Mark Hemmings Gets His Wish: ‘Billy Budd’ to Visit L.A.

It seems fitting that Peter Hemmings’ final season as general director of L.A. Opera will feature Benjamin Britten’s “Billy Budd,” based on the novella by Herman Melville. Hemmings had hoped for years to bring Francesca Zambello’s critically acclaimed production from the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to Los Angeles.

The production, which premiered in Geneva in 1994, featured baritone Rodney Gilfry in the title role; Gilfry will reprise the role at L.A. Opera in June 2000.

Hemmings, general director of the Music Center’s resident opera company since its founding in 1986, ran opera companies in London, Scotland and Australia before moving to Los Angeles. He plans to return to England, to be succeeded by star tenor Placido Domingo, who assumes the title of artistic director in July 2000.

Announced Monday at a gathering of the L.A. Opera League, the opera company’s major support group, the L.A. Opera season will, open Sept. 8 with a showcase for Domingo, who will sing the role of Samson in seven performances of Saint-Saens’ “Samson et Dalila,” with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves in the role of the temptress Dalila.

The season, which features eight operas from September through June 2000, will also be highlighted by a Nov. 3 recital by soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, accompanied by pianist Warren Jones.

The opera’s 1999-2000 season includes two new productions: Bellini’s “The Capulets and the Montagues,” directed by Thor Steingraber, and “Rigoletto,” directed by film director Bruce Beresford. And new to L.A. Opera are Humperdinck’s “Hansel and Gretel,” a co-production with New York City Opera; and Puccini’s “La Rondine,” a co-production with Washington Opera, where Domingo serves as artistic director, a position he will keep after he takes over the reins at L.A. Opera. The season:

“Samson et Dalila (Saint-Saens), Sept. 8 to 26, with Denyce Graves; Domingo, who alternates with Gary Lakes as Samson; Gregory Yurisich and Richard Bernstein. Conducted by Lawrence Foster and directed by Nicolas Joel.

“The Elixir of Love” (Donizetti), Sept. 11 to 25, with Ramon Vargas, Ruth Ann Swenson, Thomas Allen, Rodney Gilfry. Conducted by John Keenan and staged by Stephen Lawless.

“The Capulets and the Montagues” (Bellini), Oct. 13 to 31, with Suzanne Mentzer, Laura Claycomb, David Miller, Malcolm MacKenzie, Eric Halfvarson. Conducted by Richard Hickox and directed by Thor Steingraber.

“Hansel and Gretel” (Humperdinck), Dec. 8 to 21, with Paula Rasmussen, Clare Gormley, Judith Christin. Conducted by William Vendice and directed by James Robinson.

“Faust” (Gounod), Jan. 19 to Feb. 5, 2000, with Samuel Ramey, Marcello Giordani, Leontina Vaduva. Conducted by Philippe Auguin and staged by Frank Corsaro.

“Rigoletto” (Verdi), March 1 to 21, 2000, with Haijung Fu, Inva Mula, Frank Lopardo alternating with Roberto Aronica as the Duke of Mantua, Eric Owens, Pamela Helen Stephen. Conducted by Hickox and directed by Bruce Beresford.

“La Rondine” (Puccini), April 15 to May 5, 2000, with Carol Vaness, Marcus Haddock, William Parcher, Greg Fedderly. Conducted by Emmanuel Villaume and directed by Marta Domingo.

“Billy Budd” (Britten), June 3 to 17, 2000, with Gilfry, Robert Tear, Jeffrey Wells. Conducted by Roderick Brydon, directed by Francesca Zambello.

For a subscription brochure, call (213) 972-8001. Non-subscription tickets go on sale in August.