Anthony Freud Renews Contract as General Director for Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago today announced that, at its meeting earlier today, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to renew acclaimed general director Anthony Freud's five year contract. Mr. Freud will continue to lead the organization as general director through the 2020/21 season.

The unanimous decision by the Board of Directors reflects the significant contributions Freud has made during his first five years at Lyric. Among his many achievements, Freud continued to build Lyric's reputation as one of the world's premier opera companies; conceived and launched the Lyric Unlimited community engagement and education initiative; introduced the American Musical Theater Initiative to attract new audiences and revenue opportunities; and forged important relationships with a variety of other cultural organizations.

"We are incredibly fortunate to have a visionary and talent of Anthony's caliber to not only bolster our reputation as a leading opera company well into the future, but also to ensure we uphold our commitments to this community and find new ways to inspire the next generation of opera goers," said Mr. David Ormesher, Chairman of the Lyric Board of Directors. "Anthony has proven himself as a leader capable of creating an artistically thrilling and financially sustainable future for this important cultural institution, and we look forward to seeing all we will achieve together under his leadership."

Freud stated, "I am honored to lead this world-class opera company, to have the opportunity to build on its 62-year legacy of artistic and administrative excellence, and to work with this extraordinary community of artists, Board members, staff, donors, and audiences to ensure we continue to advance our art form while also bringing creativity, cultural awareness, and financial investment to the city of Chicago. There has never been a more dynamic or exciting time to be a part of this organization, and I am determined we will build on its foundation of excellence to ignite transformation through the art and create an even stronger Lyric."

At its meeting today, the Board also unanimously approved a bylaw amendment that revised its organizational structure to bring it into line with operational practice. The former role of President and CEO has been renamed Chairman. The role of General Director has been renamed General Director, President & CEO. The functions and responsibilities of David Ormesher as Chairman, and Anthony Freud as General Director, President & CEO remain unchanged by this bylaw amendment.

Freud joined Lyric as general director in October 2011 and his renewed contract runs through 2021. He previously served as general director of both Houston Grand Opera (2006-11) and Welsh National Opera (1994-2005), where he spearheaded important artistic initiatives, impressive increases in attendance and fundraising, and visionary community-engagement programs to reach diverse new audiences. He is the only person to have chaired both OPERA America and Opera Europa. In 2006, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) by Queen Elizabeth II in her 80th birthday honors.

David Ormesher, CEO of closerlook, inc. was appointed as Lyric's President and CEO in 2015, having previously served as Chairman of the Board's Innovation Committee. David Ormesher has been instrumental in leading and repositioning the organization and as Chairman will continue leading the Board while working closely with Anthony Freud.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.