By Katy Lindhart In just a few short days, Boston Lyric Opera is thrilled to present Verdi’s Aida in concert, one of opera’s grandest and most beloved works. After this special one-night-only performance, audiences are invited to join us for The Opera Gala 2024, which will be raising funds in support of BLO’s free youth and community programs. Let’s meet the powerhouse cast who will bring this epic story of love and sacrifice to life.  Michelle Johnson Soprano Michelle Johnson has made a name for herself as a highly sought-after Aida, performing Verdi’s tragic heroine with Glimmerglass Music Festival, [...]

  Dear Friends of Boston Lyric Opera, At Boston Lyric Opera, we believe deeply in the power of music to connect, heal, and uplift. Time and time again, we have seen this firsthand, as we did when BLO artists brought our community together for our very first outdoor Street Stage production, at a time when the pandemic had halted live indoor performances. It was the first time in months that live music filled the air, and the warmth and healing it brought were undeniable. It reminded us all that music has a unique ability to bring light to even [...]

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 [...]

  Today, we celebrate the remarkable artists and global partners who bring BLO’s productions to life. From last season’s Eurydice to the Pulitzer Prize-winning Omar, and even Svadba from our days on OperaBoxTV - these collaborations remind us that opera has no borders! As our artists and team share their talents worldwide, we’re reminded of the power of opera to connect us all. Join us in celebrating the art form that knows no boundaries! Recent and upcoming Boston Lyric Opera co-productions and collaborations include:   📍Long Beach Opera | 📍Boston Lyric Opera Mitridate, re di [...]

By: Katy Lindhart Aida is just a few short weeks away — do you have your tickets yet?  Our one-night-only performance of Aida on November 10 will be presented as a staged concert, allowing us to focus on the intimacy that lies at the core of this wonderful opera, and — of course — its breathtaking music. Conducted by BLO Music Director David Angus, this cast of accomplished Verdians will thrill and move you.  We are thrilled to welcome Morris Robinson back to the BLO stage, where he sang his first operatic role — in Aida! — in 1999. [...]

  Catch Boston Lyric Opera's Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen on Mix 104.1's Good Vibe Tribe!  She talks about what an Artistic Director does and why everyone should give opera a try. If you're new to opera or curious about it, this is a must-listen! Nina absolutely nailed it. Big thanks to the MIX team—we can't wait to invite you to a future show!

By: Katy Lindhart In his long career, Giuseppe Verdi wrote an astonishing twenty-eight operas, based on diverse sources — from Shakespeare to Victor Hugo to real world history. Despite the wide variety of stories, many of his operas share common themes. The relationship between father and child, for instance, is highlighted in Don Carlo, Rigoletto, Simon Boccanegra, La traviata, and several others. Fate and destiny, issues of class and social station, and torn allegiances all feature prominently as well. Perhaps due to the complex political landscape of his time, Verdi’s works also explore socio-political oppression and abuse of power. [...]

By: Katy Lindhart What were you doing when you were fourteen? If you’re Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, you were hard at work on an operatic commission for Milan: Mitridate, re di Ponto. Composed in 1770, Mitridate is a remarkable synthesis of Baroque virtuosity and Classical clarity and expressiveness, showcasing the young composer’s exuberance and emerging voice, while still existing within the confines of the Italian opera seria (“serious opera”) genre. The virtuosic vocal writing in Mitridate demonstrates an understanding of the Baroque traditions Mozart inherited, reminiscent of the florid, intricate vocal writing of his predecessors, like George Frideric Handel and [...]

Opera is Impossible by Anne Bogart In his gorgeous recent book The Impossible Art: Adventures in Opera, composer Matthew Aucoin details the many impossibilities inherent in the opera experience. From its inception, he writes, opera undertook the daunting task of recreating Greek drama, a form that no one alive at the time had ever heard or experienced. He goes on to elaborate opera’s balancing act throughout history, for performers and spectators alike. Perhaps due to its unique position at the intersection of musical composition, theatrical performance, poetic expression, and visual artistry – not to mention its ability to interweave [...]

Opera’s Next Act: 5 Questions on the Future of Opera with BLO Artistic Director Nina Yoshida Nelsen As opera continues to evolve in response to cultural, technological, and society shifts, BLO remains at the forefront, reimagining classic repertoires, integrating bold contemporary works, and making opera more accessible to everyone in our community. We love opera for where it’s been and where we’re going. In our series, Opera’s Next Act, BLO’s artistic leadership will share in their own words what excites them about opera’s past, present and future— beginning with our Artistic Director, Nina Yoshida Nelsen. About Nina Nina Yoshida [...]