NEWS AND LINKS: LA Opera offers new ticket deal for "Albert Herring"

By Robert D. Thomas
Music Critic
Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily News

Give LA Opera an “A” for effort when it comes to drumming up interest for its upcoming production of Albert Herring by Benjamin Britten, which opens Saturday night at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

The company is offering tickets at $25 for those who have already purchased tickets for the production or are going to do so. The offer aimed at encouraging patron to invite someone who has never attended an opera before (“opera virgins,” in LAO parlance, a play on the title character).

The offer — which runs for three days only (Wednesday through Friday) is good for five of the six performances (Feb. 25, March 3, March 8, March 14 and March 17), but not for the March 11 performance. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, online, or via phone (213/972-8001). There’s a limit of two $25 tickets per order and you can’t cash in previously bought tickets to take advantage of the offer.

Why “opera virgins”? Albert Herring is about a country village trying to crown a May queen and needing a virgin to qualify. Turns out the only virgin in the village is a meek mama’s boy named Albert Herring, who will have a night he won’t forget (to quote the LAO publicity). Tenor Alek Shrader makes his company debut in the title role and James Conlon conducts the production, which comes by way of Santa Fe Opera.

Get details on the ticket offer HERE. Opera information: www.laopera.com
___________

(c) Copyright 2011, Robert D. Thomas. All rights reserved. Portions may be quoted with attribution.