LA Opera thanks the generous underwriters who have made this season's production of cinderella possible.
This exciting production of Rossini’s classic Cinderella story, new to Los Angeles, is coming to the LA Opera stage with gratitude to the extraordinary support from GRoW @ Annenberg, the philanthropic initiative led by Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, a vice president and director of the Annenberg Foundation. GRoW @ Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation have been steadfast supporters of LA Opera over many years, underwriting LA Opera productions, championing the company’s education programming, and as members of the Angels initiative. Through the generous support of GRoW @ Annenberg—and with gratitude to the personal commitment of LA Opera board member Régina Weingarten and her husband Gregory Annenberg Weingarten—LA Opera is recognized for its artistic excellence and its arts education programming for young people, helping to make Los Angeles one of the world’s premier cultural centers.
GRoW @ Annenberg’s funding is part of a robust portfolio of philanthropy dedicated to supporting humanitarian efforts across the globe as well as innovative projects in health, education, the arts, and civic and cultural life. At LA Opera, its support has brought numerous productions to the stage, including Salome (2017), Orpheus and Eurydice and Rigoletto (2019), Hansel and Gretel and The Clemency of Titus (2019), and the postponed 2020 productions of Pelléas et Mélisande and The Marriage of Figaro. It has also engaged students in the arts through a sponsored poster art contest focused on LA Opera productions, enticing hundreds of young people to discover opera. When the 2019/20 and 2020/21seasons were halted due to the pandemic, its continued generosity for LA Opera’s general operations helped the company weather this challenging time.
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten moved in 2015 with his wife Régina Weingarten and their family to Los Angeles from Paris, where they were active in making significant contributions to the arts, as well as other prominent organizations. In recognition of their dedication to the arts, both Gregory and Régina received the prestigious distinction of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur, France’s Legion of Honor Award.
Above left, Richard Seaver as the Cardinal in Tosca in 2001; at right, Carlton Seaver in the same role in 2017
Laura and Carlton Seaver
The Seaver family’s long tradition of generous support for LA Opera productions continues this season with their production underwriting for Rossini’s Cinderella. Since the company’s earliest days, the Seaver name has been synonymous with the growth and continued success of the company, and LA Opera is honored to recognize the Seaver family’s multi-generational legacy of support.
The Seaver family’s support for LA Opera has included production underwriting for 15 LA Opera productions since 1991, including the production of Roberto Devereux in 2020, the last production before performances were halted that season due to the pandemic. During 2020/21, while the stages were dark, they continued to give generously towards LA Opera’s operations, artists, and education programs, following in the family’s tradition of offering support for every part of the company, since its founding.
The late Richard Seaver, one of the founders of LA Opera, joined the board of directors in 1986. He subsequently served as president, chairman and chairman emeritus. Inspired by his passion for opera and for the company, he became a member of the Founding, Domingo’s and 20th Anniversary Angels—the company’s highest echelons of support. In recognition of his leadership at the company, Richard portrayed the Cardinal in LA Opera’s productions of Tosca in 2001 and 2005.
Mr. Seaver’s legacy continues to this day through his family’s ongoing commitment to LA Opera as 25th and 30th Anniversary Angels, carried on by his children: R. Carlton Seaver, Martha Seaver, Victoria Seaver Dean, Christopher Seaver and Patrick Seaver. Following in his father’s footsteps, Carlton Seaver has served on LA Opera’s board of directors since 2005 and, like his father, he also appeared onstage as the Cardinal, in the 2017 revival of Tosca. 
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 grateful to feature Rossini’s Cinderella in a delightful and charming production new to Los Angeles.
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) and Roberto Devereux (2020). 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 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 that the LA Opera has become one of her treasured opera homes.
