
James Conlon, LA Opera's Richard Seaver Music Director, conducts a revival of a production previously presented in Los Angeles in 2006, and Louisa Muller makes her company debut as stage director. The scenery is designed by John Gunter and the costumes are designed by Tim Goodchild. Rick Fisher is the lighting designer. Grant Gershon, LA Opera's Resident Conductor, is the chorus director and Kitty McNamee is the choreographer.

Performance Dates and Times
There will be six performances of Don Carlo presented by LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012):

• Saturday, September 22, 2018, at 6pm
• Saturday, September 29, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Thursday, October 4, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, October 7, 2018, at 2pm
• Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 2pm

There will also be a concert performance of Don Carlo presented at 7:30pm on Monday, October 1, at the Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University (1 University Drive, Orange, CA 92866). For information about this performance, please visit MuscoCenter.org.

Tickets are on sale now. Tickets begin at $24 and can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012). For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org. For additional information about this presentation, visit LAOpera.org/DonCarlo.

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