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Press Releases
Los Angeles Opera Final Production of 1998-99 Season
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Los Angeles Opera Press Office:
Steven Johnson, Mary Kane
http://www.laopera.org/
SOPRANO SUMI JO IS LUCIA IN LOS ANGELES OPERA’S FINAL PRODUCTION OF THE 1998-99 SEASON
RICHARD BONYNGE CONDUCTS DONIZETTI’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
AT THE CLOSE OF LOS ANGELES OPERA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON AT THE BOX OFFICE
SEVEN PERFORMANCES ONLY, MAY 26 - JUNE 13, 1999
AT THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION
Los Angeles Opera welcomes the return of Korean coloratura soprano Sumi Jo in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Conducting the bel canto masterpiece will be Richard Bonynge. Making their Los Angeles Opera debuts, American tenor Frank Lopardo and French-Canadian baritone Gino Quilico sing the roles of rivals Edgardo and Enrico, respectively. The production, new to Los Angeles and originally staged at Opera New Zealand, will be directed by Jonathan Alver, that company’s Artistic Director.
Lucia di Lammermoor opens Wednesday, May 26, with performances May 29 (matinee), June 2, 5, 8, 11, and 13, 1999. Lucia is the last production of Los Angeles Opera’s eight-opera 1998-99 Season that began in September. The record-setting season has been a box office smash with new marks reached in attendance, season-ticket holders, ticket sales for individual performances, new subscribers, and sold-out runs. Tickets for Lucia di Lammermoor are going fast, with some performances already having very limited availability. With support from American Express Company, Los Angeles Opera has created a strategic marketing campaign and audience development initiative to coincide with Sumi Jo’s appearance in Lucia di Lammermoor. The effort seeks to enhance the Opera’s growing relationship with members of Los Angeles’ Korean and Korean-American community.
About the Opera:
To Italian audiences of the 1800’s, the lonely cliffs and ancient feuds of the Scottish Highlands seemed a remote and exotic setting—and thus the perfect backdrop for an opera of tempestuous love and family honor. From Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), Donizetti fashioned one of his most passionate operas and mesmerizing heroines: Lucy (Lucia) Ashton, whose love for her family’s sworn enemy drives her to madness. Long a favorite role of some of the world’s most famous sopranos, this bel canto masterpiece is a star vehicle for a singer of vocal suppleness and dramatic intensity.
The Italian term bel canto can be translated literally as “beautiful singing” and the style is marked by florid, vocally acrobatic arias and ensemble singing. Bel canto opera reached its height in the first half of the 19th century and the operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini make up the core works that are most frequently performed in the repertoire. Bel canto was later eclipsed by the rise of Wagner ‘s music dramas and the operas of the Italian school of verismo, including Leoncavallo and Puccini, which favored realistic settings and situations.
The revival of the bel canto style was led in the second half of this century by such artists as Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas, Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballé, and Marilyn Horne, as well as tenors Nicolai Gedda and Alfredo Kraus. While operas such as Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and Bellini’s Norma have always been strong fixtures in the repertoire, this revival of bel canto artistry has brought the more obscure works of these composers and others back to the stage. Richard Bonynge and his wife Joan Sutherland were the first to reintroduce many of these operas to audiences at the major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Vienna Staatsoper, and others. Today, bel canto is indeed strong with stars such as mezzos Jennifer Larmore and Cecilia Bartoli, tenors Bruce Ford and Ramón Vargas, and basses like Samuel Ramey embracing the tradition. The pairing of Sumi Jo and Richard Bonynge is especially significant in that the maestro was a pioneer in bel canto’s revival and the coloratura soprano is one of her generation’s leading exponents of the repertoire.
Los Angeles Opera’s previous production of Lucia di Lammermoor in 1993, directed by Andrei Serban with soprano June Anderson in the title role, was notable for its post-modern, point-of-view staging. Alver’s production, first staged at Opera New Zealand to critical acclaim, sets the scene more traditionally in Sir Walter Scott’s 18th century Scottish Highlands.
About the Artists:
Coloratura soprano Sumi Jo returns to Los Angeles Opera for the third time since her triumphant debut as The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute in 1993. She also met with acclaim for her Sophie in the 1994 Jonathan Miller production of Der Rosenkavalier. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jo is extremely popular in Los Angeles, which has a large Korean community. Her recitals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and at the Alex Theatre in Glendale drew packed houses and she was lauded for her artistry by audiences and critics alike. A major international star, Sumi Jo has sung regularly with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, and with the Salzburg Festival. Her most recent engagements include performances as Lucia at Paris’ Opéra Bastille as well as recitals in Strasbourg and Brussels this April.
Tenor Frank Lopardo was most recently seen at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Alfredo in La traviata and as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Metropolitan Opera. His debut with Los Angeles Opera marks a return of sorts for the rising young tenor. A graduate of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, the New York-born tenor’s other recent engagements have included the Paris Opera (Manon), San Francisco Opera (Rigoletto), and the Vienna Staatsoper (Rigoletto). Lopardo’s growing discography includes Mozart, Rossini, and Verdi with leading conductors including Muti, Abbado, Previn, and Sir Colin Davis.
Lyric baritone Gino Quilico appears regularly with the world’s major opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, the Paris Opera and Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper. Most recently Quilico appeared with the Met as Escamillo in Carmen and as Schaunard in La bohème. Quilico’s most recent recording is Le Secret (KOCH International), his first solo recital CD. Recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Sony Classics and Philips have solidified his presence in the classical recording industry. Quilico received a Grammy Award as one of the principal soloists for Best Opera Recording in 1995 for Berlioz’ Les troyens. Following this Lucia di Lammermoor, he returns to La Scala in Manon and performs in his hometown with l’Opéra de Montreal in Otello. Gino Quilico was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in and contributions to the world of music.
Bass Kenneth Cox, who has sung in numerous productions with Los Angeles Opera, returns to sing the role of Raimondo. This season, he was seen as Candy in San Diego Opera’s production of Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men and as Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Cox made his Paris Opera debut as Schahabarim in the world premiere of Philippe Fenelon’s Salammbo in May 1998. For Los Angeles Opera, he has most recently sung Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Tempo and Antinoo in The Return of Ulysses, and Oroveso in Norma.
Singing the role of Arturo, tenor Charles Castronovo takes the Los Angeles Opera stage for the last time as a Resident Artist. A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Castronovo sang ten mainstage roles with the company over two seasons, including the memorable Mr. Porcupine in the world premiere of Fantastic Mr. Fox. Immediately following Lucia, Castronovo will sing in two concert performances of Westside Story in Leipzig, to be televised nationally in Germany. This summer, he will record the role of Beppe in Pagliacci for Decca with José Cura in the role of Canio. This fall, Castronovo will make his Metropolitan Opera debut on opening night of the 1999-2000 Season again as Beppe in Pagliacci, with Plácido Domingo singing Canio.
Mexican tenor Gabriel Gonzalez sings the role of Normanno. Gonzalez made his Los Angeles Opera debut singing two performances of Rodolfo in La bohème in 1996. A former member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Gonzalez has sung several roles with that company. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, he made his professional debut with the Opera de Monterrey singing the role of Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor.
Los Angeles Opera Resident Artist Megan Dey-Tóth sings the role of Alisa. Dey-Tóth was Flora in Los Angeles Opera’s February performances of La traviata and also sang the role of Mércèdes in Carmen this past September. She is a returning Resident Artist next season singing the role of the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, Sièbel in Faust, Giovanna in Rigoletto , and Suzy in La rondine, while covering several leading roles.
Jonathan Alver has directed productions of Faust, Il trovatore, Gianni Schicchi, The Spanish Hour, and Macbeth for Opera New Zealand in addition to this production of Lucia di Lammermoor, first seen in 1996. A native of England, Alver became Artistic Director of the Auckland company in 1998. In England, he has directed a production of Boris Godunov for BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, opera scenes for the popular English television series Harry Enfield’s Guide to Opera, and productions for Opera North and other leading regional houses. Alver is also the Artistic Director for the British Company, Classical Adventures.
Auckland-based set designer John Verryt most recently worked with Jonathan Alver on Opera New Zealand’s new production of La bohème and designed the sets and costumes for Alver’s productions of Gianni Schicchi and The Spanish Hour last season. Verryt works regularly with New Zealand’s leading dance and theater companies including Theatre at Large, Douglas Wright Dance Company, and the Auckland Theatre Company.
English costume designer Claire Hewitt designed the costumes for the original 1996 production of Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera New Zealand.
Australian conductor Richard Bonynge made his Los Angeles Opera debut in 1996 with Jennifer Larmore in the pasta-strewn 1996 production of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. With his wife Joan Sutherland, Bonynge has been a champion of the bel canto repertoire, helping to bring about a revival of the genre. His recordings number in the hundreds; his discography is among the largest of any living conductor. Bonynge’s recorded collaborations with Sumi Jo have included rare treats such as Daniel-François Auber’s Le Domino Noir and Adolphe-Charles Adam’s Le Toréador, among others.
Support from American Express Company for Korean Audience Development Initiative. In February 1998, Los Angeles Opera was awarded a two-year grant in the first round of grants announced by the new American Express Performing Arts Fund. Los Angeles Opera was one of 13 organizations nationwide and the only organization in Los Angeles selected through an invitation-only competition. The Los Angeles Opera grant is intended to support programs and enhanced marketing activities to enable the organization to expand marketing and audience development efforts in the Los Angeles Korean community.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean community outside Korea. Support and enthusiasm for the arts in general and for opera and symphony in particular is a hallmark of the Korean experience in the U.S. For example, the two major Korean-language dailies in Los Angeles offer in-depth coverage of classical music above any other form of entertainment. Community-based performances and presentations are frequent and well attended. The love of the arts not only includes grass-roots support of local talent, but is evidenced by strong attendance at the major cultural institutions in Los Angeles such as the Opera, the Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl, and the County Museum. Sumi Jo is a particular favorite and her recitals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and more recently at the Alex Theatre in Glendale sold out completely. The Los Angeles Times critic dubbed the event a”love-fest,” so great was the pride of the community for this internationally acclaimed star.
Sumi Jo is the central figure in the strategic marketing campaign and audience development effort supported by American Express Company and designed to enhance the growing relationship between Los Angeles Opera and members of Los Angeles’ Korean community. The special events planned include an opera recital at the Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church on May 16 featuring Jo, Los Angeles Opera Resident Artists, and the church’s choir. Also planned is a “Conversation with Sumi Jo” on May 8 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for students from the Colburn School of Performing Arts, Plaza de la Raza, the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles Music and Art School, and Classical Singers Association. Marketing efforts include a 20% discount to performances of Lucia di Lammermoor offered through partnerships with The Korea Central Daily, Radio Korea USA, and various Korean community merchants. The many initiatives and new relationships forged through this project since it began last spring will come together at the final performance of Lucia di Lammermoor on June 13, which still has the best seating availability being a non-subscription performance.
Founded in 1850, American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.
Through philanthropic activities worldwide, American Express seeks to be a good citizen in the communities in which it does business and where American Express employees live and work. The American Express philanthropic program, which includes the American Express Foundation and corporate giving, makes grants to non-profit organizations on behalf of the American Express Company and its subsidiaries, which include American Express Travel Related Services, American Express Financial Advisors and American Express Bank.
All performances of Lucia di Lammermoor are held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center of Los Angeles County, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles.
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles.
Performance Dates
Wednesday, May 26, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 29, at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 5, at 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 8, at 7:30 pm
Friday, June 11, at 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 13, at 7:30 pm
Ticket Information:
? Tickets are $137, $118, $109, $82, $79, $49, and $25 and are available at the Music Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling (213) 365-3500.
? Tickets may also be purchased on-line through Ticketmaster at: http://www.laopera.org/
? The American Express® Card is welcome for ticket purchases.
? General Information can be had by calling (213) 972-8001 during regular business hours.
? Student and senior citizen rush tickets are $20 and go on sale one hour before curtain, subject to availability.
? Disabled access: (213) 972-0777. TDD: (213) 972-7615.
For more information or to review, press should contact Steven Johnson with L.A. Opera at (213) 972-7274.
Korean Community Events
For more information about Korean Community Events surrounding Sumi Jo’s performance in Lucia di Lammermoor, please contact Rosamaria Marquez, Los Angeles Opera’s Community Programs Manager, at (213) 972-7498.
Production made possible in part by a grant from the American ExpressCompany and a gift from the George A.V. Dunning Fund/California Community Foundation.
Contact Los Angeles Opera Press Office:
Steven Johnson, Mary Kane
http://www.laopera.org/
SOPRANO SUMI JO IS LUCIA IN LOS ANGELES OPERA’S FINAL PRODUCTION OF THE 1998-99 SEASON
RICHARD BONYNGE CONDUCTS DONIZETTI’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR
AT THE CLOSE OF LOS ANGELES OPERA’S MOST SUCCESSFUL SEASON AT THE BOX OFFICE
SEVEN PERFORMANCES ONLY, MAY 26 - JUNE 13, 1999
AT THE DOROTHY CHANDLER PAVILION
Los Angeles Opera welcomes the return of Korean coloratura soprano Sumi Jo in the title role of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Conducting the bel canto masterpiece will be Richard Bonynge. Making their Los Angeles Opera debuts, American tenor Frank Lopardo and French-Canadian baritone Gino Quilico sing the roles of rivals Edgardo and Enrico, respectively. The production, new to Los Angeles and originally staged at Opera New Zealand, will be directed by Jonathan Alver, that company’s Artistic Director.
Lucia di Lammermoor opens Wednesday, May 26, with performances May 29 (matinee), June 2, 5, 8, 11, and 13, 1999. Lucia is the last production of Los Angeles Opera’s eight-opera 1998-99 Season that began in September. The record-setting season has been a box office smash with new marks reached in attendance, season-ticket holders, ticket sales for individual performances, new subscribers, and sold-out runs. Tickets for Lucia di Lammermoor are going fast, with some performances already having very limited availability. With support from American Express Company, Los Angeles Opera has created a strategic marketing campaign and audience development initiative to coincide with Sumi Jo’s appearance in Lucia di Lammermoor. The effort seeks to enhance the Opera’s growing relationship with members of Los Angeles’ Korean and Korean-American community.
About the Opera:
To Italian audiences of the 1800’s, the lonely cliffs and ancient feuds of the Scottish Highlands seemed a remote and exotic setting—and thus the perfect backdrop for an opera of tempestuous love and family honor. From Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel The Bride of Lammermoor (1819), Donizetti fashioned one of his most passionate operas and mesmerizing heroines: Lucy (Lucia) Ashton, whose love for her family’s sworn enemy drives her to madness. Long a favorite role of some of the world’s most famous sopranos, this bel canto masterpiece is a star vehicle for a singer of vocal suppleness and dramatic intensity.
The Italian term bel canto can be translated literally as “beautiful singing” and the style is marked by florid, vocally acrobatic arias and ensemble singing. Bel canto opera reached its height in the first half of the 19th century and the operas of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini make up the core works that are most frequently performed in the repertoire. Bel canto was later eclipsed by the rise of Wagner ‘s music dramas and the operas of the Italian school of verismo, including Leoncavallo and Puccini, which favored realistic settings and situations.
The revival of the bel canto style was led in the second half of this century by such artists as Joan Sutherland, Maria Callas, Beverly Sills, Montserrat Caballé, and Marilyn Horne, as well as tenors Nicolai Gedda and Alfredo Kraus. While operas such as Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, and Bellini’s Norma have always been strong fixtures in the repertoire, this revival of bel canto artistry has brought the more obscure works of these composers and others back to the stage. Richard Bonynge and his wife Joan Sutherland were the first to reintroduce many of these operas to audiences at the major opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, Vienna Staatsoper, and others. Today, bel canto is indeed strong with stars such as mezzos Jennifer Larmore and Cecilia Bartoli, tenors Bruce Ford and Ramón Vargas, and basses like Samuel Ramey embracing the tradition. The pairing of Sumi Jo and Richard Bonynge is especially significant in that the maestro was a pioneer in bel canto’s revival and the coloratura soprano is one of her generation’s leading exponents of the repertoire.
Los Angeles Opera’s previous production of Lucia di Lammermoor in 1993, directed by Andrei Serban with soprano June Anderson in the title role, was notable for its post-modern, point-of-view staging. Alver’s production, first staged at Opera New Zealand to critical acclaim, sets the scene more traditionally in Sir Walter Scott’s 18th century Scottish Highlands.
About the Artists:
Coloratura soprano Sumi Jo returns to Los Angeles Opera for the third time since her triumphant debut as The Queen of the Night in Mozart’s The Magic Flute in 1993. She also met with acclaim for her Sophie in the 1994 Jonathan Miller production of Der Rosenkavalier. Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jo is extremely popular in Los Angeles, which has a large Korean community. Her recitals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and at the Alex Theatre in Glendale drew packed houses and she was lauded for her artistry by audiences and critics alike. A major international star, Sumi Jo has sung regularly with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, and with the Salzburg Festival. Her most recent engagements include performances as Lucia at Paris’ Opéra Bastille as well as recitals in Strasbourg and Brussels this April.
Tenor Frank Lopardo was most recently seen at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Alfredo in La traviata and as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Metropolitan Opera. His debut with Los Angeles Opera marks a return of sorts for the rising young tenor. A graduate of the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, the New York-born tenor’s other recent engagements have included the Paris Opera (Manon), San Francisco Opera (Rigoletto), and the Vienna Staatsoper (Rigoletto). Lopardo’s growing discography includes Mozart, Rossini, and Verdi with leading conductors including Muti, Abbado, Previn, and Sir Colin Davis.
Lyric baritone Gino Quilico appears regularly with the world’s major opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, the Royal Opera Covent Garden, the Vienna Staatsoper, the Paris Opera and Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper. Most recently Quilico appeared with the Met as Escamillo in Carmen and as Schaunard in La bohème. Quilico’s most recent recording is Le Secret (KOCH International), his first solo recital CD. Recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Sony Classics and Philips have solidified his presence in the classical recording industry. Quilico received a Grammy Award as one of the principal soloists for Best Opera Recording in 1995 for Berlioz’ Les troyens. Following this Lucia di Lammermoor, he returns to La Scala in Manon and performs in his hometown with l’Opéra de Montreal in Otello. Gino Quilico was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in and contributions to the world of music.
Bass Kenneth Cox, who has sung in numerous productions with Los Angeles Opera, returns to sing the role of Raimondo. This season, he was seen as Candy in San Diego Opera’s production of Carlisle Floyd’s Of Mice and Men and as Osmin in The Abduction from the Seraglio with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Cox made his Paris Opera debut as Schahabarim in the world premiere of Philippe Fenelon’s Salammbo in May 1998. For Los Angeles Opera, he has most recently sung Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Tempo and Antinoo in The Return of Ulysses, and Oroveso in Norma.
Singing the role of Arturo, tenor Charles Castronovo takes the Los Angeles Opera stage for the last time as a Resident Artist. A graduate of Cal State Fullerton, Castronovo sang ten mainstage roles with the company over two seasons, including the memorable Mr. Porcupine in the world premiere of Fantastic Mr. Fox. Immediately following Lucia, Castronovo will sing in two concert performances of Westside Story in Leipzig, to be televised nationally in Germany. This summer, he will record the role of Beppe in Pagliacci for Decca with José Cura in the role of Canio. This fall, Castronovo will make his Metropolitan Opera debut on opening night of the 1999-2000 Season again as Beppe in Pagliacci, with Plácido Domingo singing Canio.
Mexican tenor Gabriel Gonzalez sings the role of Normanno. Gonzalez made his Los Angeles Opera debut singing two performances of Rodolfo in La bohème in 1996. A former member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, Gonzalez has sung several roles with that company. A native of Monterrey, Mexico, he made his professional debut with the Opera de Monterrey singing the role of Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor.
Los Angeles Opera Resident Artist Megan Dey-Tóth sings the role of Alisa. Dey-Tóth was Flora in Los Angeles Opera’s February performances of La traviata and also sang the role of Mércèdes in Carmen this past September. She is a returning Resident Artist next season singing the role of the Sandman in Hansel and Gretel, Sièbel in Faust, Giovanna in Rigoletto , and Suzy in La rondine, while covering several leading roles.
Jonathan Alver has directed productions of Faust, Il trovatore, Gianni Schicchi, The Spanish Hour, and Macbeth for Opera New Zealand in addition to this production of Lucia di Lammermoor, first seen in 1996. A native of England, Alver became Artistic Director of the Auckland company in 1998. In England, he has directed a production of Boris Godunov for BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, opera scenes for the popular English television series Harry Enfield’s Guide to Opera, and productions for Opera North and other leading regional houses. Alver is also the Artistic Director for the British Company, Classical Adventures.
Auckland-based set designer John Verryt most recently worked with Jonathan Alver on Opera New Zealand’s new production of La bohème and designed the sets and costumes for Alver’s productions of Gianni Schicchi and The Spanish Hour last season. Verryt works regularly with New Zealand’s leading dance and theater companies including Theatre at Large, Douglas Wright Dance Company, and the Auckland Theatre Company.
English costume designer Claire Hewitt designed the costumes for the original 1996 production of Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera New Zealand.
Australian conductor Richard Bonynge made his Los Angeles Opera debut in 1996 with Jennifer Larmore in the pasta-strewn 1996 production of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers. With his wife Joan Sutherland, Bonynge has been a champion of the bel canto repertoire, helping to bring about a revival of the genre. His recordings number in the hundreds; his discography is among the largest of any living conductor. Bonynge’s recorded collaborations with Sumi Jo have included rare treats such as Daniel-François Auber’s Le Domino Noir and Adolphe-Charles Adam’s Le Toréador, among others.
Support from American Express Company for Korean Audience Development Initiative. In February 1998, Los Angeles Opera was awarded a two-year grant in the first round of grants announced by the new American Express Performing Arts Fund. Los Angeles Opera was one of 13 organizations nationwide and the only organization in Los Angeles selected through an invitation-only competition. The Los Angeles Opera grant is intended to support programs and enhanced marketing activities to enable the organization to expand marketing and audience development efforts in the Los Angeles Korean community.
Los Angeles is home to the largest Korean community outside Korea. Support and enthusiasm for the arts in general and for opera and symphony in particular is a hallmark of the Korean experience in the U.S. For example, the two major Korean-language dailies in Los Angeles offer in-depth coverage of classical music above any other form of entertainment. Community-based performances and presentations are frequent and well attended. The love of the arts not only includes grass-roots support of local talent, but is evidenced by strong attendance at the major cultural institutions in Los Angeles such as the Opera, the Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl, and the County Museum. Sumi Jo is a particular favorite and her recitals at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and more recently at the Alex Theatre in Glendale sold out completely. The Los Angeles Times critic dubbed the event a”love-fest,” so great was the pride of the community for this internationally acclaimed star.
Sumi Jo is the central figure in the strategic marketing campaign and audience development effort supported by American Express Company and designed to enhance the growing relationship between Los Angeles Opera and members of Los Angeles’ Korean community. The special events planned include an opera recital at the Los Angeles Christian Presbyterian Church on May 16 featuring Jo, Los Angeles Opera Resident Artists, and the church’s choir. Also planned is a “Conversation with Sumi Jo” on May 8 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for students from the Colburn School of Performing Arts, Plaza de la Raza, the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, Los Angeles Music and Art School, and Classical Singers Association. Marketing efforts include a 20% discount to performances of Lucia di Lammermoor offered through partnerships with The Korea Central Daily, Radio Korea USA, and various Korean community merchants. The many initiatives and new relationships forged through this project since it began last spring will come together at the final performance of Lucia di Lammermoor on June 13, which still has the best seating availability being a non-subscription performance.
Founded in 1850, American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel and financial services company. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.
Through philanthropic activities worldwide, American Express seeks to be a good citizen in the communities in which it does business and where American Express employees live and work. The American Express philanthropic program, which includes the American Express Foundation and corporate giving, makes grants to non-profit organizations on behalf of the American Express Company and its subsidiaries, which include American Express Travel Related Services, American Express Financial Advisors and American Express Bank.
All performances of Lucia di Lammermoor are held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Music Center of Los Angeles County, 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles.
Sung in Italian with English Supertitles.
Performance Dates
Wednesday, May 26, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, May 29, at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, June 2, at 7:30 pm
Saturday, June 5, at 7:30 pm
Tuesday, June 8, at 7:30 pm
Friday, June 11, at 7:30 pm
Sunday, June 13, at 7:30 pm
Ticket Information:
? Tickets are $137, $118, $109, $82, $79, $49, and $25 and are available at the Music Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets, or by calling (213) 365-3500.
? Tickets may also be purchased on-line through Ticketmaster at: http://www.laopera.org/
? The American Express® Card is welcome for ticket purchases.
? General Information can be had by calling (213) 972-8001 during regular business hours.
? Student and senior citizen rush tickets are $20 and go on sale one hour before curtain, subject to availability.
? Disabled access: (213) 972-0777. TDD: (213) 972-7615.
For more information or to review, press should contact Steven Johnson with L.A. Opera at (213) 972-7274.
Korean Community Events
For more information about Korean Community Events surrounding Sumi Jo’s performance in Lucia di Lammermoor, please contact Rosamaria Marquez, Los Angeles Opera’s Community Programs Manager, at (213) 972-7498.
Production made possible in part by a grant from the American ExpressCompany and a gift from the George A.V. Dunning Fund/California Community Foundation.
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