Annual Report: 2023/24 Season | Boston Lyric Opera

FY 2023/24

2023/24 SEASON

Boston Lyric Opera’s 2023/24 Season was a testament to our commitment to boldness, collaboration, and inclusivity.

Capitalizing on the joyful momentum of our previous season—which saw us produce four full operas for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic—we rode the success of our award-winning productions, expanded our community initiatives, and invested more in our long-term growth. We more than doubled the number of audience members—including many first-time operagoers—attending our live performances and events at beloved Boston theaters, libraries, schools, and more. Our work in 2023/24, both onstage and offstage, embodied the season’s unifying theme: “All I have, I give for love.”

The 2023/24 Season began with a new production of Madama Butterfly, which represented the culmination of “The Butterfly Process,” a 3-year exploration of and commitment to authentic storytelling that centered Asian and Asian American voices and creators and examined the legacy of Madama Butterfly, particularly in terms of cultural appropriation, race and racism, gender stereotypes, and the wide-ranging impact of this opera for Asian artists. Thanks to the contributions of innumerable individuals and groups, we presented a new Madama Butterfly produced by a predominantly Asian American creative team that recast the story in the context of the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II. This piece was a labor of love for many, and we are deeply grateful for the collaboration, insight, and support of our partners.

Our repertoire throughout the season celebrated timeless love stories. We presented a vivacious, Boston-based La Cenerentola that garnered lots of laughs and affection for this classic fairy tale. A collaboration with playwright Kirsten Greenidge brought forth the charm of The Anonymous Lover—a bubbly, light-hearted comedic opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de SaintGeorge—enabling us to elevate the voice of a historically overlooked and historically significant Black composer of the eighteenth century.

To close out the season, we had the privilege of presenting Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, with the composer conducting and in collaboration with the original playwright, Sarah Ruhl. Presented in a new chamber arrangement that scaled down the orchestral forces while losing none of its musical or emotional depth, this opera now exists in a form that is more accessible to mid-size opera companies and music schools.

Helping to shape this season full of artistic innovation and community engagement was our newly appointed Artistic Director, Nina Yoshida Nelsen. Her vast experience as a singer, dramaturg, and artistic administrator anchored and emboldened our artistic vision for this season and beyond. We are grateful to have her voice and counsel steering us into the future.

We could not produce this caliber of opera without the support of our many partners and communities throughout Boston— from our donors and Board members, to our audiences both established and new, to the numerous artistic and cultural organizations who collaborate with us, and of course, the artists themselves. The future of Boston Lyric Opera is growing as vibrant as our community—and we look forward to many more years of creating exceptional, passionate, and meaningful art together.

With deepest appreciation,

Bradley Vernatter Stanford Calderwood General Director and CEO Boston Lyric Opera

WELCOME

Boston Lyric Opera’s 2023/24 Season marked the Company’s first fully in-person season since the COVID-19 pandemic. From awe-inspiring music and timeless love stories belonging to the grandest traditions of opera, to the reimagination of established and new works alike, this season was Boston Lyric Opera at its most exuberant, lighting up the stages of beloved Boston theaters with robust programming and inviting audiences into the immensity of the season’s theme: “All I have, I give for love.”

IN THE 2023/24 SEASON, BOSTON LYRIC OPERA:

• Welcomed over 20,400 audience members to live opera.

• Engaged over 8,400 people through free and low-cost public programs.

• Connected with over 4,100 youth through in-school and creative youth programs.

• Named Nina Yoshida Nelsen its new Artistic Director.

• Presented a new production of Madama Butterfly as a culmination of “The Butterfly Process,” BLO’s 3-year exploration of and recommitment to authentic storytelling.

• Presented “Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia: The Anonymous Lover” at the Works & Process series at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

• Offered more than 600 employment opportunities for artists, musicians, technicians, and administrative workers.

We are grateful for the community network that made this Season possible – from our audience members and supporters to our union employees, Board members and vendor partners – we are honored to be a vital part of the Massachusetts creative economy.

2023/24 SEASON

BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

Alicia Cooney Board Chair

Wayne Davis Board President

Miguel de Bragança Vice Chair

Andrew Eisenberg Vice President

Susan W. Jacobs Treasurer

Dr. Irving H. Plotkin Clerk

Michael J. Puzo Immediate Past Board Chair

Bradley Vernatter Ex Officio | Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Russell Lopez Co-Chair

Lawrence St. Clair Co-Chair

Lydia Kenton Walsh Co-Chair

James Ackerman

Dr. Susan E. Bennett

Richard M. Burnes, Jr.

Ellie Cabot

Carol Deane

Larry DeVito

JoAnne Walton Dickinson

Laura Dike

Robert Eastman

Sylvia Han

David Hoffman

Kathleen Hull

Amy Hunter

STAFF

Bill Hunter

Ernest Jacob

Catherine Bassick

Linda Cabot Black

Willa Bodman

Alan Dynner

Timothy Fulham

Mimi Hewlett

Lisa Hillenbrand

Amelia Welt Katzen

Maria J. Krokidas

Louise Johnson

Ellen Kaplan

Patricia Y. Kung

Janika LeMaitre

Lynne Levitsky

Anita Loscalzo

M. Lynne Markus

Kathryn McDaniel

Jillian McGrath

Kate Meany

Jo Frances Meyer

Jane Pisciottoli Papa

Samuel Parkinson

Dr. John William Poduska, Sr.

Amy Advocat Manager of Institutional Philanthropy

David Angus Music Director

Eboni Bell Executive Administrator

Allyson Bennett Philanthropy Coordinator

Kailey Bennett Production & Safety Coordinator

Sarah B. Blume Principal Philanthropy Advisor

Anne Bogart Artistic Associate

V Brancazio Events Manager

Jessica Johnson Brock Casting Consultant

Ryan Cannister Marketing & Communications Manager

Hannah Cassell Audience Development Manager

Jaclyn Cleary Payroll/Accounting Associate

Brianna Coccia Production Services Consultant

John Conklin Artistic Advisor

Michael Costa Director of Production

Lauren Florek Patron Services Associate

Abigail B. Mason

Anne M. Morgan

A. Neil Pappalardo

E. Lee Perry*

Vincent D. Rougeau

Alex Senchak

George Yip

Susanne Potts

Stephen Ricci

Carl Rosenberg

Allison Ryder

Simone Santiago

Tricia Swift

Wynne Szeto

Frank Tempesta

Richard Trant

Amy Tsurumi

Robert Walsh

Yin-Yin Wang

Peter J. Wender

Tania Zouikin

Charley Gibson Audience Services Coordinator

Lisa Hanson Senior Director of Producing Operations

Jeanna Heezen Marketing Coordinator

Brett Hodgdon Head of Music

Laura Jekel Philanthropy Advisor

Ishan Johnson Deputy Chief Philanthropy Officer

Vimbayi Kaziboni Artistic Advisor

Rebecca Kirk Director of Community & Learning

Chris Kristant Technical Director

Aileen Leon-Echeverria Administrative Manager

Lizabeth Malanga Senior Director of Administration

Nancy McDonald Senior Manager, Operations

Sean Meyers Associate Director of Philanthropy

Roxanna Myhrum Event Producer

Nina Yoshida Nelsen Artistic Director

Laura Nevitt Resident Teaching Artist

Sara O’Brien Senior Director of Public Engagement

David Scudder Chair

Steven P. Akin

Paul Montrone

Ray Stata

DIRECTORS EMERITI

Steven P. Akin

J.P. Barger*

Horace H. Irvine II*

Sherif A. Nada

*deceased

Linda Peeples Payroll/Accounting Associate

Jarrell Perkins Chief Financial Officer

Caterina Pina Human Resources Manager

Julia Propp Senior Director of Marketing & Sales

Lulu Ramirez Audience Services Associate

Michelle Rawding Financial Analyst

Ben Richter Director of Artistic Operations

Kimberly Sabio Senior Artistic Coordinator

Yong-Hee Silver Chief Philanthropy Officer

Kay Steele Youth Program Coordinator

Liam Tait Senior Operations Coordinator

David Tompkins Chief Operating Officer

Bradley Vernatter Stanford Calderwood General Director & Chief Executive Officer

Julia Whitten Resident Teaching Artist

Jordyn Younger Executive Administrator, Interim

BLO FINANCIAL SUMMARY

The 2023–2024 season marked a pivotal transition for Boston Lyric Opera as the company fully returned to in-person productions following the COVID-19 pandemic. Ticket sales continued the gradual recovery of earned revenue toward pre-pandemic levels while reflecting broader shifts in audience behavior and rising production costs. BLO presented an ambitious, multi-venue season while investing in new artistic leadership, expanded creative space, and education and community programs. Contributed revenue remained the primary financial engine supporting this work in a strategic year of reinvestment, artistic growth, and audience engagement.

FY24 OPERATING REVENUE:

CONTRIBUTED REVENUE: 90.39% EARNED REVENUE: 9.20%

FY24 OPERATING EXPENSE: GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE: 25.90% FUNDRAISING: 11.00%

PROGRAMS: 63.10%

OPERATING RESULTS | $THOUSANDS

FY2024 results include approximately $2.0 million of one-time expenditures. Excluding

$2.0 million.

OPERATING RESULTS | $MILLIONS

THE 2023/24 SEASON IN RETROSPECT

Boston Lyric Opera’s 2023/24 Season was defined by passion and creativity, with productions that blazed with color, music and set designs that transported audiences to myriad times and places, all while exploring the power, depth, and complexity of our most human of emotions: love.

From a reimagined Madama Butterfly helmed by a predominantly Asian American creative team followed by a classic fairy tale with a Boston twist, to a historically overlooked comic opera by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges followed by a new arrangement of Eurydice – a modern work conducted by its composer – Boston Lyric Opera pushed boundaries to center authentic storytelling, strengthen our ties with known and new audiences, and lead by example in building a bold, sustainable future for opera in Boston and beyond.

ARTIST ROSTER

ORCHESTRA 2023/24

VIOLIN

Annie Rabbat

Orchestra Leader

Sarah Atwood

Violin II Principal

Jodi Hagen

Violin II Principal

Stacey Alden

Heather Braun Bakken

Heidi Braun-Hill

Piotr Buczek

Robert Curtis

Colin Davis

Rose Drucker

Lisa Goddard

Rohan Gregory

Zenas Hsu

Annegret Klaua

Megumi Stohs Lewis

Yeolim Nam

Paula Oakes

Yumi Okada

Theo Ramsey

Roksana Sudol

Zoya Tsvetkova

Asuka Usui

Lena Wong

Hikaru Yonezaki

Yonah Zur

VIOLA

Kenneth Stalberg Principal

Anne Black

Joan Ellersick

David Feltner

Noriko Futagami

Anna Griffis

Jean Haig

Donna Jerome

Don Krishnaswami

Abigail Kubert-Cross

Emily Rome

CELLO

Loewi Lin Principal

Aron Zelkowicz Principal

Eleanor Blake

Melanie Dyball

Steven Laven

Jing Li

Rafael Popper-Keizer

BASS

Robert Lynam Principal

Barry Boettger

Kevin Green

FLUTE

Ann Bobo

Rachel Braude

Lisa Hennessy

Meghan Miller

Erika Rohrberg

OBOE

Nancy Dimock Principal

Mary Cicconetti

Grace Shryock

ENGLISH HORN

Grace Shryock

CLARINET

Jan Halloran Principal

Nicholas Brown

BASS CLARINET

Karen Heninger

BASSOON

Ronald Haroutunian Principal

Stephanie Busby

Rachel Juszczak

FRENCH HORN

Kevin Owen Principal

Nicholas Auer

Michael Bellofatto

Whitacre Hill

Dirk Hillyer

Iris Rosenstein

Lauren Winter

TRUMPET

Bruce Hall Principal

Mary-Lynne Bohn

Joseph Foley

Jesse Levine

TROMBONE

Robert Couture Principal

Robert Hoveland

Gabriel Langfur Rice

TUBA

Donald Rankin Principal

TIMPANI

Jeffrey Fischer Principal

TIMPANI/PERCUSSION

Robert Schulz

PERCUSSION

Craig McNutt

Gregory Simonds

Nancy Smith

HARP

Ina Zdorovetchi Principal

CHORUS 2023/24

SOPRANO

Sol Bentley

Alisa Cassola

Yeonjae Cho

Sarah Joyce Cooper

Melynda Davis

Carley DeFranco

Marie McCarville

Simeng Wu

Angela Yam

ALTO

Jaime Korkos

Mary Kray

Jeannette Lee

Katherine Maysek

Arielle Rogers-Wilkey

Madison Smith

Sarah Taylor

Amanda Romano Foreman

FORTEPIANO

Brett Hodgdon Principal

HARPSICHORD

Ji Yung Lee

PIANO

Brendon Shapiro

William Manley Music Librarian

Nicholas Brown Orchestra Contractor

TENOR

Kartik Ayysola

Zhengyi Bai

Josaphat Contreras

Kevin Courtemanche

Frank Levar

Christopher Maher

Morgan Mastrangelo

Thomas Oesterling

Patrick Starke

Fred C. VanNess, Jr.

BASS

Gift Anyagwochu

Keith Brinkley

Junhan Choi

Joel Clemens

Fred S. Furnari

Devon Russo

Ron Williams

Brett Hodgdon Chorus Director

JANE & STEVEN AKIN EMERGING ARTISTS 2023/24

Junhan Choi Baritone

Sarah Joyce Cooper Soprano

Emily Michiko Jensen Soprano

Alexis Peart Mezzo-soprano

Fred C. VanNess, Jr. Tenor

Angela Yam Soprano

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

September 14-24, 2023

Emerson Colonial Theatre

Music by Giacomo Puccini

Libretto by Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa

A new BLO production

David Angus Conductor

Phil Chan* Stage Director

Nina Yoshida Nelsen BLO Artistic Advisor & Dramaturg

Yu Shibagaki* Set Designer

Sara Ryung Clement* Costume Designer

Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew* Lighting Designer

Fuji Dreskin* Wig & Makeup Designer

Michael Sakamoto* Choreographer

Jackie Davis Intimacy Director

Arthur Dong* Historical Dramaturg

Karen Inouye* Historical Dramaturg

Ashlyn Aiko Nelson* Historical Dramaturg

Annie Rabbat Orchestra Leader

Brett Hodgdon‡ Chorus Director

Douglas Sumi Rehearsal Coach / Accompanist

Anderson Nunnelley‡ Assistant Stage Director

Kristen Barrett Stage Manager

CAST

Karen Chia-Ling Ho* Butterfly (Cio-Cio San)

Alice Chung* Suzuki

Dominick Chenes* B.F. Pinkerton

Troy Cook Sharpless

Rodell Rosel* Goro

Hyungjin Son* Uncle Bonzo

Vera Savage‡ Kate Pinkerton

Matthew Arnold Signor Dori (Yamadori)

Junhan Choi• Commissioner/Registrar

Neko Umphenour* Dolore (Butterfly’s child)

Cassie Wang Solo Dancer

Azamat Asangul* Dancer

Keiko Orrall* Supernumerary – Butterfly Miura

Donna Tsufura* Supernumerary –

Suzuki Kochiyama

Louis Jing* Supernumerary – Louis Jing

*Boston Lyric Opera Debut

•BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist

‡BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum

“Phil Chan, who is directing the production in Boston and has helped lead the push to confront stereotypes in opera and ballet, said he hoped to make familiar stories more authentic and relevant. The creative team in Boston includes Nina Yoshida Nelsen, a founder of the Asian Opera Alliance, which was formed in 2021 to help bring more racial diversity to the field.”

– The New York Times

“Among many current efforts at a positive alteration of the story, Boston Lyric Opera is scoring a first by having a more mature and self-assured Cio-Cio-San who lives not in Japan but in San Francisco’s Chinatown.”

– San Francisco Classical Voice

“BLO took an unprecedented step…preserving the classic in a new context.”

“It’s my hope that after someone sees this story, they’ll…see each other with more nuance and more empathy.”

– Nikkei View/JACL National

LA CENERENTOLA

LA CENERENTOLA

November 8-12, 2023

Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre

Music by Gioachino Rossini

Libretto by Jacopo Ferretti

A new BLO production

David Angus Conductor

Dawn M. Simmons* Stage Director

Jenna McFarland Lord* Set Designer

Trevor Bowen Costume Designer

Bailey Costa Lighting Designer

Priscilla Bruce Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer

Angie Jepson Intimacy Director

Annie Rabbat Orchestra Leader

Brett Hodgdon‡ Chorus Director

Brett Hodgdon‡ Rehearsal Coach / Accompanist

Douglas Sumi Rehearsal Coach / Accompanist

Brenda Huggins Assistant Stage Director

Mike Janney Stage Manager

CAST

Cecelia Hall* Angelina

Dana Lynne Varga¤ Clorinda

Alexis Peart•¤ Tisbe

Levy Sekgapane* Don Ramiro

Levi Hernandez Dandini

Brandon Cedel Don Magnifico

James Demler Alidoro

Abbey Engelmann Supernumerary

Madeline Lee Supernumerary

Emma West Supernumerary

* Boston Lyric Opera Debut

¤ Boston Lyric Opera Principal Debut

• BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist

‡ BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum

“Rossini’s opera version, with libretto by Jacopo Ferretti, dispenses with fairy dust in favor of more earthly interventions, maintaining its magic with beautiful melodies and an energetic score.” – Broadway World

“In a statement, Simmons said, ‘I hope La Cenerentola romances audiences. The magic is in the music, in the simplicity of boy-meets-girl and how they sweep each other off their feet.’ “ – OperaWire

THE ANONYMOUS LOVER

THE ANONYMOUS LOVER

February 16-18, 2024

The Huntington Theatre

Music by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Libretto by Desfontaines-Lavallée

A co-production with Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia

David Angus Conductor

Dennis Whitehead Darling* Stage Director

Leslie Travers Costume Designer

Driscoll Otto* Lighting Designer

Baron E. Pugh* Scenic Coordinator

April Gerbode* Wig, Hair & Makeup Designer

Angie Jepson Intimacy Director

Annie Rabbat Orchestra Leader

Brett Hodgdon‡ Chorus Director

Ji Yung Lee Rehearsal Coach / Pianist

Brendon Shapiro‡ Rehearsal Coach / Pianist

Natalie Barnaby Assistant Stage Director

Kristen Barrett Stage Manager

CAST

Brianna J. Robinson‡ Léontine

Omar Najmi‡ Valcour

Evan Hughes Ophémon

Ashley Emerson* Jeannette

Zhengyi Bai¤ Colin

Sandra Piques Eddy Dorothée

*Boston Lyric Opera Debut

•BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist

‡BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum

¤Boston Lyric Opera Principal Debut

“A sweet treat! With attractive, colorful sets…snappy stage-directing, an agile orchestra…and a new and witty English adaptation by Boston playwright Kirsten Greenidge.” –The Boston Globe

“A joyous delight! Funny, romantic, and splendidly sung!” –Broadway World

EURYDICE

EURYDICE

March 1-10, 2024

The Huntington Theatre

Music by Matthew Aucoin

Libretto by Sarah Ruhl

Based on the play by Sarah Ruhl

A new arrangement commissioned by Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Grand Rapids

Matthew Aucoin* Conductor

Douglas Fitch* Stage Director, Set & Costume Designer

Jorge Arroyo* Lighting Designer

Liz Printz Wig & Makeup Designer

Lauren A. Cook* Intimacy Director

Nile Hawver Fight Director

Annie Rabbat Orchestra Leader

Benjamin Perry Wenzelberg* Assistant Conductor

Brendon Shapiro‡ Rehearsal Coach / Pianist

Brenda Huggins Assistant Stage Director

Carmen Alfaro Stage Manager

CAST

Sydney Mancasola* Eurydice

Elliot Madore* Orpheus

Mark S. Doss Father

Nicholas Kelliher* Orpheus Double

David Portillo* Hades

Maggie Finnegan Little Stone/Ensemble

Alexis Peart• Big Stone/Ensemble

Neal Ferreira‡ Loud Stone/Ensemble

Junhan Choi• Ensemble

*Boston Lyric Opera Debut

•BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist

‡BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alum

arrives in the

with her memory wiped in BLO’s production of

“BLO’s performance was excellent, as was its production [with] impressive moments [both] visual and musical! The production design was superb…”

– The Boston Globe

“Touching…Aucoin’s score [is] deft, energetic, colorful, and wonderfully fluent…with fresh instrumentation vividly dispatched by the BLO Orchestra.”

– Boston Classical Review

BEYOND THE STAGE WITH MADAMA BUTTERFLY

BLO’s new 2023 production of Madama Butterfly, set in 1940s San Francisco, was the culmination of “The Butterfly Process,” the company’s 3-year exploration of and commitment to authentic storytelling that centered Asian and Asian American voices and examined the history and legacy of Madama Butterfly, particularly in terms of cultural appropriation, race and racism, gender stereotypes, and the wide-ranging impact of this opera for Asian artists. BLO presented two free community events in tandem with this production that provided additional opportunities for conversation, context, and exploration.

OUR STORY: CULTURAL LEGACIES OF JAPANESE AMERICAN INCARCERATION

September 11, 2023

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

In partnership with the Japanese American Citizens League, the Japan Society of Boston, and the JFK Library

Japanese American artists, scholars, and advocates led a discussion about the lasting cultural legacy of the United States’ forced mass removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Moderated by Nina Yoshida Nelsen, BLO’s Artistic Advisor and dramaturg

for the company’s new production of Madama Butterfly, panelists shared firsthand accounts and family stories of individuals who endured this historic violation of civil rights, while also shining a light on the creativity and community they nurtured during and after incarceration. The evening also included a performance by mezzo-soprano Nina Yoshida Nelsen and pianist Douglas Sumi of Sumi’s “Songs from Camp.”

Featured Artists

Nina Yoshia Nelsen Mezzo-soprano

Douglas Sumi Pianist

Featured Panelists

Erin Aoyama

Paul Chihara

Moderator

Kenneth Oye

Michael Sakamoto

Nina Yoshida Nelsen BLO Artistic Advisor (Dramaturg, Madama Butterfly)

SPECIAL EXHIBIT: HISTORY COMES TO LIFE IN MADAMA BUTTERFLY

September 14-23, 2023

118 Boylston Street

Hosted by ArtsEmerson

This exhibit explored BLO’s new production of Puccini’s opera through the lens of its inspirations, from the storied San Francisco nightclub called Forbidden City, to the mass incarceration of thousands of American citizens following the bombing of Pearl Harbor, to the legendary Japanese American dancer Dorothy Toy, who served as the inspiration for BLO’s reimagined Butterfly (Cio-Cio San). The exhibit featured a combination of film and visual displays, aiming to complement both the experience of those attending performances of the opera and those who were interested in learning more about BLO’s work and partnerships surrounding this production.

Curators

Sara O’Brien BLO Senior Director of Public Engagement

Arthur Dong Filmmaker, Author & Curator

WORKS & PROCESS AT THE GUGGENHEIM: THE ANONYMOUS LOVER

For the first time, Boston Lyric Opera presented “Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia: The Anonymous Lover” as part of the Guggenheim Museum’s Works & Process series in New York City. The evening featured performances by BLO artists Omar Najmi and Brianna J. Robinson, who shared excerpts of the production with the audience, as well as a discussion moderated by OPERA America’s President and CEO Marc A. Scorca that featured Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia leadership and creative team members, exploring how the two companies collaborated on this co-production.

Featured Artists

Brianna J. Robinson Soprano‡ Omar Najmi Tenor‡

Featured Speakers

Bradley Vernatter BLO Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO

David Devan Opera Philadelphia General Director & President

Dennis Whitehead Darling Stage Director, The Anonymous Lover

Kirsten Greenidge Playwright (Book Adaptation, The Anonymous Lover)

Moderator

Marc A. Scorca OPERA America President & CEO

CONCERT IN THE COURTYARD

Featured Artists

Sarah Joyce Cooper Soprano•

Emily Michiko Jensen Soprano•

Angela Yam Soprano•

Nina Yoshida Nelsen Mezzo-soprano

Vera Savage Mezzo-soprano‡

Seiyoung Kim Tenor

Omar Najmi Tenor‡

Junhan Choi Baritone•

Brett Hodgdon Pianist‡

Anderson Nunnelley Director

OPERA NIGHTS AT THE BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY

Composer Julia Perry’s Revolutionary Music

Visionary Black composer Julia Perry (1924-1979) was a revolutionary artist whose groundbreaking operas, symphonies, and choral works innovatively combined musical idioms of the African diaspora with 20th century European techniques. On the anniversary of her 100th birthday, BLO artists joined musician Ashleigh Gordon, co-founder of Castle of Our Skins and a powerful advocate for Black composers, as well as conductor and composer Dr. Julius P. Williams (Berklee College of Music) in a dynamic performance and discussion exploring Perry’s fascinating life and work.

Featured Artists

Alexis Peart Mezzo-soprano•

Fred C. VanNess, Jr. Tenor• Brendon Shapiro Pianist‡

Featured Speakers

Ashleigh Gordon

Dr. Julius P. Williams

OPERA STORIES & OPERA 101 SCHOOL VISITS

2,140 total audience members across 26 performances!

Opera Stories: Cinderella was a new BLO adaptation of Rossini’s La Cenerentola, adding to the company’s repertoire of free interactive performances for all ages (ideal for children aged 5-12), which its education branch uses to playfully show how a story can be brought to life through music, acting, and movement. In this dynamic, 45-minute presentation, two singers, a pianist, and a teaching artist engaged audiences in an interactive introduction to opera. This year, BLO brought Opera Stories: Cinderella to 9 library branches throughout Boston, marking its fifth year of offering this program in partnership with the BPL. The same production was toured to 13 schools across Greater Boston through Opera 101 School Visits. These presentations engage students at schools participating in BLO’s Create Your

Politics & Protest in Opera

Musician and scholar Douglas Sumi took audiences on a whirlwind tour of repertoire across the centuries to examine how composers, librettists, and performers give voice to controversial political figures, grapple with state censorship, and engage with the spirit of popular protests within the confines of elite cultural spaces. The program included works by Mozart, Bizet, Verdi, and Menotti.

Featured Artists

Arielle Rogers-Wilkey Mezzo-soprano

Junhan Choi Baritone•

Douglas Sumi Lecturer & Pianist

Featured Speakers

Ashleigh Gordon

Dr. Julius P. Williams

Own Opera Partnership Program, or those who are prospective CYOO partners.

Additionally, Opera Stories: Hansel and Gretel was presented twice at The Boston Children’s Museum and once as part of Fort Point Open Studios in October of 2023. In the spring of 2024, Opera Stories: Cinderella was presented three times at The Boston Children’s Museum and once at Midway Artist Studios.

Featured Artists

Chihiro Asano Cinderella

Alexis Peart• Cinderella

Morgan Mastrangelo• Prince Ramiro

Patrick Starke Prince Ramiro

Kalee Burrows Stage Director & Clorinda/Teaching Artist

Julia Whitten Clorinda/Teaching Artist

Patricia Au Music Director & Pianist

Julia Carey Pianist

(L.r.) Julia

CREATE YOUR OWN OPERA

The Create Your Own Opera (CYOO) Partnership Program is an arts-integrated, project-based, cotaught learning model customized to fit the teaching and learning goals of each particular classroom. Based in the nationally recognized Music! Words! Opera! (MWO) curriculum owned by OPERA America, the program supports teachers in planning and implementing arts-integrated lessons into their daily curricula over the course of the school year. 2024 was BLO’s 14th year supporting opera creation using the MWO curriculum. With the support of classroom teachers and BLO Resident Teaching Artists, students are empowered to lead the writing, composing, directing, rehearsing, design, and technical theatre process of bringing an original work from page to stage. Each project culminates in the performance of a student-written opera.

The CYOO year-long partnership components include:

AUGUST: Opera Creation Boot Camp: Professional Development Intensive for Teachers

OCTOBER: Goal setting and curriculum planning with our Partner Teachers

FEBRUARY: Opera Stories: Cinderella live, interactive performance to introduce opera

MARCH-JUNE: Up to 10 sessions with a BLO Resident Teaching Artist

APRIL-JUNE: Support for the final performances including video, photos, AV, etc.

In 2024 there were 480 student participants in 25 classrooms across 10 schools

1 school in 1st year of partnership with BLO 5 schools in 2nd-5th year of partnership with BLO

4 schools in 6th-11th year of partnership with BLO

16 student-written operas

1,090 audience members at the world premieres

As part of our partnership with the Boston Arts Academy Vocal Music Department, now in its ninth year, BAA students were offered pre-professional opportunities, including masterclasses and sessions with BLO’s Teaching Artists, and were invited to attend rehearsals and final dress rehearsals of BLO mainstage operas. Though BAA students did not create their own opera, they received support for their abridged production of The Magic Flute from Resident Teaching Artist Julia Whitten.

2023-24 Teaching Artists

Laura Nevitt Resident Teaching Artist

Julia Whitten Resident Teaching Artist

Kylie Fletcher Teaching Artist

Sofia Galloway Teaching Artist

DONOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (FY 2024)

CRESCENDO ($100,000+)

Anonymous (5)

Linda Cabot Black§

Willa* & Taylor Bodman†

Katie & Paul Buttenwieser

Gerard & Sherryl Cohen

Alicia M. Cooney* & Stephen Quigley§†

Wayne Davis* & Ann Merrifield§†

Andrew L. Eisenberg* & John Vetrano†

Massachusetts Cultural Council

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency

ALLEGRO

($10,000-$24,999)

Anonymous (4)

Estate of Anonymous‡

Ms. Ellen Cabot*†

Mr. John Conklin

Susan Denison

Robert Eastman*§†

Lawrence & Atsuko Fish

Kathryn G. Freed, in memory of Dean & Patti Freed§

Frank Graves & Christine Dugan

Kathy & Ron Groves

Graham & Ann Gund

The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation

Mimi Hewlett§

Lisa Hillenbrand*†

Ernest Jacob & Kathleen Hull

Mr.‡ & Mrs. Edward C. Johnson

Ellen & Robert Kaplan§

Amelia* & Joshua Katzen

Maria Krokidas* & Bruce Bullen†

Lincoln & Therese Filene Foundation

Dr. Joseph & Mrs. Anita Loscalzo*†

Ms. M. Lynne Markus*§

Mattina R. Proctor Foundation

MEDITECH

Elaine Murphy, in memory of Buck Haberkorn†

Mr. & Mrs. Richard Olney III

Ms. Maria Park

Paul & Edith Babson Foundation

The Poduska Family Foundation

William & Lia Poorvu

Melinda & James Rabb†

Mr.* & Mrs. Vincent & Robin Rougeau†

Rumena & Alexander Senchak*†

Andrew Sherman & Russ López*§†

Larry* & Beverly St. Clair†

Ms. Katharine Nash‡

David W. Scudder & Betsy Ridge§†

Wendy Shattuck & Sam Plimpton§

VIVACE ($50,000-$99,999)

Anonymous (1)

Rick Burnes*§

Miguel* & Suki de Bragança†

Alan & Lisa Dynner§

Gardner Hendrie

Barbara & Amos Hostetter

Susan W. Jacobs*§†

Marilee Wheeler Trust Charitable Fund

Bradley Vernatter

Dr. Robert Walsh* & Lydia Kenton Walsh*†

Peter J. Wender*§†

George* & Moira Yip

Ms. Tania Zouikin*§

ADAGIO ($5,000-$9,999)

Anonymous (5)

Nancy Altschuler

Mr. Peter Ambler & Ms. Lindsay Miller

The Amphion Foundation

Drs. Susan E. Bennett* & Gerald B. Pier†

BPS Arts Expansion Fund at EdVestors

Priscilla Deck & Sean Kelly

Mr. Lawrence M. DeVito*§†

Ms. JoAnne Dickinson*†

Laura Dike & Vaughn Miller*

Dr. Jordan S. Ruboy Charitable Fund§‡

Martin Elvis & Giuseppina Fabbiano§

Estate of Emily C. Hood‡

Dr. Kurt D. Gress & Mr. Samuel Y. Parkinson

Nick & Marjorie Greville

David Hoffman* & Deborah Friedman

Morton Hoffman, in loving memory of Sandy Hoffman‡

Jennifer Ritvo Hughes* & Marcus Hughes

Amy Hunter* & Steven Maguire§†

William A. Hunter & Barbara Bradlee Hunter

Ms. Louise Johnson*

Milling Kinard

Butler & Lois Lampson

Janika* & George LeMaitre

Drs. Lynne* & Sidney Levitsky

Kate Meany*†

Jo Frances Meyer* & Carl Herbert

Gregory E. Moore & Wynne W. Szeto*†

Jane Pisciottoli Papa*§†

Contributions made to BLO between July 1, 2022 & January 4, 2024

Miss Wallace Minot Leonard Foundation

Bill & Pat O’Connor

Mrs. E. Lee Perry

Winfield* & Linda Perry†

Stephen* & Geraldine Ricci†

Mr.* & Mrs. Ray Stata†

PRESTO ($25,000-$49,999)

Anonymous (2)

Mr. Mark H. Dalzell

John H. Deknatel & Carol M. Taylor

Abigail B. Mason*§

Simone Santiago*

Stephen & Peg Senturia†

Susan Stamler

Ms. Tricia Swift*†

Mr.* & Mrs. Frank Tempesta†

Dr. Nelson Thaemert & Mr. Brian Gokey†

David & Sarah Tompkins

Mr. Richard Trant*

Ms. Amy Tsurumi*†

Yin-Yin Wang*†

Elizabeth B. Yntema & Mark Ferguson

GRAZIOSO ($3,000-$4,999)

Anonymous (2)

Michael Barza & Judith Robinson§

Kathy Boyce

Ms. Mei Po Cheung

Marjorie B. & Martin Cohn

Nancy & Laury Coolidge

Tamara P. & Charles H. Davis II§

Mr. & Mrs. Dozier Gardner

Dr. Joan Goldberg

Mr. Joseph Hammer§

David Kirk†

Dr. Maydee G. Lande, in memory of her father

Alice Levine & Paul Weissman

Nagesh Mahanthappa & Valentine Talland

Kathryn McDaniel*†

Shari & Christopher Noe

Mr. John Stevens & Ms. Virginia McIntyre

Andrew Szentgyorgyi, Nicholas Szentgyorgyi & Nancy Brickhouse

ADVOCATE ($1,500-$2,999)

Anonymous (9)

Ms. Ann Beha & Mr. Robert A. Radloff

Pam & Lee Bromberg

Mr. Arthur Buckland

Ms. Nina Cohen

James F. Crowley, Jr.

Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture

The Paul & Sandra Montrone Family

Anne M. Morgan*†

Lise Olney & Tim Fulham*†

Mr. & Mrs. A. Neil Pappalardo*

Janet & Irv Plotkin*§†

John & Susanne Potts*

Helen Pounds

Allison Ryder* & David Jones

Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation

Pamela & Belden Daniels

Anne Lyons Dolan, in memory of Susan Eastman§

Edmund & Betsy Cabot Charitable Foundation

Christopher & Hilary Gabrieli

Mrs. G. Peabody Gardner

Melissa Gilliam & William Grobman

Dr. David Golan & Dr. Laura Green

Jack D. Gorman*†

Eric Grosse & Brenda Baker

Mr. & Mrs. John Henn§

Art & Eloise Hodges

Mr. Ishan Johnson

Mr. Adrian Jones

Eva R. Karger§

Stan & Sandy Keller

Ms. Lucy LaFleche

Pam Lassiter

Joe & Pam LoDato§

Mr. Joseph Mari

Daniel Marshak

Jillian* & Andrew McGrath

Dr. Harold Michlewitz

Mary & Sherif Nada§

Esther Nelson & Bernd Ulken

Genevieve Pluhowski & Russell Wiggin

Liz Printz

Michael Raizman

Peter & Suzanne Read§

Lee Sandwen

Campbell Steward

Myles Striar

Ernst Ter Haar

Albert & Judith Zabin

Quentin & Kelda Vernatter

SUSTAINER ($500-$1,499)

Anonymous (3)

Mr. Bernard Aserkoff

Mr. John Barstow & Ms. Eugenia Ware

Karen Bedrosian-Richardson

Carolyn Bitetti & T. Christopher Donnelly

Dorothy & Hale‡ Bradt

Ms. Jane Carr & Mr. Andrew Hertig

Rita Cuker

Carol & David Domina

Mr. Mark Donohoe

Ms. Catharine-Mary Donovan

Zach Durant-Emmons & Willis Emmons

Mr. Lloyd Fillion

Mr. & Mrs. James J. Harper

Dr. Robert J. Henry, M.D.

Fred Hoppin

Thomas & Sonja Ellingson Hout

Susan Graham Johnston

Robert W. Kruszyna§

Mark & Mary Lunsford

Ms. Sandra Moose

Mr. Richard S. Perkins, Jr.

Patricia Romeo-Gilbert

John Sasso & Mary Jo Adams

Mr. Michael Schaefer

Schrupka Fund

Michael Skatrud

Susan Stickells & Al Holman

Ann B. Teixeira

Ms. Melissa Tully

Glen & Andrea Urban

Mary Verhage

Linda & Harvey Weiner

Jerry Wheelock & Elizabeth Wood

Ms. Mary Wolfson

Mr. & Ms. Douglas Woodlock

CONTRIBUTOR ($250-$499)

Anonymous (9)

Anonymous, in honor of Sarah & Carl Blume

Dean Anderson & Jean Scarrow

Lucy Ascoli

Christopher Austin & Judy Austin

Ms. Diane M. Austin & Mr. Aaron J. Nurick

Peter Belina & Winnie Wong

Benevity Community Impact Fund

Nina & Donald Berk

Dr. & Mrs. Stuart R. Bless

Thomas Burger

Pauline Ho Bynum

Mr. Robert Coren & Mr. John W. Gintell

Mr. Paul Curtis

Robert Doane

Karen & Andrew Epstein

Sarah Gallivan & Gopal Kadagathur‡

Christopher Gassett

Prof. James A. Glazier

Sylvia Hammer

Susan Hunter

Laura Jekel

Elinore & Herbert Kagan

Ms. Yuriko Kuwabara & Dr. Sunny Dzik

Mr. Michael Lauber

Marilyn Levitt & Andrew Friedland

Ricardo & Marla Lewitus

Mr. Merrill Mack

Quinn MacKenzie

Ms. Deena Matowik

James & Caroline McCloy

Margaret McDormand, in memory of Anna Elizabeth McDormand

Ms. Kati Mitchell

Ms. Mary Crain Penniman

Larry Pratt

R. Lynn Rardin & Lynne A. O’Connell

Barbara & Terry Reideler

Mr. Jack Reynolds, in memory of Stevie Giacalone

Nicholas G. Russell

Mr. Frank Santangelo

John & Ruth Schey

Lauren Schultes

John & Mary Tarvin

Martha C. Ulken

Steve Walch & Linda Williams

Steve Weiner & Don Cornuet

Elizabeth Wylde & Lance Drane

SUPPORTER ($100-$249)

Anonymous (42)

Anonymous, in honor of Susan Eastman

Anonymous, in honor of F. David Prendergast

Mr. John Achatz

John Adams & Patricia Comeau

Ms. Marie-France Beaudry-Zafron

Mr. Lawrence Bell

Alan Benenfeld

Sarah B. Blume

Mrs. Katharine Boden

Mr. Anthony Buonanno

Jeffrey & Katherine Carpenter

Susan Cavalieri, in memory of Eurydice Cavalieri

Ms. Ann Chiacchieri

Mijin Choi & Robert Cinnante

Fred Cohen

Patricia G. & Peter V. Cooper

Mr. Eugene Cox

Ms. Victoria Danberg

Ms. Kathryn Disney

Charles & Sheila Donahue

Cynthia Morton Elmekias

Elaine Epstein & Jim Krachey

Ms. Jane Epstein

Martin & Susana Fantozzi

Jean Fuller Farrington

Martha Sloan Felch

Mr. & Mrs. Glenn L. Fencer

Ms. Kristen Field

Jonathan Florman

Ms. Constance Franciosi

Catherine Gerson

Mrs. Cecilia Gordon

Ben Harris & Rebecca Mitchell

Jacqueline G. Haslett, EdD

Mrs. George Hatsopoulos

Dr. & Mrs. Bernhard Heersink

Mr. Robert Henson

William Hess, in honor of Thomas Hess

Ms. Antonia Hieronymus

Barry & Liz Horwitz

Barbara Hough, in memory of Helen Tomich

Karl & Christine Johnson

Mr. Jeffrey Jones & Mr. Mark Secord

Courtney Keller§

Ms. Anne Kelly

Jonathan & Deborah Kolb

Ms. Nancy Korman

Nancy Kougeas

Heather A. Laplante

Rebecca A. Lee

Ms. Nina Lewin

Barbara P. Madden

Mr. Charles Maier

Theresa S. Manning

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Marshall

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Marx

Domenico Mastrototaro§

Mary & Michael McConnell

Evelyn McFadden, in memory of George Seaman

Ms. Carol R.H. Miller

Nicolas Minutillo

Daniel & Mayo Morgan

Mr. James Murphy

Mr. Fred Nagle

Rob Nelson

Newell & Betty Hale Fund of Greater Worcester

Valerie Swett Nigh

Ms. Diane Ota

Dr. Eileen Ouellette

Mr. Eugene Papa

Mr. Mark Pasternack & Ms. Judy Meyers

Marie E. Pereto-Hedin§

Finley Perry

Dr. Patricia Pickett

Ted Pietras

Ms. Helen R. Pillsbury

John & Elaine Pisciottoli

Anne & Francois Poulet

Thomas & Elena Powers

Vinay Prabhakar

Ms. Julia Propp

Mr. David Reid

Jim & Sandy Righter

Mr. Robert Riordan

Art & Elaine Robins

Mark & Lori Roux

Mr. & Mrs. Pasquale Rullo, in memory of Carmine Rullo

Dr. & Mrs. Richard Ryder

Peter Schmidt

Arthur Schneider

Michael Senturia & Pauline Ma-Senturia

JoAnne & Joel Shapiro

Mr. Theodore Sharpe

Ms. Barbara Shaw

David Snead

Ms. Diane Sokal

Otto & Dorothy Solbrig

Mr. Harold Stahler

State Street Foundation

Ms. Jane Sullivan

Mr. Patrick Sullivan

Mr. Richard Tarrant

Mr. & Mrs. Ronald S. Tiberio

Amy & Matthew Torrey

Dr. Ed Tronick

Mrs. Wat Tyler

Leslie Warshaw

Jerome Weinstein

Ms. Joan Whelton

Polly Pitt Whiteside, in honor of Richard Trant

Mr. Robert Willis

Kathryn A. Willmore

Susan Wing & Thomas Lavin

Ms. Cynthia Yee

Ms. Catherine Yeh

* Board Member

† Lyric Circle Member

§ Goldovsky Society Member

‡ Deceased