Opera on the Prado
Be captivated by the beautiful sounds of opera as NEMPAC takes the performance to new heights. Formerly known as “Opera from the Balcony”, NEMPAC’s pop-up Opera on the Prado will feature Boston-Based Emerging Artists often from the NEMPAC Opera Project in Boston’s most historic and beautiful park in the North End. Located on the freedom trail, next to the Paul Revere Statue and just behind Old North Church, passersby, neighbors, and friends can catch singers performing on Saturday, October 10th and Saturday, October 17th.
Artistic Director, Hannah Shanefield
Date: Sunday, October 10th | Time: 1 PM – 3 PM
Where: The Prado, Paul Revere Mall, Hanover Street, Boston, MA 02113
No need to register to attend. Just stroll on by The Prado!
David Rivera Bozón, tenor
He has performed the lead tenor roles in operas such as Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod, Siren Song and Flight by Jonathan Dove; Florencia en el Amazonas by Daniel Catán; L’Amico Fritz by Pietro Mascagni; Elisir d’Amor by Gaetano Donizetti; La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi; the operas by Puccini: La Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Madama Butterfly and Tosca; and the operas by Mozart: Die Zauberflöte, Idomeneo, La Finta Giardiniera and Don Giovanni.
Larisa Bainton-Hernandez, soprano
Larisa Bainton Hernandez is a soprano, educator, and multi-media creative from Atlanta, GA, now based in the Boston area. Her artistic work centers on increasing opera’s accessibility through visual storytelling. Her work has been recognized by the Boston Globe, OperaWire, WBUR, and Bachtrack, and in 2021, the Eastman School of Music named her an “Outstanding Eastman Woman” for her innovative digital production of Hänsel und Gretel. Recent projects include an immersive Die Fledermaus and a recital featuring graphics and animations she created.
Her notable roles include Helena (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), and Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), with recent engagements with Boston Lyric Opera, Odyssey Opera, Boston Summer Opera, West End Lyric, and The Opera Company. Beyond classical performance, Larisa performs folk, pop, musical theater, and jazz, accompanying herself on guitar and piano at community events throughout the Boston area, including Malden’s PorchFest.
Larisa holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the Eastman School of Music, a B.A. in Brain & Cognitive Sciences from the University of Rochester, and an M.M. in Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory. She maintains a private voice, piano, and guitar studio in Melrose, MA.
Julian Gau, pianist
Julian Gau is a conductor and pianist based in Boston. He serves as music director of the Horizon Ensemble, the Providence Medical Orchestra, and the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York. He is also the Assistant Conductor of the New England Philharmonic. He has been music director for Il Barbiere di Siviglia and The Pirates of Penzance with Boston Summer Opera, Alcina with MassOpera, Die Fledermaus with The Opera Company, Katie the Strongest of the Strong with Opera Saratoga, and Cabaret at Brown University. He has also acted as assistant conductor for Let’s Celebrate and Is This America? with White Snake Projects, as well as L’elisir d’amore, Rigoletto and Don Giovanni with Boston Summer Opera.
Julian has performed as a pianist in concert with Opera on Tap, NEMPAC, Boston Summer Opera, and West End Lyric. Sometimes he is a cellist, composer, arranger, or critic. Outside of music, Julian enjoys stories, noodles, and time with friends.
*In the event of rain, we will move this concert to 50 Tileston St in the North End.
