BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED NIGHT AT THE OPERA

In collaboration with the Moran Eye Center and the Utah Council for the Blind, Utah Opera hosted 103 attendees during its 29th annual Blind & Visually Impaired Night at the Opera for the May 6, 2026 dress rehearsal of Verdi’s La traviata.

In a pre-performance presentation, Opera Education Manager Kevin Nakatani and Artistic Director Christopher McBeth introduced the origin, story, characters, and themes of the opera. Swatches of fabric with full costume descriptions and several props from the production were passed around, providing an up close and tactile element to the experience.

During the performance, Christine McDonough provided live audio descriptions of the sets, costumes, and stage action which was broadcast through assisted listening devices. Patrons also had access to braille and large-print copies of the libretto and synopsis provided by the Utah Library for the Blind & Disabled.

In partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind, several puppies attended the dress rehearsal with their handlers to gain experience attending a social event as part of their training.

Email [email protected] to be added to our Blind & Visually Impaired mailing list and be notified when registration is open for our next event.