“A man is falsely lead to believe that his faithful wife is cheating on him. In a jealous rage, he strangles her. Afterwards, he finds out that he was lied to, that she was innocent. In despair, he stabs himself and dies kissing her.
No, this isn’t a story from some daytime talk show. It is from an opera called “Otello.” In fact, the movie version of the story, which is based on Shakespeare’s play, was just released starring Laurence Fishburne.
So if opera is interesting enough that it is made into movies and can compete with any soap opera, then why isn’t it more popular?
It has had a bad rap, some of it deserved, says Llewellyn Crain, director of community programs for LA Opera. For many years opera goes have thought of themselves as elite. It was thought to be only for the rich who could fly to New York and buy expensive tickets.
Opera is all around us
Things have changed though. Now there are many opera companies. In Los Angeles alone there are two, the Long Beach Opera and LA Opera. Opera shows are often broadcast on public television and radio. So now, you can see and hear an opera in the comfort of your own home (even though it’s not quite like being there).
Many of those who think that opera is not relevant to them have found instead that they can identify with the emotions of love, rejection, deceit, happiness, and depression expressed in the operas.
In fact, Crain says it makes perfect sense for teenagers to attend opera—who would understand those emotions better than teens?
Meshell Dillon, 17, has not only seen countless operas, she also has been in many. She calls opera an emotional roller coaster. “”I can laugh or cry,”” says Dillon, who also loves rock music. She said opera is “”a true inspiration to the soul and to life.””
‘It’s like I’m in another world’
“”It’s like I’m in another world,””says Jennifer Scholer-man, 17, who is also both an attendee and performer in operas. “”All troubles, worries, frustrations go away… It’s an experience you cannot judge unless you have seen it and heard it.””
Crain added that you no longer have to know the language the opera is sung in to understand it. With the invention of projectors, translations are now beamed across the top of the stage, so it’s just like watching a foreign film with subtitles.
Hispanics for LA Opera and African Americans for LA Opera are two organizations which are working to develop an opera audience in the Latino and black communities. Llewelyn Crain works with students and young people who wouldn’t normally consider going to the opera.
In fact, last year Crain bused in students to watch the American opera “Porgy and Bess” about a black couple (the man in a wheelchair) who struggle to exist together. Crain says the students loved the opera.
Crain even points to movies like “Moonstruck” and “Pretty Woman” where female characters enjoy seeing the opera with their boyfriends.
Crain also points to opera’s unique ability to cast without regard to race. The only thing taken into consideration is the singing and acting abilities. The result is Spanish tenor Placido Domingo playing a black man in “Otello,” and the black soprano Amria Ewing playing the lead role of the young Japanese girl in “Madama Butterfly.”
Crain said it’s only natural that teens attend operas. Not only can they identify with the emotions, but otherwise they would be cheating themselves out of an experience. And why wouldn’t they want to experience all that a rich cultural city like Los Angeles has to offer?
The current and upcoming operas in LA Opera’s season are “The Italian Girl in Algiers,” a comic opera where the girl rescues the guy; “Cosi fan tutte,” meaning “Women are like that;” “the Elixir of Love,” where a fake love potion helps a couple discover their love for each other; and “Madama Butterfly,” based on the same story as the musical “Miss Saigon.”
The tickets for the LA Opera shows cost $22-100. Why are they so expensive? Well, according to Crain, because operas cost anywhere from one to two million dollars each to put on.
Since rock concert tickets cost just as much, if not more, and teens still attend, the price of opera tickets shouldn’t discourage teenagers.
Go for student discount tickets
Nevertheless, opera companies realize that ticket costs are a financial burden, so many have student discount programs. LA Opera, for example, has student subscriptions. If you reserve tickets for at least three operas, then you can get them for only $20 each.
There is also the Student Rush service. All tickets left over one hour before the show are sold for $20 each to students 30 years or younger with a school ID. The tickets could be seats in the back of the auditorium or the best in the house.
For more information about LA Opera’s student discount programs or dates and times of shows, call (213) 972-8001. Groups of 15 or more can also get a 20 percent discount. Call (213) 972-7219 and ask for Dana Bain”