Expensive Taste, Cheap Seats

• by University of La Verne
• October 12, 2012

Students, faculty and staff at the University of La Verne have one last weekend to enjoy “Don Giovanni” performed by the Los Angeles Opera for less than the cost of a movie ticket. “Don Giovanni” ends Sunday.

The Community Circle program started by the LA Opera had made it possible to purchase tickets for select performances for only $9.

“It’s good for all of us,” said Dr. Kathleen Lamkin, Professor of Music at La Verne. “I’ve been looking for more ways to get our students to LA Opera because they do amazing productions.”

The internationally recognized L.A. Opera first reached out to La Verne in 2009 for the Ring Festival.

La Verne was one of 115 institutions in the Los Angeles area that participated in the celebration of the first production of the entire Ring Cycle of Richard Wagner in L.A., which according to Lamkin, was a “major historic musical event.”

A series of events offered at various locations prepared audiences for the LA Opera performances of Richard Wagner’s “The Ring of the Nibelung” in May and June 2010 at the Music Center in L.A.

“Many of Los Angeles’s most prominent universities, museums, theaters, performing arts ensembles and a variety of other institutions were involved,” Lamkin said.

During the 2011-2012 academic year, as an extension of the Opera’s 25^th anniversary celebration, the LA Opera Domingo-Thornton Young Artists presented an abridged version of Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte” in the Ann & Steve Morgan Auditorium.

University Advancement was host of a dinner prior to the performance, where Director of Education and Community Programs, Stacy Brightman, and Assistant Director Garrett Collins, of LA Opera, were presented.

This year in addition to the LA Opera Community program, students from local community elementary schools will be invited to the La Verne Music Department’s adaption of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” titled “The Magic Dream,” on February 1.

Professors who want to give their students an opportunity to learn how an opera is run can book an Operawise opportunity through the LA Opera Web site: http://www.laopera.com/education/Secondary1/Operawise/

Students are given the chance to view a rehearsal and may also get to meet LA Opera staff members all for free.

La Verne’s relationship with the LA Opera continues to develop and this latest connection with Community Circle will allow those in the La Verne community to experience the opera at an affordable price.

“We are delighted about this Community Circle,” Lamkin said.

Brightman said that the $9 tickets are currently offered for the LA Opera production of Don Giovanni, but that they hope to offer the same opportunity again.

“The response from La Verne has been tremendous,” Brightman said.

To purchase a $9 ticket(s), visit https://ticketing.laopera.com/account/login.aspx and enter promo code 20696.

Once the login is complete and a performance date has been selected, please choose “Purchase Best Available Seating” at the top of the performance page.  Proceed through the ticket purchase process as instructed.

For more information on our Community Circle program visit www.LAOpera.com/CommunityCircle<http://www.LAOpera.com/CommunityCircle

— Story by Susan Acker

Related posts:

1. A Taste for Holland Days
2. When Haydn Came To America