Name: Young Verdi in Love
Start: 2026-04-27T00:00:00
Location: Saint James Place

Alan Williams

Francesco Barfoed

Aviva Fortunata

Berkshire Opera Festival

BOF’s Resident Artist Program opens its inaugural season with Zémire et Azor, André Grétry’s retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast tale—reimagined in our new production in the shimmering yet morally fragile world of Gilded Age America. Zémire, daughter of the nouveau riche, longs for authenticity while Azor, an old-money recluse disfigured by an industrial accident, hides in a decaying mansion outside New York. When she offers herself to save her father, Zémire discovers Azor’s noble heart. Richly lyrical and emotionally expressive, the work celebrates love’s transformative power and the enduring truth that real beauty lies within.

Zémire Et Azor

Lucia di Lammermoor reigns as the crown jewel of bel canto opera! Set amid the foggy moors and ancient castles of Scotland, Donizetti’s masterpiece tells the tragic story of Lucia, whose forbidden love for her family’s sworn enemy drives her to the brink of madness. When her brother forces her into a loveless marriage, Lucia’s heart—and mind—shatter in one of opera’s most unforgettable scenes.  Renowned for its breathtaking drama and virtuosic singing, Lucia di Lammermoor remains one of the most celebrated works in the operatic canon, a timeless showcase of the full power and passion of the human voice.