Our season announcement always inspires excitement about casting, but things can change between announcement and season opening. A notable addition to the roster since the original season announcement on February 3, 2024, Kitty McNamee will make her company debut as director with Romeo and Juliet, for which she will also return as choreographer. To date, she has been the choreographer of 14 LA Opera productions of eight different operas including, most recently, Turandot. She was the choreographer of the company's previous presentations of   Romeo and Juliet in 2005 and 2011.

Additionally, Shawna Lucey will now direct Così   fan tutte. The production was created by director Michael Cavanagh, who passed away earlier this year. She made her LA Opera debut last season, directing her acclaimed production of   La Traviata.

Among the newly announced artists appearing in principal roles, mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel (Highway 1, USA and Fire and Blue Sky) will return as Gertrude in  Romeo and Juliet. Bass Wei Wu will appear as the Bonze in Madame Butterfly in addition to his previously announced return as Friar Laurence in  Romeo and Juliet. Debuting artists include mezzo-soprano Laura Krumm as Stephano in Romeo and Juliet, flamenco singer Alfredo Tejada as Ruiz Alonso in Ainadamar and baritone Blake Denson as Count Monterone in Rigoletto. Throughout the season, members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program will also appear in important roles.

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