New Orleans Opera Association Announces New Season Under New Leadership

NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The New Orleans Opera Association (NOOA) unveils its 2024-2025 season, spotlighting the strength, resilience, and power of women in some of opera’s most acclaimed stories. The upcoming season features three mainstage productions that make their return to New Orleans by popular demand including TOSCA (Sept. 27 & 29), SAMSON AND DELILAH IN CONCERT (Nov. 8 & 10), and ELIXIR OF LOVE (April 4 & 6, 2025). The GRAMMY® Award-winning Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) returns to provide orchestral support for each mainstage production. Along with the mainstage productions will be OPERA ON THE BAYOU: VOICES OF NEW ORLEANS (Feb. 5, 2025) – a one-night-only concert celebrating the unique blend of culture and music exclusive to New Orleans with local voices and talent. For more information, visit www.neworleansopera.org.  

“I believe we’ve created a season that showcases some of opera’s most iconic works and that will resonate with New Orleans audiences,” says NOOA Board Chair Emmet Geary, Jr. “We’re excited to present these treasured works and to see everyone at the opera.” 

NOOA’s newly announced General and Artistic Director Lila Palmer embarks on her first season at the helm of the company beginning in May 2024, the second woman to hold this position in its 81-year history. Ms. Palmer succeeds NOOA’s previous General and Artistic Director, Clare Burovac. Eager to embrace the rich cultural tapestry of New Orleans, Ms. Palmer will be charged with setting the artistic vision for the company with a lens that honors opera’s historic roots in New Orleans, America’s first city of opera, while welcoming contemporary works to present a holistic opera experience for all audiences to enjoy.  

TOSCA 
A timeless opera about love, passion, and political intrigue set in the heart of Rome, TOSCA tells the story of a fiery opera singer Floria Tosca, who finds herself caught up in a web of political upheaval and personal sacrifice. Celebrated soprano labeled as “a revelation” by Opera News, MELODY MOORE,makes her NOOA debut take on the leading role of Floria Tosca, emerging lyrico-spinto tenor DOMINICK CHENES takes on the role as Floria’s love interest Cavaradossi, GRAMMY and Emmy-winning baritone REGINALD SMITH JR. returns to the NOOA stageto reprise the villainous role of Scarpia, and bass-baritone and Southern University graduate IVAN GRIFFIN, who has graced concert halls across Europe, makes his return to NOOA for his role debut of Sacristan. Members of the creative team include veteran opera producer Christopher Mattaliano as stage director and New York City Opera’s former Music Director George Manahan as conductor. 

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SAMSON AND DELILAH IN CONCERT 
Based on the biblical story of Samson and Delilah found in the Book of Judges in the Bible’s Old Testament, SAMSON AND DELILAH explores themes of love, betrayal, faith, and redemption as Samson’s strength leads to his downfall after falling in love with Delilah. Rising dramatic tenor LIMMIE PULLIAM, praised for his “stentorian, yet beautiful” sound, makes his NOOA debut and role debut as Samson, hailed by the New York Times as a “striking mezzo soprano” and by the San Fransisco Chronicle for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness,” RAEHANN BRYCE-DAVIS makes her NOOA debut and role debut as Delilah, and bass-baritone ALFRED WALKER, a graduate of McDonough 35, Dillard University, and Loyola University, and lauded as a rising opera luminary, makes his return to the NOOA stage in the role of High Priest. Known to bring her “confidence and apparently inexhaustible verve” (The New York Times), conductor Daniela Candillari returns to the NOOA podium to lead the LPO. 
 

ELIXIR OF LOVE 
Set in a bustling western town, Nemorino, a hopelessly in love farmer, sets out to win the heart of the beautiful and wealthy Adina. Desperate for the hand of his true love, Nemorino turns to a mysterious elixir that takes him on a journey of hilarious antics, mischievous schemes, and intense anticipation. Award-winning soprano and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts graduate LINDSEY REYNOLDS returns home to make her NOOA debut and role debut in the leading role of Adina, and tenor MATTHEW SWENSEN, hailed as a “dazzling Coloratura with great flexibility” by the Classical Review,returns to NOOA after his professional U.S. debut with the company in 2022 to make his role debut as Nemorino. Opera Memphis’s General Director Ned Canty joins the creative team as stage director and Portland Opera’s Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor Nicholas Fox joins as conductor in leading the LPO. 
 

OPERA ON THE BAYOU: VOICES OF NEW ORLEANS 
Joining NOOA’s 24-25 season is a special concert that celebrates the passion, resilience, and creativity of New Orleans’ arts and culture landscape. OPERA ON THE BAYOU: VOICES OF NEW ORLEANS will feature local operatic singers along with New Orleans’ energetic string quartet, Electric Yat Quartet. Singers on this program will be announced at a later date. Tickets for this performance can be purchased individually or included as an add-on to subscription packages. For more information, visit www.neworleansopera.org or contact the NOOA Box Office by calling 504.529.3000. 
 

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NOOA COMMUNITY AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS 
The New Orleans Opera Association continues its commitment to providing education opportunities through traditional and innovative approaches.  

COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS 
NOOA’s Community Conversations explores themes from the season’s operas and their impact on our communities today through authentic engagement and collective understanding. Each topic is addressed with a panel of artists and thought leaders from the field providing historical context and helpful resources for deeper exploration. Community Conversations are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.neworleansopera.org/community-conversations.  
 

OPERA ORIENTATION  
Hosted by the Women’s Guild of New Orleans Opera, Opera Orientation offers an intimate meet and greet with members of the cast and creative team at the New Orleans Opera Guild Home. The conversation will provide attendees with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the production including insights into the artistic journey and a deep dive into the opera’s thematic nuances. Light thematic refreshments are provided as part of the orientation. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at www.neworleansopera.com or by contacting the NOOA Box Office by calling 504-529-3000. 
 

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STUDENT NIGHT OUT 

School groups and community organizations can share the opera experience by attending NOOA’s Student Night Out sponsored by the Louise Baehr Martin Memorial Fund. Students can attend a fully staged dress rehearsal for free at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Registration information can be found at www.neworleansopera.com/student-night-out

TICKETS 
Early Bird Subscription Renewal is available now through April 24. General subscriptions go on sale beginning April 25. New subscription packages start at $104 and renewed subscription packages start at $114. To renew or to become a subscriber, visit www.neworleansopera.org or contact the NOOA Box Office by calling 504.529.3000. 

Early Bird Subscription Renewal Special – March 25 – April 24  

Subscriptions on sale – April 25 

Single Tickets on sale – July 1

  

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