Organization
Boston Lyric Opera (BLO)
Comment on Facebook Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is New England’s largest opera company. Founded in 1976, BLO is recognized for its artistically excellent productions of a diverse repertoire that entertain and inspire audiences and feature emerging operatic talent. BLO produces four productions each season: three at the Citi Performing Arts CenterSM Shubert Theatre in Boston and an Opera Annex production in a found space. BLO’s programs are funded, in part, by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. BLO.org.
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Contact Info
Boston Lyric Opera (BLO)
11 Avenue de Lafayette
Boston, MA 02111Phone: 617.542.4912 | Fax: 617.542.4913 | Email | Official Website
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Current Events
02/08/12-
02/12/12THE LIGHTHOUSE BY Peter Maxwell Davies
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Upcoming Events
03/09/12-
03/18/12THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini
Citi Shubert Theatre04/20/12-
04/29/12THE INSPECTOR by John Musto
Citi Shubert Theatre
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Current &
Upcoming Events-
Current Events
02/08/12-
02/12/12THE LIGHTHOUSE BY Peter Maxwell Davies
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Upcoming Events
03/09/12-
03/18/12THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini
Citi Shubert Theatre04/20/12-
04/29/12THE INSPECTOR by John Musto
Citi Shubert Theatre
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Past
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Past Events
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Media
Reviews-
Media Reviews
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Event Name: THE LIGHTHOUSE BY Peter Maxwell Davies
Article: Lyric Opera to stage "The Lighthouse" at Kennedy Library's Smith Hall
Dorchester Reporter - Feb 02, 2012
By Chris HardingNext week fans of Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) who usually go to the Shubert Theater will be heading out to the tip of Columbia Point. Smith Hall—the multi-use space at the JFK Library with its panoramic ocean views, familiar as the site of the Museum’s… Expand
Next week fans of Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) who usually go to the Shubert Theater will be heading out to the tip of Columbia Point. Smith Hall—the multi-use space at the JFK Library with its panoramic ocean views, familiar as the site of the Museum’s Forum and Celebrate! Series— will host a first-class production of a chamber opera that takes full advantage of the vistas of Dorchester Bay. Collapse
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Event Name: BLO @ the MFA: MACBETH Signature Series & Reception
Article: Boston Lyric Opera’s bloody “Macbeth” holds up a dark mirror to our time
Boston Classical Review - Nov 07, 2011
By David WrightHalloween arrived a few days late Friday night at the Shubert Theatre, but the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth was as sinister and daubed with gore as any ghoul could wish for. Expand
Halloween arrived a few days late Friday night at the Shubert Theatre, but the Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Verdi’s Macbeth was as sinister and daubed with gore as any ghoul could wish for. Collapse
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Event Name: BLO @ the MFA: MACBETH Signature Series & Reception
Article: Verdi’s ‘Macbeth,’ set in a dark dream
Boston Globe - Nov 07, 2011
By Jeremy EichlerThe dead never really die in Boston Lyric Opera’s exceedingly dark and psychologically driven new staging of Verdi’s “Macbeth.’’ They haunt, shadow, and torment the living - quite literally - walking alongside them, floating above them, and looming i… Expand
The dead never really die in Boston Lyric Opera’s exceedingly dark and psychologically driven new staging of Verdi’s “Macbeth.’’ They haunt, shadow, and torment the living - quite literally - walking alongside them, floating above them, and looming in their presence as giant totems out of some nightmare drawn from the primordial recesses of the brain. Before the curtain goes up, you can see where things are heading. Bodies of the dead, tightly bound, hang by their feet from the rafters. Collapse
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Article: Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ will open Boston Lyric Opera’s new season
Boston Globe - Mar 25, 2011
By Jeremy EichlerMarch 25, 2011|By Jeremy Eichler, Globe Staff
Boston Lyric Opera’s new season will consist of two operatic staples and two works by living composers. Verdi’s “Macbeth’’ will open the season, which will also feature Rossini’s “Barber of S… ExpandMarch 25, 2011|By Jeremy Eichler, Globe Staff
Boston Lyric Opera’s new season will consist of two operatic staples and two works by living composers. Verdi’s “Macbeth’’ will open the season, which will also feature Rossini’s “Barber of Seville.’’ The third main-stage production will be a new opera by John Musto called the “The Inspector,’’ inspired by Gogol’s satire “The Government Inspector.’’ Next season’s off-site Opera Annex offering will be “The Lighthouse,’’ a chamber opera by Peter Maxwell Davies written in 1979. BLO’s general and artistic director Esther Nelson was scheduled to announce these and other details of the 2011-12 season at a company event last night at the Four Seasons hotel.
Verdi’s “Macbeth’’ (Nov. 4-13, 2011) will be presented in a new production directed by David Schweizer, who recently oversaw the company’s staging of Viktor Ullmann’s “Emperor of Atlantis.’’ The production will adapt sets designed by BLO’s artistic adviser John Conklin for a 1997 production of this work at New York City Opera, and the cast will include Daniel Sutin, Carter Scott, Darren Stokes, and Richard Crawley. BLO’s music director David Angus conducts.
The production of “The Barber of Seville’’ (March 9-18, 2012) originated at the Minnesota Opera and will be directed here by Doug Varone. The cast will include Sarah Coburn as Rosina and Jonathan Beyer as Figaro, singing alongside John Tessier, Steven Condy, Gregory Gerbrandt, David Cushing, and Judith Christin. Leading in the pit will be Jari Hämäläinen, a young Finnish conductor, in his North American debut.
The season’s third and final work presented at the Shubert Theatre will be Musto’s “The Inspector’’ (April 20-29, 2012), a comic opera with a libretto by Mark Campbell loosely based on Gogol but updated to 1930s Sicily. Commissioned by Wolf Trap Opera Company and scheduled to receive its world premiere next month in Virginia, “The Inspector’’ is the fourth collaboration of Musto and Campbell. Former BLO artistic director Leon Major returns to direct this adaptation of his Wolf Trap production. Angus conducts a cast headed by Jake Gardner and Victoria Livengood.
As part of the Opera Annex series, “The Lighthouse’’ will be presented (Feb. 8-12, 2012) outside of BLO’s home at the Shubert Theatre, though the venue has not yet been announced. Davies wrote his own libretto for the work, based on the true story of a mysterious disappearance of three keepers of a lighthouse off the coast of Scotland in 1900. Tim Albery directs and Angus conducts a cast featuring John Bellemer, Christopher Burchett, and David Cushing. The Boston Shakespeare Company gave the work’s American premiere in 1983, in a staging directed by Peter Sellars and conducted by David Hoose.
617-542-6772 or www.blo.org.
Jeremy Eichler can be reached at jeichler@globe.com. Collapse -
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Article: Verdi’s ‘Macbeth’ will open Boston Lyric Opera’s new season
http://boston.com/ - Mar 25, 2011
By Jeremy Eichler, Globe Staff2011/2012 Season overview. Expand
2011/2012 Season overview. Collapse
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Event Name: Handel's Agrippina
Article: Boston Lyric Opera handles Handel with aplomb
Boston Herald - Mar 15, 2011
By Keith PowersHandel is rolling over in his grave. And audiences are loving it.
Boston Lyric Opera set the great composer’s “Agrippina” on its head Friday evening at the Shubert Theatre, staging a slapstick take on the seriocomic opera that nearly dro… ExpandHandel is rolling over in his grave. And audiences are loving it.
Boston Lyric Opera set the great composer’s “Agrippina” on its head Friday evening at the Shubert Theatre, staging a slapstick take on the seriocomic opera that nearly drowned its terrific singing and playing in a sea of sight-gags and goofy exchanges.
Let’s face it, Handel asked for it. Anyone who creates a bedroom farce of an opera based on the prehistory of Nero — “Agrippina” details his mother’s attempt to place the burning fiddler on the Roman throne, long before he became the Hitler of his day — begs to be sent up. And that’s just what the BLO did, realizing director Lillian Groag’s thoroughly comedic genius. Collapse -
Event Name: Handel's Agrippina
Article: Don’t miss this one, under any circumstances!
EDGE Boston - Mar 15, 2011
By Ed TapperHaving only last month mounted The Emperor of Atlantis, a dark, spare opera composed in the horrific confines of a Nazi concentration camp, Boston Lyric Opera is now transporting us to the glittering, sumptuous Baroque opera stage. Their vehicle is H… Expand
Having only last month mounted The Emperor of Atlantis, a dark, spare opera composed in the horrific confines of a Nazi concentration camp, Boston Lyric Opera is now transporting us to the glittering, sumptuous Baroque opera stage. Their vehicle is Handel’s 1709 Agrippina, the composer’s first, full-blown Italian opera. Could the company successfully shift gears, and bring off a work of such complexity and virtuosity? The answer is a resounding yes! And BLO’s gamble has proven one of their greatest triumphs in recent seasons.
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Event Name: Handel's Agrippina
Article: Handel’s ‘Agrippina’ made stylishly comic
Boston Globe - Mar 14, 2011
By Jeremy EichlerWith the abundance of period instrument activity in Boston, Handel’s music has not exactly been underserved around town. Nevertheless, on Friday night, Boston Lyric Opera made a compelling argument that the composer’s operas should not become the pro… Expand
With the abundance of period instrument activity in Boston, Handel’s music has not exactly been underserved around town. Nevertheless, on Friday night, Boston Lyric Opera made a compelling argument that the composer’s operas should not become the province of period specialists alone, that they have a place as well in the repertoire of a mainstream regional company such as this one. BLO’s case came by way of a deft and often charming production of Handel’s “Agrippina,’’ sung by a gifted cast receiving strong support from conductor Gary Thor Wedow in the pit. Collapse
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Event Name: Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits
Article: Antiwar opera rises from darkness
The Boston Globe - Feb 04, 2011
By Jeremy Eichler“Emperor’’ has since become an important work of Holocaust art. But can it also stand up as a compelling modern one-act opera? Boston Lyric Opera’s bold new English-language production, which opened Tuesday night at the Calderwood Pavilion, should cl… Expand
“Emperor’’ has since become an important work of Holocaust art. But can it also stand up as a compelling modern one-act opera? Boston Lyric Opera’s bold new English-language production, which opened Tuesday night at the Calderwood Pavilion, should close the argument. Director David Schweizer’s tart, nimble staging plays up the work’s dark comic aspects, its abundant debts to Weimar-era cabaret. The piece commandingly holds the stage. And when viewed with a knowledge of its history — the spirit of defiance and reckless hope embodied in its original creation — “Emperor’’ ultimately glows with a piercing luminosity. Collapse
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Event Name: Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits
Article: The Emperor of Atlantis: Boston Lyric Opera pulls out the stops
The Boston Phoenix - Feb 04, 2011
By Lloyd Schwartz"a memorable production...Lipsitt and his chamber players brought it all to vibrant life...inventive staging..." Expand
"a memorable production...Lipsitt and his chamber players brought it all to vibrant life...inventive staging..." Collapse
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Event Name: Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits
Article: In ‘Emperor of Atlantis,’ the human spirit reigns
The Boston Herald - Feb 03, 2011
By Keith Powers"a provocative and intelligent production ...beautifully acted and sung ...Kevin Burdette, singing and acting terrifically as Death, and Jamie Van Eyck were joined by a solid cast highlighted by baritone John Mac Master (Harlequin). Steven Lipsi… Expand
"a provocative and intelligent production ...beautifully acted and sung ...Kevin Burdette, singing and acting terrifically as Death, and Jamie Van Eyck were joined by a solid cast highlighted by baritone John Mac Master (Harlequin). Steven Lipsitt conducted with intelligence and energy in this performance, brilliantly directed by David Schweizer." Collapse
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Event Name: Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits
Article: Oppressor’s Tale, Written in Oppression
The New York Times - Feb 02, 2011
By Allan Kozinn"Tantalizing...the opening performance sold out, and, despite heavy snow...Mr. Burdette was also the star of 'Emperor,' in which he played the combined role of Death and the Loudspeaker with an idiosyncratic, darkly comic incisiveness that under… Expand
"Tantalizing...the opening performance sold out, and, despite heavy snow...Mr. Burdette was also the star of 'Emperor,' in which he played the combined role of Death and the Loudspeaker with an idiosyncratic, darkly comic incisiveness that underpinned a magnificent vocal performance. ... David Schweizer’s staging and Nancy Leary’s costumes play on the hellishness of both the work’s provenance and the “living dead” scenes Kien drew so vividly, and Caleb Wertenbaker’s’s sets give the production a chaotic, industrial touch. ... The baritone Andrew Wilkowske’s portrayal of Overall captures both his manic swagger and the crumbling of his veneer. The tenor John Mac Master’s acerbic, vocally acute Harlequin is nearly as captivating as Mr. Burdette’s Death, and Ms. Van Eyck sings the Drummer with a quirkiness that suits the role, essentially a cheerleader and mouthpiece for Overall. The tenor Julius Ahn and the soprano Kathryn Skemp gave fine performances as the two young soldiers who fall in love when killing each other doesn’t work.
Steven Lipsitt, who conducted a strong performance of “Emperor” at Merkin Concert Hall in Manhattan in 1994, led a vital, perfectly paced reading here." Collapse -
Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: ‘Tosca’ dishes up drama, classic music
Tufts Daily - Nov 10, 2010
By Emma Bushnell"The Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) has presented a production of "Tosca" that is delightful to watch. The small cast is made up of exceptionally strong singers whose clear and characteristic voices not only do justice to the music, but also… Expand
"The Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) has presented a production of "Tosca" that is delightful to watch. The small cast is made up of exceptionally strong singers whose clear and characteristic voices not only do justice to the music, but also add layers of nuance to the plot. Soprano Jill Gardner returns to BLO as the titular diva, Floria Tosca, and her commanding and full voice fits the bill of the jealous, fiery heroine. Her second act aria "Vissi d'arte," arguably the most famous to come out of the opera, was brilliantly sung, and Gardner ably conveyed all the emotions wrapped in the aria without overstepping the bounds of believability." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: Tosca takes the stage
The Hub Review - Nov 10, 2010
By Tom Garvey"No wonder the crowd, clearly hungry for this kind of shot of pure operatic adrenaline, gave the cast a sustained standing ovation. A year or two ago, ...I began writing that Boston Lyric Opera had turned an artistic corner and would (or should)… Expand
"No wonder the crowd, clearly hungry for this kind of shot of pure operatic adrenaline, gave the cast a sustained standing ovation. A year or two ago, ...I began writing that Boston Lyric Opera had turned an artistic corner and would (or should) become the dominant force on the operatic scene... Now, after a series of productions as strong as Tosca, that seems to be the conventional wisdom." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: Tosca (Boston Lyric Opera)
EDGE Boston - Nov 09, 2010
By Robert Nesti"...this updated interpretation (adapted from a classic 1980 Scottish Opera production) works surprisingly well. ... good balance between the orchestra (conducted with considerable passion by Anthony Bisantz) and the singers, and some strong cho… Expand
"...this updated interpretation (adapted from a classic 1980 Scottish Opera production) works surprisingly well. ... good balance between the orchestra (conducted with considerable passion by Anthony Bisantz) and the singers, and some strong choral work, most notably in the soaring 'Te Deum' that ends the first act with a memorable stage picture. ... intelligent staging of this most potent of operatic potboilers. Boston Lyric Opera...begins this [season] with this strong 'Tosca'." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: ‘Tosca’ proves opera is accessible for all
Brandeis University's "The Justice" - Nov 09, 2010
By Sujin Shin"BLO steps up to the hype and really delivers something that left this little would-be opera connoisseur completely blown away at the end of the night. ... resident Tosca that shone the brightest. An exceptional actress who could slip from coy t… Expand
"BLO steps up to the hype and really delivers something that left this little would-be opera connoisseur completely blown away at the end of the night. ... resident Tosca that shone the brightest. An exceptional actress who could slip from coy to heartbroken convincingly, Gardner was the one to keep an eye on that night. A heavy-hitting soprano, Gardner grabbed the role of Tosca and refused to let go; the role was right in her wheelhouse, and she excelled in both her vocalizations and acting.The sets and dress were exquisite. Not one raise of the curtain failed to produce gasps from the audience. ... 'Tosca' is an experience. No other words are necessary to describe it. It is something that everyone should try to see at least once. And though some might be a bit wary of opera, 'Tosca' is the show that can break the stereotype. Opera is just another medium through which a story is told. And with as captivating a story as that of Tosca's, it's hard not to enjoy it." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: 'Tosca' opens Lyric Opera season with a high
The Boston Globe - Nov 08, 2010
By Matthew Guerrieri..."characterize this production as a whole: canny enough to ride Puccini’s expertise, clever enough to effectively freshen it up here and there, and capable enough to generate a satisfying dramatic kick. BLO’s “Tosca’’ delivers the goods."… Expand
..."characterize this production as a whole: canny enough to ride Puccini’s expertise, clever enough to effectively freshen it up here and there, and capable enough to generate a satisfying dramatic kick. BLO’s “Tosca’’ delivers the goods." "Potent stuff." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: Romantic, dramatic 'Tosca' is a winner
The Boston Herald - Nov 07, 2010
By Keith Powers"A great production of 'Tosca' energizes enthusiasts, and Boston Lyric Opera’s version of Puccini’s dramatic classic, which opened Friday at the Shubert Theatre, will certainly send ripples of delight through the opera community.
The chall… Expand"A great production of 'Tosca' energizes enthusiasts, and Boston Lyric Opera’s version of Puccini’s dramatic classic, which opened Friday at the Shubert Theatre, will certainly send ripples of delight through the opera community.
The challenge comes in matching the onstage action to the intensity of the music. 'Tosca' does not meander haphazardly from aria to aria with filler music or concocted narration; Puccini wrote a work of fierce intensity, where every note counts. The singers must match that intensity with their acting, and the sets must mirror the drama. This production does, and then some." Collapse -
Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: Opera Review: 'Tosca' » The Arts Fuse
The Arts Fuse - Nov 07, 2010
By Caldwell Titcomb"...the three principal characters–opera diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi, and the lusting and villainous Baron Scarpia–hit their mark solidly. ... conductor Andrew Bisantz had his 56 instrumentalists playing with precision at the… Expand
"...the three principal characters–opera diva Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi, and the lusting and villainous Baron Scarpia–hit their mark solidly. ... conductor Andrew Bisantz had his 56 instrumentalists playing with precision at the first performance (Nov. 5). There was a chorus of 24 plus seven members of the PALS Children’s Chorus. It all added up to an impressive occasion." Collapse
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
Article: Tosca at Boston Lyric Opera - Berkshire Fine Arts
Berkshire Fine Arts - Nov 07, 2010
By David Bonetti"the production concept (by Anthony Besch), the sets and costumes (by Peter Rice) and the local stage direction (by David Lefkowich) and lighting design (Paul Heckenmueller) deserve high marks. ... The test of a good “Tosca” is whether it thrill… Expand
"the production concept (by Anthony Besch), the sets and costumes (by Peter Rice) and the local stage direction (by David Lefkowich) and lighting design (Paul Heckenmueller) deserve high marks. ... The test of a good “Tosca” is whether it thrills or not, and this one does." Collapse
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Article: Idomeneo
Boston Theatre Review - Apr 29, 2010
By J. Jacob Krause"Boston Lyric Opera’s new production of this classic opera was beautiful and inventive...wonderful singers that rounded out Boston’s premiere opera company’s 'Idomeneo...All in all, this was a beautiful piece of music, wonderful to listen to, wo… Expand
"Boston Lyric Opera’s new production of this classic opera was beautiful and inventive...wonderful singers that rounded out Boston’s premiere opera company’s 'Idomeneo...All in all, this was a beautiful piece of music, wonderful to listen to, wonderful to see in action and well done by Boston Lyric Opera...I would love to see more productions on par with this 'Idomeneo.' Both David Angus and Lillian Groag are great additions to the company of BLO and I would be happy to see their return to the helm in the future. Collapse
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Article: A Memorable Idomeneo
The Hub Review - Apr 27, 2010
By Thomas Garvey"...a beautiful and well-sung...version of the opera through this weekend: slowly Boston has been discovering it, too. I've been arguing for some time that BLO...is actually our next Boston-Ballet-like success story, and "Idomeneo" ser… Expand
"...a beautiful and well-sung...version of the opera through this weekend: slowly Boston has been discovering it, too. I've been arguing for some time that BLO...is actually our next Boston-Ballet-like success story, and "Idomeneo" serves, I think, as a ratification of that claim, the capstone to a startling season which has included such memorable productions (and superb vocal ensembles) as "The Turn of the Screw" and "Ariadne auf Naxos." Collapse
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Article: BLO takes on its first ‘Idomeneo’
Boston Globe - Apr 24, 2010
By Jeremy Eichler"'Idomeneo' is worth seeking out, especially if you’re a Mozart fan not yet acquainted with this wonderfully imaginative score." Expand
"'Idomeneo' is worth seeking out, especially if you’re a Mozart fan not yet acquainted with this wonderfully imaginative score." Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: Of Strauss, slapstick, and Ariadne auf Naxos
The Hub Review - Mar 16, 2010
By Thomas GarveyA preview of the North American premiere of Welsh National Opera's acclaimed production, with an interview with Revival Director Denni Sayers. Expand
A preview of the North American premiere of Welsh National Opera's acclaimed production, with an interview with Revival Director Denni Sayers. Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: High Art Lite:The Boston Lyric Opera’s Ariadne Auf Naxos
PlanetEyeTraveler Boston - Mar 15, 2010
By Maria Olia"Boston Lyric Opera’s presentation of Richard Strauss’ "Ariadne Auf Naxos" is a highly entertaining production...with some terrific sets and costuming...Marjorie Owens...has a clear and beautiful voice. Brandon Jovanovich was outstandi… Expand
"Boston Lyric Opera’s presentation of Richard Strauss’ "Ariadne Auf Naxos" is a highly entertaining production...with some terrific sets and costuming...Marjorie Owens...has a clear and beautiful voice. Brandon Jovanovich was outstanding as Bacchus...Mezzo-soprano Edyta Kulczak is a convincing as the passionate Composer. Soprano Rachel Gilmore plays the flirty Zerbinetta-the lead actress of the comedy troupe- with excellent phrasing and great appeal. The merry pranks of the band of comic actors; Julius Ahn, Jesse Blumberg, David M. Cushing and Tracy Wise, move the story along. While Erik Nielsen conducts Strauss’ lovely score, nicely keeping the balance between the voices and the orchestra." Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: Ariadne auf Naxos (Boston Lyric Opera)
EDGE Boston - Mar 15, 2010
By Ed Tapper"Long absent from the Boston opera stage, Richard Strauss’ witty pastiche, "Ariadne auf Naxos" is undergoing a splendid revival at the Shubert Theatre...The BLO "Ariadne auf Naxos" is impeccably cast. It is a rare treat to he… Expand
"Long absent from the Boston opera stage, Richard Strauss’ witty pastiche, "Ariadne auf Naxos" is undergoing a splendid revival at the Shubert Theatre...The BLO "Ariadne auf Naxos" is impeccably cast. It is a rare treat to hear all the roles, down to the smallest bit, performed by singers who possess just the right voices for the parts they are singing....By coincidence, the Metropolitan Opera has just finished a run of the opera. However, one could not envision a better sung production than that currently being offered by the Boston Lyric Opera. Performances run until March 23. Don’t miss this one!" Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: Lyric Opera brings fresh ‘Ariadne’ to Shubert
Boston Globe - Mar 15, 2010
By Jeremy Eichler"A delightful new production...a dynamic set of rising singers including Marjorie Owens in the title role. This young American soprano...showed off an impressively large, orchestra-piercing voice, full of dark Wagnerian colorings and Weltschmerz… Expand
"A delightful new production...a dynamic set of rising singers including Marjorie Owens in the title role. This young American soprano...showed off an impressively large, orchestra-piercing voice, full of dark Wagnerian colorings and Weltschmerz. Edyta Kulczak was a wonderfully impassioned Composer, singing with irruptions of ardent tone. Rachele Gilmore was a winning Zerbinetta, with all the coquettish charm this role demands and also the secure technique and theatrical flair to make the role’s big coloratura number feel organically connected to her character rather than like a stretch of disconnected virtuoso preening. And Brandon Jovanovich showed off a robust, clear, shapely and resonant tenor in the high-lying role of Bacchus. The numerous smaller roles were all capably sung, and sometimes much more than that." Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: Debut Performances Shine in BLO Ariadne
Boston Musical Intelligencer - Mar 13, 2010
By Rebecca MarchandBLO’S "Ariadne auf Naxos" succeeded with the innate challenges of an opera about an opera, and served as a showcase for exciting and inspiring vocal talent. Expand
BLO’S "Ariadne auf Naxos" succeeded with the innate challenges of an opera about an opera, and served as a showcase for exciting and inspiring vocal talent. Collapse
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
Article: BLO delights with ‘Ariadne’
Boston Herald - Mar 13, 2010
By Keith Powers"The singing is solid throughout, dominated by Ariadne (dramatic soprano Marjorie Owens) and her foil Zerbinetta (fetching lyric soprano Rachele Gilmore). Both were making BLO debuts, and both will undoubtedly return. Owens, who sings with stadi… Expand
"The singing is solid throughout, dominated by Ariadne (dramatic soprano Marjorie Owens) and her foil Zerbinetta (fetching lyric soprano Rachele Gilmore). Both were making BLO debuts, and both will undoubtedly return. Owens, who sings with stadium-sized power, could fill many major roles as she grows artistically. Gilmore is the whole package - a clever actress with a top-notch voice and a winning manner. Tenor Brandon Jovanovich (Bacchus) and mezzo Edyta Kulczak (the Composer) also sang with power, and the rich supporting cast, too numerous to acknowledge individually, sang and acted with distinction." Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: BLO leaves home with Britten’s “Turn of the Screw”
Boston Globe - Feb 04, 2010
By Jeremy EichlerThe vocal performances were among the best I have heard in any BLO production of recent years. Expand
The vocal performances were among the best I have heard in any BLO production of recent years. Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: Making Opera Cool Is Easier When You Have A Castle
wbur.org - Feb 03, 2010
By Andrea Shea"BOSTON — New England’s largest opera company is trying something new. The Boston Lyric Opera is taking a production out of the theater and into The Castle, a historic landmark in Boston’s Back Bay. “Turn of the Screw” opens there Wednesday nigh… Expand
"BOSTON — New England’s largest opera company is trying something new. The Boston Lyric Opera is taking a production out of the theater and into The Castle, a historic landmark in Boston’s Back Bay. “Turn of the Screw” opens there Wednesday night." Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: ‘Screw’ tightens tension at Castle
the edge BostonHerald.com - Feb 03, 2010
By Keith Powers"The Boston Lyric Opera usually holds forth in the Shubert Theatre, but the company found a more foreboding venue to stage its production of Benjamin Britten’s mysterious and compelling “The Turn of the Screw”: the Park Plaza Castle" Expand
"The Boston Lyric Opera usually holds forth in the Shubert Theatre, but the company found a more foreboding venue to stage its production of Benjamin Britten’s mysterious and compelling “The Turn of the Screw”: the Park Plaza Castle" Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: The Turn of the Screw
Edge - Feb 03, 2010
By Ed Tapper"To create the proper ambience, Boston Lyric Opera is moving its performing forces to The Castle on Columbus Avenue for its new production of Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera, The Turn of the Screw." Expand
"To create the proper ambience, Boston Lyric Opera is moving its performing forces to The Castle on Columbus Avenue for its new production of Benjamin Britten’s chamber opera, The Turn of the Screw." Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: Lost Innocence: Unfolding Horror in Turn of the Screw
The Boston Musical Intelliger - Feb 01, 2010
By Bettina A. Norton'“I seek a friend —Obedient to follow where I lead, Slick as a juggler’s mate to catch my thought… and in that hour ‘The ceremony of innocence is drowned’…” This ominous text is from the libretto to Benjamin Britten’s opera, Turn of the Screw, to be… Expand
'“I seek a friend —Obedient to follow where I lead, Slick as a juggler’s mate to catch my thought… and in that hour ‘The ceremony of innocence is drowned’…” This ominous text is from the libretto to Benjamin Britten’s opera, Turn of the Screw, to be presented by Boston Lyric Opera as an Opera Annex production at the Park Plaza Castle on February 3, 5, and 6.' Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: Scaring up an alternative venue Park Plaza Castle is the setting for ‘Turn of the Screw’
Boston.com - Jan 31, 2010
By Harlow RobinsonBoston Lyric Opera turns the Park Plaza Castle into a spooky performance venue. Expand
Boston Lyric Opera turns the Park Plaza Castle into a spooky performance venue. Collapse
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Event Name: Britten's The Turn of the Screw
Article: Boston Lyric Opera's The Turn of the Screw
ArtsEditor - Jan 19, 2010
By Jonah Kappraff"Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is inaugurating its Opera Annex, a plan to present operas at alternative venues, providing new insights into the works." Expand
"Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is inaugurating its Opera Annex, a plan to present operas at alternative venues, providing new insights into the works." Collapse
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Event Name: Carmen
Article: Carmen
EDGE Contributor - Nov 09, 2009
By Ed TapperFrench opera continues to be a curiously elusive genre on our musical stages. Whether it is the difficulty of the sung, French language, a scarcity of singers to do it justice, or a general decline in its popularity, it seems to have taken a subsidia… Expand
French opera continues to be a curiously elusive genre on our musical stages. Whether it is the difficulty of the sung, French language, a scarcity of singers to do it justice, or a general decline in its popularity, it seems to have taken a subsidiary position to Italian, German, and even Eastern European forms---much to the dismay of Francophiles and true, opera buffs. With its sumptuous production of Massenet’s Thais a few seasons back, Boston Lyric Opera distinguished itself as our sole bastion of French opera. For its season-opener, the company chose the grand-daddy, or should we say, the big mama of them all--- Bizet’s Carmen.
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Event Name: Carmen
Article: For BLO, a potent new chamber “Carmen”
Boston Globe - Nov 07, 2009
By Jeremy EichlerBoston Lyric Opera’s general director Esther Nelson has promised more homegrown new productions for the company, and she is keeping her word. Last night at the Shubert Theatre, BLO opened its season with a new “Carmen,’’ presented in a stripped-down,… Expand
Boston Lyric Opera’s general director Esther Nelson has promised more homegrown new productions for the company, and she is keeping her word. Last night at the Shubert Theatre, BLO opened its season with a new “Carmen,’’ presented in a stripped-down, theatrically intense staging by Nicholas Muni.
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Member
Reviews-
Member Reviews
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Event Name: MACBETH by Giuseppe Verdi
"Love it !!"
Review posted by: Tin from Fitchburg , ma , Nov 12, 2011
This is my second time seeing the BLO. I love Shakespeare and was curious how it will be staging and how it will shown to us !! From the staging. Costumes, and the brilliance singing if all the... Expand
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Event Name: Handel's Agrippina
"EDGE BOSTON REVIEW 3/12"
Review posted by: BLO Public Relations from Boston. MA, Mar 14, 2011
Having only last month mounted The Emperor of Atlantis, a dark, spare opera composed in the horrific confines of a Nazi concentration camp, Boston Lyric Opera is now transporting us to the... Expand
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Event Name: Handel's Agrippina
"BOSTON GLOBE REVIEW 3/14"
Review posted by: BLO Public Relations from Boston, MA, Mar 14, 2011
Handel’s ‘Agrippina’ stylishly comic in Boston Lyric Opera production - The Boston Globe http://t.co/atHbAYN
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Event Name: Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis, or Death Quits
"Stunning Performances"
Review posted by: Tyler from Boston, MA USA, Feb 04, 2011
Boston Lyric Opera thrilled me again by delivering another astounding performance in THE EMPEROR OF ATLANTIS. The singing and characterization are phenomenal. The staging and environmental... Expand
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Event Name: Puccini's Tosca presented by Boston Lyric Opera
"Drama with Tosca in Boston Lyric Opera."
Review posted by: Juki Pohjolainen from Helsinki, Finland, Nov 11, 2010
Hi All, my name is Jukka Pohjolainen and I´m Head of Production of Savonlinna Opera Festival. I was watching First Night of Boston Lyric Operas Tosca Proruction on Friday the 5th of November and I... Expand
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
"Definitely worth seeing"
Review posted by: Rachel from Boston, MA, Mar 30, 2010
I really enjoyed the BLO's production. The singing was fabulous, and it really had the audience laughing. My only complaints were that the staging for the 'tragedy' part of the opera was a little... Expand
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
"Ariadne auf Naxos"
Review posted by: Gail from Boston, Mar 18, 2010
BLO has done a superb job of casting Ariadne auf Naxos The cast is truly outstanding. Their voices are amazing! I was so happy to be able to attend.
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
"Very Funny and entertaining"
Review posted by: Irene from Rowley, MA, Mar 17, 2010
Great singing, great acting, lots of fun energy and you don't need to know German to get the message. I sat in the first row Orchestra and it seemed the cast was having fun.
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
"Superb production!"
Review posted by: Ruth from Newton, MA, Mar 15, 2010
All the voices and the acting were incredible. Whenever one of the principles left the stage, I couldn't wait to see them again. Plus it was a hoot to see Will Lebow on the opera stage. He was great!... Expand
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Event Name: Boston Lyric Opera: Ariadne Auf Naxos
"Great show!"
Review posted by: Matt from Somerville, MA, Mar 12, 2010
Great performances abound in this fun and hilarious production. Highly recommended!
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