Long Beach Opera to Host THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA Spring Gala

Long Beach Opera will present its Spring Gala, CELEBRATING THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA, on April 11 at 6:00 p.m. at 440 Elm in Long Beach. The event will focus on the opera’s upcoming first-ever recording and its continued development following its 2019 premiere.

THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA is a two-act work composed by Anthony Davis with a libretto by Richard Wesley. The opera is based on the 1989 case involving five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted and later exonerated.

Originally commissioned and premiered by Long Beach Opera, THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA went on to receive the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music and has since been produced by companies across the United States. The gala marks the next stage in the work’s evolution as it moves into a recorded format, while also highlighting the company’s ongoing commitment to new opera.

The evening will feature performances by artists from the original production and the company’s 2022 remount, which serves as the basis for the recording. Scheduled performers include Nathan Granner, Lindsay Patterson Abdou, Todd Strange, and pianist Aron Kallay. Composer Anthony Davis and librettist Richard Wesley will also appear to discuss the work’s impact and continued relevance.

Additional Programming

A silent auction will accompany the event, with online bidding opening April 3 and closing at the end of the gala. Items will include experiences, artwork, and tickets from Long Beach Opera partners.