The LA Opera Presents BILLY BUDD, 2/22-3/16

Part child and part saint, endowed with physical as well as spiritual beauty, a young sailor unwittingly undermines the chain of command on the high seas in British composer Benjamin Britten's Billy Budd, returning to LA Opera's stage for six performances, February 22 through March 16.

Based on a novella by Herman Melville, the 1951 opera depicts an unstoppable chain of events-set off by an officer's uncomfortable obsession with the handsome newcomer-that leads to a devastating tragedy. LA Opera concludes a three-year celebration of Britten's centenary with the production, which will be conducted by Music Director James Conlon at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

About the production:

The cast is led by baritone Liam Bonner in his role debut as Billy. Mr. Bonner will return to L.A. next season as Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas. Tenor Richard Croft performs the role of Captain Vere, forever haunted by the role he played in the tragedy. Bass Greer Grimsley makes his LA Opera debut as John Claggart, the sinister master-at-arms who plots against Billy. The cast also include British baritone Anthony Michaels-Moore as Mr. Redburn and Australian bass Daniel Sumegi as Mr. Flint. LA Opera favorite James Creswell returns in the role of Dansker. (Mr. Creswell replaces the previously announced Samuel Ramey, who has withdrawn from this production.)

The strikingly dramatic production, first seen in Los Angeles in 2000, was created by Francesca Zambello, one of the most dynamic directors on the international opera scene.

About the opera:

Billy is a visionary, an innocent who is both within and apart from the tightly knit society aboard his ship. The conflict arises not between Billy and his fellow crew members (for whom he is a beloved comrade) but between Billy and an officer: the master at arms John Claggart. Britten's music suggests a sexual tension slowly coming to a boil in the claustrophobic atmosphere of the ship. With a libretto written by E.M. Forster and Eric Crozier, the drama is remarkably direct and the stark contrast between good and evil in the forms of Billy and Claggart is among the most intense in all opera.

Performance dates, times and special events:

LA Opera will present six performances of Billy Budd at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles CA 90012):

• Saturday, February 22, 2014, at 7:30pm (Opening Night)
• Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 2pm
• Wednesday, March 5, 2014, at 7:30pm (KCRW Night at the Opera; BritWeek Preview Night)
• Saturday, March 8, 2014, at 7:30pm (ARIA Night at the Opera; Univision Night at the Opera)
• Thursday, March 13, 2014, at 7:30pm (Night Out at the Opera, sponsored by Frontiers)
• Sunday March 16, 2014, at 2:00pm

Tickets
Tickets to Billy Budd start at $19 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 www.LAOpera.org. For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email laopera@laopera.org.

For complete cast information, artist bios, synopsis and additional information, click here.

Sung in English with projected English captions.

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