Jose Maria Condemi is speaking out against the Lyric Opera of Chicago regarding the revival of Verdi’s “Ernani.” The director took to Facebook and posted a lengthy letter noting that the revival fo his production from 2009 had been staged without ever being notified or given the option to direct the revival. He said, “I was not planning to post {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has put out a statement in reaction to the shooting at Highland Park on July 4. The company released a statement via social media noting, “The company members of Lyric Opera of Chicago are holding our neighbors in the Highland Park, Illinois community — and too many victims of tragic gun violence across our city, {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Patrick G. and Shirely W. Ryan Opera Center has announced its 2022-23 ensemble. The new participants will include sopranos Kathryn Henry and Lindsey Reynolds; tenors Ryan Capozzo and Alejandro Luévanos; baritones Laureano Quant and Ian Rucker; and basses Ron Dukes and William Clay Thompson. Among the six returning members of the Ensemble are soprano Denis Vélez, mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung, tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam, conductor/pianist Donald Lee III, and pianist Chris {…}
Argentinean baritone Fabián Veloz is one of the most renowned opera artists in his country. His professional debut came in the South American premiere of “Estaba la Madre” at the Teatro Argentino in La Plata and he has gone on to perform with some of the major companies in the South American company including the Teatro Avenida, the Teatro Argentino, {…}
Opera America has announced the recipients of its 2022 Repertoire Development Grants. The recipients for the grant include American Lyric Theater, Beth Morrison Projects, Houston Grand Opera, MassOpera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pensacola Opera, OperaDelaware, and Virginia Opera. In sum, the nine companies will receive $225,000 to develop eight new American operas. “Fostering the creation {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has named Matthew Ozawa as Chief Artistic Administration Officer. Ozawa is a renowned state director who has led productions at the San Francisco Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Opera Colorado, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Sante Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and West Edge Opera, among many others. In his new {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its 2022-23 season featuring two newly-commissioned world premieres, three premieres of works never before seen on Lyric’s stage, and a host of classic favorites. Here is a look. Russell Thomas sings the title role in Verdi’s “Ernani.” He is joined by Tamara Wilson, Quinn Kelsey, and Christian Van Horn. Enrique Mazzola conducts the production by Louisa {…}
Anthony Freud, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s general director, president & CEO, has announced that the company’s production of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s chamber opera “Proving Up,” planned for January 22-30, 2022 at the Goodman’s Owen Theatre, has been postponed. Freud noted in a press statement, “This difficult decision is based on our current understanding of the ever-changing public health {…}
The Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced its “Verdi Voices” concert set for Feb. 6, 2022. The showcase, which will be led by conductor and new company Music Director Enrique Mazzola, will star soprano Tamara Wilson and tenor Russell Thomas as they take on major moments from Verdi’s iconic canon of operas. Audiences will get a chance to hear music {…}
(Credit: Gerald Finley official website) Famed Canadian bass-baritone Gerald Finley has joined the roster of the MWA Management. “I am absolutely thrilled to welcome one of my favorite artists to the MWA family. I have always been a huge fan of Gerald Finley’s astonishing artistry and commitment to the art form. It is hard to imagine a more complete artist {…}
The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center has announced the 12 singers who have been selected for its 2022-23 Ensemble at Final Auditions held on Oct. 7 in the Ardis Krainik Theatre. The new singers who will join the Ensemble are Sopranos Kathryn Henry and Lindsey Reynolds, tenors Ryan Capozzo and Alejandro Luévanos, baritones Laureano Quant and Ian {…}