LA Opera Podcasts: Behind the Curtain

Today's episode of the podcast brings contemporary art downstage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion as we unveil the many inspirations—both artistic and scientific—behind LA Opera's jaw-dropping new curtain! This 70-foot commissioned curtain is the vision of artist and author Enrique Martínez Celaya, who joins us today on the podcast. Alongside Enrique is Christina Nielsen, Director of the Art Museum at The Huntington Library, who discusses the impact of the curtain and the importance of Celaya's work. See the new curtain unfold in person when you visit your opera house, with tickets to LA Opera's 2026/27 season, available now at LAOpera.org.

On today's episode of "Behind the Curtain," soaring Tunisian-Canadian soprano Rihab Chaieb reveals her surprising musical past, shares about the hustle it takes to become an opera star, and spills the secrets of "Carmen," our season opening production. To her, Carmen is an unwavering beacon of freedom who aches to be loved for the right reasons, and collaborating on this world premiere has opened up a plethora of creative questions. It's a joyfully multilingual episode of "Behind the Curtain" that will have francophiles smiling and opera fans singing along. Get your tickets to "Carmen" now at LAOpera.org.

This Halloween, LA Opera is thrilled to present "Hercules vs. Vampires" on October 30 and 31 at The United Theater in Downtown Los Angeles. In this episode, we talk to the composer of "Hercules vs. Vampires," Patrick Morganelli, about this high art meets high camp movie experience. Patrick has roots in some of LA's finest music schools and has worked in a fascinating variety of media, so grab your pumpkin spice lattes, start picking out your costume, and listen in as he shares the process of adapting a film into an orchestral score. Then get your tickets to this campy, vampy cult classic at LAOpera.org.

Today's episode is part of our Arts and Health Series, which highlights the benefits of the arts on wellness. Listen in as we're joined by a distinguished panel including world-renowned artist and advocate and LA Opera Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming, neuroscientist and musician Dr. Indre Viskontas, Founder and CEO of Social RX Chris Appleton, and moderator Michael J. Bobbitt, President and CEO of OPERA America. Join us as they extol the value of the arts in bringing meaning to life, and as they expand the definition of health to be characterized not simply by the absence of disease, but by the presence of meaning. Arts and health is a fertile field of exploration, and LA Opera is proud to be at the forefront of this movement. Visit LAOpera.org/Wellness for the latest discoveries on our resources.

In today's episode, LA Opera Connects Vice President Dr. Andréa Fuentes dives into the discourse around "Carmen" with LA Opera affiliated scholar Dr. Kristi Brown-Montesano. They talk about the cultural, social, and political reverberations of "Carmen"—what's controversial, what's dynamic, and what resonance the opera holds for us today. Consider complexities you may or may not have examined in a whole new light, and get your tickets to our world premiere production at LAOpera.org/Carmen, playing October 17 through November 7. We can't wait to see you there.