Boston Lyric Opera

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is a premier opera company based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1976, BLO has been dedicated to presenting compelling operatic experiences that welcome new audiences, break new ground, and enrich community life. Now in its 47th season, the company has established itself as a significant cultural institution in the greater Boston area. BLO's mission is to inspire, entertain, and connect communities through opera performances, programs, and gatherings. The company envisions creating operatic moments that enrich everyday life, adhering to values of boldness, collaboration, connection, learning, and belonging. BLO is known for telling evocative stories through music and drama, often in large-scale productions and unexpected settings. It celebrates opera's rich history while promoting adventurousness and new thinking. The company has a history of producing world and U.S. premieres, Pulitzer Prize-winning operas, and notable commissions and co-productions. These have ranged from live stage shows to films streamed worldwide. BLO has partnered with prestigious organizations such as Covent Garden, San Francisco Opera, Detroit Opera, and more, attracting leading artists, conductors, directors, and designers from around the world. Each season, BLO invests in the development of emerging artists through the Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artists program, helping them hone their craft and prepare for the next steps in their careers. Alongside its mainstage season, BLO presents a variety of community and educational public programs and performances year-round. These programs are held at its Midway Artist Studios headquarters and in partnership with institutions like the Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools, and cultural organizations across New England. In 2022, BLO launched a new five-year strategic plan focusing on four strategic pillars: Programming, Community, Space, and Leadership. The plan includes a renewed commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA). The company employs over 500 artists and creative professionals annually, including vocalists, instrumentalists, artisans, stagehands, costumers, scenic designers, and administrators. BLO's repertoire includes a diverse range of operas, from classics to contemporary works. The company has presented productions such as "The Anonymous Lover," "Eurydice," "Omar," and "Svadba," among others. It also offers various ticketing options, including subscriptions and memberships, to make opera more accessible to a broader audience. The company's educational initiatives include the PRIMA Opera Innovators Series, The Butterfly Process, and various public programs aimed at getting people into opera. BLO also provides studio rentals and engages in community outreach through youth and school programs. BLO's efforts have been recognized by critics from The Boston Globe, The Bay State Banner, and GBH, who have commended the company for bringing in new voices, confronting biases in the industry, and striving to make opera as accessible as possible. Boston Lyric Opera continues to play a significant and meaningful role in Boston’s vibrant arts community, setting the stage for the future of opera by opening up notions of what opera can be and creating an opera company for the modern world.