Did you know that The Medium is the third opera by Menotti that IOC has produced? The first two productions were the more lighthearted compositions of Amahl and the Night Visitors, in IOC’s inaugural 2012-13 Season and Amelia Goes to the Ball in 2018. IOC first performed The Medium in 2019, and we are thrilled to revisit this haunting opera!Our love for Menotti is apparent, although The Medium is very challenging and unique with its darkness and intensity. The work was inspir

Kristin McGinnis (Madame Flora-Baba ) is a graduate student at California State University Northridge and is excited to be performing with Independent Opera Company again! Through her time at California State University Northridge she has been able to sing roles such as Cherubino in Le Nozze Di Figaro, Miss Todd in Old Maid and the Thief, Mrs. Peachum in The Three Penny Opera, and Madame la Croissy in Dialogues of the Carmelites. She has also been in the US premiers of Cenici

We’re excited to be part of Pasadena Dance Theatre’s CONVERGENCE this October! Join us for a special evening of dance, live music, and creative collaboration throughout PDT’s studios, with small bites and refreshments to enjoy along the way. The program features PDT’s Advanced Conservatory dancers in new works by Artistic Director Ashleigh Doede and guest choreographer Norbert De La Cruz III, alongside guest artists from the wider arts community. IOC will present selections f

We are thrilled to open our landmark 15th season with The Medium, a short, two-act dramatic opera with words and music by Gian Carlo Menotti. Premiered on May 8, 1948, the story centers around a tragic episode in the life of Madame Flora (Baba), a fraudulent Medium; her daughter Monica; and a mute servant named Toby. The Medium hosts seances within her home, inviting guests to attend with the promise of connecting them with their loved ones who have passed on. We are introduc

We are very excited to announce our 2026-2027 season! This will be the company's 15th season, and we’re bringing you two spectacular fully staged productions. We will start with the wonderful and spooky The Medium by G. C. Menotti. A medium who makes her living cheating the gullible, a mute boy, and an amazingly mature young woman full of wisdom and compassion – the clientele that wants to be deceived and the séance…what can go wrong? Find out on Friday November 6th and Satur

Liza Barskaya (Stage Director) is a Los Angeles-based stage director, choreographer, and dancer. She trained in Southern California and attended summer programs with American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, and Ballet Austin before joining Ballet Austin’s Professional Division as a trainee in 2010. She later spent several years living and performing in New York City before returning to Los Angeles. As a performer, she has worked with companies including Benita Bike’s DanceArt,

Independent Opera Company concludes its 14th season with L’Elisir d’Amore (The Elixir of Love), a charming comic opera in two acts composed by Gaetano Donizetti. Premiered in 1832, it remains one of the most beloved works in the bel canto repertoire, celebrated for its warmth, wit, and lyrical beauty. The story follows Nemorino, a shy, earnest young villager hopelessly in love with the wealthy and self-assured Adina. When a swaggering traveling salesman, Dr. Dulcamara, arrive

Timothy Simon is a captivating Tenor whose voice resonates with precision, nuance, and emotion. Based in Los Angeles, born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, his musical journey has included performances with esteemed programs such as Arizona Opera, Tonality, and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, as well as in school productions at the University of Arizona and California State University, Northridge. Timothy Simon is a captivating Tenor whose voice resonates with precision, nuance,