Name: Ben Bliss in Recital
Start: 2025-12-07T14:00:00
Location: The Walls Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

The LA Opera is set to captivate audiences with a diverse array of events in 2025 and early 2026. From the evocative premiere of 'Ainadamar' and the classic intrigue of 'Rigoletto', to the thrilling vocal performances by renowned artists like Joshua Guerrero and Renee Fleming, each event promises unforgettable experiences. Whether you're relishing the dramatic interpretations of iconic operas or indulging in the intimate recitals of celebrated tenors, there’s something for every opera enthusiast. Discover the artistry and innovation that make this season a must-attend.

An Epic Season at LA Opera: From Passionate Premieres to Timeless Classics

Dive into LA Opera's captivating 2025-2026 season that promises a rich tapestry of performances. From the grand operatic revival of 'West Side Story' to the timeless chills of 'The Phantom of the Opera,' experience a blend of classic and contemporary works. Discover the stories of iconic characters and the talent behind them as you embark on this cultural journey.

A Season of Diverse Performances: LA Opera's 2025-2026 Lineup

Ben Bliss

Christopher Allen

LA Opera

Rodolfo is a struggling poet burning his manuscripts to keep out the winter chill. Mimi is a fellow tenant with big dreams and a deadly illness. A chance meeting has them falling in love, but when you’re at the bottom of Parisian society, every day could be your last. 

Puccini’s blockbuster opera returns to our stage starring Janai Brugger as the sweet but suffering Mimi and Oreste Cosimo as the lovestruck Rodolfo, with Gihoon Kim and Erica Petrocelli as the on-again-off-again lovers Marcello and Musetta.

Resident Conductor Lina González-Granados leads Puccini’s transcendent score, awash in lavish Romanticism and gorgeous melodies. Director Brenna Corner helms a timeless production from Herbert Ross that the LA Times calls a “warm, nostalgic evocation of Paris in Puccini’s time.”

La Bohème

The Music Center

Master Mozartean Ben Bliss has conquered stages from the Metropolitan Opera to Vienna and Paris—not to mention standout performances with LA Opera and the LA Philharmonic. Now, hear his “honeyed lyric tenor” (The  New York Times) in an intimate recital in Beverly Hills, joined by pianist Christopher Allen.

Ben Bliss in Recital

The Walls Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

If you were in the audience for his most recent recital in Los Angeles, you witnessed vocal majesty. If you missed it—well, don’t make the same mistake twice. Decorated tenor Juan Diego Flórez is back at LA Opera for one night only, performing highlights from his illustrious career in bel canto as well as classic Spanish songs from a childhood in his native Peru.

Juan Diego Flórez in Recital

From Broadway to Hollywood, nobody embodies show business like Patti LuPone. Don’t miss this legendary diva’s return to our stage with her iconic cabaret show Matters of the Heart, featuring Broadway classics along with music by Brian Wilson, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman, Judy Collins, Cyndi Lauper, and more.

Patti LuPone In Concert

Hailed by critics and beloved by audiences, this eagerly anticipated revival transports you to Ancient Egypt in Philip Glass’s enthralling portrait of a trailblazing pharaoh. Countertenor John Holiday is the titular Akhnaten, determined to lead Egypt into a new age even as his plan to abandon the old gods puts his kingdom (and his life) in peril. Mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce is his queen Nefertiti, soprano So Young Park is the powerful dowager Queen Tye, and Grammy winner Zachary James reprises his memorable role as Amenhotep III, leading the audience through the ritualistic action on the stage.

Director Phelim McDermott revives his visually arresting production, replete with soaring acrobats, astonishing jugglers, and towering sets. With a libretto drawing on ancient texts like The Book of the Dead and a hypnotic, atmospheric score, Akhnaten portrays a doomed visionary with all his feats and foibles. Finland’s Dalia Stasevska makes her company debut conducting this tribute to one of the most transformative chapters in Egyptian history.

Akhnaten

From La Scala to the Met, this sought-after soprano has proven herself to be one of today’s most brilliant young stars. Indulge in what The Guardian calls a “diamond-bright and pitch perfect voice” as Nadine Sierra, in collaboration with pianist Bryan Wagorn, takes us on a musical journey through a dazzling assortment of songs and arias.

Nadine Sierra in Recital

Colburn School

Sir John Falstaff finds himself a bit short on cash, so he hatches a scheme: seduce two merry (and wealthy) wives of Windsor and live out his days in luxury. Too bad this bumbling knight happened to send both his targets the same love letter! Now Alice Ford and Meg Page are set on teaching Falstaff a lesson, and it's not long before a long list of his adversaries join in. Audiences are in for a whirlwind of disguises and deceptions, and maybe even an unexpected dip in the River Thames.

James Conlon conducts one of his personal favorites, Verdi's utterly delightful comic masterpiece. Longtime company favorite Craig Colclough stars as the boastful Falstaff, leading a brilliant ensemble cast that includes Nicole Heaston, Ernesto Petti and Hyona Kim among the pranksters all too happy to take the errant knight down a peg, with Deanna Breiwick and Anthony León as the young lovers desperate to steal a private moment to themselves among the madness. This classic comedy gets an equally classic staging by Lee Blakeley, with atmospheric sets and sumptuous period costumes designed by Adrian Linford.

Falstaff

James Conlon has made tremendous contributions to the musical life of Los Angeles over his remarkable 20-year tenure as the company’s Richard Seaver Music Director. Join us in celebrating his legacy at a special concert devoted to the work of three of his favorite opera composers: Mozart, Verdi, and Wagner. Spend an evening with Maestro Conlon’s mastery and the signature sound inspired by his close relationship with the LA Opera Orchestra, along with an array of exceptional artists.

The concert will be followed by a gala dinner and celebration on the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This very special evening will offer a unique opportunity for the LA Opera family to honor Maestro Conlon and celebrate his extraordinary achievements. Gala tickets are sold separately.

James Conlon Concert

Fresh from their acclaimed performance last season, the Paris-based ensemble is back with the best of Baroque. Soprano Sandrine Piau joins conductor and founder Christophe Rousset for a cornucopia of musical delights by Handel.

Les Talens Lyriques

Once upon a time, a prince awakens in a mysterious land with an even more mysterious task.  Armed with enchanted bells and (you guessed it) a magic flute, Prince Tamino sets off, bound and determined to rescue his lady love, the Princess Pamina—only to find that things aren’t what they seem, and the Queen of the Night who sent him on his quest just might be plotting his doom instead.

James Conlon ends his legendary tenure as LA Opera Music Director with the world's most popular opera in one of our most emblematic productions. Mozart's catchy melodies meet astonishing projected animations in our perennial crowd pleaser. Miles Mykkanen makes his LA Opera debut as Prince Tamino opposite Sydney Mancasola as the beautiful Pamina. Kyle Miller might just steal the show as the lovable sidekick Papageno, while Aigul  Khismatullina and Kwangchul Youn face off as the Queen of the Night and Sarastro.

The Magic Flute

Today’s most celebrated soprano can boast five Grammy wins, a National Medal of Arts, and a live performance at the Super Bowl. The legendary songstress returns to Los Angeles to delight audiences with her incomparable artistry and astonishingly beautiful voice. 

Ben Bliss in Recital

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