With springtime weather warming up, Baltimore Concert Opera will present two outdoor concerts later this month at a Towson church.
Instead of its usual concert setting — a gilded, 19th century historic ballroom of the Engineers Club in Mount Vernon — the opera company will hold its “BCO in the Open Air” concerts outdoors at the Immaculate Conception Church in Towson on April 22 and 23 at 6 p.m. both days.
“We are thrilled to be able to have the opportunity to employ artists and share the joy of live opera with our community,” Nicole Steinberg, Baltimore Concert Opera’s director of operations and media, said in an email to Baltimore Fishbowl. “We would like our audiences to leave entertained, moved, and enriched by the shared experience and energy of in-person performance once again.”
The 45- to 50- minute concerts will star soprano Christine Lyons, mezzo-soprano Kate Farrar, and bass-baritone Harold Wilson, accompanied by pianist Joy Schreier.
The concerts will feature operatic favorites from composers like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Giacomo Puccini and others, as well as some musical theater selections.
Tickets are being sold in “pods” of one to four audience members: $20 for a pod of one, $35 for two, $45 for three, and $50 for four. Audience members should bring their own chairs or other seating.
Baltimore Concert Opera has been following safety recommendations outlined by the Maryland Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention. The opera company is “committed to the health and well-being of our audiences, artists, and staff,” Steinberg said.
The company will enforce social distancing and other safety measures for audiences and staff during all live concerts this season.
Like many performing arts organizations, Baltimore Concert Opera had much of their 2020 performances upended by the pandemic, including the cancellation of the final concert opera production of last season.
But the opera company shared archival recordings from past productions on their website and social media as part of their “BCO Moments of Beauty” series.
In September 2020, Baltimore Concert Opera held its first live, in-person outdoor performance of the 2020-2021 season. They have since held a series of virtual recitals and a digital class series.
The opera company has not announced any additional productions or dates, but Steinberg said they are planning.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have remained committed and connected to our community,” she said.
