A CONCERT ON THE VINEYARD TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026 | 5:00PM Union Chapel (Oak Bluffs) PERFORMERS Brianna J. Robinson Nina Yoshida Nelsen Brett Hodgdon CO-HOSTS Michele Courton Brown Evelyne Martial & Paul Alexander Stephanie & Basil Browne Susan & Bill Poduska Victoria Danberg & John Ficarelli Rumena & Alex Senchak Suki & Miguel de Bragança Barbara & Andrew Senchak Maria Krokidas & Marie & Bill Woodburn Bruce Bullen Tania Zouikin
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MUSICAL PROGRAM “Porgi, amor” from The Marriage of Figaro Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” from Carmen Music by Georges Bizet Libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
“Habañera” from Carmen Music by Georges Bizet Libretto by Henri Meilhac & Ludovic Halévy
“Ah, fors’è lui... Sempre libera” from La traviata Music by Giuseppe Verdi Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
“Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila Music by Camille Saint-Saëns Libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire
“Vissi d’arte” from Tosca Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
“Belle nuit (Barcarolle)” from Les contes d’Hoffmann Music by Jacques Offenbach Libretto by Jules Barbier
“I Want Magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire Music by André Previn Libretto by Philip Littell
“Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio (Flower Duet)” from Madama Butterfly Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
“Somewhere” from West Side Story Music by Leonard Bernstein Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Boston Lyric Opera thanks the Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music Society for partnering with us on this concert. BLO also extends its warm gratitude to the Co-Hosts of this event: Michele Courton Brown, Stephanie & Basil Browne, Victoria Danberg & John Ficarelli, Suki & Miguel* de Bragança, Maria Krokidas* & Bruce Bullen, Evelyne Martial & Paul Alexander, Susan & Bill^ Poduska, Rumena & Alex* Senchak, Barbara^ & Andrew Senchak, Marie & Bill Woodburn, and Tania Zouikin^. * = BLO Board of Directors
^ = BLO Board of Advisors
MEET THE PERFORMERS In the 2025/26 season, soprano Brianna J. Robinson returned to Detroit Opera as a Resident artist, performing as Moira in Poul Ruders’ The Handmaid's Tale. She also performed with the Lima Symphony Orchestra in Carmina Burana. In 2026/27, she returns to Boston Lyric Opera as Jemmy in William Tell. Ms. Robinson is a former Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist with BLO, where she performed roles such as Julie in Giddens and Abels’ 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar, Léontine in Joseph Bologne’s The Anonymous Lover, Mimì (cover) in La bóheme, and Lucy in Fellow Travelers. As a Resident Artist with the Detroit Opera in 2024/25, Ms. Robinson had role debuts as Annina in La traviata and as Antron’s Mother/Kevin’s Mother/Ensemble in Central Park Five. She also covered Violetta in La traviata, Almirena in Rinaldo, and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. She debuted at Carnegie Hall with The Cecilia Chorus of NY in 2023, performing Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem. Last season, she was awarded First Prize in the George Shirley Vocal Competition in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and First Place in the James Toland Vocal Arts Competition. Ms. Robinson is a proud graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University and the Eastman School of Music. GRAMMY® Award-nominated mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen captivates audiences throughout North America and Europe with her world-class voice and magnetic stage presence. Over the past two seasons, Ms. Nelsen has maintained an active performance schedule alongside her work as Artistic Director of Boston Lyric Opera, demonstrating a commitment to remaining grounded in the art form she now helps to lead. On the operatic stage, she has performed the role of Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with Utah Opera, Anchorage Opera, and Calgary Opera, as well as the role of Khanh in Huang Ruo's Bound with Anchorage Opera. She has also appeared in concert, most recently as a soloist in Handel's Messiah with the Boise Philharmonic. In 2026, she received her first GRAMMY® nomination for her performance of Chen’s mother on the recording of Huang Ruo’s An American Soldier. In previous seasons, Ms. Nelsen joined Indianapolis Opera for the title role in Carmen and performed the role of Melissa in Alcina with Seattle Opera, Suzuki with Opera Carolina, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro with Utah Opera, and Mother Chen in An American Soldier at the Perelman Performing Arts Center, a role that she has previously performed with Bard SummerScape. 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.
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Porgi, amor” from The Marriage of Figaro Porgi, amor, qualche ristoro al mio duolo a’miei sospir! O mi rendi il mio tesoro, o mi lascia almen morir!
O love, bring some relief to my sorrow, to my sighs! O give me back my loved one, or at least let me die.
“Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” from Carmen C’est des contrebandiers le refuge ordinaire. Il est ici; je le verrai! Et le devoir que m’imposa sa mère— sans trembler je l’accomplirai.
This is the usual hideout of the smugglers. He is here; I will see him! And the task his mother has entrusted to me— without trembling, I will accomplish it.
Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante. Je dis, hélas! que je réponds de moi; Mais j’ai beau faire la vaillante… au fond du coeur je meurs d’effroi!
I say that nothing frightens me. I say, alas, that I can fend for myself; But I’m trying hard to be brave… in the depths of my heart, I’m dying of terror!
Seule en ce lieu sauvage— toute seule j’ai peur, mais j’ai tort d’avoir peur. Vous me donnerez du courage; vous me protégerez, Seigneur!
Alone in this wild place— all alone, I’m afraid, but I’m wrong to be afraid. You will give me courage; you will protect me, Lord!
Je vais voir de près cette femme dont les artifices maudits ont fini par faire un infâme de celui que j’aimais jadis! Elle est dangereuse… elle est belle! Mais je ne veux pas avoir peur! Non, non, je ne veux pas avoir peur! Je parlerai haut devant elle… Ah! Seigneur, vous me protégerez!
I am going to see that woman up close, whose cursed tricks succeeded in making a criminal of the one I loved long ago! She is dangerous… she is beautiful! But I don’t want to be afraid! No, no, I don’t want to be afraid! I will speak proudly in front of her… Ah, Lord, you will protect me!
Protégez-moi! Ô Seigneur! Donnez-moi du courage! Protégez-moi, Seigneur!
Protect me, oh Lord! Give me courage! Protect me, Lord!
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Habañera” from Carmen Quand je vous aimerai? Ma foi, je ne sais pas. Peut-être jamais, peut-être demain; mais pas aujourd’hui, c’est certain.
When will I love you? By my faith, I do not know. Maybe never, maybe tomorrow; but not today, that’s for sure.
L’amour est un oiseau rebelle, que nul ne peut apprivoiser, et c’est bien en vain qu’on l’appelle, s’il lui convient de refuser. Rien n’y fait; menace ou prière, l’un parle bien, l’autre se tait; Et c’est l’autre que je préfère, il n’a rien dit mais il me plait.
Love is a rebellious bird that nothing can tame, and it is truly in vain to call it, if it wants to refuse you. Nothing helps, threats nor pleas, some speak well, others stay quiet; And it’s the other whom I prefer, the man who says little.
L’amour est enfant de bohème, il n’a jamais connu de loi; Si tu ne m’aimes pas, je t’aime; Si je t’aime, prends garde à toi.
Love is a child of bohemian existence, it hasn’t ever known about laws; If you do not love me, I love you; If I love you, watch out for yourself!
L’oiseau que tu croyais surprendre battit de l’aile et s’en vola... L’amor est loin, tu peux l’attendre; Tu ne l’attends plus il est là. Tout autour de toi, vite, vite, il vient, s’en va, puis il revient... Tu crois le tenir, il t’évite, tu crois l’éviter, il te tient.
The bird that you thought to surprise flapped its wings and flew away... Love is far away, you can wait for it; You stop waiting, and it is there. All around you, quickly, quickly, it comes, it goes, then it comes back... You think you have it, it avoids you; you think to avoid it, and it holds you.
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Ah, fors’è lui... Sempre libera” from La traviata È strano!... è strano!... in core scolpiti ho quegli accenti!... Sarìa per me sventura un serio amore? Che risolvi, o turbata anima mia? Null’uomo ancora t’accendeva... o gioia ch’io non conobbi, esser amata amando! E sdegnarla poss’io per l’aride follie del viver mio?
How odd!... how odd!... on my heart those words are carved! Would it be so bad if I really fell in love? What have you resolved, o tormented soul of mine? No man has yet ignited your passion... Oh joy I have not known, to love and to be loved! And shall I deny it for the barren senselessness of how I now live?
Ah! forse è lui che l’anima solinga ne’ tumulti godea sovente pingere de’ suoi colori occulti? Lui che modesto e vigile all’egre soglie ascese, e nuova febbre accese destandomi all’amor. A quell’amor che è palpito dell’universo intero, misterioso, altero, croce e delizia al cor!
Ah! Could it perhaps be he, whom my soul, alone in my tumult requently delighted in depicting in mysterious hues? He, modest and watchful, visited me when I was ill, and ignited a new fever by awakening my love. To that love which is the pulse of the whole universe, mysterious, proud, pain and delight of the heart!
Follie! follie! Delirio vano è questo!... Povera donna! sola! abbandonata in questo popoloso deserto che appellano Parigi, che spero or più? Che far degg’io? Gioire, di voluttà nei vortici perire! Sempre libera degg’io folleggiare di gioia in gioia, vo’ che scorra il viver mio pei sentieri del piacer. Nasca il giorno o il giorno muoia, sempre lieta ne ritrovi, a diletti sempre nuovi dee volare il mio pensier.
Madness! Madness! This is vain delirium!... Poor woman, alone! Abandoned in this crowded wilderness they call Paris, what more can I hope for? What should I do? I must rejoice, must die in a whirlwind of delight! Always free must I flit from joy to joy, I want my life to race along the paths of pleasure. From dawn to dusk, always merry I will be, toward ever new delights must my thoughts fly.
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix comme s’ouvrent les fleurs aux baisers de l’aurore! Mais, ô mon bien-aimé, pour mieux sécher mes pleurs, que ta voix parle encore! Dis-moi qu’à Dalila tu reviens pour jamais! Redis à ma tendresse les serments d’autrefois, ces serments que j’aimais! Ah! réponds à ma tendresse, verse-moi livresse!
My heart opens to your voice as the flowers open to the kisses of the dawn! But oh, my beloved, the better to dry my tears, let your voice speak again! Tell me that you return to Dalila forever! Repeat to my tenderness your former avowals, those avowals that I loved! Ah! Respond to my tenderness, fill me with rapture!
Ainsi qu’on voit des blés les épis onduler sous la brise légère, ainsi frémit mon coeur prêt à se consoler, à ta voix qui m’est chère! La flèche est moins rapide à porter le trèpas que ne l’est ton amante à voler dans tes bras!
As one sees the ears of corn rippling under a gentle breeze, thus quivers my heart, about to be comforted by your voice, which is dear to me! Your mistress flies into your arms faster than an arrow bringing death!
Samson, Samson! Je t’aime!
Samson, Samson! I love you!
“Vissi d’arte” from Tosca Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amore, non feci mai male ad anima viva! Con man furtiva quante miserie conobbi aiutai. Sempre con fè sincera la mia preghiera ai santi tabernacoli salì. Sempre con fè sincera diedi fiori agl’altar. Nell’ora del dolore perchè, perchè, Signore, perchè me ne rimuneri così? Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto, e diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel, che ne ridean più belli. Nell’ora del dolor perchè, perchè, Signor, ah, perchè me ne rimuneri così?
I lived for my art, I lived for love, I never did harm to a living soul! With a secret hand I relieved as many misfortunes as I knew of. Always with true faith my prayer rose to the holy shrines. Always with true faith I gave flowers to the altar. In the hour of grief why, why, o Lord, why do you reward me thus? I gave jewels for the Madonna’s mantle, and I gave my song to the stars, to heaven, which smiled with more beauty. In the hour of grief why, why, o Lord, ah, why do you reward me thus?
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Belle nuit (Barcarolle)” from Les contes d’Hoffmann Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour, Souris à nos ivresses, Nuit plus douce que le jour, Ô belle nuit d'amour!
Beautiful night, oh, night of love, Smile upon our joys! Night much sweeter than the day Oh beautiful night of love!
Le temps fuit et sans retour Emporte nos tendresses, Loin de cet heureux séjour Le temps fuit sans retour.
Time flies by and carries away Our tender caresses forever! Time flies far from this happy oasis And does not return.
Zéphyrs embrasés, Versez-nous vos caresses, Zéphyrs embrasés, Donnez-nous vos baisers! Vos baisers! vos baisers! Ah!
Burning zephyrs, Embrace us with your caresses! Burning zephyrs, Give us your kisses! Your kisses! Your kisses! Ah!
Belle nuit, ô nuit d'amour, Souris à nos ivresses, Nuit plus douce que le jour, Ô belle nuit d'amour! Ah! Souris à nos ivresses! Nuit d'amour, ô nuit d'amour!
Lovely night, oh, night of love, Smile upon our joys! Night much sweeter than the day Oh, beautiful night of love! Ah! Smile upon our joys! Night of love, oh, night of love!
Music by Gioachino Rossini Libretto by Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy & L.F. Bis SEP 25 – OCT 4 | Emerson Colonial Theatre BLO.org | Box Office 617.542.677
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “I Want Magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire Real! Who wants real? I know I don't want it. I want magic! Magic! Yes! That's what I want! That's what I try to give to people. I do misrepresent things. I don't tell the truth. But I tell what ought to be the truth. What it ought to be. Yes, magic. Magic's what I try to give to people. If that's a sin, If that is such a sin, then let me be damned for it! Don't turn on that light! It'll all look so ugly in that light. Why not see by candlelight? Or moonlight, or by starlight? They are bright enough to see by. Sometimes too bright.
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TEXT & TRANSLATIONS “Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio (Flower Duet)” from Madama Butterfly Butterfly Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio e m’innonda di fior. Io vo’ tuffar nella pioggia odorosa l’arsa fronte.
Butterfly Shake that branch of the cherry tree and bathe me in flowers I want to plunge my burning brow into the perfumed rain of cherry blossoms.
Suzuki Signora, quetatevi…quel pianto…
Suzuki Madam, calm yourself…that weeping…
Butterfly No: rido, rido! Quanto lo dovremo aspettar? Che pensi? Un’ora?
Butterfly No: I’m laughing! How long will we have to wait for him? What do you think? An hour?
Suzuki Di più.
Suzuki More.
Butterfly Due ore forse. Tutto…tutto sia pien di fior, come la notte è di faville. Va pei fior.
Butterfly Two hours, perhaps. Let everything be full of flowers, just as the night is full of sparkling stars. Go for flowers.
Suzuki Tutti i fior?
Suzuki All the flowers?
Butterfly Tutti i fior…tutti…pesco, viola, gelsomin, quanto di cespo o d’erba o d’albero fiori.
Butterfly All the flowers…all…peach, violet, jasmine, anything that has bloomed on bush, grass, or tree.
Suzuki Uno squallor d’inverno sarà tutto il giardin.
Suzuki The garden will have a look of wintry squalor.
Butterfly Tutta la primavera voglio che olezzi qui.
Butterfly I want everything to smell like springtime here.
Suzuki A voi, signora.
Suzuki Here, madam.
Butterfly Cogline ancora.
Butterfly Pick it up again.
Suzuki Soventi a questa siepe veniste a riguardare lungi, piangendo nella deserta immensità.
Suzuki You came often to this hedge to look far away, weeping at the deserted immensity.
TEXT & TRANSLATIONS Butterfly Giunse l’atteso, nulla più chiedo al mare. Diedi pianto alla zolla, essa i suoi fior mi dà
Butterfly The awaited man has arrived; I ask nothing else of the sea. I poured my tears into the earth, and it is giving me back its flowers!
Suzuki Spoglio è l’orto
Suzuki The garden is stripped.
Butterfly Spoglio è l’orto? Vien, m’aiuta.
Butterfly The garden is stripped? Come, help me.
Suzuki Rose al varco della soglia.
Suzuki Roses at the opening of the threshold.
Both Tutta la primavera voglio che olezzi qui. Seminiamo intorno april.
Both I want everything to smell like springtime. Let us sow April around us.
Suzuki Gigli, viole?
Suzuki Lilies, violets?
Butterfly Intorno, intorno, spandi. Il suo sedil s’inghirlandi di convolvi.
Butterfly Spread them around. Let his seat be garlanded with morning glories.
Both Gettiamo a mani piene mammole e tuberose, Corolle di verbena, petali d’ogni fior
Both With hands full of sweet violets and tuberoses, Corollas of verbanas, petals of every flower!
“Somewhere” from West Side Story There’s a place for us, Somewhere a place for us. Peace and quiet and open air Wait for us somewhere. There’s a time for us, Someday a time for us. Time together with time to spare, Time to learn, time to care. Someday, somewhere We’ll find a new way of living, We’ll find a way of forgiving, Somewhere.
There’s a place for us, A time and place for us. Hold my hand and we’re halfway there. Hold my hand and I’ll take you there, Somehow, someday, Somewhere.
UPCOMING BLO EVENTS Concert in the Courtyard @ Boston Public Library (Central) August 28 | 12:30 - 1:30pm Deconstructing Opera: William Tell @ Opera + Community Studios September 10 | 5:00pm Opera Innovators: George Gagnidze @ Opera + Community Studios September 13 | 3:00pm Street Stage @ Titus Sparrow Park September 13 | 4:00 - 5:00pm William Tell @ Emerson Colonial Theatre September 25 – October 4 | Tickets on sale now! Opening Night Party: Celebrating 50 Years of BLO @ The Four Seasons September 25 | 10:30pm The Opera Gala @ Opera + Community Studios October 16 | 6:00pm
For event details, visit blo.org/events
BUILD YOUR 50TH SEASON — TODAY. MAKE THIS SEASON YOURS. WILLIAM TELL (GUILLAUME TELL) Music by Gioachino Rossini Libretto by Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy & L.F. Bis
SEP 25 - OCT 4, 2026 Emerson Colonial Theatre
A new BLO production
THE OPERA GALA Featuring Michael Fabiano
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Music by André Previn Libretto by Philip Littell Based on the play by Tennessee Williams
OCT 16, 2026 Opera + Community Studios NOV 5 - 8, 2026 Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
A new co-production with BLO and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
THE QUEEN OF SPADES (PIQUE DAME) Music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Libretto by Modest Tchaikovsky
JAN 29 - 31, 2027 Symphony Hall
Presented by the Boston Symphony Orchestra in collaboration with BLO
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO (LE NOZZE DI FIGARO) Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte A new BLO production
MAR 12 - 21, 2027 Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
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LAWRENCE BROWNLEE & ERIN MORLEY IN RECITAL
APR 16, 2027 New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall
Presented by Vivo Performing Arts in association with BLO
BOSTON’S COMMUNITY OPERA
MAY 8, 2027 Symphony Hall
Music by Carlos Simon Libretto by Tracy K. Smith
Co-commissioned by BLO and the Boston Symphony Orchestra
NADINE SIERRA IN RECITAL
JUN 2, 2027 New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall
Presented by BLO in association with Vivo Performing Arts
AYRE
Music by Osvaldo Golijov A new BLO production
JUN 17 - 20, 2027 Opera + Community Studios
2026/27 SEASON SUBSCRIBE TODAY
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Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO NINA YOSHIDA NELSEN Artistic Director
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DAVID ANGUS Music Director
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