Blog
November 11, 2024
Our Thanks to You
November 28 brings us one of the most beloved American holidays, Thanksgiving. We certainly can’t wait to sit around the table with our loved ones to break the wishbone (and then feast on leftovers for the whole week afterward). But before we gather together with friends and family to share our gratitude, we wanted to send our first thanks to you, our audience. Without you, we wouldn’t be able to put on wonderful shows each season, because it’s through your ticket purchases and donations that we’re able to fund our grand scale productions.
We don’t take your dedication to the arts for granted. Just about every arts organization feared for its post-Covid future and even to this day the ramifications of the virus are still felt. But even during these scary times, you’ve been a beacon of hope as you returned to fill the opera house for classics like Madame Butterfly and Turandot, bold new works like Omar and El último sueño de Frida y Diego, and Off Grand productions like our recent concerts with Benjamin Bernheim and Les Talens Lyriques.
Beyond that, thousands of you, including opera lovers like Betty and Nick Juárez, have made generous donations to help ensure the future of grand opera in Los Angeles. As a nonprofit organization, LA Opera relies on philanthropic support. Each performance employs hundreds of people from musicians to carpenters. Plus, there are sets, costumes, wigs, makeup, and more. Many are surprised to learn that ticket sales cover less than half those costs. It's expensive, but you make it possible through your contributions and membership in the Friends of LA Opera, Patrons of LA Opera, and Opera Council.
On top of your attendance at our shows and the generous donations you’ve made, we’ve also appreciated how much engagement you’ve given us online, including your lively comments on our social media posts. Thanks to your follows and your sharing of our content, LA Opera has become the second most followed opera company in the country. On top of offering world class opera, we’re committed to engaging with you on social media through our fun and lighthearted content.
Let us also take this time to give thanks to everyone who has participated in our Connects programs. From singers participating in our ensemble to families enjoying the wonders of opera together to audiences that joined us for our lectures and workshops, we’re incredibly thankful for the time you’ve given us. Connecting with the Los Angeles community is vital to us, and we look forward to another wonderful year with you.
It has truly been a wonderful year for us, and we’re beyond excited to enter 2025 with even more amazing performances to show you. Whatever the coming year may bring, we know that the best audience in the world has got our backs.