My Journey Through The Music Center dorothy chandler pavilion

Opera, the Greatest Show on Earth

The Los Angeles Opera is one of the largest and finest opera companies in the United States. Opera is one of the most thrilling live shows you can see … and hear … and feel.

Opera tells passionate stories about the human experience – such as good fighting evil, or the trials and tribulations of love and romance. Opera tells these stories with colorful costumes, big dramatic sets and powerful voices that can shake the rafters. No other art form combines so many different talents – singing, acting, costume design, lighting, set design, instruments, movement and even dance - into one amazing spectacle.

Unlike today’s rock and rap stars, operatic singers’ voices are so thunderous and powerful they do not need microphones to be heard. It takes years of training in classical voice to become an opera singer.

The sets, lighting and backdrops are just as colorful and incredible as the performances. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion can hang 117 separate backdrops. How many are actually used in a performance? Madam Butterfly used 100.

Opera began in Italy in the early 1600s. Many famous operas were not written in English. Most were written in Italian, French or German. The Los Angeles Opera feels it is important to perform each opera in the original language because the beautiful sound of the words as they are sung is just as important as what the words actually mean. But don’t worry; the English translation is always clearly shown above the stage for you to read. They call the projected words “supertitles”.

Opera is a super spectacular experience for you to see, hear and enjoy at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Watch an Opera Performance

Fun Fact

Kick boxing opera? Peking Opera is a Chinese musical art form that combines music, speaking, singing, acrobatics and martial arts!