Fink, Eric Halfvarson, Alan Held and Jennifer Wilson, among others. The festival drew criticism from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who argued that Wagner's work was the "soundtrack to the Holocaust", a reference to Wagner's anti-Semitic views. Wagner's music was played by guards at concentration camps and through loudspeakers. Antonovich requested that the company broaden the scope of the festival to include other classical and operatic performers, while the company argued that proper attention was made to educate festival-goers on Wagner's racist views, and that broadening the scope would be inappropriate. On a 3–1 vote, the other supervisors rejected Antonovich's motion to have the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors send a letter to the company to shift the focus away from Wagner. Subsequently, partly as a result of the cost of producing the Ring, the company requested an emergency $14 million loan from the board of supervisors due to reduced sponsorships and escalating costs. The board approved the loan 4–1, with Antonovich dissenting. In January 2012, LA Opera repaid half of the loan, with the balance repaid in December 2012. Education and Community Engagement For over 20 years, the company has produced a wide variety of education and outreach programs designed to bring opera to people of all backgrounds, from young children experiencing opera for the first time to experienced opera lovers of all ages. These include "In-School Operas" performed for and by elementary school students; full-scale student matinées and a summer "Opera Camp" for secondary school students; accredited teacher training programs; large-scale, free community performances for families; a popular lecture series for ticket holders before every mainstage performance; and open dress rehearsals for senior centers. In 2008, these programs were enjoyed by an all-time high of more than 159,000 students, teachers and community members. Selected recordings John Corigliano – The Ghosts of Versailles. James Conlon, Patricia Racette, Christopher Maltman, Kristinn Sigmundsson, Joshua Guerrero, Los Angeles Opera. Pentatone PTC 5186538 (2016). See also List of North American opera companies References External links 1986 establishments in California Musical groups established in 1986 Opera companies in Los Angeles Opera houses in California