LA Opera thanks the generous underwriters who have made this recital possible.
Barbara Augusta Teichert
Barbara Augusta Teichert has helped to bring many of LA Opera’s most beloved productions to the stage for over 15 years. Now, through her generosity, we’re delighted to welcome back the sensational tenor Javier Camarena in recital on March 31 and April 2. A board member since 2009, Barbara has helped to give life to an impressive number of our productions: Luisa Fernanda (2007), Die Walküre (2009 and 2010), Tamerlano (2009), Il Postino (2010), Simon Boccanegra and The Two Foscari (2012), Thaïs and La Traviata (2014), Pagliacci and Gianni Schicchi (2015), Macbeth (2016), Nabucco (2017), El Gato Montés (2019), Roberto Devereux (2020) and Cinderella (2021). She also supported the 2007 Verdi Requiem and the 2008 gala celebrating Domingo’s 40th anniversary in Los Angeles, as well as a 2006 DVD production of La Traviata starring Renée Fleming. She is a member of LA Opera’s 20th and 30th Anniversary Angels leadership giving programs.
Barbara, who lives in Pennsylvania, shows her love of opera by making sure that a number of companies have the support they need. In 2018, she was elected to the board of Opera Philadelphia. She has underwritten a number of productions there over the years, including Don Carlo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Barrie Kosky’s production of The Magic Flute, as well as several important contemporary works: Kevin Puts’ Silent Night, Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar and Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain. She also served on the board of Washington National Opera for nine years, supporting a project there every season for over a decade. For the Metropolitan Opera, she has underwritten several productions including the world premiere of Tan Dun’s The First Emperor as well as Iphigénie en Tauride.
We are grateful for Barbara’s longstanding generosity and proud that the LA Opera has become one of her treasured opera homes.
Estate of Kenneth Sanson
Above: Kenneth Sanson with former LAO young artists Kihun Yoon and Vanessa Becerra
Kenneth Sanson, a longtime LA Opera subscriber and supporter, passed away in 2021. Like many opera lovers, Ken came to the art form early. A member of the Pasadena Boys Choir, he sang in visiting productions that called for a children’s chorus, such as Carmen or Tosca. “After we completed our part, I would stay backstage and watch the rest of the performance through a small hole in the set,” he recalled. This introduction to opera started what would become a life-long passion for music.
Before college, Ken sang as a member of the Roger Wagner Chorale, touring internationally to Japan and Cuba while further deepening his appreciation of vocal music.
Upon completion of his studies, Ken received a Rockefeller Fellowship to train as a music critic. A job at the Chicago American came next, where he reviewed the cultural offerings of the Windy City. The Chicago adventure ended with a teaching position at the American Conservatory of Music before returning to Southern California to be closer to family.
Serendipitously, the homecoming coincided with the founding of LA Opera in 1986. A subscriber from the very beginning, Ken was an active booster of the company, first as a subscriber, then as an annual donor, and eventually by making a planned gift. While other subscribers may desire closer or more central seats, Ken insisted that the best sound quality comes towards the back of the balcony where he sat for more than 30 seasons.
Ken realized his experiences at LA Opera would not have been possible without philanthropy and wanted to extend the same opportunity to future generations by making a planned gift to the company.
“My love of singers and wish to expose others to the top vocalists in the world motivated my gift,” he explained.
LA Opera is honored to be a part of Ken’s legacy, which will provide support for future recitals and productions with large choruses.
To learn more about how you can leave a legacy, contact us at 213.972.3141 or visit us here.
LA Opera expresses its appreciation to Yamaha
for providing the concert grand piano for this recital.
Yamaha is the Official Piano of LA Opera.
Angel Rodriguez in performance at LA Opera (March 31, 2022)
