Ana María Martínez: 80 Performances, Infinite Memories

Few things in life compare to the joy of seeing an old friend again-and that’s exactly how we feel welcoming Ana María Martínez back to our stage this season.

You might know her from her recent, hilarious turn as Despina in Così fan tutte, but did you know Martínez is the soprano with the most performances at LA Opera? That’s right-80 performances so far, in 11 different roles. And with her return in Ainadamar, that number is about to grow even more.

To celebrate this achievement and her remarkable season with us, we had the pleasure of sitting down with the soprano to ask her some questions about her career and memories at LA Opera.

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Things to Know LAO: Rehearsals

As the curtain rises and the lights dim, what the audience sees is magic-seamless, stirring, alive. But behind that magic lies a grind: four weeks of rehearsals, every moment honed, every detail sweated over, long before the first note is sung on stage.

In anticipation of Ainadamar's arrival on our main stage, we sat down with Production Stage Manager Whitney McAnally to uncover the journey from an empty rehearsal hall to a vivid recreation of 1930s Spain. Listen as she reveals how opera is built-not just with talent, but with time, trust, and tireless effort.

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A Full Circle Moment at LAO

There are moments when the present folds itself into the past, and we find ourselves suspended somewhere between what we do and why we began doing it in the first place. Carolina Angulo, who has spent nearly two decades behind the curtain at LA Opera, recently watched her daughter step into the very spotlight she helped shape. And with that, the ordinary became luminous.

Click the link below to read Carolina’s beautiful story about watching her daughter follow in her footsteps, her career journey, and how she found a home here at LA Opera.

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Triple Your Impact

As a nonprofit, we rely on support from opera lovers like you.

Thanks to a generous matching gift challenge made by an anonymous donor, any donation you make by June 30 will unlock $2 in matching funds for every $1 donated up to $500,000.

That means your gift will TRIPLE in impact! Click the link below to donate now.

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Festival of Books

Join Connects and Classical KUSC at the LA Times Festival of Books on Saturday, April 26. The whole family can enjoy an interactive performance of arias, Spanish folk songs, and more. Plus, win prizes for answering classical music trivia, get hands on with the string instrument petting zoo, and even craft your own harp or opera helmet. Learn more at the link below.

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SD Opera: La Traviata

Next week is the perfect time for a San Diego getaway, especially if you’re ready to hear Verdi’s La traviata with amazing singers and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra.

With its emotionally charged music, memorable arias, and thrilling duets, La traviata remains one of the most beloved operas of all time. Click the link below to get tickets.

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