L.A. Opera Presents SATYAGRAHA By Philip Glass

Plácido Domingo, LA Opera's Eli and Edythe Broad General Director, has announced final details about the company premiere of Satyagraha by Philip Glass.

"I believe that opera has the power to change lives," said Mr. Domingo, "and few works exemplify this more than Satyagraha. This masterpiece by Philip Glass was inspired by the life of Gandhi, whose powerful ideas changed the course of history and continue to resonate with us today."

Conducted by Resident Conductor Grant Gershon and directed by Phelim McDermott, Satyagraha will be performed from October 20 through November 11 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

About Satyagraha
Though Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) is primarily associated with the history of India, Satyagraha focuses on the years he spent as a young attorney in South Africa, from 1893 to 1914. The opera depicts the development of his philosophy of satyagraha (Sanskrit for "truth force"), which guided his concept of political struggle through active, loving, non-violent resistance. Gandhi's struggles and triumphs are linked to the past, present and future, celebrating the lasting effects of human goodness.

The opera, which premiered in 1980, was Philip Glass's first opera created for "traditional" operatic forces. The text is drawn from the Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu sacred text central to Gandhi's worldview, and the opera is sung in Sanskrit. LA Opera's presentation of Satyagraha marks the company's completion of Philip Glass's "portrait trilogy" of operas about powerful thinkers who changed the world, following Einstein on the Beach (2013) and Akhnaten (2016).

The Performers
Tenor Sean Panikkar makes his LA Opera debut in the role of Gandhi. Soprano So Young Park performs the role of Gandhi's secretary Miss Schlesen with baritone Theo Hoffman as Gandhi's close friend Mr. Kallenbach; both are alumni of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. The cast also includes mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges as Gandhi's wife Kasturbai, bass Morris Robinson as Gandhi's supporter Parsi Rustomji, and bass-baritone Patrick Blackwell as the mythical Lord Krishna. Three current members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program will make their company debuts in featured roles: soprano Erica Petrocelli as Mrs. Naidoo, mezzo-soprano Niru Liu as Mrs. Alexander and baritone Michael J. Hawk as Prince Arjuna.

The Creative Team
Grant Gershon, LA Opera's Resident Conductor, conducts a visually stunning production staged by Phelim McDermott that has won acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera. The scenery is designed by Julian Crouch, who is also the associate director, and the costumes are designed by Kevin Pollard. The original lighting designs by Paule Constable will be recreated by lighting designer Tony Simpson.

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

• Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Saturday, October 27, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Thursday, November 1, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, November 4, 2018, at 2pm
• Thursday, November 8, 2018, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, November 11, 2018, at 2pm

Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. Tickets begin at $19 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/Satyagraha.

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