Our first Opera at Gotham Park “Block Party” on May 3rd brought us into the heart of the community in a way that felt both joyful and deeply affirming. Our young artists—Maia Gonzalez, Jongwon Choi, Sarah Rose Johnson, Ziliang Hao, and Lu Huang—joined by pianist Francisco Miranda, filled the park with music in Chinese, Korean, Spanish, English, and Italian, creating moments of connection that transcended language. We were moved by how neighbors, families, and passersby stopped, listened, and shared in the experience—proof that opera can spark warmth, curiosity, and togetherness when it lives out in the open. This afternoon reminded us why we do this work: to meet our city where it is and bring our art directly into the lives of the people who make New York home.