Brenda Rae Masterclass
Sunday, April 12, 2026 | 3:00-5:00 PM
BLO’s Opera + Community Studios
FREE – Register for event reminders
Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston Lyric Opera are thrilled to welcome Brenda Rae to lead a masterclass with Boston Conservatory at Berklee students and Boston Lyric Opera’s Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artists as part of the Opera Innovators Series.
Brenda Rae’s current season marks her long-awaited return to Oper Frankfurt as Lulu in Nadja Loschky’s new production of Lulu, as well as Aminta in Jan Philipp Gloger’s new production of Die schweigsame Frau for Staatsoper Unter den Linden. Rae made her debut with Boston Lyric Opera as Aspasia in the company’s 2024 production of Mitridate opposite Lawrence Brownlee. Elsewhere, Rae returns to the role of Gilda in Rigoletto both for Deutsche Oper Berlin under Michele Spotti and Opernhaus Zürich under Andrea Sanguineti. Recent European highlights include her return to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Semele in Claus Guth’s new production of Semele conducted by Gianluca Capuano, swiftly followed by Konstanze, Die Entführung aus dem Serail under Ivor Bolton, and Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos on tour to Hong Kong. In Paris, Rae returned to the Opéra Bastille for two productions, as Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor under Aziz Shokhakimov and Ophelia, Hamlet conducted by Pierre Dumoussaud. In Vienna, Rae continued her reign as the Queen of the Night, Die Zauberflöte at the Wiener Staatsoper under Alexander Soddy and returned as Norina, Don Pasquale, conducted by Frédéric Chaslin and latterly as Amina, La sonnambula under Giacomo Sagripanti.
Brenda Rae stars as Marie in The Daughter of the Regiment as part of the Boston Lyric Opera 2025/26 season.
Brenda Rae is presented as part of Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Opera Innovators Series in partnership with Boston Lyric Opera.
Boston Lyric Opera gratefully acknowledges David & Janet McCue for their generous support of Boston Lyric Opera in presenting the 2025/26 Opera Innovators Series.
This event is open to all members of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Boston Lyric Opera community.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
Arrival & Seating
Doors will open at 2:30 PM. Enter through the main door labeled "Opera + Community Studios" and go upstairs to the main hall (Studio A). Seating is general admission.
Class Format
Singers will perform arias for the Master Artist and the public. After each sings through their piece, the Master Artist will coach them on interpretive details such as vocal technique, character choices, musicality, and language. At the end, the Artistic Directors will moderate a conversation with the Master Artist.
Parking
Event parking is available at Channel Center Garage, 166 W First Street. Parking must be pre-reserved online . The event rate is $9 for up to 8 hours. RESERVE PARKING.
Public Transportation
If commuting via the MBTA, Opera + Community Studios is located between South Station (Red Line) and Broadway (Red Line). The nearest bus lines are the 7, 9, 11, and 47.
Digital Playbill
Click here to view the digital playbill
Streaming
Click here to access the livestream on April 12, 3:00 – 5:00 PM Eastern Time. A recording will not be available.