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Sarah Caldwell and the Boston Opera House

As founder of The Opera Company, Sarah Caldwell (1924-2006) staged and conducted full-fledged operas in Boston from 1957 to 1991, revolutionizing American opera.

As founder of The Opera Company, Sarah Caldwell (1924-2006) staged and conducted full-fledged performances of operas at various venues in Boston from 1957 to 1991. In 1980 the Opera Company acquired The Opera House. With her compelling and demanding personality, Caldwell charted a new course for opera in America. She had a special talent for producing flamboyant theatrical effects and with her adventurous spirit she embraced the whole spectrum of operatic possibilities. In 1976 she became the first woman to conduct at the Metropolitan Opera House. She received thirty-five honorary degrees and in 1997 the National Medal of the Arts.

Originally a movie theater, this theater was the home of Caldwell’s Opera Company of Boston from 1980-1991. After many years of neglect, it was refurbished and reopened in 2004.

Notable Women at this Landmark

(1924 - 2006)

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Boston Women's Heritage Trail

The Boston Women’s Heritage Trail celebrates the past accomplishments of remarkable women in Boston, claiming their rightful place in our City’s history. Through education, reflection, and an interactive city-wide monument, we activate the powerful female side of Boston’s history.