Opera calling

When Lyric Opera Los Angeles got started several years ago, what was immediately apparent was the adventurous spirit behind their programming. Led by artistic director Laura Sage‘s strong vision and her shared mission with father and music director Robert Sage to find and produce lesser-known chamber operas, this regional company has since proven their ability to bring unusual pieces to light, often in intriguing combinations.

There are six more performances available in their current run, which mashes up Gian-Carlo Menotti’s ‘The Telephone’ and Francis Poulenc’s ‘The Human Voice’. Both are sung in English, melding the two stories into one voyeuristic whole with stage direction by LA Opera veteran Aleta Braxton. Taking residence for this run at the nicely renovated Fremont Centre Theatre in beautiful South Pasadena, the two casts alternate Sage and fellow soprano Amanda McAllister as Lucy, and baritones Eric Carampatan and Jay Stephenson as her paramour, Ben.