Boston Lyric Opera Launches 40 DAYS OF OPERA

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) Stanford Calderwood General and Artistic Director Esther Nelson announced today a multi-platform, regional recognition of the robust opera and vocal music offerings in Greater Boston over the next six weeks, and debuted an online calendar that combines them all as part of the company's "40 Days of Opera" celebration.

Inspired by BLO's 40th season and its status as the most-enduring opera company in the city's history, "40 Days of Opera" includes free and low-cost live events designed for audiences of all ages and all levels of familiarity, including those experiencing opera for the first time. BLO, its artistic partners, and producers and music artists across the city will be part of the celebration. In addition to live events, fresh opera-related content on partner sites and social media platforms (#40DaysOfOpera on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) will spread opera history and information to a variety of audiences. The initiative begins this week with three opera-related events at the Boston Public Library and ends with the final performance of BLO's Carmen on October 2.

"At the heart of our mission is the belief that opera is for everyone," Nelson said, "As the largest, oldest opera company in the region, we take seriously our position to develop future audiences for the art form and support the local organizations who produce, present and support it. It is heartening to see how many Boston-area groups are dedicated to making opera a vibrant force here."

Among the activities during the "40 Days" event: an Opera Walking Tour of Boston from Boston by Foot; concerts and educational events at the Boston Public Library and the Boston Center for Adult Education; a weekend of film screenings of acclaimed opera productions at ArtsEmerson; a special film screening and event at the Somerville Theater; live performance events from Boston Lyric Opera, theHandel and Haydn Society, Odyssey Opera, Guerilla Opera, Opera on Tap, Cerise Jacobs' Ouroboros Trilogy (presented by ArtsEmerson and Beth Morrison Projects), and local conservatories. An in-school performance will be coordinated with the Boston Public Schools' Arts division. Other participating groups will share Boston-centric opera highlights and create digital events across social media platforms throughout the 40 days. Additional activities are expected to be added to the calendar.

"Boston is a thriving city for the arts, and especially for opera," said Julie Burros, Chief of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston. "I love seeing the opera and vocal music community come together this way for the first time. ?40 Days of Opera' is a wonderful way to highlight the many vocal music options we offer here and provide opportunities for everyone across the city to experience the joy of opera."

"40 Days of Opera" partner organizations include (in alphabetical order): ArtsBoston, ArtsEmerson, Beth Morrison Projects, Boston by Foot, the Boston Center for Adult Education, Boston Conservatory, Boston Early Music Festival, Boston Midsummer Opera, Boston Opera House, Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools Arts Office, Celebrity Series of Boston, Emmanuel Music, Friends of Madam White Snake, Guerilla Opera, Handel and Haydn Society, Henry Purcell Society of Boston, MetroWest Opera, Odyssey Opera, Opera on Tap, OperaHub, Opus Affair, and the Somerville Theatre.

BLO's 40th Season includes four all-new productions in four iconic theaters throughout Boston. The season includes: the East Coast U.S. premiere of Calixto Bieito's production of Georges Bizet's CarmenSeptember 23-October 2, 2016 at the Boston Opera House; an Opera Annex production of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Greek, November 16-20, 2016 at the Emerson/Paramount Center; Igor Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress March 12-19, 2017 at the Emerson/Cutler Majestic Theatre; and Wolfgang Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at John Hancock Hall at the Back Bay Events Center.

For more information and the full "40 Days of Opera" calendar of events, please visit: 40days.blo.org.

BLO is New England's leading fully-professional opera company, reaching close to 30,000 people of all ages annually. Entering in its 40th season this fall, BLO celebrates the art of the voice through its mission of building curiosity, enthusiasm and support for opera by creating musically and theatrically compelling productions, events, and educational resources for the Boston community and beyond. Since its founding in 1976, the company has staged world premieres, U.S. premieres, co-productions and co-commissions of note with organizations such as The Royal Opera, Covent Garden and Scottish Opera, and continues to be a destination for some of the leading artists, conductors, directors and designers from around the world.