Pauline Adamek
Los Angeles Opera has unveiled its 2026–27 season, marking a new chapter for the company as it welcomes Domingo Hindoyan as its incoming Richard Seaver Music Director following the retirement of James Conlon after the conclusion of the 2025–26 season. The glamorous slate of productions blends beloved repertoire, star casting, and creative partnerships. Mainstage performances are planned for the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in downtown Los Angeles, along with Off Grand presentations, recitals, and community-focused performances.
Remaining performances of the 2025/2026 Opera Season include:
- February 28, 2026
- March 8, 2026 (matinee)
- March 11, 2026
- March 14, 2026
- March 19, 2026
- March 22, 2026 (matinee)
Falstaff (Verdi)
- April 18, 2026
- April 26, 2026 (matinee)
- April 30, 2026
- May 2, 2026
- May 6, 2026
- May 10, 2026 (matinee)
The Magic Flute (Die Zauberflöte) (Mozart)
- May 30, 2026
- June 6, 2026
- June 11, 2026
- June 14, 2026 (matinee)
- June 17, 2026
- June 21, 2026 (matinee)
LA Opera’s Season 2026/27
The new season opens on October 17, 2026 with a new production of Bizet’s Carmen, conducted by Hindoyan in his inaugural season. The production, directed and designed by Thaddeus Strassberger, stars Rihab Chaieb as the title character opposite Joshua Guerrero as Don José, Kathleen O’Mara, and Liam James Karai in key roles. The staging aims to immerse audiences in the score’s Spanish influences and dramatic intensity.
Following Carmen, Leonard Bernstein’s Candide runs from November 21 to December 13, 2026. Resident conductor Lina González-Granados leads the Francesca Zambello staging, featuring Duke Kim in the title role, Deanna Breiwick as Cunegonde, and Patti LuPone as the Old Lady. The operetta’s blend of satire, operatic virtuosity, and theatrical wit and humor provides a lighter counterbalance within the season.
The season resumes in early 2027 with Verdi’s Nabucco, performed February 27 through March 21, 2027. Hindoyan returns to the podium for this revival of Strassberger’s production, which depicts political drama and personal turmoil in ancient Babylon. The cast includes Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar in his U.S. debut as the title role, with Angela Meade as Abigaille and Stephano Park as Zaccaria.
In spring 2027, Puccini’s grand opera Turandot takes the stage from April 17 through May 9, 2027. This production returns with legendary artist David Hockney’s iconic set designs, and stars Ewa Płonka as the icy princess, joined by Arsen Soghomonyan and Juliana Grigoryan in principal roles. Die-hard fans of Puccini’s soaring score and dramatic spectacle will find much to admire.
The season closes with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, performed May 29 through June 20, 2027 under the baton of Conductor Laureate James Conlon. The comic classic features Michael Sumuel as Figaro, Sydney Mancasola as Susanna, and Lucas Meachem and Jarrett Ott sharing the role of Count Almaviva, alongside a supporting ensemble in James Gray’s lavish period production with costumes by Christian Lacroix.
In addition to the mainstage offerings, LA Opera’s broader season includes Off Grand presentations, recitals, and community-focused performances under initiatives like LA Opera Connects, creating a varied and ambitious season that seeks to serve both longtime opera patrons and new audiences.
The 2026–27 season represents both continuity and renewal for the company: it preserves a strong foundation of beloved classics while celebrating the transition to new artistic leadership and delivering a variety of staging and musical experiences across the year.
Go here to purchase 2026/27 Season Packages.
LA Opera 2026–27 MAINSTAGE OPERAS (at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion):
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Carmen: October 17 – November 7, 2026
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Candide: November 21 – December 13, 2026
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Nabucco: February 27 – March 21, 2027
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Turandot: April 17 – May 9, 2027
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The Marriage of Figaro: May 29 – June 20, 2027
LA OPERA OFF GRAND & SPECIAL EVENTS:
Hercules vs Vampires (film/opera hybrid)
- October 30, 31, 2026
Les Talens Lyriques: Baroque program (Monteverdi & Cavalli)
- March 2, 2027
Jamie Barton recital
- November 15, 2026
Erin Morley & Lawrence Brownlee recital
- Date announced in season details (2026–27) — specific day typically published on LA Opera site closer to event; season announcement confirms this recital as part of Off Grand offerings.
CONNECTS / COMMUNITY PERFORMANCE
The Three Women of Jerusalem (Las tres mujeres de Jerusalén) – Community Opera at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
- May 1, 2027 (two performances)
