William Tell

William Tell (Guillaume Tell) Music by Gioachino Rossini Libretto by Victor-Joseph Étienne de Jouy &amp; L.F. Bis Performed with the BLO Chorus &amp; Orchestra A new BLO production Emerson Colonial Theatre Friday, September 25 | 7:30pm Sunday, September 27 | 3:00pm Friday, October 2 | 7:30pm Sunday, October 4 | 3:00pm Sung in French with English supertitles ﻿You’ve heard this music. But there’s more to the story. From the first notes of its world-famous overture, Rossini’s final opera barrels forward as an epic ode to resistance, freedom, and the triumph of a united people over a tyrannical ruler. At the center of the action is William Tell – the legendary archer best known for successfully shooting an apple off his son’s head – leading a vibrant cast of characters who prove that ordinary people can be revolutionary together, and that love anchors us when the world turns upside-down. BLO presents this heroic masterpiece in a fully staged Boston production for the first time in over 150 years, with Vita Tzykun and David Adam Moore serving as co-directors. Conductor David Angus leads the BLO Orchestra and Chorus through Rossini’s sumptuous score, with tour-de-force performances from George Gagnidze (William Tell), Anya Matanovič (Mathilde), Konu Kim (Arnold), Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Hedwige), Brianna J. Robinson (Jemmy), and more. By arrangement with Hendon Music, Inc., a Boosey &amp; Hawkes company, Sole Agent in the U.S., Canada and Mexico for Casa Ricordi/Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.R.L., publisher and copyright owner. Surtitles rented from Kristen Barrett.

Emerson Colonial Theatre

A Streetcar Named Desire

A Streetcar Named Desire Music by André Previn Libretto by Philip Littell Based on the play by Tennessee Williams Performed with the BLO Orchestra A new co-production with Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre Thursday, November 5 | 7:30pm Friday, November 6 | 7:30pm Sunday, November 8 | 3:00pm Sung in English with English supertitles ﻿“Real? Who wants real?… I want magic!” The sweltering heat of a New Orleans summer sets the tone for the simmering tensions that crackle and spark between the unforgettable characters of Tennessee Williams’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, set to André Previn’s luminous score. Magnetic but self-deluded Blanche DuBois leaves her Mississippi hometown and seeks shelter with her sister Stella and her husband Stanley. Clinging to a romanticized image of the past, she quickly finds herself at odds with the domineering Stanley, whose brutal realism clashes ruthlessly with her worldview. Cruelty, desire, illusion, and fear of change are on raw display as the resulting events send everyone involved careening toward destruction. Daniela Candillari returns to BLO for the first time since conducting 2022’s award-winning cinematic opera Svadba. She joins forces with internationally famous singer, stage director, and arts leader Patricia Racette (BLO’s The Tales of Hoffmann, 1992) to helm this compelling production. Brittany Renee, Angela Yam, Thomas Glass, and Brenton Ryan head the cast of a lyrical, emotionally exposed work that demands honesty and vulnerability from its performers and audiences alike.

Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre

The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)

The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro) Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte Performed with the BLO Chorus &amp; Orchestra A new BLO production Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre Friday, March 12 | 7:30pm Sunday, March 14 | 3:00pm Friday, March 19 | 7:30pm Sunday, March 21 | 3:00pm Sung in Italian with English supertitles ﻿One wedding. One day. Total chaos. Wit, mayhem, and hilarity abound in Mozart’s fan-favorite comedy that packs a lot of action into a single day! Short version (no, really): Figaro and his fiancée Susanna work for the philandering Count, who is determined to seduce Susanna before the wedding. An infuriated Figaro swears he will outsmart the Count; meanwhile, Susanna teams up with the neglected Countess and the lovable Cherubino to accomplish the same goal on her own terms. Beneath the story’s light-hearted surface is a skillful and nuanced criticism of aristocratic privilege. Gorgeous music accompanies all your favorite opera tropes – mistaken identities, disguises, elaborate plots backfiring – culminating in a celebration of love and forgiveness. A highlight of the 50th Anniversary Season, The Marriage of Figaro returns to BLO for the first time since 2017, in a new production conducted by David Angus and directed by Anne Bogart. Expect spirited performances from Michael Sumuel (Figaro), Madison Leonard (Susanna), Dean Murphy (Count), Masabane Cecilia Rangwanasha (Countess), Sun-Ly Pierce (Cherubino), and more in this enduring classic that delivers silliness and sincerity in equal measure.

Ayre

Ayre Music by Osvaldo Golijov Starring Ailyn Pérez Performed with the BLO Orchestra A new BLO production Opera + Community Studios Thursday, June 17 | 7:30pm Friday, June 18 | 7:30pm Saturday, June 19 | 7:30pm Sunday, June 20 | 5:00pm Sung in Ladino, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Sardinian, and English, with English supertitles ﻿A living tapestry of cultures in conversation. Sensual, volatile, and deeply human, this genre-defying work allows centuries to collapse into a single breath: the intertwined voices of Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Spain before rupture, before exile – before silence. Inspired in part by the charged stillness and heat of the painting El Jaleo, the staging leans into the tension between restraint and eruption. Featuring sung and spoken texts in Ladino, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, Sardinian, and English in a production that physicalizes intimacy and immediacy, Ayre conjures a flickering, unstable world where faith, longing, and identity are constantly negotiated in real time. Ailyn Pérez, one of the world’s leading lyric sopranos, returns to BLO for the first time since her performance as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro in the 2006/07 Season. Hailed by The New York Times as “a beautiful woman who commands the stage” and “a major soprano,” Ms. Pérez is in demand at the world’s leading opera houses and cultural capitals. Internationally celebrated for her signature artistry, as the winner of the 2012 Richard Tucker Award, Ms. Pérez became the first Hispanic recipient in the award’s history.

Opera + Community Studios

Apples & Archery

BOWS, ARROWS &amp; APPLES are taking over Faneuil Hall! Join Boston Lyric Opera on Saturday, September 19 from 2–5 PM for a FREE afternoon of archery, apples, music, and William Tell fun at Samuel Adams Memorial Park at Faneuil Hall. Take your turn at the range with professional instructors from On The Mark Archery, compete in our Apple Bullseye Challenge, and see where you land on the live leaderboard. No experience necessary—archers of all ages and abilities are welcome! Plus: Fresh-picked apples + cider donuts from Red Apple Farm Music from the iconic William Tell Overture Prizes and giveaways Special $19.76 tickets to BLO’s WILLIAM TELL available at the ArtsBoston BosTix Booth Archery Contest: 2–4 PM Winners + Prizes: 4–5 PM Come test your aim—and celebrate the start of BLO’s landmark 50th Anniversary Season.

Samuel Adams Memorial Park, Faneuil Hall

Archery @ Faneuil Hall 

BOWS, ARROWS &amp; APPLES are taking over Faneuil Hall! Join Boston Lyric Opera on Saturday, September 19 from 2–5 PM for a FREE afternoon of archery, apples, music, and William Tell fun at Samuel Adams Memorial Park at Faneuil Hall. Take your turn at the range with professional instructors from On The Mark Archery, compete in our Apple Bullseye Challenge, and see where you land on the live leaderboard. No experience necessary—archers of all ages and abilities are welcome! Plus:<ul><li>Fresh-picked apples + cider donuts from Red Apple Farm</li><li>Music from the iconic William Tell Overture </li><li>Prizes and giveaways</li><li>Special $19.76 tickets to BLO’s WILLIAM TELL available at the ArtsBoston BosTix Booth</li></ul>Archery Contest: 2–4 PM Winners + Prizes: 4–5 PM Come test your aim—and celebrate the start of BLO’s landmark 50th Anniversary Season.

Faneuil Hall

Daughter of the Regiment

Love, liberty, and laughs— a revolutionary comedy for America’s 250th. Laughter meets revolutionary spirit in BLO’s staging of Donizetti’s glorious comedy.&nbsp;Inspired by the life of Deborah Sampson, the Massachusetts revolutionary who disguised herself as a man to fight for independence, this production transports us to Revolutionary-era Boston, telling a heartfelt tale of love and loyalty to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.&nbsp;With a new English dialogue by Kirsten Greenidge, it’s a patriotic toast to America at 250—and to the rebels who shaped it. &nbsp; The participation of Kirsten Greenidge is supported in part by an Anonymous Donor. Voices of&nbsp;Revolution&nbsp; A Citywide Opera Initiative for America’s 250th&nbsp; Join Boston Lyric Opera in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through music and storytelling.&nbsp;Voices of Revolution&nbsp;invites Boston to rediscover the stories of our nation’s beginnings—lifting&nbsp;iconic&nbsp;and overlooked voices to celebrate who we were, reflect on who we are, and imagine who we can become.&nbsp; This initiative is part of BLO’s 50th Anniversary season and features performances, talks, and community programs across Boston as part of the statewide&nbsp;MA250&nbsp;commemoration.&nbsp;

Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde)

An exploration of nature and the cycles of life at BLO’s Opera + Community Studios. In Schoenberg’s arrangement of Gustav Mahler’s Song of the Earth, we encounter a meditation on mortality and rebirth, composed in the shadow of profound personal tragedy. Drawing from ancient poetry, Mahler weaves aching beauty with existential yearning fusing his career-long themes of nature and the cycles of life.   Brandon Jovanovich’s appearance is supported by Katie and Paul Buttenwieser. Raehann Bryce-Davis’ appearance is supported by Winfield and Linda Perry. Music by Gustav Mahler Chamber arrangement by Arnold Schoenberg Text from Hans Bethge’s Die chinesische Flöte Conducted by David Angus | Directed by Anne Bogart

BLO’s Opera + Community Studios

Raehann in Recital

One of the best mezzo-sopranos of this generation: Raehann Bryce-Davis in Recital. Raehann Bryce-Davis, hailed as “one of the best mezzo-sopranos of this generation” (The New York Observer), takes the stage in a classical crossover recital presented by Boston Lyric Opera. Celebrated for her “powerhouse vocals” (OperaWire) and commanding presence, Bryce-Davis brings her extraordinary artistry to a program spanning opera, art song, and contemporary works. A dynamic performer equally at home with Verdi, Wagner, and new commissions, she has graced the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, Dutch National Opera, and Los Angeles Philharmonic—earning acclaim for her “rich, velvety tone” and dramatic depth. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to experience her magnetic artistry up close in an evening of music that promises passion and virtuosity.

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Join Boston Lyric Opera for&nbsp;Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment&nbsp;– a one-act English-language adaptation of Donizetti’s beloved comic opera about a girl who grows up in a military regiment. Three performers and a pianist will engage audiences through singing, staging, and narration in this interactive introduction to opera.&nbsp;Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment&nbsp;runs for approximately 45 minutes. Opera on Tour is friendly for all ages, but best for children aged 5-12. Join us and experience how an opera comes to life through music, acting, and movement! Admission is free and open to the public. Voices of&nbsp;Revolution&nbsp; A Citywide Opera Initiative for America’s 250th&nbsp; Join Boston Lyric Opera in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through music and storytelling.&nbsp;Voices of Revolution&nbsp;invites Boston to rediscover the stories of our nation’s beginnings—lifting&nbsp;iconic&nbsp;and overlooked voices to celebrate who we were, reflect on who we are, and imagine who we can become.&nbsp; This initiative is part of BLO’s 50th Anniversary season and features performances, talks, and community programs across Boston as part of the statewide&nbsp;MA250&nbsp;commemoration.&nbsp;

Boston Public Library Central Branch

Join Boston Lyric Opera for Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment – a one-act English-language adaptation of Donizetti’s beloved comic opera about a girl who grows up in a military regiment. Three performers and a pianist will engage audiences through singing, staging, and narration in this interactive introduction to opera. Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment runs for approximately 45 minutes. Opera on Tour is friendly for all ages, but best for children aged 5-12. Join us and experience how an opera comes to life through music, acting, and movement! Admission is free and open to the public. Voices of Revolution  A Citywide Opera Initiative for America’s 250th  Join Boston Lyric Opera in celebrating America’s 250th anniversary through music and storytelling. Voices of Revolution invites Boston to rediscover the stories of our nation’s beginnings—lifting iconic and overlooked voices to celebrate who we were, reflect on who we are, and imagine who we can become.  This initiative is part of BLO’s 50th Anniversary season and features performances, talks, and community programs across Boston as part of the statewide MA250 commemoration.

Boston Public Library East Boston Branch

Boston Public Library North End Branch

Boston Public Library West Roxbury Branch

Boston Public Library Grove Hall Branch

Boston Public Library Honan-Allston Branch

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Where

bostonlyricopera

Experiences

William Tell

A Streetcar Named Desire

The Marriage of Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro)

Ayre

Apples & Archery

Archery @ Faneuil Hall

Daughter of the Regiment

Song of the Earth (Das Lied von der Erde)

Raehann in Recital

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment

Opera on Tour: Daughter of the Regiment