Pre Concert Lecture & Recital for The Ballad of Baby Doe
In anticipation for The Opera Buffs' June concert opera with orchestra, The Ballad of Baby Doe, the organization invites you to join them at the Ebell Theater to not only hear a sneak preview of some of the operas most beloved arias and duets but also learn about the opera from Buffs' music director, Brent McMunn, resident stage director, Michael Van Duzer and board president and scholar, David Gibb. Don't miss out on this fun evening filled with music, drink and a rich history on the classic "rags to riches" love story!
Event is free for June 9th ticket holders
General Admission: $25
Student tickets: $10
Concert Series @ Westwood Library
Sri Lankan tenor Emesh Wijewardena and New Zealand soprano Emily Scott team
up for an exciting program titled Viva l’Opera: A Grand Concert of Italian Masterpieces,
featuring favorites from operas such as La Traviata and La Bohème. Accompanied by
pianist Diane Ketchie. Co-sponsored by THE OPERA BUFFS INC.
WESTWOOD LIBRARY
1246 Glendon Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 474-1739
Admission is FREE, with FREE parking at the library.
The Ballad of Baby Doe
The Opera Buffs is thrilled to reinstate their seasonal Concert Opera with orchestra! On June 9th, we will present the American classic opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore, conducted by Brent McMunn, featuring Graycen Gardner as Baby Doe, Ben Lowe as Horace Taber, Audrey Babcock as Augusta Taber, Erin Wood as Mama McCourt, along with other Opera Buffs' singers.
A rags-to-riches love story about real-life characters in 19th-century Colorado, the opera’s simple expressions of human emotions and universal truths have inspired audiences around the world.
Also, don't miss our pre-concert lecture and recital on May 28th from 7:00-9:00 PM at the Ebell Theater. The event is free for June 9th ticket holders.
Tickets:
General Admission: $75
Opera Buffs Members: $45
Student Tickets: $10
All ticket prices include admission to our pre-concert lecture and recital on May 28th at The Ebell Theater.
Pop-up Opera with New Opera West
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration with LA based new music opera company, New Opera West. A non-profit dedicated to the promotion of new opera, New Opera West will present a “Pop-Up Opera” featuring six new mini-operas performed by Opera Buffs' singers.
From an opera about two young girls who travel back in time to meet famous female scientists to a comic opera with some cringy pick-up lines to an opera about making the best tacos in LA, these fabulous operas do not disappoint!
5 new mini-operas:
Las Auténticas
Ben Morris & Laura Fuentes
End of the line
Nathan Wasner & Alan Olejnicz
Galaxies in her eyes
Mark Weiser & Amy Punt
Friends house
Steven Crino & Joshua Schied
A Womb with a view
Beth Ratay & Rich Orloff
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM
Arrive around 7 PM and purchase a tamale and glass of wine/or beer!
Sunday, April 28, 2 PM
Enjoy lunch at Paper & Plastik cafe before the show. (Cafe attached to performance venue).
Tickets:
$17 General Admission
$12 Artist & Students
Pop-Up Opera with New Opera West
We are thrilled to announce an exciting new collaboration with LA based new music opera company, New Opera West. A non-profit dedicated to the promotion of new opera, New Opera West will present a “Pop-Up Opera” featuring six new mini-operas performed by Opera Buffs' singers.
From an opera about two young girls who travel back in time to meet famous female scientists to a comic opera with some cringy pick-up lines to an opera about making the best tacos in LA, these fabulous operas do not disappoint!
5 new mini-operas:
Las Auténticas
Ben Morris & Laura Fuentes
End of the line
Nathan Wasner & Alan Olejnicz
Galaxies in her eyes
Mark Weiser & Amy Punt
Friends house
Steven Crino & Joshua Schied
A Womb with a view
Beth Ratay & Rich Orloff
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM
Arrive around 7 PM and purchase a tamale and glass of wine/or beer!
Sunday, April 28, 2 PM
Enjoy lunch at Paper & Plastik cafe before the show. (Cafe attached to performance venue).
Tickets:
$17 General Admission
$12 Artist & Students
Spring Auditions
The Opera Buffs hosts their annual Spring Auditions to hear Southern CA singers perform for an opportunity to perform in our upcoming season, apply for grants and be heard by other local industry professionals. Interested singers, please apply HERE. Industry professionals and Opera Buffs members are invited to attend and watch these auditions. If you re interested in attending as a spectator, please RSVP by emailing our Auditions Chair, Mona Lands at monalands2@gmail.com.
The auditions will be held at The Estonian House.
1306 West 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Opera Buffs Membership Holiday Party-EVENT FULL!
On December the ninth of our 40th year
We transform tree and table with tradition's cheer.
All appetizing dishes from sea, earth and air
Season this feast with especial care.
Eggnog, suet pudding, Smyrna figs and soufflés
Nutted rice, cheeses, and grapes garnish these glad days.
Join us for music and laughter and a bit of sherry
For the successes of this year make us so very merry!
EVENT IS FULL!
No more RSVPs, but we hope to see you in the new year!
Competition Finals
The Opera Buffs Inc., in collaboration with Hispanics for LA Opera, is thrilled to present a new vocal competition specifically geared for young, classical vocalists in the Los Angeles Area. This competition aims to highlight the rich and vast Spanish art song repertoire along with traditional operatic repertoire.
Our 12 finalists will perform for our judges and audience members for a chance to win cash prizes.
Event is free, RSVP required.
Sundays at the Stowaway
Join the Opera Buffs for our Bi-monthly performance at The Stowaway, a mid-century cocktail lounge and piano bar in DTLA featuring both current and past grant recipients. These events are free to members, $10 for non-members and $5 for students.
Competition Preliminaries
The Opera Buffs Inc., in collaboration with Hispanics for LA Opera, is thrilled to present the “Artists of the Future, Estrellas del Mañana Competition,” specifically geared for young, classical vocalists, ages 16-22, in the Los Angeles Area. This competition aims to highlight the rich and vast Spanish art song repertoire along with traditional operatic repertoire.
Opera Buffs Members:
The preliminary auditions are free and open to Opera Buffs’ members. RSVP required.
Competition Applicants:
Our Auditions Coordinator, Mona Lands, will be in direct contact with you regarding scheduling for our Audition Preliminaries. A pianist will be provided (at no cost), but you are also welcome to bring your own.
The auditions will be held at The Estonian House
1306 West 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Fall Auditions
The Opera Buffs hosts their annual Fall Auditions to hear Southern CA singers perform for an opportunity to perform in our upcoming season, apply for grants and be heard by other local industry professionals. Interested singers, please apply HERE. Deadline to apply is October 4. Industry professionals and Opera Buffs members are invited to attend and watch these auditions. Please RSVP by emailing theoperabuffs@gmail.com.
The auditions will be held at The Estonian House.
1306 West 24th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Membership Party!
Join the Opera Buffs for our Opening Membership Party, at the private residence of long time Buffs member, Janet Ciriello in Hancock Park. There will be hors-d’oeuvres, wine provided by Michaels Santa Monica and a performance by Lindsay Martin, mezzo-soprano and Dominic Salvati, tenor. This event is free to Opera Buffs members, $75 for non-members. Please RSVP or purchase tickets at the link provided. We hope to see you there!
Masterclass with Lucas Meachem
The Opera Buffs is thrilled to sponsor a masterclass with Grammy® Award-winning baritone Lucas Meachem, one of the most accomplished and in-demand singers of the moment, and who is performing the title role in Don Giovanni at LA Opera this season. Meachem will select six vocalists from a competitive applicant pool and conduct a free and public masterclass at MiMoDa Studio in Los Angeles. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to see this amazing performer and pedagogue work with the local Los Angeles talent!
RVSP to attend HERE.
Singers, apply HERE.
Sundays at the Stowaway
Join the Opera Buffs at The Stowaway, an upscale piano bar and mid-century cocktail lounge in downtown Los Angeles, to hear the fabulous Julia Maria Johnson take on a musical journey in her entertaining program titled Cabaret Tunes: Old & New, including premieres by pianist and composer John-Micah Braswell who will accompanying Ms. Johnson on piano.
Buy a cocktail/mocktail at the bar, have bar snacks on us, and sit back and enjoy the concert!
To purchase tickets and learn more, please visit the link below.
Second Saturdays at the Westwood Library
The Opera Buffs is proud to co-sponsor this “Second Saturdays at the Westwood Library,” featuring Buffs alumna, Julia Maria Johnson.
Soprano, Julia Maria Johnson will lead you on a musical journey in her entertaining program titled Cabaret Tunes: Old & New, including premieres by pianist and composer John-Micah Braswell who will accompanying Ms. Johnson on piano.
Second Saturday Concerts take place upstairs in the alcove by the balcony while the library is open for regular business. Starting at 3 p.m., concerts will last approximately 90 minutes. The library is located at 1246 Glendon Ave., LA 90024, 310-474-1739. For ADA accommodations, please call 213-228-7430 at least 72 hours prior to the event.
This is a great opportunity to introduce your kids to live classical music and musicians in the casual, safe, familiar setting of our local library.
Sundays at the Stowaway
Come join us for an evening of drinks and opera at The Stowaway piano bar in DTLA! Grab a drink at the bar and enjoy three fabulous young artists perform classic opera arias and ensemble pieces!
Drinks not included with cover, lite bar snacks on us. Doors open at 5 PM, performance starts around 5:20 PM. 21+ only.
Performing Artists:
Ben Lowe, baritone
Brooke Iva Lohman, soprano
Dominic Salvati, tenor
Sky Lee, pianist
General Admission: $10
Students: $5
Opera Buffs members: free
Where:
The Stowaway
416 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013
A Summer Evening Garden Salon
In collaboration with Ambassador Gunther SLEEUWAGEN, Consul General of Belgium in Los Angeles, and Mme Rahel ZEWDIE-SLEEUWAGEN, The Opera Buffs would like to invite you to their private residence for a summer garden salon! Enjoy drinks, dinner and an outdoor concert featuring up and coming mezzo-soprano superstar, Tivoli Treolar and guest artists Arnold Geis, tenor and Opera Buffs Spring '23 Artists of the Future Competition winners.
Ticket price includes drinks, dinner and concert.
LOCATION: Private residence in Hancock Park, Los Angeles (address will be disclosed with purchased ticket).
Second Saturdays at the Westwood Library
The Opera Buffs is thrilled to partner with the Westwood Library's monthly music series. This month, Opera Buffs' alumnus, Xavier Prado will be performing a fascinating program titled Les Poèts (ThePoets), featuring works related to important poetic figures in art song.
When: Saturday, June 10, 3 PM
Where: Westwood Library
Admission is free, no RSVP required