Sunday, January 18, 2:00 p.m.
Part of LA Opera’s Figaro Trilogy, this 20th century grand opera buffa, composed by Italian American John Corigliano, premiered in 1991 at the New York Metropolitan Opera. Trapped in the spirit world, the ghost of Marie Antoinette bitterly reflects on her final suffering. Her favorite playwright tries to entertain the melancholy queen with the continuing adventures of his beloved characters from The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. But sneaky Figaro refuses to play by the script, breaking free from the opera-within-the-opera in a surprise bid for a better life. Extravagantly scaled, gloriously tuneful, supremely touching and yet uproariously entertaining, The Ghosts of Versailles turns history on its head as love attempts to alter the course of destiny. The LA Opera production will be presented in English with projected English captions.
Crowell Library’s favorite LA Opera Community Educator DIANE BELTOYA will present a free audio-visual presentation on this dazzling opera Sunday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library’s Barth Community Room. Light refreshments will be served. Diane is a native of Los Angeles and has studied Classical voice for ten years. She is currently in Pasadena City College's Jazz Vocal program.
Opera is not just magnificent music, dance and theater with astounding sets on a beautiful stage. An opera can sweep you away to foreign lands, take you back in time, dazzle you with pageantry and bring history to life. It is literature, social studies, cultural diversity, multiple languages and most of all, it is exciting! Come explore the world of opera through LA Opera’s education programs. Opera has something for everyone. The program is free and open to all opera aficionados and first timers.
