New York City Opera: Opera Goes to Hollywood

New York City Opera was famously dubbed “The People's Opera” by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia at its founding in 1943. More than 70 years later, City Opera continues its historic mission to inspire audiences with innovative and theatrically compelling opera, nurture the work of promising American artists, and build new audiences through affordable ticket prices and extensive outreach and education programs.

Marnie Breckenridge, Soprano
Monika Falcon, Soprano
Marc Heller, Tenor
Berj Karazian, Tenor
Yunah Lee, Soprano
Alexander Markov, Violin
Latonia Moore, Soprano
Christopher Nazarian, Bass
Robin Phillips, Narrator
Kristin Sampson, Soprano

Four-time Grammy-nominated conductor Constantine Orbelian has been hailed by Opera News as “the singer’s dream collaborator,” praised for his exceptional sensitivity to the vocal repertoire. He has toured and recorded with many of the world’s greatest artists, including Renée Fleming, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Sondra Radvanovsky, and Lawrence Brownlee, across major music centers in Europe, North America, and Asia. Orbelian was the first American to lead a Russian ensemble, serving as Music Director of the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia of Russia. He is currently Chief Conductor of the Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Yerevan Opera. A San Francisco native and Juilliard graduate, he began his career as a piano prodigy before becoming an internationally acclaimed conductor. Honors include Russia’s Order of Friendship Medal and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Orbelian has recorded over 60 acclaimed albums on Delos, Decca, Warner, and Deutsche Grammophon.

Italian-born American conductor Stefano Vignati has led a distinguished international career spanning over three decades, with more than 60 operatic titles in his repertoire. He currently serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of Opera Carolina—the first Italian to hold the position in the company’s 75-year history—as well as Principal Guest Conductor of New York City Opera and Artistic Director of the International Lyric Academy. Maestro Vignati has conducted leading orchestras across Europe, North America, and Asia, collaborating with renowned artists such as Barbara Frittoli, Mariella Devia, Michele Campanella, and Aleksey Bogdanov. His televised productions with Italy’s RAI include Le Nozze di Figaro and Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and his recordings include the first interactive CD dedicated to Verdi’s complete operas. A former Professor at Drake University and Director of its Opera Theater, Vignati holds a Master’s in Conducting from the University of Denver and continues to lead major productions across the globe.

Praised by The New York Times for his “flair and energy,” Bösendorfer Artist Michael Fennelly is a pianist, conductor, and composer of remarkable versatility. He earned a knighthood in Spain for completing and premiering George Gershwin’s long-lost Rhapsody in Blue setting at Lincoln Center. A former U.S. winner of the Horowitz Competition, Fennelly made his solo Carnegie Hall debut to a sold-out audience and has toured internationally across all seven continents. He has collaborated with renowned artists including Renée Fleming, Joshua Bell, and Placido Domingo, and worked with the New York Philharmonic and Juilliard School under Lorin Maazel and Alan Gilbert. Currently on staff at the Metropolitan Opera and West Point, he also serves as Music Director of the Athena Music Foundation and Rockland Youth Symphony. This season, he appears in productions across Italy, China, and Israel, continuing a career marked by brilliance, innovation, and global reach.

Bryant Park lends out hundreds of free blankets on a first-come, first-served basis, or bring your own cotton or fleece blanket. To protect the lawn, please do not sit on waterproof materials such as plastic tarps, yoga mats, or inflatable chairs. 

Take a seat in one of the pre-set chairs on the lawn or grab a chair from the gravel. You can use a chair anywhere in the park except for the center lawn "blanket zone". 

Bring your own picnic or purchase food and drinks from tents on the east side of the lawn. Attendees can enjoy cuisine from the five boroughs with a rotating line-up of artisanal vendors curated by Hester Street Fair.

Stout NYC also offers giant pretzels, gourmet popcorn and other light bites as well as a selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages for purchase.

Visit the Bryant Park Shop tent for exclusive Picnic Performances merchandise and more!

Find a parachute, hula hoops, and more fun on the east side of the lawn at select events. 

Dogs are welcome on the gravel and bluestone, but not on the lawn.

Performances are cancelled when it is unsafe to be outdoors. In some cases, the lawn may be too wet to open but the performance may continue. Follow @bryantparknyc on Twitter and Instagram for day-of event updates. You can also check the lawn status on the bryantpark.org homepage.