Boston Lyric Opera and Hibernian Hall are teaming up to host “ Street Stage” a free pop-up multicultural performance on Aug. 17 in Roxbury’s Madison Park.
The show is an ode to cultures from around the world, featuring arias from Europe and the Americas by the Boston Lyric Opera followed by a dynamic performance from Afro-Latin percussionist Cornell Coley. The day will end with a dance party — and lemonades provided by Lime Life.
“We want to celebrate similarities and our differences,” said Haris Lefteri, creative director of Hibernian Hall. “Plus they’ll get to taste great lemonade.”
The dance party portion of the event will be led by the West African group Akwaaba Ensemble. Lefteri suggested bringing dancing shoes.
The event also gives artists the chance to share their craft with a new audience.
“I think it’s really important for every artist to have the opportunity to perform for an audience that might never have heard you before,” said Angela Yam, an opera singer who performed “I Got Rhythm” live on Boston Public Radio. “It reminds me of the first time that I fell in love with opera — it was something as spontaneous as seeing a performance.”
Lefteri told Boston Public Radio, the mission and purpose of the event is to, “bring community together and to find a space for our residents to share their culture and to continue to build that culture.”
The Boston Lyric Opera and Hibernian Hall also continue this mission through their youth programming year round.
“Next year is the 15th year that 'Create Your Own Opera’ will be a program in the Boston public school system and the greater Boston area,” said Bradley Vernatter, CEO and general director of the Boston Lyric Opera. “Youth from grades two through high school, create their own ideas, their own librettos and texts, their own compositions, everything up to producing, rehearsing and producing and performing the piece.”
Vernatter said that over 500 students have participated in the programming.
