A Night at the Opera

Saturday, March 7, 2026, 8 pm
Doors Open at 7:15 pm
Memorial Hall, 590 Main Street, Melrose

Back by popular demand! The Melrose Symphony’s third Opera Night showcases blockbuster favorites from the world of opera. Maestro Udagawa will educate and entertain audiences by sharing the background of these opera highlights and how the music enhances each story.

Soloists: Mara Bonde, soprano; Krista River, mezzo; Ethan Bremner, tenor; Philip Lima, baritone

Tickets go on sale to the public on August 15.
This concert is part of our subscription series.

Sponsored by John and Nick from Cruz Electric

About the Soloists

Soprano Mara Bonde has captivated audiences with her vibrant stage presence and versatile voice, praised for its “sweet purity of tone” (Boston Herald) and “ravishing” quality (The Boston Globe). A frequent soloist with major symphony orchestras—including the Boston Pops, Rochester Philharmonic, and Naples Philharmonic—she moves seamlessly between classical and popular repertoire. Her operatic and music theater credits span roles from The Merry Widow to Guys & Dolls, and she has performed with companies across the U.S. and internationally.

Mezzo-soprano Krista River has performed as a soloist with leading ensembles including the Boston Symphony, Handel & Haydn Society, and Boston Baroque. A winner of the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, her operatic roles span from Dido in Dido and Aeneas to the title role in Xerxes. Praised by The New York Times for her “shimmering voice,” she is a regular soloist with Emmanuel Music’s acclaimed Bach Cantata Series.

Since arriving in Boston, tenor Ethan Bremner has become a sought-after performer, known for his powerful voice and dramatic versatility. He has sung leading roles with companies including Boston Opera Collaborative, Longwood Opera, Odyssey Opera, and Opera 51, in operas such as Tosca, Carmen, La Bohème, and Turandot. A Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions finalist, he holds a Master of Music from the University of Wisconsin.

Baritone Philip Lima has earned critical acclaim for his vibrant voice and commanding stage presence, praised by The Boston Globe, Opera News, and The Plain Dealer. He has sung leading roles with opera companies across the U.S. and Europe—including world premieres—and appeared as soloist with over seventy orchestras and ensembles, including the Boston Pops. A champion of both classical and contemporary repertoire, Lima is also featured on the award-winning recording of Florence Price’s Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight and serves as Assistant Chair of the Voice Department at Berklee College of Music.