Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is an American opera company based inBoston,Massachusetts, founded in 1976. BLO is the largest and longest-lived opera company in New England. BLO employs nearly 350 artists and creative professionals annually—vocalists, artisans, stagehands, costumers, and scenic designers—many of whom are members of the Boston community.
Each season, BLO produces four mainstage productions in the Greater-Boston area, one of which is a featured new work. BLO receives partial funding from a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. BLO regularly invests in co-productions with other U.S. companies includingNew York City Opera, theOpera Theatre of St. Louis,Houston Grand Opera, andGlimmerglass Opera.
BLO's community work has included participation in the "Egypt in Boston" thematic season that celebrated Egypt at several of Boston's leading cultural institutions in 1999–2000. In the summer of 2002, BLO produced "Carmen on the Common", a community-outreach initiative of a summer-long education series which culminated in two free, fully staged outdoor performances of Bizet'sCarmen onBoston Common.[1] Similar plans were scheduled for Verdi'sAida in the 2005–2006 season, but were cancelled because of insufficient financial support.[2]
The conductorJohn Balme served as general director from 1979 to 1989. Janice Mancini Del Sesto was general director of BLO from 1992 to 2008, whileStephen Lord was BLO music director from 1991 to 2008. During that time, the company's budget grew from $800,000 (USD) to $6 million (USD).[3] Since 2008, BLO's general and artistic director of BLO is Esther Nelson.[4] In June 2010, BLO announced the appointment of David Angus as the company's next music director, as of the 2010–2011 season, and he continues to lead musically the company.[5]
In 2009,John Conklin joined BLO as an artistic advisor and in 2012Julia Noulin-Mérat joined as the associate producer. As of 2019, John Conklin has set designed 15 productions and Julia Noulin-Mérat has set designed 10 productions.
In 2010, BLO commissioned a work from composerRichard Beaudoin to precede its February 2011 performances ofViktor Ullmann'sDer Kaiser von Atlantis.[6] Beaudoin responded with a 20-minute work for singers and chamber ensemble.[7]
In 2021, Esther Nelson andJulia Noulin-Mérat departed from Boston Lyric Opera.
Notes
Sources
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
