On October 7, 1986, we opened our doors for the first time, bringing opera to Los Angeles with a live performance of Otello.  

35 years to the day later, we’re celebrating this remarkable birthday with an equally-as-remarkable announcement. Renée Fleming, one of the greatest opera singers of our time, will be joining our team as Advisor for Special Projects through the end of the 2023/24 season.  

In this new role, the reigning “people’s diva” will grace our stage at least once per season, starting with Kevin Puts’ The Brightness of Light in 2022. Renée will also focus her residency on a topic that’s near and dear to her heart (and ours): the connections between music and health. This expands on her previous work in Los Angeles including her 2018 and 2019 presentations of Music and the Mind, co-presented by us and multiple community healthcare partners. You won’t even have to wait too long to see these efforts come to fruition. We’re spearheading “Los Angeles Arts and Health Week” alongside Renée this June. She’ll host and moderate a to-be-announced event at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. 

“I am so excited to have this productive new role at LA Opera,” she said. “In addition to furthering collaborations with the vibrant healthcare and research communities in Los Angeles, I look forward to being part of an exceptionally creative opera company, with a unique place in an entertainment capital of the world.” 

We’re so excited to have the incomparable Renée Fleming as part of our team after decades of having her on our stage.