On January 25, 2018, the 9th grade HGM students watched a dress rehearsal of Leonard Bernstein's Candide at the LA opera in conjunction with their current unit of study. The class took the Metro Red Line from the North Hollywood station to the grand Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where they attended a pre-talk featuring director Francesca Zambello and conductor James Conlon. Zambello and Conlon gave an overview of the Voltaire novella of the same name and answered some of the students’ questions. The main highlight of the pre-talk, though, was an inspiring interview about how each of them got into the arts.
After a quick lunch, the students were ushered into the main theater to see the opera. The performance brought the book to life through its modern perspective and lighthearted, humorous attitude.
The field trip to Candide was an educational and fun experience for the HGM 9th graders. We would like to thank Ms. Underwood for her efforts in planning and coordinating the trip.
See it for yourself! Tickets available at laopera.org