The LA Opera has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of Main stage productions, of grand and community events. Here is a look at what the ambitious season is set to showcase.

Main Stage 

The season opens with Verdi and Cammarano’s “Il Trovatore” starring Angel Blue in her role debut as Leonora and Gregory Kunde in his LA Opera debut. James Conlon conducts Francisco Negrin’s new production with Ekaterina Semenchuk and Raehann Bryce-Davis sharing the role of Azucena, Vladimir Stoyanov as Count di Luna, and Morris Robinson as Ferrando.

Performance Dates: Sept. 26, Oct. 4, 7, 10, 15 & 18, 2020

Wagner’s “Tannhäuser” returns to the LA stage with James Conlon conducting. The opera will star heldentenor Issachah Savage in his role debut in the title role, soprano Sara Jakubiak as Elisabeth, mezzo-soprano Yulia Matochkina as Venus, bass John Relyea as Hermann and baritone Lucas Meachem as Wolfram.

Performance Dates: Oct. 17, 25 & 29, Nov. 1, 4 & 7, 2020

Stefan Herheim directs Rossini and Ferretti’s “La Cenerentola” with Roberto Abbado conducting in his company debut. Mezzo-soprano Serena Malfi sings the title role alongside rising star Levy Sekgapane as Don Ramiro. Rodion Pogossov, Ildebrando D’Arcangelo and Alessandro Corbelli round out the cast.

Performance Dates: Nov. 21 & 29, Dec. 2, 5, 9 & 13, 2020

Ildebrando D’Arcangelo sings the title role in Mozart and Da Ponte’s “Don Giovanni” alongside an all star cast that includes Tamara Wilson, Ana María Martínez, Bogdan Volkov, Janai Brugger, Kihun Yoon, Morris Robinson, and Will Liverman. Kasper Holten directs the production with James Conlon at the podium. 

Performance Dates: Jan. 30, Feb. 6, 11, 14, 17 & 21, 2021

“Breaking the Waves,” the breakout work by composer Missy Mazzoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, gets its company premiere with conductor Grant Gershon. Soprano Sydney Mancasola takes on the lead role with Alexander Birch Elliott.

Performance Dates: Feb. 27, March 6, 11, 14, 18 and 21, 2021

The English Concert performs Handel and Haym’s “Tamerlano” in concert with Harry Bicket conducting a cast that includes Bejun Mehta, Michael Spyres, Sophie Bevan, and Jakub Józef Orliński.

Performance Date: April 30, 2021

Francesca Zambello brings her acclaimed production of Verdi and Ghislanzoni’s “Aida” to LA for the first time. Liudmyla Monastryska stars in the title role alongside Gregory Kunde as Radames, mezzo-soprano Ekaterina Semenchuk as Amneris, baritone Craig Colclough as Amonasro, bass Eric Owens as Ramfis, and bass-baritone Kevin Short as the King of Egypt. James Conlon conducts.

Performance Dates: May 15, 23, 27 and 30, June 2 & 5, 2021

Renée Fleming and Rod Gilfry bring Kevin Puts’ “The Brightness of Light” to life with James Conlon conducting the LA Opera Orchestra.

Performance Date: May 16, 2021

LA Opera Off Grand 

Jordan Peele’s Academy Award winner “Get Out” will be shown in time for Halloween. The film will be presented at the Theatre at Ace Hotel with Michael Abels conducting his score with LA Opera Orchestra and the DC6 Singers.

Performance Dates: Oct. 30 & 31, 2020

“Veils for Desire” is set to showcase music by Aucoin, Bach, Britten, and Monteverdi. The inventive new chamber concert program features pieces of music that “veil” or transform an unspeakable desire into a new, mysterious form. The performance features Anthony Roth Costanzo, Paul Appleby and composer/pianist Matthew Aucoin, joined by musicians from AMOC (the American Modern Opera Company) and narrator Wayne Koestenbaum. The work will be presented at the The Wallis.

Performance Date: March 31, 2021

Du Yun and Michael Joseph McQuilken’s “In Our Daughter’s Eyes” gets its west coast premiere with Nathan Gunn starring as a father-to-be struggling to become a man his wife and daughter would be proud of. The work will be presented at the REDCAT.

Performance Dates:  April 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2021

LA Opera Connects

Saturday Mornings at the Opera are interactive, hour-long performances introducing families to the magic of opera with special interactive performances for kids from 3 to 9 years old. Presented in the Eva and Marc Stern

Performance Dates: Feb. 6 & May 22, 2021

Britten’s “Noye’s Fludde” is set to be conducted by James Conlon and tells the beloved tale of hope and faith. Bringing together hundreds of singers and musicians of all ages, the family-friendly opera is at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels.

Performance Dates:  April 30 and May 1, 2021

“BambinO” is an opera especially designed for babies between 6 and 18 months old and their accompanying adults. Created by composer Lliam Paterson and directed by Phelim McDermott, the work will be presented for the first time in LA.

Nathan Wang and Lisa See’s “On Gold Mountain” is a chamber opera based on the bestselling 1995 memoir which weaves together 100 years of fascinating family anecdotes, imaginative storytelling, and historical details of immigrant life over the last century into an entertaining family celebration. Performances take place in the Chinese Gardens at The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens.

Performance Dates: June 10-20, 2021