Lyric Opera of Chicago announced its 2018-19 season today, marking the fourth planned together by general director Anthony Freud and music director Sir Andrew Davis. Members of the media, including this OperaWire writer, were treated to a discussion with both gentlemen on the stage with the set of “I Puritani” in the backdrop. Here are some notes and highlights of {…}
The opera world continues to showcase more and more around the continent and this week’s recommendations stretch around the US and Canada, with the focus solely on staples of the operatic canon. If last week’s emphasis on the modern was too much for the more conservative opera goer, then this week will offer a “palette cleanser” of sorts. I Puritani {…}
Soprano Ailyn Pérez has joined the cast of “Faust” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The Chicago-born soprano replaced Erin Wall, who has withdrawn from “Faust,” to undergo chemotherapy, Anthony Freud, Lyric’s general director, president & CEO, announced today. In a press release, Freud added that “her doctors expect a full recovery within a few months, according to her manager. {…}
Following the world premiere of the “Cycles of My Being” at Opera Philadelphia, Lyric Unlimited, a division of Lyric Opera of Chicago will present the work. The new song cycle explores the realities of life as a black man in America and was composed by Tyshawn Sorey with lyrics by Terrance Hayes. Tenor Lawrence Brownlee will perform the cycle in a solo recital with pianist Myra Huang on Thursday, Feb. {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Urban League have announced EmpowerYouth! Igniting Creativity through the Arts, a groundbreaking, multi-year partnership that is shaped to immerse African American youth in the creation of an original opera based on their own life experiences. The program will be a collaboration by Lyric Unlimited, Lyric’s community engagement and education arm, and the {…}
Elizabeth Hurley will join the Lyric Opera of Chicago as its new chief development officer. The company announced that Hurley will be stepping into the role on March 1, 2018. Known internationally as a fundraising professional, Hurley has held development roles at The Art Institute of Chicago, The Metropolitan Opera, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and is currently vice president for development and public affairs at {…}
Stepping into the opera house is almost always about stepping into the past. If that past is a vision of lavishness and grandeur, seeing the current production of Puccini’s “Turandot” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago is emblematic of what anyone would envision as the quintessential operatic experience. Now that’s not to say that this production, directed by Rob Kearley {…}
With the holiday season in full swing, the opera schedule is winding down across the country. In fact, only a few weeks ago there were over 70 performances over the weekend. This weekend the number has dropped quite drastically, Fortunately, that doesn’t mean there is no opera for the opera-craved. Here are five performances to get your fill. Le Nozze {…}
There have been a good number of performances of “The Pearl Fishers,” or “Les Pêcheurs de Perles,” around the country in recent years. Peggy Woolcock’s English National Opera production was seen at the Metropolitan Opera and LA Opera while the late Lee Blakely’s version was in Santa Fe’s 2012 season. The production viewed in probably the most locales is one {…}
With the holidays coming to the fore, the opera schedule is slowly and surely growing thinner and thinner. Companies are starting to take their breaks to recoup for 2018, meaning that offerings are slimmer for operagoers. But there are performances to be thankful for as a number of companies, big and small, are putting on a show. Here are the {…}
It’s a busy weekend in North America with close to 70 performances taking place all over the continent. With so much activity from such major companies, pinning down just a handful to recommend to the operagoer was a rather challenging task. But here is a look at five performances to see this weekend around the States and Canada. As One {…}