A living tapestry of cultures in conversation.
Sensual, volatile, and deeply human, this genre-defying work allows centuries to collapse into a single breath: the intertwined voices of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Spain before rupture, before exile – before silence. Inspired in part by the charged stillness and heat of the painting El Jaleo, the staging leans into the tension between restraint and eruption. Featuring sung and spoken texts in Ladino, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Sardinian, and English in a production that physicalizes intimacy and immediacy, Ayre conjures a flickering, unstable world where faith, longing, and identity are constantly negotiated in real time.
Ailyn Pérez, one of the world’s leading lyric sopranos, returns to BLO for the first time since her performance as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro in the 2006/07 Season. Hailed by The New York Times as “a beautiful woman who commands the stage” and “a major soprano,” Ms. Pérez is in demand at the world’s leading opera houses and cultural capitals. Internationally celebrated for her signature artistry, as the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award, Ms. Pérez became the first Hispanic recipient in the award’s history.
Soprano
Composer
Director
Projection Design
Accessibility: Wheelchair access to Opera + Community Studios is available at 15 Channel Center Street. Restrooms with accessible stalls are located on both levels, and accessible seats are available for each performance at all price levels. Please note that Rows E-L in the performance space require some use of stairs. See our Accessibility Page to learn more about large print programs, our service animal policy, assisted listening devices, and the steps we are taking to improve accessibility for all at BLO. If you have questions about accessibility in the venue, please contact our Audience Services team so that we may best assist you at 617.542.6772 or boxoffice@blo.org.
Restrooms: Restrooms are available on both levels of the building, including accessible stalls. BLO staff will be on site to assist with wayfinding as needed.
Amenities: Amenities may vary by performance, but Opera + Community Studios is designed to support an intimate, welcoming audience experience. Please check your specific event page for any performance-specific pre-show or intermission offerings.
Coat Check: Coat check availability may vary by performance. We encourage guests to travel light when possible.
About the Venue: Located in Boston’s Fort Point neighborhood, Opera + Community Studios is BLO’s flexible new performance and gathering space at Midway Artist Studios. Designed for immediacy and connection, the venue offers an intimate 250-seat setting that brings audiences closer to the artists and the work, creating a more immersive and personal operatic experience.
Public Transportation
Opera + Community Studios is accessible via several MBTA options:
- Broadway (Red Line) – approximately a 10–12 minute walk
- South Station (Red Line, Silver Line, Commuter Rail) – approximately a 15-minute walk
- Silver Line SL1 / SL2 – stops near the Seaport District
Driving Directions
From the North:
- Take I-93 South toward Boston.
- Take Exit 20 toward I-90 / Worcester / South Station.
- Follow signs for South Station / Seaport.
- Continue onto Congress Street.
- Turn right onto A Street.
- Turn left onto Channel Center Street.
- Opera + Community Studios will be on your right.
From the South:
- Take I-93 North toward Boston.
- Take Exit 20 toward I-90 / South Station.
- Follow signs for Seaport Boulevard.
- Continue onto Congress Street.
- Turn left onto A Street.
- Turn left onto Channel Center Street.
- Opera + Community Studios will be on your right.
From the Mass Pike:
- Take I-90 East toward Boston.
- Take Exit 137 toward South Boston / Seaport.
- Follow signs for Seaport Boulevard.
- Turn onto A Street.
- Turn right onto Channel Center Street.
- Opera + Community Studios is located at 15 Channel Center Street.
Parking
Recommended Parking:
Channel Center Garage
116 W. First St, Boston, MA
Special Rate for BLO Patrons:
$9 (+ fee) evening/weekend flat rate, up to 8 hours
Click Here to Purchase Parking in Advance
If paying via the link above, you must use it each time you park. The Metropolis system will not recognize the special rate unless the link is used for each visit.
The special rate must be applied before exiting the garage. Once you exit, the Metropolis system will automatically charge your account on file and the discounted rate can no longer be applied.
Additional Rates (if 8-hour limit is exceeded):
Monday–Friday:
0–30 mins: $10
30–60 mins: $14
60–90 mins: $22
120 mins: $32
180 mins–max (until 3am): $34
Nights & Weekends:
Flat rate: $14
Nightly rates begin at 5pm
New day begins at 3:30am
BLO is not affiliated with other parking providers in the area. Rates and availability are subject to change.
Nearby Restaurants:
- Sportello – Modern Italian dining just steps from Channel Center.
- Bar Mezzana – Coastal Italian fare and craft cocktails in a lively setting.
- Row 34 – One of Boston’s best seafood spots, known for oysters and New England classics.
- Saltie Girl (Seaport) – A seafood-forward restaurant with a vibrant, modern atmosphere.
- Trillium Brewing – Fort Point – Local brewery with a full kitchen and expansive beer selection.
Things to Do:
- Fort Point Channel – A scenic waterfront area perfect for a pre-show stroll.
- Seaport District – Shops, galleries, and public art installations throughout the neighborhood.
- Institute of Contemporary Art – A leading contemporary art museum overlooking Boston Harbor.
- Boston Harborwalk – Miles of waterfront paths connecting the Seaport to downtown Boston.
- Boston Children’s Museum – A landmark cultural institution just a short walk away.
Boston’s Fort Point and Seaport neighborhoods offer a vibrant mix of dining, waterfront views, and cultural experiences—all just steps from Opera + Community Studios.
If you need any assistance or have any questions, please reach out to us at boxoffice@blo.org.