SPRING GALA
CELEBRATING THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE OPERA
440 Elm
Long Beach
APRIL 11
6 PM
PERFORMANCES, DRINKS, APPETIZERS & A FEW SURPRISES.
Some stories need a champion before the world even knows how much they matter. When LBO commissioned and premiered Anthony Davis’ The Central Park Five in 2019, we knew this was one of them.
In the years since, the opera has won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Music, been produced by companies across the country to widespread critical acclaim, and established Davis as one of the leading opera composers working today—renowned both for his music and for his commitment to the continuing struggle for social justice. Now, LBO is ready to take the next step in advancing this work: producing a commercial recording that will carry it beyond the opera house and into the larger world.
This gala celebrates that milestone and signals what’s next.
LBO exists to find the artists and stories that matter, and to put our full weight behind them. The Central Park Five is a testament to that commitment. We have new commissions already in development, and a clear vision for the company we’re building—one that moves with urgency, champions important voices, and doesn’t wait for the culture to catch up.
Join us for an evening of live performances by cast members of The Central Park Five, reflections from the composer, and a look ahead at what’s in store for LBO—and help us put this album in front of the world.
OUR COMMITMENT
LBO has been challenging norms for over 45 years—taking risks that spark meaningful conversations, provoke strong reactions, and redefine the future of opera. Under the leadership of our third Artistic Director and first Chief Creative Officer, James Darrah Black, we've built a reputation for bold programming and world premieres that matter. Recent highlights include the lauded world premiere of Pulitzer-finalist Kate Soper's The Romance of the Rose in 2023 and the world premiere of composer Alyssa Weinberg's ISOLA in 2024—and of course, The Central Park Five, whose story you already know.
That spirit of discovery runs through everything we do. Darrah Black and LBO Music Director Christopher Rountree have forged groundbreaking partnerships with the Martha Graham Dance Company and countertenor Jakub Józef Orliński, brought us back to Orange County through a collaboration with the Henry T. and Elizabeth Segerstrom Foundation, and launched the only opera film festival of its kind — exploring opera's queer history through screenings and performances featuring artists including Ron Athey and filmmakers The Daniels and Julia Pott.
And our most exciting work is still ahead. Through LBO Studio—our creative incubator and year-round development hub—we continue to commission and nurture the artists shaping opera's next chapter. Current projects include The Passion of Nell, a newly commissioned opera from composer and company artist-in-residence Shelley Washington and librettist Lisa Teasley, inspired by the tragic true story of model Nell Theobald and her obsession with soprano Birgit Nilsson. This is the mission you make possible.