Calendar   |   | My Account  |   Shopping Cart  
Cannot access this performance because it occurred in the past: 3/26/22, 7:30 PM.
The selected performance is NOT available for sale.
Please Select Tickets
You have selected:
Pacific Opera Project Presents
Iolanta
By Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Saturday, March 26, 2022 at 7:30PM

Aratani America Theatre
244 S. San Pedro Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012


IOLANTA
An opera by Pyotr Tchaikovsky

March 20 (Opening) @3:00pm.
March 26 @ 7:30pm
March 27 @3:00pm

Sung in Russian with projected English translation
90 minute runtime without intermission
32 piece orchestra

Director: Josh Shaw
Conductor: Isaac Selya
Assist. Conductor: Kseniia Polstiankina Barrad
Costumes: Maggie Green

Iolanta: Cristina Jones
King Rene: Andrew Potter
Robert: Simon Barrad
Ibn-Hakia: Adam Cioffari
Martha: Megan Potter

Following the success of their 2018 bilingual production of Madama Butterfly, POP returns to the Aratani Theatre for a very special production of Tchaikovsky’s opera, Iolanta. Part of POP’s Fairytale Season, this will be the Los Angeles staged premiere of this rarely performed opera which debuted in Saint Petersburg in 1892 as part of a double bill with Tchaikovsky’s most famous work, The Nutcracker. Cristina Jones, AKA “The Blind Soprano”, stars in the opera’s title role about a princess who is unaware that she is blind. The cast also includes POP favorites Andrew and Megan Potter as King René and Martha and Adam Cioffari as Ibn-Hakia. POP will partner with low-sight organizations for this production to encourage awareness and to amplify their efforts. Special arrangements will also be made for low-sighted audience members, including braille programs. Iolanta will be POP’s first opera presented in Russian and will feature a 32-piece orchestra conducted by Isaac Selya. 

Synopsis:

Blind from birth, Iolanta has grown up in an enclosed garden near the castle of her father, King Rene. The king has managed to keep Iolanta unaware of her blindness and her caretakers wait on her hand and foot; despite this, Iolanta cannot help but feel that she is missing something precious. Soon Iolanta is visited by the king, bringing with him Ibn-Hakia, a doctor who is confident he can restore Iolanta’s sight, but only if she is first made aware of her blindness. The king refuses this, fearing that failure would bring Iolanta great sorrow after learning that she cannot see. Soon the court is visited by Duke Robert, who is betrothed to Iolanta, and his friend, Count Vaudemont. Robert expresses his desire to be free from his engagement, as he has fallen in love with a countess. When Vaudemont finds his way to Iolanta’s garden, where he finds her sleeping, he falls in love with her; Robert leaves to bring Vaudemont assistance when he believes his friend has been enchanted by Iolanta. When the girl awakes, Vaudemont asks her to give him a red rose and, when she twice hands him a white rose, realizes that she is blind. The king soon discovers the lovers, and prepares to execute Vaudemont for not only entering the secret garden, but for sharing with Iolanta the knowledge of her blindness. To spare him from execution, Iolanta readies herself to undergo Ibn-Hakia’s treatment, although she is unsure if she even wants to be able to see or not. While the treatment happens, the king explains to Vaudemont in private that his fury was necessary for Iolanta to make a decision, and he dissolves the marriage contract between her and Duke Robert. Does the treatment work? You’ll have to come to this special production to find out.

Ticketing Sales
Reserved Seating
$12 - $60
Service & Handling Fee Applicable
All Sales are Final
No Refund or Exchanges
OPENING NIGHT (Sun.03.20)
"Premium $100 Tickets on Opening Night include a post-show reception with the cast"