The following announcement was provided by the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra:
Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), internationally recognized youth musical organization, will bring to life a full opera once again! Two musicians from Watertown will be part of this year’s performance.
On Sunday, Jan. 27, BYSO will perform its 12th consecutive, full-length opera in Sanders Theatre at Harvard University and continues to be the only youth orchestra in the U.S. to do so. Under the leadership of BYSO Music Director, Federico Cortese, the Boston Youth Symphony, BYSO’s premier orchestra will perform Puccini’s emotional and masterful La Bohème as part of its 2018-2019 Season.
Over one hundred young musicians from the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), conducted by Music Director Federico Cortese, with stage direction by Edward Berkeley, will come center stage to bring to life a tale of young love, loss, and heartbreak for this one-time only performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. BYSO’s young musicians will have the unique opportunity to work alongside professional singers and a full chorus. The illustrious and international cast includes soprano Ellie Dehn, taking on the role of Mimi and tenor Kyle van Schoonhoven, as Rodolfo. Watertown’s Julia Greim, 17, will play viola and 14-year-old Joseph MacDonald, will perform violin with the BYSO.
“The performance of a full opera by a youth orchestra is a remarkable and rare accomplishment of which I am very proud,” said Cortese. “Opera is a fantastic tool for the musical and personal growth of our students because of the rich and intricate musical and psychological storylines that weave in and out of the music in ways not seen in a standard symphony.”
PUCCINI LA BOHÈME | Sunday, January 27 at 3:00 p.m. | Sanders Theatre at Harvard University 45 Quincy St. Cambridge
For more information, and to get tickets, go to www.bysoweb.org/event/la-boheme/