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Cast of "La Calisto." (Pacific Opera Project)

The art of opera started a long time ago in 1598 by an Italian named Jacop Peri in Florence, Italy with the work “Dafne” which had to do with the story of the Greek god Apollo falling in love with the eponymous nymph, Daphne.

About 53 years later, a baroque opera (“La Calisto,” also about mythology) was produced in Venice, Italy which had opened the first ever opera house for the general public in 1637. This opera, with music by Francesco Cavalli from a libretto by Giovanni Faustini, is about the Roman mythological story of Callisto the river goddess, who was seduced by the god Jupiter with an accompanying story about the goddess Diana and a handsome human shepherd Endyminion. It had its world premier in 1651 at the Teatro Sant ‘Apollinare in Venice, Italy.

Fast forward 363 years later, and this work of art will have its Los Angeles premier on May 1 at the Highland Park Ebell Club (131 S. Avenue 57). It’s being presented by Pacific Opera Project, which is “dedicated to presenting energetic, high-quality, accessible performances of a broad variety of operatic repertoire; to benefiting the larger artistic community of Southern California by providing a fully professional environment for our artists; and to cultivating and enriching a wide audience in venues both conventional and unconventional throughout the region with innovative performances that enliven and preserve the art form.”

So get your toga ready and enjoy an evening of one of the most important and oldest art forms, at an affordable price at the hands of one of the “new opera kids” in town. And check out the video of a production of this opera to get you in the mood!

General admission tickets run for $20 and tables that include wine and food go for $60 for 2 people and $100 for 4. Public parking lots are available immediately across the street and cost from free to a whopping $2.50 for an entire day. Street parking is also available

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