Press Releases & Statements

August 14, 2023

LA Opera presents free live simulcast of Don Giovanni on September 23

High-definition broadcast will be transmitted free of charge, live from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, to audiences at La Mirada Community Regional Park and at the Santa Monica Pier

(Los Angeles) August 14, 2023 — LA Opera will present a live simulcast of its opening night of   Don Giovanni for audiences at two outdoor locations. At 6pm on Saturday, September 23, 2023, LA Opera's production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's thrilling masterpiece will be transmitted live in high-definition video from nine cameras at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to large LED screens at La Mirada Community Regional Park and the Santa Monica Pier.

Music Director James Conlon will conduct the stunning multimedia production, staged by director Kasper Holten. Lucas Meachem, one of LA Opera's favorite baritones, will star in the title role.

Through the generous support of Los Angeles County, LA Opera is able to present these simulcasts free of charge as a special gift to the community.

Don Giovanni will mark the tenth "Opera at the Beach" simulcast to the Santa Monica Pier. This will be the first time that LA Opera's annual live simulcast will be experienced by audiences in La Mirada, where "Opera in the Park" will take place at La Mirada Community Regional Park.

Since    Don Giovanni is sung in Italian, the simulcasts will feature subtitles in both English and Spanish.

"Bring your friends, a blanket and picnic out to the Santa Monica Pier for a special night under the stars with the LA Opera for   Don Giovanni," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath, who represents the Third District where the Santa Monica Pier is located. "The simulcast brings the magic of the live performance to the beach, connecting more LA County communities to the power of opera. Our office is thrilled to be part of this beloved Third District tradition and unique LA experience."

“LA County is one of the creative capitals of the world, and our cultural assets should be accessible to all residents no matter where they live,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents Los Angeles County’s Fourth District where La Mirada is located. “I am partnering with the LA Opera to bring this event to the heart of La Mirada at one of our great LA County parks. I hope residents take full advantage of this opportunity and bring their family and friends to enjoy it too.”

Although no tickets are required for entrance, guests are encouraged to sign up in advance at   LAOpera.org/OperaAtTheBeach or LAOpera.org/OperaInThePark to get important information about parking and the latest updates, and to receive a free gift at the event.

Seating at both locations is general admission. Attendees are advised to bring their own seating and to arrive early both for pre-performance picnicking and to secure the best viewing areas. There will be arts and crafts activities for families to enjoy before the simulcast begins. Outside alcoholic beverages are not allowed. Pets are not allowed.

Opera in the Park—La Mirada Community Regional Park
For detailed information about the La Mirada simulcast, please visit LAOpera.org/OperaInThePark. The park is located at 13701 S. Adelfa Ave., La Mirada, CA 90638. Free parking is available in the park's lot.

Opera at the Beach—Santa Monica Pier
For detailed information about the Santa Monica Pier simulcast, please visit LAOpera.org/OperaAtTheBeach. Gates will open at 4:30pm and there will be a beer garden. The Santa Monica Pier is located at the western terminus of Colorado Avenue. Parking information can be found at SantaMonica.com/transportation/parking. Attendees can arrive by public transit, exiting the Metro Expo Line at the downtown Santa Monica station.

For more information about the Santa Monica Pier, please visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

About the Opera
In the heat of the moment, the notorious Don Giovanni (aka Don Juan) murders the father of one of his conquests, unwittingly unleashing an ominous force from beyond the grave that can’t be stopped. Accustomed to getting away with anything and everything, he must now face the music as years of cruelty and debauchery come due.

Grammy Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem returns as the ill-fated playboy, leading a dazzling ensemble of singers including Isabel Leonard in her mainstage company debut as Donna Elvira. James Conlon, renowned for his astonishing command of Mozart, conducts what many consider to be the greatest of all operas in a visually spectacular production by director Kasper Holten, with scenery by stage designer extraordinaire Es Devlin, known for innovative stage designs for Beyoncé, Adele, U2 and others.

About LA Opera
Los Angeles is a city of enormous diversity and creativity, and LA Opera is dedicated to reflecting that vibrancy by redefining what opera can be. Through imaginative new productions, world premiere commissions, and inventive performances that preserve foundational works while making them feel fresh and compelling, LA Opera has become one of America’s most exciting and ambitious opera companies.

In addition to its mainstage performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the company explores unusual repertoire each season through the LA Opera Off Grand initiative, featuring performances in a variety of venues throughout Los Angeles. The LA Opera Connects initiative offers a robust variety of educational programming and community engagement offerings that reaches people throughout every corner of Los Angeles County. The company also offers a multitude of online content via its LA Opera On Now digital offerings, which launched in 2020. Learn more at LAOpera.org.

LA Opera Media Contact
Marlene Meraz
Director of Communications
mmeraz@laopera.org
213.972.7554

LA Opera's production of Don Giovanni made possible by generous support from
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg
The Blue Ribbon
The Carol and Warner Henry Production Fund for Mozart Operas
Alfred and Claude Mann Fund

With special appreciation to
Régina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten

Isabel Leonard’s appearance made possible by generous support from
The Eva and Marc Stern Principal Artists Fund

LA Opera’s Opera at the Beach made possible with generous support from
Los Angeles County and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath

LA Opera’s Opera in the Park made possible with generous support from
Los Angeles County and Supervisor Janice Hahn

LA Opera Orchestra generously underwritten by
Terri and Jerry Kohl

LA Opera is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the greater Los Angeles community.