Seasons Greetings from Bradley Vernatter

 

A Note from Bradley Vernatter

Each year as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the holiday season, I am reminded of the extraordinary people I am privileged to meet through my work at Boston Lyric Opera. This year I was able to make new, lasting connections through our educational partnership programs and our work in our Fort Point Arts Neighborhood. 

In the fall, we launched the Opera Innovators Series, a new educational and artist development partnership with Boston Conservatory at Berklee voice and opera programs. This partnership fulfills our Company goals and unlocks incredible opportunities for the next generation of opera artists - BLO's Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artists and PCP students. 

I saw that come to life last week with soprano Karen Slack's terrific master class presentation. Seeing her support these young singers in their artistic development was a treat. Up next for the series, I can't wait to welcome BLO Artistic Advisor Nina Yoshida Nelson and Anne Bogart, visionary director of BLO's 2019 The Handmaid's Tale, whose work you will see again for our upcoming production of Bluebeard's Castle/Four Songs.

Pictured from left to right: Brett Hodgdon, Pianist (BCB Faculty; BLO Jane & Steven Akin Emerging Artist Alumnus), 

Julia Janowski, Mezzo-Soprano (BCB '24), Fred C. VanNess Jr., Tenor (Jane & Steven Emerging Artist),

Kayla Kovaks, Soprano (BCB '24), Laura Santamaria-Mendez, Soprano (BCB '23), Karen Slack, Soprano,

Jamila Drecker-Waxman, Soprano (BCB '23)

Our programming in the Fort Point Arts Neighborhood has also brought new relationships, like the many artists and operagoers I met at the Fort Point Open Studios in the fall. When BLO relocated to Midway Artist Studios, we joined an established group of creative people who have made this rapidly growing area friendly and affordable for artists. Good things happen in places where the arts thrive. I see that here, and it inspires me to continue working with our partners to make arts and cultural spaces that strengthen our community.

Of course, my most rewarding connection is with you, our audiences, and the champions of BLO. I am so thankful for the support we receive, and so are the many artists we work with each year. Thank you for being a vital part of making opera and contributing to a strong arts community in Boston.

From all of us at Boston Lyric Opera, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a very Happy New Year.

Wish warm wishes-and gratitude,

Brad

Bradley Vernatter

Stanford Calderwood General Director & Chief Executive Officer

The Inspector EXPOSED

During intermission at Wednesday evening’s performance of The Inspector, something dramatic happened.

The curtain stayed up.

What? Why!?

The curtain stayed up, because we presented BLO Exposed, which is a conversation designed to bring you closer to the opera.

At BLO’s Wednesday night shows, we round up a few individuals involved with the production and have a live conversation about what it’s really like behind-the-scenes at the opera.

We also scour Facebook and Twitter for your questions (@bostlyricopera, #bloexposed) and answer them live. BLO Exposed is really all about you.

This past Wednesday’s performance was great fun. David Angus, BLO’s Music Director and conductor of The Inspector, Sandra Kott (concertmaster), and Craig McNutt (percussion) answered questions from quite a few people in the audience.  

Here are a few of the questions and answers you may have missed:

Opera App is more than a Toi! Toi! Toi!

I come from a household of teachers. Both my parents teach and raised me in the classroom. I graded papers (multiple-choice only) and ran ditto copies (yes, kids, that was how people made copies before Xerox). During summer breaks in college I worked as a teaching assistant with special education elementary children. Now, I run a box office which requires me to ‘teach’ on a daily basis – from ‘teaching’ my intern how to sell tickets to ‘teaching’ new subscribers about our production -- I ‘teach’ opera in 2 minute or less.

My wife, a volunteer coordinator for elderly services, works with many student volunteers from BHCC so I jumped at the opportunity to work with these students. The Office of Community Engagement oversees these partnerships.  The office helps students develop tangible skills through community service, civic engagement, and student activism. Through civic-centered or service-centered involvement, the Office of Community Engagement demonstrates to students the connection between community involvement and professional and personal development. What teaches personal development better than a 400 year-old art form associated with the socially elite and performed in a foreign language, right!? This challenge called for a creative lesson plan. (More after the jump)