Plácido
Domingo Stars as Bajazet in LA Opera's Company Premiere of Handel’s
Tamerlano November
21 - December 1, 2024
Countenor Bejun Mehta sings the title
role
Tenor and LA Opera General and Artistic Director Plácido Domingo makes a rare appearance in a baroque opera when he performs the role of Bajazet in LA Opera’s Company premiere of George Frideric Handel’s Tamerlano.
“Years ago, I was introduced to Tamerlano and to the part of Bajazet, one of Handel’s very few leading roles for the tenor voice,” said Mr. Domingo. “I found the story and the music absolutely compelling. I was thrilled to finally add this role to my repertoire in 2008." Domingo has performed the role in Madrid and in Washington, DC. It is the DC production that he brings to LA Opera.
Tamerlano is one of Handel’s rarely-performed works. It recounts the tale of the Turkish sultan, Bajazet, who has been defeated and taken prisoner by Tamerlano, the Tartar emperor. Bajazet would rather die than remain captive; only his great love for his daughter Asteria prevents him from taking his own life. Tamerlano, however, is in love with his prisoner’s daughter, who accepts his marriage proposal in order to take revenge by murdering him on their wedding night. The riveting tale of enslavement, infidelity and suicide unfolds with tragic grandeur in a theatrically vital modern-dress interpretation.
Countertenor Bejun Mehta sings the title role, returning to the Company after his 2001 debut as Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare. The cast also includes soprano Sarah Coburn as Bajazet’s daughter Asteria, mezzo-soprano Patricia Bardon as Andronico, mezzosoprano Jennifer Holloway as Irene and bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as Leone. William Lacey, making his LA Opera debut, will conduct a production directed by Chas Rader-Shieber, with scenery and costumes designed by David Zinn and lighting designed by Tony Award-winner Christopher Akerlind.
Tamerlano will run for a total of five performances from November 21 through
December 1, 2024 at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 North Grand Avenue,
Los Angeles CA, 90012.
Tickets: $20 to $260 on sale at the LA Opera Box Office,
online
or by phone at (213) 972-8001
Performances:
November 21, 2024 at 7:30pm
November 23 and 25 at 7:30pm
November 28 at 2:00pm (matinee)
December 1 at 7:30pm
Source: LA Opera
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