Happy National Opera Day! It's an occasion to commemorate the heritage and enchanting allure of opera a truly captivating art form that has evolved throughout the centuries. Whether you're an opera enthusiast or new, to this world there are ways to engage in the festivities.

Here are some suggestions to make the most out of National Opera Day;

1. Indulge in Your Favorite Operas; Immerse yourself in the realm of opera by listening to your productions. Let the music transport you as you experience arias by Verdi, melodies by Puccini or intricate compositions by Mozart.

2. Attend an Virtual Performance; Check out opera performances or explore virtual options. Many opera houses now offer streaming services or recorded performances that can be enjoyed from the comfort of your home.

3. Host an Opera Inspired Gathering; Bring together friends and family for an opera themed celebration. Encourage costumes, set arias as background music. Perhaps even have a sing along session for those feeling adventurous.

4. Delve into Opera History; Explore the origins and development of opera. The provided historical overview offers insights. You can further explore specific periods or composers that spark your curiosity.

5. Share Your Love on Social Media; Express your passion for opera by sharing posts, on media platforms.
Lets join the conversation by using the hashtags #nationaloperaday #pla #pacificlyricassociation. Share your moments from opera suggest must listen pieces or simply express your deep admiration, for this extraordinary art form.

6. Discover New Operas; If you're new to opera National Opera Day is an occasion to explore and find something. Delve into genres and styles. You might stumble upon a new favorite.

7. Trivia Night; Challenge your friends to a night with an opera twist. Put your knowledge to the test about operas, composers and significant historical events. It's a way to learn and share your passion.

8. Support Local Opera Houses; Consider attending a performance at your opera house or supporting them through donations. These establishments play a role in preserving the enchanting world of opera.​

Remember, National Opera Day is about celebrating the diversity and captivating beauty of this incredible art form. Whether you're singing along from home attending a performance or expressing your love, on social media platforms let the magic of opera fill every moment of your day!

Alexandra Keegan is a Romani-American conductor who grew up travelling with her family where music was a big part of daily life. At the age of three Alexandra started playing violin, and soon music became her passion, her life, and her professional career.
 
Today, Ms. Keegan holds the position of the Artistic Director and Conductor for the Pacific Lyric Association. Her past opera works with PLA include “Il Trovatore” (2017), “Tosca”(2018), “Die Fledermaus”(2019), “Romeo and Juliette”(2021), and “Carmen”(2022).
 
Alexandra holds a Doctoral Degree in Music, and make appearances as a free-lance orchestral and opera conductor in US and abroad.
 
“The complexity of opera attracted me long before I became a conductor. This genre is the most complex and most beautiful of all. It combines academically trained voices with unlimited colours of symphony orchestra, theater lights, costumes, set, makeup, and tells us wonderful stories.” said Ms. Keegan in her interview with San Diego Voyager.

Meet Reyes Barrios, Flamenco dancer in La Traviata.

The professional biography of Reyes Barrios is crossed like a destiny written in the stars by her personal life, her precedent and her determination. 

​Vibrant and Powerful in her approach to Flamenco, La Reyes teaches and performs throughout Southern California and Mexico.

Raised in Sevilla, Spain, she was always surrounded by the ambiance, an “Aire” of song and dance.  Her approach is steeped in Purism with a modern twist...

To be Flamenco is to have another skin. other passions, other desires.

It is a different way of seeing the world, with music in one’s nerves, a fierce pride, and happiness mingled with tears; it is a loathing of routine and sameness; it is to be intoxicated in song, wine and kisses. 

It is the translation of life into an art of caprices and freedom.

The great opera LA TRAVIATA will be presented by Pacific Lyric Association Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 20-22 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido.

LA TRAVIATA is a masterpiece written by Verdi, set in the luxurious party scene of 19th-century Paris and encompasses forbidden love, jealousy and loss. It is based on the play and book “La Dame aux camélias” (1852) by Alexander Dumas fils and has some of the most beautiful and dramatic music ever composed for the operatic stage. Famous pieces include "Libiamo", "Sempre libera" and Verdi’s heartbreaking duet "Pura siccome un angelo".

La Traviata means “The lost one” and refers to Violetta Valéry, a beautiful courtesan who after a year of sickness decides to throw a lavish party to celebrate her recovery. She is introduced to the young admirer Alfredo Germont who is one of the few who came to visit her at the hospital. However, as their romantic relationship evolves Violetta’s impure past comes to haunt her with the visit of Alfredo’s father Giorgio Germont.

Starring sopranos Emma Berggren and Yewon Ella Yoon as Violetta, tenors Gerardo Gaytan and Felipe Prado as Alfredo, baritones Carlos Oliva and Michael Sokol as Germont; the cast also includes Hiroko Yoshinaga and Kelsey Fahy as Flora, Jack Adkins and Shawn Taylor as Gastone de Letorieres, Thomas Lokensgard as Barone Douphol, Sara Frondoni and Lily Berthold as Annina, Stephen Blavet as Machese d’Obigny, Bryan Dahl as Dottore Grenvil and Robert Sheaffer as Giuseppe.

The opera is directed by Gabriel Reoyo Pazos and conducted by Alexandra Keegan.

Pacific Lyric Association is a Southern California opera company that presents fully-staged operas with orchestra, accessibly priced to the general public.

The signature format of the opera productions includes a spoken narrative in English before each large scene performed by a professional actor.

Pacific Lyric Association also has educational programs such as Opera Education, Opera Internship Program and Youth Symphony to provide extra support and professional training to upcoming young artists and opera industry professionals.

​Meet Thomas Lokensgard (bass-baritone), Thomas played Mr. Kofner in AVA’s production of “The Consul.”
Most recently, he played Sciarrone in AVA’s production of “Tosca.”

Mostly working in San Diego, Thomas regularly performs with the chamber choir SACRA/PROFANA, and will be debuting as Barone Duophol in Pacific Lyric Association’s production of “La Traviata” in the role of Baron

Meet Mezzo Hiroko Yoshinaga playing the role of Flora in the Pacific Lyric Association production of La Traviata October 20, 21 and 22 2023 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido

Originally from Japan, Hiroko sang with Pacific Lyric Opera Association (Flora from La Traviata 2016, cover Azucena in Il Trovatore), Vineyard Touring Opera Company (Mother and Sandman from Handel and Gretel, Maddalena from Rigoletto), Los Angeles Opera (with Placido Domingo, Kento Nagano, and Valery Gergiev), San Diego Opera, Opera San Jose, San Diego Lyric Opera, Bellflower symphony(Carmen), SFCM Opera Theatre (Poppea from L'incoronazione di Poppea, Mother Marie from Dialogues of the Carmelites), SDSU Opera Theatre(Cherubino from Marriage of Figaro, Nicklausse from Les contes d'Hoffmann), Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute (Madame Butterfly, Donna Elvira from Don Giovanni). 

She is the Alto soloist at Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Church.

During summer, she has been performing Masterworks at St Stephen in Vienna, Austria with Gerald Wirth, and concerts in Europe and Japan with 10 different languages. 

She is a recipient winner of many scholarships and grants, which enable her to study and perform in the United States and Europe. 

​She received a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University and Master of Music from San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

She participated American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria.

She received the most inspirational people of the world award from SIMA Global Awards 2022 London England.

She received Gold at The American President's Volunteer Service Award 2021.

She also received Certificates of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly, the State of California Senate, the county of Riverside, and the county of Los Angeles.  

She sang and appeared on Serbian TV, and Pink Lady talk show TV in Los Angeles. She has been invited to sing at charity events of Bill Walton, Jane Seymore, Sony Co., Luciano Pavarotti Farewell Concert in San Diego, California International Music and Arts Festivals in Poway, and more.

Hiroko is a recipient of the Steinway Top Teacher Award from Steinways & Sons New York in 2021 and 2022. 

Meet San Diego based Soprano Sara Frondoni, making her debut with Pacific Lyric Association singing the role of Annina.

She’s performed in operas, musicals, and choral groups across California. Ms Frondoni graduated from the USC’s Thornton School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance.

She currently sings in the San Francisco Symphony Chorus and will be joining the San Diego Symphony Festival Chorus in 2024.

Opera Highlights: Citizen, Dialogues of the Carmelites (USC Thornton Opera); 2nd Spirit, The Magic Flute (International Lyric Academy in Italy); Ensemble/Featured Soloist, Candide (San Diego Lyric Opera)

Musical Theater Highlights: Maria Rainer, Sound of Music (Temecula Performing Arts Company); Sarah Brown, Guys and Dolls (Star Theater Company); Lilli Vanessi, Kiss Me Kate (La Costa Canyon High School); Rosie Alverez, Bye Bye Birdie (Star Theater Company)

La Traviata, Oct 20, 21 and 22 2023 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, CA
Buy your tickets here: www.pacificlyricassociation.org/pla-traviata2023.html

​

Meet Steven Blavet playing Marquis in the Pacific Lyric Association production of La Traviata October 20, 21 and 22 2023 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido

Stephen Blavet is a local Baritone and has been singing with PLA productions since 2013. After attending Mannes School of Music and New England Conservatory he returned to San Diego singing chorus and eventually playing characters such as Sacristano, Mercutio, Bob, and Dancaire. ​

Meet Tenor Jack H. Adkins playing Gaston in La Traviata.

Jack recently returned to his hometown of San Diego from Bloomington, Indiana where he trained for his Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.

Jack was cast as Don Curzio & Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Lyric Opera Studio Weimar in Germany, singing with both advanced students and a few professionals.

As a bonus, he was invited to perform 3 gala concerts with a professional orchestra, Thüringer Symphoniker Saalfeld-Rudolstadt in beautiful settings including a historic castle and a monastery built in 1250!

Prior to graduate school, Jack earned his Bachelor of Music from Sonoma State University where he was active in opera, jazz and musical theatre, including singing the lead role in Candide and was the soloist for their award-winning Jazz Orchestra.

Most recently, Jack was seen in Opera Neo’s production of Le Nozze di Figaro earlier this year in Balboa Park

La Traviata, Oct 19, 20 and 21 2023 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido, CA
Buy your tickets here: www.pacificlyricassociation.org/pla-traviata2023.html