(Photo: Michael Brosilow) Fresh from a Metropolitan Opera premiere last spring (and its subsequent Grammy Award victory), Terence Blanchard’s first opera in jazz, “Champion,” enjoyed its Lyric Opera of Chicago premiere in James Robinson’s vivid and effective staging, a co-production on January 27th, 2024. A dazzling cast led by Justin Austin as Emile Griffith made a powerful case for repeated {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced the unanimous election of Louise Bernard to the Board of Directors. She begins her term immediately. “We are delighted to welcome Louise to our Board of Directors,” says Sylvia Neil, Board Chair, per an official press release issued by the company. “Her prodigious cultural expertise and deep commitment to education and civic engagement {…}
(Photo: Michael Brosilow) The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced a cast change for its production of “Jenůfa.” The company said, “Due to a family emergency that required her immediate return to Norway, soprano Lise Davidsen has had to withdraw from Sunday’s performance of ‘Jenůfa.’ Stepping into the title role will be Ryan Opera Center soprano Kathryn Henry. ” Meanwhile, {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced the election of new board of directors members. The company welcomed Sarah Garvey and Philip G. Lumpkin to the Board. Garvey is the former vice president of corporate relations at the Boeing Company and has worked extensively in mergers and acquisitions and taxation. Meanwhile, Lumpkin previously worked as corporate vice president for provider {…}
(Photo credit: Adrien Coquet) Dr. Caitlin Vincent (University of Melbourne) and Dr. Amanda Coles (Deakin University) have published their findings on the gender inequality and the impacts of non-standard work in the US opera industry. The team tracked women’s representation as conductors, directors, and designers at the 11 largest opera companies in the United States – the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced that Anthony Freud will retire as General Director at the end of the 2023-24 season, ending a 13-year tenure. In a statement Freud said, “Having been a general director for 30 years leading opera companies on both sides of the Atlantic, with the last 13 wonderful years at Lyric, I have made the {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago announced the 2023-24 season will launch the SoundShirt as part of its accessibility initiative. The season-long pilot program brings wearable technology to the opera house for the first time. The SoundShirt invented and produced by London-based CuteCircuit, allows wearers to better interpret the unique qualities of live opera and musical-theater performances. Wearers experience the feeling {…}
Lyric Opera of Chicago is set to present “Sunday in the Park with Lyric” on August 20, 2023. The showcase, which will be led by Enrique Mazzola and the Lyric Opera Orchestra, will feature music from “The Flying Dutchman,” “The Daughter of the Regiment,” “Jenufa, “Cinderella,” “Aida,” and “Champion.” The performance will be headlined by the singers in the company’s {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago Board of Directors has unanimously elected Samir Mayekar and Nancy Santi to board. “We are thrilled to welcome Samir and Nancy to our Board of Directors,” said Board Chair Sylvia Neil in an official press statement. “Their expertise and commitment to the arts align perfectly with Lyric’s mission to present world-class opera and engage audiences, {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Federation of Musicians #10-208 have put out a statement regarding a new five-year contractual labor agreement. “We all entered into these discussions with a very similar mindset — to work collaboratively to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that takes care of our company’s great artists and ensures that Lyric can continue to {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced that soprano Whitney Morrison is its first-ever Artist-in-Residence. Morrison is an alumna of The Patrick G. Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center and recently appeared in the world premiere of “Proximity.” She has also performed in such operas as “Fire Shut Up in My Bones,” Dead Man Walking,” “Elektra,” and “Idomeneo.” She was also {…}