ARIA’s Opening Night Festivities at LA Opera: From Russia With Love

All text and Photography © 2011

By Leticia Marie Sanchez

At LA Opera’s ARIA’s White Night party, chaired by actress and singer-songwriter Emmy Rossum a vivacious fur-capped hostess floated around the dance floor bearing divine desserts. As James Bond would say, from Russia With Love.

The Maestro himself, Placido Domingo, appeared at the ARIA party to introduce the talented artists

behind the production of Eugene Onegin including:conductor James Conlon,Stage Director Francesca Gilpin, and Lighting Designer Peter Mumford. 

Additionally, the party goers met the stars of Eugene Onegin including: Dalibor Jenis (Eugene Onegin), Oksana Dyka (Tatiana), Vsevolod Grinov (Lensky), Ekaterina Semenchuk (Olga), James Creswell (Prince Germin), Ronnita Nicole Miller (Filipievna), and Keith Jameson (Monsieur Triquet).

The Über-talented Oksana Dyka (third from Left, below) whose performance as Tatiana brought down the opera house with multiple standing ovations earlier in the evening, spontaneously jumped on stage during the Aria after–party and began to groove to 70’s rock.

One did not want the magical night to end. Never fear,Aria Nights at the Opera will continue this season with Roméo et Juliette on November 12, Simon Boccanegra on February 11, and La Bohème on May 12th.

For more information on ARIA, please visit:

http://www.losangelesopera.com/community/youngpro.aspx

Until then, keep your cultural cocktail glasses filled with bel canto, vibrati, and coloratura!

Leticia Marie Sanchez

Editor-in-Chief 

Cultural Cocktail Hour  

Reporting from LA Opera’s Opening Night: Saturday September 17th