On September 19, Opera Philadelphia raised the curtain on its 2025/26 season with a night of glamour, bold artistry, and a touch of tech magic. Opera Philadelphia’s 50th anniversary, highlighted by Vox Ex Machina, a singular event that married music and visual art through groundbreaking technology.
Tickets for the performance embraced the company’s new “Pick Your Price” model—starting at just $11—continuing the vision of General Director and President Anthony Roth Costanzo to expand access to opera in Philadelphia. The Gala tickets were a different price level.
I spy Henri David in the upper right corner. He told me that indeed the Henri David Halloween Ball will be taking place on October 31 at the Kimmel Center again this year.
The celebration didn’t end at the final bow. Gala guests strolled to the Reading Terminal Market for a festive dinner among Philadelphia’s most iconic food stalls. They feasted on market fare, bid on the one-of-a-kind artworks created during the performance, and mingled in an atmosphere that was part elegant soirée, part neighborhood party. From traditional tables for Gold Sponsors to casual lounge seating, the experience perfectly reflected Opera Philadelphia’s spirit: daring, democratic, and joyfully untraditional.
The evening’s schedule flowed seamlessly—from a cocktail reception in the Academy’s ballroom, to the performance at 6:00 p.m., to the grand finale at Reading Terminal Market. And with a dress code calling for “high drama—your operatic finest,” guests rose to the occasion in full style.
The art work was created by the Vox Ex Machina which translate singing into live art with vibrations. Developed in partnership with Drexel University’s ExCITe Center and artist/technologist Daniel Belquer, the specially designed machine transformed pitch and volume into visual works of art, created live onstage as opera luminaries performed beloved arias alongside new music. Audiences watched in awe as sound became color, a fitting tribute to five decades of innovation in opera.
Looking ahead, the season continues with Opera Overtures: Il viaggio a Reims this week and Vivaldi’s The Season’s in December, promising more unforgettable nights that blend Philadelphia’s rich cultural heritage with bold new visions for the future.