MUSIC IS A VITAL PART OF THE CULTURALFABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY. It’s not just about the performances we put on; it’s about how we show everything opera can be. From our Concerts in the Courtyard to Street Stage and innovative programs like Create Your Own Opera and our Audition Workshops, we’re committed to bringing opera into diverse spaces where it can touch lives in meaningful ways. Help us make wonder possible! Through your support, we’re able to engage hundreds of Boston youth, foster deep connections with families, and build a vibrant, inclusive community. Donors like you make it possible for us to offer free community operas and transformative educational experiences, inspiring the next generation through the power of music. To make your gift, please scan the QR code.
BLO's 2019 production of Pagliacci.
PROGRAM CONTENTS
LIZA VOLL PHOTOGRAPHY
Welcome..................................................................................................................................... 1 Thank You & Acknowledgments..............................................................................................2 A Message from BLO's Gala Co-Chairs...................................................................................3 BLO is Bigger Than Opera.........................................................................................................4 50 Years of Boston Lyric Opera.................................................................................................6 BLO Honorary Anniversary Committee.................................................................................10 Co-Chairs, Committee & Sponsors....................................................................................... 12 Honorees & Award Recipients................................................................................................ 14 Hosts.......................................................................................................................................... 16 Recent Gala Honorees & Shrestinian Award Recipients...................................................... 17 Meet the Artists....................................................................................................................... 20 Musical Program....................................................................................................................... 21 Text & Translations...................................................................................................................22 Auction Items............................................................................................................................26 Boston Lyric Opera Board Members......................................................................................28 BLO Staff................................................................................................................................... 29 Venue Information ...................................................................................................................37
Welcome to Boston Lyric Opera’s 50th Anniversary Gala. Dear Friends, Tonight, we celebrate an extraordinary milestone, but even more importantly, we celebrate the people who have made these 50 years possible: artists and audiences; donors and volunteers; partners, teachers, collaborators, long-time subscribers, and first-time guests. Each of you has helped build Boston Lyric Opera into the company it is today—and each of you has a part in what we build next. Opera is the most ambitious and collaborative art there is. It asks us to gather, to listen, to see ourselves in one another’s stories, and to imagine what is possible when many voices become one. For five decades, BLO has brought people together, in theaters and concert halls, gymnasiums and ice rinks, classrooms and studios, and in whatever rooms this city has made available to us. The room matters. But what happens inside it matters even more. As we look ahead, we are thinking about how to make more of those spaces: places where artists and community create art, where young people discover their voices, where communities come together, and where audiences encounter opera in new ways. Our vision is an opera company deeply rooted in the life of its community—not simply presenting work to Boston, but creating it with Boston. That vision is already at work. Our spring 2027 Community Opera will bring youth and community members together as co-creators and performers. Through our school-based Create Your Own Opera program, young people learn to write, perform, and produce their own work. Alongside our mainstage productions, installation pieces, collaborative performances, and community programs, people across the region continue to participate in—and create—the stories and music that bring us together. Fifty years ago, Boston Lyric Opera was built by people who believed there should be a place for opera in this city. We are grateful for what they built, and we are mindful that our responsibility is not merely to preserve it. It is to keep building—to create the rooms, relationships, and opportunities that will open new possibilities for future generations. Your generosity makes that possible. Thank you for being here tonight, for helping us celebrate where we have been, and for participating in what we will build together. With gratitude,
Bradley Vernatter
Nina Yoshida Nelsen
Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO
Artistic Director
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THANK YOU & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are grateful to the following individuals and organizations who have lent their in-kind services and support to our 50 th Anniversary Season’s Opera Gala.
29 Pine Events 4Wall Entertainment, Inc. Bonhams The Catered Affair Falcetti Pianos Marie Keep Joyce Kulhawik Metropolis + Channel Center Garage Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. Nuage Designs PEAK Event Services The Peninsula New York Winston Flowers
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A Message from BLO’s Gala Co-Chairs
Turning 50 is a remarkable achievement. It is also a remarkable starting point. As we celebrate Boston Lyric Opera's history tonight, we are filled with excitement for what comes next. BLO enters its next chapter with extraordinary momentum: ambitious artistic programming, growing audiences, deeper community partnerships, an expanding home for artists and community members, and a clear vision for the role that opera plays in the cultural life of Boston. That momentum is by design: the result of thoughtful leadership, artistic courage, organizational resilience, and the generosity of people who believe in the power of this company. Our work is to invest in artists at every stage of their careers, cultivate new audiences of all ages, expand meaningful educational opportunities for young people, strengthen partnerships that connect us to communities across the region, and build an organization capable of sustaining this work for generations to come. There is so much ahead: new voices to hear, new stories to tell, new artists to discover, new audiences to welcome, and new ways for opera to connect us to one another and to our city. In closing, we wish to thank each member of the Gala Committee and every sponsor who has helped to make the preparation for tonight both unforgettable and fun! Thank you to the many artists, staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters who have helped build Boston Lyric Opera over the past 50 years. It is because of your belief and generosity that we are here, and it is your continued support that will bring us to the next 50. With gratitude
Suki de Bragança
Susan Poduska
Miguel de Bragança Vice Chair, BLO Board of Directors
Bill Poduska BLO Board of Advisors BLO | GALA 2026
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BLO IS BIGGER THAN OPERA We help young people find their voice, invest in artists, and unite communities through the transformative power of opera.
Open Opera. Open Boston.
For 50 years, opening that door has been Boston Lyric Opera's community and education work — in classrooms, in neighborhoods, in first encounters that turn into lifelong ones. When opera is welcoming and relevant, people feel it: confidence, belonging, connection. Your gift tonight keeps that door open for the next 50 years.
Art Meets Audience
Audiences see themselves onstage. When stories are drawn from real, lived experiences — as in Omar and Boston's Community Opera — audiences don't just watch opera: they recognize themselves in it.
Civic-Scale Opera
A night at the opera is an investment in the city. Through cross-sector partnerships and gatherings like Opera Nights at the BPL, a shared night at the opera becomes a shared act of civic support.
Opera as Public Access
The ticket stops being the barrier. Street Stage and Opera On Tour bring free, live performances directly to where people already are — turning "someday" into "today" for newcomers and the opera curious.
Top: Jesus Garcia (l.) and Lauren Michelle (r.) in BLO's 2022 production of La bohème. PHOTO BY OLIVIA MOON PHOTOGRAPHY Bottom: BLO's 2022 production of Romeo & Juliet on the Boston Common. PHOTO BY NILE HAWVER / NILE SCOTT STUDIOS
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BLO's 2025 production of Noah's Flood. PHOTO ©MICHAEL J. LUTCH
Artist Investment & Development
New voices lead the way. Opera Innovators, Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists, studio residencies, and open workshops give artists the room to take true creative risks — keeping opera a living, evolving art form.
Giving Voice to the Next Generation
Students become creators. Through Create Your Own Opera and multi-year workshops and bootcamps, young people learn to write, produce, and perform work that's entirely their own.
Every gift tonight doesn’t just fund a program – it funds a new experience for someone in Boston. Top: BLO's 2025 class of Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists, with Brett Hodgdon, Head of Music, and Jane & Steven Akin (center). PHOTO BY NILE HAWVER / NILE SCOTT STUDIOS Bottom: Young participants in BLO's 2026 Create Your Own Opera program. PHOTO COURTESY OF BLO
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50 YEARS OF BOSTON LYRIC OPERA 1970s Emerging from the merger of three Boston-based opera companies in
1976, the newly formed Boston Lyric Opera entered a period of organic growth, which alternated periods of consolidation and stabilization with periods of more visible change. • 1976: BLO was founded from a merger of New England Regional Opera, Associate Artists Opera, and New England Chamber Opera Group. Ernest Triplett became BLO’s first artistic director. •D EC 1976: BLO presented its first performance: Amahl and the Night Visitors. •M AR 1978: BLO held a fundraising gala concert honoring the career of Jenny Lind. • 1979: John Balme was engaged as General Director.
1980s As BLO developed its audience and base of supporters and explored new
possibilities with larger and more prestigious venues, the company planned more ambitious performances, engaging in strategic risk-taking with an eye toward growth. •A UG 1981: BLO and Brookline Symphony performed Aida at the Edward A. Hatch Memorial Shell, attracting 10,000+ audience members. •S EP 1981: BLO became company-in-residence at Northeastern University. Reviews noted improved musical standards and professional appearance, both helped by this newfound stability. •S UMMER 1982: BLO produced a scaled-down Ring cycle, hoping to take it on tour. However, the production resulted in a shortfall. • 1984: Anne Ewers was made General Director. She instituted more conservative fiscal policies to address the budget shortfall.
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• 1986-88: BLO began collaborating with partners such as the Boston Theater of the Deaf and the Perkins School for the Blind to present accessible performances. • 1987-88: BLO received its first NEA grant, which focused on “arts groups of unusual promise.” This grant provided enough financial stability for BLO to plan long-term for the first time. In the same season, BLO paid off its remaining debt and was able to develop a small endowment under Ewers’ leadership. • 1989: Justin Moss was hired as General Director.
1990s BLO presented some milestone productions and continued to expand,
engaging with more audiences in a greater variety of venues and mediums than ever before. With the acquisition of Opera New England in 1998, BLO also developed a robust education branch. • 1990: Stephen Lord was hired as Music Director. • 1991: Deborah Voigt debuted with BLO in Ariadne auf Naxos. • 1992: Patricia Racette debuted in BLO’s premiere of a new critical edition of The Tales of Hoffmann, which garnered international attention. • 1992/93: Janice Mancini Del Sesto was named the new General Manager. • 1992/93: John Conklin debuted with BLO, designing for La bohème. • 1992/93: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson debuted with BLO in Beatrice and Benedict. • 1994: BLO broadcast a production on WGBH for the first time (Carmen). • 1998/99: BLO moved out of the Emerson Majestic into the Shubert Theatre, which increased its seating capacity and orchestra pit. • 1998: Leon Major was named Artistic Director. • 1998: BLO acquired Opera New England, adding a strong education- and children’s-opera-focused arm to the company, which enabled the production of its “Opera for Young Audiences” series the following year.
2000s Having built a solid, loyal base of audiences and supporters — and having
deepened its ties with the broader Boston community — BLO refined its plans for the future, balancing higher-risk endeavors with consolidation and long-term financial planning. • 2001: BLO established the Boris Goldovsky Society for planned giving. • 2002: The company presented its free production of “Carmen on the Common,” attracting 75,000+ audience members. • 2002: Lawrence Brownlee debuted with BLO in Il barbiere di Siviglia. • 2007: Ailyn Pérez debuted with BLO in Le nozze di Figaro. • 2008: Esther Nelson was appointed the new General & Artistic Director. • 2008: WGBH reduced its number of BLO broadcasts. They became special programs, rather than continuing as a regular feature.
From left: Morris Robinson’s debut with BLO in Aida (1999). | Ailyn Pérez (l.) and Kate Lindsey (r.) in Le nozze di Figaro (2007). PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: COURTESY OF BLO AND BY JEFFREY DUNN
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2010s Although the idea of championing new works and local artists had been part
of BLO’s DNA since its founding, greater financial security in the 2010s made this possible for the company on a larger scale than ever before. • FEB 2010: BLO presented its first Opera Annex production (The Turn of the Screw) in a nontraditional performance space. • 2010: David Angus was hired as BLO’s new Music Director. • 2011/12: BLO presented its first class of Emerging Artists. • 2011: Nadine Sierra debuted with BLO in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. • 2013: Continuing its Opera Annex programming of new works, BLO presented the U.S. premiere of Clemency, a co-commission with BLO, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Scottish Opera; and the Britten Sinfonia. • 2015: The Calderwood Charitable Foundation gave BLO a $5 million gift, the largest single institutional gift the company had ever received. • 2015/16: BLO presented its final production at the Shubert Theatre and began a pivotal shift to a new model of producing opera across various traditional and nontraditional venues, with BLO taking ownership of the ticketing and patron services experience. •S EP 2016: This season’s production of Carmen, which opened BLO’s 40th season, became the company’s highest-grossing production to date. Presented at the Boston Opera House, this was the first opera performed there in 25 years. • 2016: BLO helped establish Boston Opera Alliance, an informal consortium of New England opera companies. • 2018: BLO commissioned and premiered Schoenberg in Hollywood. • 2018/19: Anne Bogart directed BLO’s landmark production of The Handmaid’s Tale, which was performed at Harvard’s Lavietes Pavilion. • 2019: BLO produced a carnival-style installation of Pagliacci at the Steriti Memorial Rink.
Scan to explore BLO’s Repertoire History.
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2020s With its original plans disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, BLO pivoted
with innovation and resilience, emerging from this period with expanded community and education programming, a new approach to strategic planning, and a new physical space for its own artists and the Greater Boston arts community. • MAR 2020: Just before its opening night, BLO’s Norma shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. BLO partnered with WGBH to release an audio stream of the production, which drew a digital audience of 15,000 listeners. • 2020/21: Bradley Vernatter was appointed as Interim General & Artistic Director. • 2020/21: BLO began “The Butterfly Process,” a 3-year exploration of authentic storytelling that reexamined the legacy of Madama Butterfly. • 2020/21: During the pandemic, BLO launched digital programming that made opera accessible to a wider audience than ever, releasing three opera films including the commission desert in featuring Isabel Leonard. • 2020/21: BLO launched its free, outdoor Street Stage series. • 2021/22: BLO opened its new headquarters in Fort Point. • 2022: After a year of planning, BLO launched its new 5-year Strategic Plan. • 2022/23: Bradley Vernatter was appointed Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO. • JAN 2022: BLO produced the a cappella opera Svadba, which won OPERA America’s 2023 Awards for Digital Excellence in the Artistic Creation category. • MAY 2023: BLO sold out its run of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar, cocommissioned with LA Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, Carolina Performing Arts, San Francisco Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. • SEP 2023: As a culmination of “The Butterfly Process,” BLO produced a reimagined Madama Butterfly set in San Francisco during World War II. • JAN 2024: Nina Yoshida Nelsen was appointed BLO's new Artistic Director • MAR 2024: BLO premiered a new chamber arrangement of Aucoin’s Eurydice, cocommissioned with Opera Grand Rapids. • 2024/25: BLO began operating its Opera + Community Studios, a 16,000-square-foot center in Fort Point, designed for performances, rehearsals, community gatherings and events. • 2024/25: BLO celebrated the 15th season of its Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists. • APR 2025: BLO presented an 80th annivaresary production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel at the Emerson Colonial Theatre. the very venue where it had its pre-Broadway permiere in March 1945. The anniversary production marked Jamie Barton's debut with BLO. • MAY 2025: In collaboration with nearly a dozen performing arts organizations, BLO produced Noah’s Flood — a free, participatory community opera performed by hundreds of youth and community members — at Symphony Hall. • MAR 2026: After 6 months of renovations and construction, BLO re-opened the Opera + Community Studios to the public with Mahler’s Song of the Earth. • MAY 2026: BLO launched its 50th Anniversary Season. From left: Caroline Worra in The Handmaid's Tale (2019). | Elliot Madore (l.) and Sydney Mancasola (r.) in Eurydice (2024) PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: BY LIZA VOLL PHOTOGRAPHY AND BY NILE HAWVER/NILE SCOTT STUDIOS
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BLO HONORARY ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE Boston Lyric Opera’s 50th Anniversary Committee brings together distinguished leaders, artists, civic partners, and community voices whose work reflects the breadth and vitality of Boston’s cultural landscape. Representing a range of sectors and perspectives, committee members lend their names and support to this milestone moment as BLO celebrates five decades of artistic and community impact and looks ahead to its next 50 years.
Michael Abels Composer Hilina D. Ajakaiye Chief Strategy Officer, National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Matthew Aucoin Composer John Balme Former General Director, BLO (1979 – 1984) John Barros Interim Executive Director, Massachusetts Convention Center Authority Bruce A. Beal Chairman, Related Beal State Representative David Biele Massachusetts State Representative, 4th Suffolk Vanessa Calderón-Rosado CEO, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción State Senator Nick Collins Massachusetts First Suffolk Josh Davis Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Edgerley Family South Boston Club
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Janice Mancini Del Sesto Former General Director, BLO (1992 - 2008) Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll Commonwealth of Massachusetts Councilor Sharon Durkan District 8, City of Boston Anne Ewers Former General Director, BLO (1984 – 1989) Councilor Ed Flynn District 2, City of Boston Mary Grant President, Massachusetts College of Art Melissa Gilliam President, Boston University Ashleigh Gordon Co-Founder & Artistic Director Emerita, Castle of our Skins Governor Maura Healey Commonwealth of Massachusetts David Henry Hwang Playwright and Librettist
Imari Paris Jeffries President & CEO, Embrace Boston
Ellen Reid Composer
Andrea Kalyn President, New England Conservatory
Joey Riddle General Manager, Emerson Colonial Theatre
Jim Lucchese President, Berklee College of Music Congressman Stephen F. Lynch U.S. Representative, Massachusetts
Marinell Rousmaniere President, EdVestors Sarah Ruhl Playwright and Librettist
Keeril Makan Vice Provost for the Arts, MIT
Huang Ruo Composer
Quincy Miller President & Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Bank
Marc Scorca President Emeritus, OPERA America
Yo-Yo Ma Cellist
Michael Shinn Executive Director, Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Tod Machover Composer and Faculty Director, MIT Media Lab
Leverett Wing Executive Director, Commonwealth Seminar
Justin Moss Former General Director, BLO (1989 – 1992)
Mayor Michelle Wu City of Boston
Esther Nelson Former General & Artistic Director, BLO (2008 – 2021)
Karen Zorn President, Longy School of Music of Bard College
Michelle O’Connor President & CEO, MEDITECH Lee Pelton Former President & CEO, The Boston Foundation Colette A.M. Phillips President and CEO of Colette Phillips Communications, Inc.
Check BLO.org for the current membership listing. As of September 21, 2026.
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CO-CHAIRS & COMMITTEE Co-Chairs Miguel & Suki de Bragança Susan & Bill Poduska
Committee
George & Hillery Ballantyne Sophie Cabot Black Katie & Paul Buttenwieser Alicia Cooney & Stephen Quigley RoAnn Costin Wayne Davis & Ann Merrifield Arjun Gupta Carl & Jo Frances Herbert Susan W. Jacobs Courtney Keller & Kyle Murray George & Janika LeMaitre Maria Park Winfield & Linda Perry Koren Phillips Christine & Michael Puzo Holly Safford Barbara & Andrew Senchak Rumena & Alexander Senchak Jonathan Soroff & Samuel Mazzarelli Amy Tsurumi & Paul Siegel Archana Venkataraman Peter J. Wender
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SPONSORS Titanium
Silver
Platinum
Lynn Dale & Frank Wisneski Zach Durant-Emmons & Willis Emmons Andrew Eisenberg & John Vetrano Sylvia Han & Bruce Rubenstein Carl & Jo Frances Herbert George & Lisa Ireland Susan W. Jacobs Amelia & Josh Katzen Maria Krokidas & Bruce Bullen Alice Levine & Paul Weissman John M. & Elizabeth W. Loder Mrs. Anita & Dr. Joseph Loscalzo Karen Metcalf Mary & Sherif Nada Helen Pounds Peter & Suzanne Read Erinn & Jason Rhodes Kelda Vernatter Jerry Wheelock & Elizabeth Wood
Jane & Steven Akin The Black Family Katie & Paul Buttenwieser Gerard and Sherryl Cohen Wayne Davis & Ann Merrifield Miguel & Suki de Bragança Jane & Jeffrey Marshall Winfield & Linda Perry Susan & Bill Poduska Alicia Cooney & Stephen Quigley RoAnn Costin Robert Eastman Barbara & Amos Hostetter Maria Park The Plimpton Shattuck Fund Christine & Michael Puzo Holly Safford & The Catered Affair
Gold
George & Hillery Ballantyne George & Janika LeMaitre PEAK Event Services Janet & Irv Plotkin The Senchak Family Peter J. Wender As of October 6, 2026
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HONOREES & AWARD RECIPIENTS BLO is proud to honor these extraordinary individuals for their remarkable contributions to the opera community in Boston and beyond. LINDA CABOT BLACK Leadership Honoree Linda Cabot Black is one of Boston Lyric Opera’s most dedicated champions, with a history of stewardship for the company that spans multiple decades. After studying music for 4 years at Harvard University, she moved to Europe, where she continued her education with studies in voice, dance, operatic repertoire, German, and Italian. She had three children while living in Manhattan, then moved to a farm in Connecticut. Upon returning to Boston in 1957, she helped Sarah Caldwell found the Opera Company of Boston, of which she was the first President. In the 1970s, she took over leadership of Opera New England (ONE), developing a repertoire of popular operas – traditional, but carefully shortened and produced in English – including Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Rossini’s The Barber of Seville – for children and families. These productions toured East Coast theaters and schools for a total of 37 years, from New England locations like Orono, ME all the way to Long Island. In 1998, she decided to step back from being a series producer, merged Opera New England with Boston Lyric Opera, and moved back to Cambridge. She served on BLO’s Board of Directors for 28 years, becoming a member of the Leadership Council in 2024.
DEBORAH VOIGT Artistic Honoree Deborah Voigt is known for the singular power and beauty of her voice, and for her captivating stage presence. Having made her name as a leading dramatic soprano, she is internationally lauded for her performances in the operas of Wagner, Strauss, and more, as well as for her recitals and accounts of Broadway standards and popular songs. In addition to boasting an extensive discography, she has frequently appeared as both performer and host in The Metropolitan Opera’s Live in HD series, which is broadcast to movie theaters around the world. A breakout performance as Ariadne in Boston Lyric Opera’s 1991 Ariadne auf Naxos marked a significant milestone in her singing career. Voigt has given definitive performances on the greatest stages around the world of iconic roles in German opera, from Strauss’s Ariadne, Salome, Kaiserin, and Chrysothemis to Wagner’s Sieglinde, Elisabeth, and Isolde, as well as popular Italian roles like Tosca, Aida, Amelia, Leonora, La Gioconda, and Minnie. Voigt studied at California State University at Fullerton. She was a member of San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program and won both the Gold Medal in Moscow’s International Tchaikovsky Competition and First Prize at Philadelphia’s Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition.
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HONOREES & AWARD RECIPIENTS MICHAEL J. BOBBITT Community Honoree Michael J. Bobbitt is a nationally recognized arts executive, producer, playwright, director, and choreographer whose career bridges public policy, organizational transformation, and creative practice. In 2025, he engaged with Boston Lyric Opera as Voice of God in Noah’s Flood. He serves as president and CEO of OPERA America, the national service organization supporting opera companies and artists. Previously, as executive director of Mass Cultural Council, he led strategy and operations for Massachusetts’ $29.7 billion creative economy, helped secure more than $60 million in COVID relief for arts organizations, advanced landmark equity plans, expanded access to grantmaking, and launched the nation’s first statewide arts-in-health social prescribing initiative. Before public service, Bobbitt led New Repertory Theatre and Adventure Theatre MTC, where he commissioned more than 50 new works and pioneered sensory-friendly and autisminclusive performances that became a national model. His work has been produced at the Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theatre, Washington National Opera, La Jolla Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and other venues. His honors include honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degrees from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and Dean College, the Kennedy Center Gold Medallion, Boston Business Journal’s Power 50, and investiture in the College of Fellows of the American Theatre.
JUNHAN CHOI Shrestinian Award winner Baritone Junhan Choi maintains an active decade-long collaboration with Boston Lyric Opera, having appeared in over 15 productions. A former Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist (2022-2024), his performance credits with the company include the Imperial Commissioner in Madama Butterfly, Alcindoro and covering Schaunard in La bohème, the Bass Soloist in Eurydice, and covering Dandini in La Cenerentola. He also regularly appears in various BLO company concerts and the Street Stage series. Beyond BLO, Choi’s recent roles include Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with Union Avenue Opera and the Bar Harbor Music Festival, Schaunard in La bohème with the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra, and Pantheus in Les Troyens with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras. His extensive concert soloist highlights include Fauré’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall, Bach’s St. John Passion with Cantata Singers, and Duruflé’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah with the Naples Philharmonic. Choi has been recognized in numerous competitions, most notably earning three special prizes at the 54th Tenor Viñas International Singing Contest in Barcelona. He holds a master’s degree and a graduate diploma from the New England Conservatory of Music.
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HOSTS JOYCE KULHAWIK Emcee, A&E Emmy Award-winning Journalist Joyce Kulhawik, best known as the Emmy Award-winning Arts and Entertainment anchor for CBS-Boston (WBZ-TV 1981-2008), is currently President of the Boston Theater Critics Association, a member of the Boston Society of Film Critics, and appears on Boston Public Radio’s The Culture Show (GBH radio 89.7) weekdays at 2PM. The first arts reporter/critic in the U.S. to appear every weeknight as part of a local TV news team, she gave journalistic stature to arts reporting, covering local and national events live from the red carpet at the Oscars, Emmys, and GRAMMYs. Kulhawik has also co-hosted nationally syndicated movie-review programs with Roger Ebert and Leonard Maltin. Find her reviews at JoycesChoices.com. Among countless awards for her arts coverage and advocacy, Kulhawik was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame and received the N.E. Emmys Governor’s Award for her distinguished career. As a 3X cancer survivor, she addressed Congress on the 20th Anniversary of the National Cancer Act and was awarded The American Cancer Society’s National Bronze Medal for her work. Kulhawik received an honorary doctorate in communications from Simmons University.
MARIE KEEP Auctioneer Marie Keep is head of Wines and Spirits at Bonhams. Having founded the first New England auction platform for wines and spirits at Bonhams Skinner in 2006, she now helms the department at Bonhams, bringing legendary collections to the market and achieving world record results. Keep is active in the food and drink community in Boston, from which she builds key national partnerships and serves as an auctioneer for cultural and philanthropic institutions across the US. Marie Keep’s participation as this evening’s Auctioneer is made possible by Bonhams.
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RECENT GALA HONOREES Jane & Steven Akin Leadership Honorees, Opera Gala 2025 Keith Lockhart Artistic Honoree, Opera Gala 2025 Lee Pelton Community Honoree, Opera Gala 2025 Ray & Maria Stata Leadership Honorees, Opera Gala 2024 Morris Robinson Artistic Honoree, Opera Gala 2024 Leverett Wing Community Honoree, Opera Gala 2024 Jeremy Eichler Humanities Honoree, Opera Gala 2024
PAST SHRESTINIAN AWARD RECIPIENTS The Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence was created to help an exceptional young artist in the BLO Chorus further their career by supporting advancement. This annual award, first awarded in 2001, was created and named in memory of one of BLO’s beloved chorus members, who passed away suddenly in 1996 at the age of 29. 2025/26 – Mary Kray
2010/11 – Michelle Trainor
2024/25 – Carley DeFranco
2009/10 – Meredith Hansen
2023/24 – Arielle Rogers-Wilkey
2008/09 – Neal Ferreira
2019/20 – Antonia Tamer
2007/08 – Joseph Valone
2018/19 – Felicia Gavilanes
2006/07 – Erica Brookhyser
2017/18 – Jesse Darden
2005/06 – Andrea Coleman
2016/17 – Jon Jurgens
2004/05 – Laura Choi Stuart
2015/16 – Vera Savage
2003/04 – Stephanie Chigas
2014/15 – Heather Gallagher
2002/03 – Heidi Stober
2013/14 – Chelsea Basler
2001/02 – Alan Schneider
2012/13 – Omar Najmi
2000/01 – Neil Nelson
2011/12 – Molly Paige Crookedacre
Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist
Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum
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Congratulations to Boston Lyric Opera on 50 years of enriching Greater Boston through artistic excellence, cultural engagement, and community impact. 800-457-4901 | winstonflowers.com
Culture & Celebration Cheers to Boston Lyric Opera for 50 years of artistic enrichment. The table is set for decades to come.
Now Booking Private Events Opera + Community Studios @thecateredaffair | thecateredaffair.com
MEET THE ARTISTS MICHAEL FABIANO Tenor Born in Montclair, New Jersey, Michael Fabiano studied at the University of Michigan and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. He received both the 2014 Beverly Sills Artist Award and the 2014 Richard Tucker Award, the first singer to receive both honors in the same year. Major roles include Don José, Carmen, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence; Poliuto, Poliuto, Glyndebourne Festival; and his acclaimed debut as Calaf in Turandot in Rome, directed by Ai Weiwei. He has appeared on the world’s leading stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Teatro Real Madrid, Berlin Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Opéra de Paris. Recent engagements include Calaf, Turandot; Des Grieux, Manon; Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly; Don José, Carmen; Rodolfo, Luisa Miller; and Riccardo, Un ballo in maschera. In 2026, he made major role debuts as Otello and in La Gioconda. Beyond the stage, Fabiano is a co-founder of ArtSmart, a nonprofit providing free music education to young people in underserved communities across the U.S. He is also Chief Strategy Officer for Resonance, a platform supporting creative professionals in modernizing and growing their artistic businesses. In his spare time, he is an instrument-rated pilot and flies whenever his schedule allows.
BRETT HODGDON Pianist, BLO Head of Music Brett Hodgdon is Chorus Director and Head of Music at Boston Lyric Opera, where he has collaborated with Music Director David Angus on the company’s music staff since 2011. Hodgdon was a member of the first class of Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists in the 2011/12 season. He serves on the full-time opera faculty of the New England Conservatory of Music. Additionally, he teaches courses including diction and vocal repertoire at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. In addition to his work at BLO and as an educator, Hodgdon has been a rehearsal pianist for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Festival Chorus since 2008, having rehearsed and coached vocal programs for music director Andris Nelsons and many guest conductors, including performances at Symphony Hall, Tanglewood, and Carnegie Hall. He has also been rehearsal pianist and coach for the Emmanuel Music Bach Cantata Series since 2006. Hodgdon has served on the coaching faculties of several summer festivals, including Si Parla, Si Canta! in Arona, Italy and the American Wagner Festival with renowned soprano and artistic director Jane Eaglen. He received a DMA in collaborative piano from the New England Conservatory and holds degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
MICHAEL JANNEY Stage Manager 2020 BLO BLO | GALA | GALA 2026 2026
MUSICAL PROGRAM “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci Music & libretto by Ruggero Leoncavallo “È la solita storia del pastore” (Lamento di Federico) from L’arlesiana Music by Francesco Cilea | Libretto by Leopoldo Marenco “Granada” Music & lyrics by Agustín Lara “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca Music by Giacomo Puccini | Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa “Addio, fiorito asil” from Madama Butterfly Music by Giacomo Puccini | Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa “Nessun dorma” from Turandot Music by Giacomo Puccini | Libretto by Giuseppe Adami & Renato Simoni “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from Das Land des Lächelns Music by Franz Léhar | Libretto by Ludwig Herzer & Fritz Löhner-Beda
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TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Vesti la giubba” from Pagliacci Recitar!... Mentre preso dal delirio non so più quel che dico e quel che faccio! Eppur è d’uopo... sforzati! Bah... sei tu forse un uom? Tu se’ Pagliaccio!
To perform! While in a state of frenzy I no longer know what I’m saying and doing! Yet it must be done... pull yourself together! Bah! Are you not a man? You’re a clown!
Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina. La gente paga e rider vuole qua. E se Arlecchin t’invola Colombina, ridi, Pagliaccio... e ognun applaudirà! Tramuta in lazzi lo spasmo ed il pianto; in una smorfia il singhiozzo e ’l dolor... Ridi, Pagliaccio, sul tuo amore infranto! Ridi del duol che t’avvelena il cor!
Put on your costume and paint your face white. People have paid and want to get their laughs. And if Harlequin steals your Colombine, laugh, Pagliaccio, and everyone will applaud! Transform your heartbreak and tears into jest; and your sobbing and pain into a grimace! Laugh, clown, over your shattered love! Laugh at the pain that is poisoning your heart!
“È la solita storia del pastore” (Lamento di Federico) from L’arlesiana È la solita storia del pastore... Il povero ragazzo voleva raccontarla e s’addormì. C’è nel sonno l’oblio. Come l’invidio! Anch’io vorrei dormir così, nel sonno almen l’oblio trovar! La pace sol cercando io vo’. Vorrei poter tutto scordar! Pur ogni sforzo è vano. Davanti ho sempre di lei il dolce sembiante. La pace tolta è sempre a me. Perchè degg’io tanto penar? Lei! sempre lei dinanzi a me! Fatale vision, mi lascia! Mi fai tanto male! Ahimè!
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It’s the old tale of the shepherd... The poor boy wanted to retell it, and he fell asleep. There is oblivion in sleep. How I envy him! I, too, would like to sleep in such a way; in sleep, at least, to find oblivion! I am seeking only peace. I would like to be able to forget everything! Yet every effort is futile. Before me I always have her sweet face. Peace is forever robbed from me. Why must I suffer so much? She, always she, before me! Fatal vision, leave me! You wound me so much! Alas!
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Granada” Granada, tierra soñada por mí, mi cantar se vuelve gitano cuando es para ti; mi cantar, hecho de fantasía, mi cantar, flor de melancolía, que yo te vengo a dar.
Granada, land I dream of, my song becomes Romani when it’s for you; my song, built on fantasy, my song, flower of melancholy, which I come to give you.
Granada, tierra ensangrentada en tardes de toros; mujer que conserva el embrujo de los ojos moros; te sueño rebelde y gitana cubierta de flores, y beso tu boca de grana, jugosa manzana, que me habla de amores.
Granada, blood-soaked earth from afternoons of bullfighting; woman who retains the power of her bewitching Moorish eyes; I dream of you, rebellious and covered in flowers, I kiss your burgundy lips, succulent apple that speaks to me of love.
Granada, manola, cantada en coplas preciosas, no tengo otra cosa que darte que un ramo de rosas. De rosas, de suave fragancia, que le dieran marco a la Virgen Morena.
Granada, vivacious woman to whom poets dedicate precious verses, I have nothing I can give you except for a bunch of roses. Sweet, fragrant roses like those that surround the Dark Virgin.
Granada, tu tierra está llena de lindas mujeres, de sangre y de sol.
Granada, your land is full of beautiful women, blood, and sunshine.
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TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca E lucevan le stelle... e olezzava la terra... stridea l’uscio dell’orto, e un passo sfiorava la rena... Entrava ella, fragrante, mi cadea fra le braccia. Oh! dolci baci, o languide carezze, mentr’io fremente le belle forme disciogliea dai veli! Svanì per sempre il sogno mio d’amore... l'ora è fuggita e muoio disperato! E non ho amato mai tanto la vita!
And the stars were shining... and the earth was fragrant... the garden gate creaked, and a footstep grazed the sand... She entered, fragrant, and fell into my arms. Oh! Sweet kisses, oh languid caresses, while I, trembling, removed the veils from her lovely body! My dream of love has vanished forever... the hour is gone, and I die in despair! And never have I loved life so much!
“Addio, fiorito asil” from Madama Butterfly Addio, fiorito asil, di letizia e d’amor... Sempre il mite suo sembiante con strazio atroce vedrò. Non reggo al tuo squallor. Fuggo, son vil!
Farewell, flowered refuge of happiness and love... I will always see your gentle face in atrocious torment. I can’t stand your squalor. I flee, I am a coward!
“Nessun dorma” from Turandot Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza guardi le stelle che tremano d’amore e di speranza! Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me, il nome mio nessun saprà! No, no, sulla tua bocca lo dirò, quando la luce splenderà! Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia! Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! All’alba vincerò!
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No one shall sleep! Even you, oh princess, in your cold room, watch the stars that tremble with love and hope! But my secret is hidden within me; no one shall learn my name! No, no, I will speak it against your lips when the light shines. And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine! Vanish, oh night! Set, stars! At dawn, I will win!
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” from Das Land des Lächelns Dein ist mein ganzes Herz! Wo du nicht bist, kann ich nicht sein. So, wie die Blume welkt, wenn sie nicht küsst der Sonnenschein! Dein ist mein schönstes Lied, weil es allein aus der Liebe erblüht. Sag’ mir noch einmal, mein einzig Lieb, o, sag’ noch einmal mir: Ich hab’ dich lieb! Wohin ich immer gehe, ich fühle deine Nähe. Ich möchte deinen Atem trinken und betend dir zu Füssen sinken, dir, dir allein! Wie wunderbar ist dein leuchtendes Haar! Traumschön und sehnsuchtsbang ist dein strahlender Blick. Hör’ ich der Stimme Klang, ist es so wie Musik. Dein ist mein ganzes Herz! Wo du nicht bist, kann ich nicht sein. So, wie die Blume welkt, wenn sie nicht küsst der Sonnenschein! Dein ist mein schönstes Lied, weil es allein aus der Liebe erblüht. Sag’ mir noch einmal, mein einzig Lieb, o, sag’ noch einmal mir: Ich hab’ dich lieb!
My entire heart is yours! Where you are absent, I cannot exist, Just as the flower wilts When the sunshine does not kiss it! My most beautiful song belongs to you, Because it bloomed from love alone. Say to me again, my only love, Oh, say to me once again: I love you! Wherever I may go, I feel your presence. I would like to drink your breath and sink pleadingly at your feet, You, you alone! How wonderful is your shining hair! Dreamily beautiful, anxious with longing is your shining gaze. When I hear the sounds of your voice, it is like music. My entire heart is yours! Where you are absent, I cannot exist, Just as the flower wilts When the sunshine does not kiss it! My most beautiful song belongs to you, Because it bloomed from love alone. Say to me again, my only love, Oh, say to me once again: I love you!
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AUCTION ITEMS Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise Join Gala Co-Chairs Susan and Bill Poduska for an elevated evening on the water. Cruise through Boston Harbor on a 40’ Hinkley Talaria, cocktail in hand, surrounded by breathtaking waterfront views and the rich maritime history of the Boston Harbor Islands. As the sun begins to set, take in the beauty of more than 30 islands, each offering its own unique scenery and stories. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or simply looking to unwind with friends, this cocktail cruise offers the perfect blend of scenic views, refreshing drinks, and an unforgettable evening on the water. The sail will take place at a mutually agreeable date and time between June 2027 and October 2027 for up to six (6) guests.
View of Boston Harbor. Photo courtesy of Barton & Gray Mariners Club.
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BLO | GALA 2026
Perform with BLO at Symphony Hall Make your opera debut with BLO! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step onstage in a walk-on role as part of BLO’s Community Opera on May 8, 2027. Wow your friends and family onstage and backstage with 8 VIP tickets and a backstage tour of Symphony Hall. Get to know your fellow performers through rehearsals and treat your fans to a curated dinner from The Catered Affair at BLO’s Opera + Community Studios. Winner must attend the May 6, 2027 final room run at BLO’s Opera + Community Studios at 6pm and the final rehearsal at Symphony Hall on May 8, 2027 at 10am ahead of the performance. Additional opportunities pending the winning bidder’s availability include the November 19 workshop, April 26 Meet & Greet, and daily staging April 26 through the performance, with the exception of Sunday, May 2.
BLO's 2025 community opera, Noah's Flood, at Symphony Hall. ©️Michael J. Lutch.
The Met with Michael
Experience The Met as never before! Attend an evening performance of Aida featuring tonight’s soloist Michael Fabiano, and enjoy a luxurious overnight stay at The Peninsula New York. Join Michael and BLO’s own Nina Yoshida Nelsen for lunch and conversation the next day at one of Michael’s favorite spots. Available performance dates are March 9, 17, or 20.
Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Opera. Photo taken in 2014 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.
BLO | GALA 2026
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BOSTON LYRIC OPERA BOARD MEMBERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Alicia Cooney Board Chair Alex Senchak Board President Miguel de Bragança Vice Chair Andrew Eisenberg Vice President Jennifer Ritvo Hughes Treasurer Dr. Irving H. Plotkin Clerk Wayne Davis Immediate Past Board President Bradley Vernatter Ex Officio | Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO
BOARD OF ADVISORS Russell López Lawrence St. Clair Lydia Kenton Walsh Co-Chairs Dr. Susan E. Bennett Richard M. Burnes, Jr. Ellen Cabot Carole Charnow Carol Deane Larry DeVito JoAnne Walton Dickinson Laura Dike Robert Eastman
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BLO | GALA 2026
Priscilla H. Douglas Timothy Fulham Christine Goerke Jack Gorman Frank Graves Susan W. Jacobs Amelia Welt Katzen Sally Kornbluth Maria J. Krokidas John Loder Laura Mandel Ben Markham Abigail B. Mason Jo Frances Meyer Maria Park Winfield Perry Michael Puzo Erinn Rhodes Susan Rodgerson Daniel Romanow Vincent D. Rougeau Ray Stata Peter Wender George Yip
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL David Scudder Chair
Willis Emmons Brian Gokey Sylvia Han David Hoffman Amy Hunter Louise Johnson Janika LeMaitre Lynne Levitsky Anita Loscalzo Kathryn McDaniel Jillian McGrath Kate Meany Elaine Murphy Jane Pisciottoli Papa Koren Phillips
Bill Poduska Susanne Potts Stephen Ricci Allison Ryder Simone Santiago Barbara Senchak Tricia Swift Wynne Szeto Frank Tempesta Richard Trant Amy Tsurumi Archana Venkataraman Robert Walsh Yin-Yin Wang Tania Zouikin
Steven P. Akin Linda Cabot Black Willa Bodman Paul Montrone Ray Stata EMERITI Steven P. Akin J.P. Bargeru Horace H. Irvine IIu Sherif A. Nada E. Lee Perryu
As of September 15, 2026 u
Deceased
BOSTON LYRIC OPERA STAFF NILE HAWVER/NILE SCOTT STUDIOS
LEADERSHIP
PHILANTHROPY
Bradley Vernatter Stanford Calderwood General Director & Chief Executive Officer Nina Yoshida Nelsen Artistic Director David Angus Music Director Anne Bogart Artistic Associate
Megan Bernard Interim Senior Director of Philanthropy Amy Gingle Campaign Director Laura Jekel Director of Annual Giving & Philanthropy Charlotte Porter Principal Philanthropy Advisor Joanna Safarik Senior Philanthropy Advisor Shelly Cornell Senior Philanthropy Advisor Eileen Puzo Gala Manager Randy Biagas-Hill Philanthropy Coordinator Katherine Leary Prospect Researcher
ARTISTIC & COMMUNITY Ben Richter Senior Director of Producing Operations Lisa Hanson Director of Producing Operations Nancy McDonald Director of Business Operations Morgan Beckford Director of Community & Learning Scot Burckhardt Director of Production Brett Hodgdon Head of Music & Chorus Director Ian Rouillard Assistant Director of Production Kimberly Sabio Manager of Artistic Operations V Brancazio Community & Learning Manager Alexis Feldman Community & Learning Coordinator Natalie Main Artistic Coordinator Michael Janney Producing Associate Kacie Brown Resident Teaching Artist Sepehr Davallou Resident Teaching Artist Laura Nevitt Resident Teaching Artist Hannah Shanefield Resident Teaching Artist Ji Yung Lee Coach/Pianist Brendon Shapiro Coach/Pianist Douglas Sumi Coach/Pianist ADMINISTRATION Lizabeth Malanga Senior Director of Administration Libby B. Snyder Office Administrator Eboni Bell Executive Administrator Anahi Paulino Rumaldo Executive Office Associate Erika Dooley Director of People & Culture FINANCE Jarrell Perkins Chief Financial Officer Michelle Rawding Finance Manager
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS Julia Propp Managing Director Alfredo Muñoz Director of Marketing & Sales Ryan Cannister Marketing & Communications Manager RhondaLeigh Dauphinais Interim CRM Project Manager Kathryn DeNitto Director of Institutional Relations Amy Advocat Manager of Institutional Communications & Philanthropy Charley Gibson Audience Services Manager Lauren Florek Senior Patron Services Coordinator Natalia St Jean Editorial Coordinator Wren Rodziewicz Database Coordinator Natalie Barnaby Patron Services Associate Nicole DeGrandpre Marketing Associate JMK PR Public Relations Leapfrog Arts Graphic Design Wetherbee Creative Graphic Design Mouth Media Website JCA Consulting CRM Applications Russell Philanthropies Consultant Phillip C. Song, MD Consulting Laryngologist Division Chief of Laryngology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Dr. Charmain Jackman Mental Health & Wellbeing Consultant | InnoPsych Art & Soul Consulting Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Think Outside the Vox Accessibility Partner EMERITUS ARTISTS John Conklin Artistic Advisor and Designer Emeritusu
As of September 11, 2026 u
Deceased
BLO | GALA 2026
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Chelsea Basler as Lola in BLO’s 2021 Cavalleria rusticana.
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BLO | GALA 2026
OPERA + COMMUNITY STUDIOS
15 CHANNEL CENTER ST | BOSTON, MA BLO.org/operacommunitystudios
All performances begin on time. To respect the enjoyment of others, BLO observes a no-late seating policy. While we understand that traffic conditions, public transportation, weather, and other factors can have unexpected effects on your arrival, we wish to minimize disruptions for our seated patrons and for our artists onstage. Additionally, if you must leave during the performance, reentry may be prohibited. As a courtesy to the artists and for the comfort of those around you, please turn off mobile phones, watch alarms, and other devices with audible signals prior to the start of the performance. The use of cameras or recording devices in the theater is strictly prohibited. For BLO productions & subscriptions, visit BLO.org or call BLO Audience Services at 617.542.6772, MON-FRI | 10-5. EXIT EXIT
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Wheelchair access to the Opera + Community Studios is available at 15 Channel Center Street. BLO Staff will be on site to assist with wayfinding and other needs. Restrooms with accessible stalls are located on both levels. Accessible seats are available for each performance at all price levels. If you have questions or concerns about an accessibility need, please contact us at boxoffice@blo.org and one of our staff will be in touch with you as soon as possible.
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Mask wearing is no longer required for most performances and events, but strongly encouraged at all times while in the performance space.
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Fire exits are marked by red illuminated signs. The exit closest to your seat indicates the shortest route out of the building. In the event of a fire or other emergency, calmly walk to the closest exit and proceed outside to street level, using stairs only (not elevators). If an evacuation is needed, please follow the instructions of BLO Staff.
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BLO | GALA 2026
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