Dear Friends of Boston Lyric Opera, As we approach the coming days, many of us are feeling a mix of emotions—whether it’s uncertainty, fear, hope, or anticipation for what’s to come. Election week is upon us, as well as BLO's Opera Gala and one-night performance of Aida. While we can’t predict the outcomes of the week, there is one thing we know for sure: through it all, we have each other, and we have music. At Boston Lyric Opera, we believe deeply in the power of music to connect, heal, and uplift. Time and time again, we have seen [...]

By Lucy Caplan On July 22, 1933, thousands of people streamed into Manhattan’s Hippodrome Theater, undaunted by sweltering temperatures and teeming crowds, eager to witness a performance of Aida unlike anything they had seen before. The 5,300-seat theater, the largest in New York, had sold out days in advance, and patrons clambered for standing-room-only spots; still more were turned away at the door. Many in the audience were Italian American, and about one-third were African American. The evening’s star, soprano Caterina Jarboro, entered to prolonged applause. Fanning their programs in the heat, the audience greeted her with what one [...]