In celebration of our 20th anniversary, American Lyric Theater is proud to announce a gala performance on Thursday October 23, 2025, at 7:00 PM at Merkin Hall. The evening will feature scenes from a wide range of operas by alumni of ALT’s Composer Librettist Development Program (CLDP), including works developed and commissioned by ALT as well as operas that were commissioned and premiered at other leading companies across the country. A highlight of the evening will be a very special preview of Lincoln in the Bardo—the first opera by a CLDP alum to be commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera. Composed by Missy Mazzoli with a libretto by Royce Vavrek (CLDP 2007/08), the work is scheduled to receive its world premiere in the fall of 2026.

The evening will also honor Susan Feder, whose 15-year tenure as Program Officer in the Arts and Culture Program at the Mellon Foundation was transformative for the American opera field. Feder’s visionary leadership and support of ALT helped to catalyze the company’s growth and amplify its national impact.

Concert Tickets:
$60 - $100

Gala Tickets:
$500

Honorary Committee:
$1,000 - $10,000

Honorary Committee and Gala Tickets include VIP concert seating and admission to an exclusive post-concert reception with the performers and CLDP alumni who are coming together from across the country for this special celebration.