The GBH studio at the BPL is hosting Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea. Join us!

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

This special gathering features two main projects about reckoning and repair that have been developed at GBH : the WORLD's new film, The Cost of Inheritance: An America ReFramed Special and the upcoming GBH News-produced podcast, "What Is Owed?".

Directed by the acclaimed Yoruba Richen, the World's one hour-long documentary delves into the intricate topic of reparations in the United States. It navigates through history's complexities, systemic inequalities and the burgeoning conversation on racial conciliation. With its blend of personal stories, communal reflections, and academic perspectives, the film not only enlightens but also sparks a deeper understanding of the reparations debate. In this video, director Yoruba Richen and subjects from the film, Randy Quarterman and Sarah Eisner, engage in a thought-provoking panel discussion. This is a unique opportunity to gain insight into the creative process and the crucial themes explored in the documentary.

Viewers also get an exclusive sneak peek (or listen) of the upcoming GBH News-produced podcast, "What is Owed?" This seven-part podcast, reported by GBH News political reporter Saraya Wintersmith, ventures into the heart of Boston's reckoning with its history of slavery and economic exclusion. Wintersmith seeks to understand what reparations might look like in one of the oldest cities in America, uncovering the lessons for a successful reparations framework through the stories of its architects, past and present.

Watch The World's documentary here

GBH Music will introduce new listeners to opera in a video series produced in collaboration with Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) and New England Conservatory (NEC). Designed for newcomers and seasoned enthusiasts, “Getting into Opera” aims to ignite a passion for the genre by showcasing how powerful performances are shaped by vocal coaching and stage direction. The innovative multi-platform video series will be filmed in front of a live audience in GBH’s acoustically acclaimed Fraser Performance Studio.

The first episode features renowned soprano Patricia Racette leading a masterclass for BLO Emerging Artists and New England Conservatory students. By pulling back the curtain on how great vocal performances are made, the masterclass will draw in new opera lovers while delighting fans of the genre. Selections include works from more than 150 years of opera in four different styles and languages, including Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” Puccini's “La bohème,” Bizet’s “Les pêcheurs de perles,” and Floyd’s “Susannah.”

“Getting into Opera” will be hosted by Anthony Rudel, General Manager of GBH Music and author of “Tales from the Opera,” “Classical Music Top 40,” and “Imagining Don Giovanni.” Joshua Major, Chair of Opera Studies at NEC and Bradley Vernatter, BLO’s Stanford Calderwood General Director & CEO, will also share perspectives on producing operas as part of the series.

“Getting into Opera” will be available free of charge on YouTube and other platforms. The production is made possible by a generous donation from David and Janet McCue.

Event timeline:
7-9:15pm Performance in Fraser
9:15-10pm Dessert Reception in the Atrium

Event registration is required. Seating is general admission.
The maximum capacity of this event is 120 guests
By RSVPing for this event, you agree to receive timely news and updates on events, films, and special offers from GBH.


If you have questions or can no longer attend, please contact Audience and Member Services Department. Audience and Member Services can be reached during regular business hours M-F, 9am-5pm at 617-300-3300 or via email at info@wgbh.org.

Image credit: GBH Creative

Julia Welch lost her brother, Michael Pappas, when his plane was shot down on Dec. 26, 1944. Their family's search for information took them across the world.

For model train enthusiasts, Malden is a holiday destination. Welcome to the Charles Ro Supply Company, the largest toy train store in America and the largest dealer of Lionel model trains in the world.

Musician Maddie Lam invites the audience into the intimate rooms of her soul through a carefully curated collection of autobiographical songs that serve as an atlas of the human heart. In each performance, Maddie skillfully sews together the threads of grief and gratitude, resonance and expression, inviting listeners to join her on a voyage of shared humanity. Maddie's lyrical prowess unveils a narrative that is as honest as it is compelling. With a delicate vulnerability, she lays bare the complexities of life, love, and introspection. Each note resonates with authenticity, creating a connection that transcends the boundaries between artist and audience. Her dedication to her craft has earned a place among the emerging Asian American voices and musicians. Experience the soulful melodies and poignant narratives that define Maddie's artistry as she invites you to witness the full spectrum of the human soul through her performance.

Join us for an evening of music, wine, and food. Registration is encouraged for this free event.

The GBH studio at the BPL is hosting Outspoken Saturdays, a spoken word poetry event for emerging artists. Every first Saturday of the month, the series will be created in collaboration with spoken word artist Amanda Shea. Join us!

Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Anna Webber is a flutist, saxophonist, and composer whose interests and work live in the aesthetic overlap between avant-garde jazz and new classical music. Her new album, Shimmer Wince, explores Just Intonation in a jazz setting, and is a follow-up to her critically-acclaimed release Idiom. That album earned Webber the accolade of being named the top composer of the year by JazzTimes in 2021.

Known as an innovative guitarist since the early 1980’s, Joe Morris added performing on double bass in 2000. He has performed and/or recorded on bass with many of the most important contemporary artists in improvised music. As a bassist, guitarist or drummer, Morris is featured as leader, co-leader, or sideman on more than 160 commercially released recordings on the labels. Morris has toured extensively throughout North America and Europe as well as in Brazil, Korea and Japan. He has lectured and conducted workshops on his own music and on improvisation, and is the author of the book, Perpetual Frontier: The Properties of Free Music (Riti Publishing 2012).

Join us for an evening of music, wine, and food. Registration is encouraged for this free event.

Under the Radar presents Mike Wilkins' 34th annual mix of quirky holiday songs. Spoiler: Mariah Carey did not make the cut.

Debra Vinci, founder and lead vocalist of the band, DVinci Soul, has put together a new jazz quintet, "DVinci Jazz," to play for our GBH Lounge Thursdays this week on December 21st from 6:00- 7:00 pm at the Boston Public Library. Musicians include Debra Vinci on vocals, Tal Shalom Kobi on upright bass, Renato Malavasi on drums, Pamela Hines on piano, and Jeff Garmel on saxophone. The band will be visiting Debra's early jazz roots, paying homage to some of her favorite singers--Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nancy Wilson, and Aretha Franklin. You’ll hear a wide array of jazz standards and styles from Swing to Bossa, to Gospel, Blues and Latin.

Join us for an evening of music, wine, and food. Registration is encouraged for this free event.