LA Opera to Stage Mozart's ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO This Winter

General Director Plácido Domingo announced that LA Opera's next production-Mozart's sparkling comedy The Abduction from the Seraglio, conducted by Music Director James Conlon-will take audiences on a delightful journey aboard the fabled Orient Express, thanks to a cleverly updated staging by director James Robinson.

"The Abduction from the Seraglio is one of opera's most popular comedies, but it has somehow been absent from our stage for more than two decades," said Mr. Domingo. "I am happy to rectify that situation by bringing this wonderful work back to our repertoire with an absolutely top-notch cast. I'm especially looking forward to hearing Mozart's brilliant score under the baton of James Conlon, our music director, whose mastery of Mozartean repertoire is already well known to our audiences."

Updated to the Roaring Twenties, a riotous staging by director James Robinson marries the brilliance of Mozart's comic gem with the flair of a classic Hollywood comedy. En route from Istanbul to Paris, two beautiful damsels in distress are held captive aboard the luxurious Orient Express by a notorious Ottoman royal. It's up to their faithful lovers to rescue them before it's too late!

There will be six performances of The Abduction from the Seraglio presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, 90012):

• Saturday, January 28, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Saturday, February 4, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, February 12, 2017, at 2pm
• Thursday, February 16, 2017, at 7:30pm
• Sunday, February 19, 2017, at 2pm

The leading romantic roles of Konstanze and Belmonte will be performed by two artists making their debut appearances with LA Opera: soprano Sally Matthews and tenor Joel Prieto. Two alumni of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program are featured as their feisty servants: soprano So Young Park as Blonde and tenor Brenton Ryan as Pedrillo. Bass Morris Robinson, whose distinguished LA Opera appearances include Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Oroveso in Norma and Fasolt in Das Rheingold, returns as the delightfully evil Osmin.

Director James Robinson's "Orient Express" staging has been presented to acclaim at opera companies throughout the United States and at the Welsh National Opera. The scenery is designed by Allen Moyer and the costumes are designed by Anna Oliver. Paul Palazzo is the lighting designer, and Grant Gershon is the chorus director.

Tickets are on sale now. Tickets begin 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 LAOpera.org. For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org. For additional information, visit LAOpera.org/Abduction.

LA Opera is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.

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