American Opera Company News

Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its 61st season with Romeo and Juliet in a new-to-Chicago production created by Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher, Monday, February 22 through Saturday, March 19(nine performances). This is the eighth and final mainstage opera production of the widely acclaimed 2015/16 season.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances tonight, January 5, and January 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the perfect midwinter getaway: a beautiful production of Richard Strauss's delectably bittersweet romantic comedyDer Rosenkavalier, which opens on Monday, February 8 for eight performances.

Lyric Opera of Chicago is excited to announce that Thirteen Productions LLC for WNET New York has selected the world-premiere production of Bel Canto – The Opera to be part of the prestigiousGreat Performances series on PBS. The WNET team will be in Chicago to film performances January 5 and 8. Bel Canto will air nationally during the 2016/17 television season. 

Join the Lyric Opera and the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center's free, pop-up performance of classic Neapolitan songs tomorrow, December 12 from 5 to 5:15 p.m. at Eataly (2nd floor), 43 E. Ohio, Chicago.

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions by invitation in New York City for male dancers for the 2015-16 season production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I. This new-to-Chicago production is part of the company's American Musical Theater Initiative and features an internationally acclaimed creative team, including director Lee Blakeley, conductor David Chase, and choreographer Peggy Hickey.

 DALLAS, TX, December 8, 2015 – The Dallas Opera will present opera legend Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano, for another magnificent performance in The Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series. The one-time-only recital will be presented Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at City Performance Hall (a 749-seat venue located at 2520 Flora Street in the Arts District, Dallas, TX 75201). Also featured at the exclusive event will be Jake Heggie, composer (Great Scott, Moby-Dick) and accomplished pianist, who has had a long-standing artistic collaboration with Miss von Stade.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar in a new-to-Chicago production directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Presented in English with projected titles, the production opens tonight, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13.

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a searing new production that opens this Sunday, November 1, at 2 p.m.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago and American Guild of Musical Artists have settled an agreement.

The Dallas Opera is proud to present one of the most eagerly anticipated new operas of the year: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's GREAT SCOTT, featuring a once-in-a-lifetime cast headed by America's favorite mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato, in the title role of Arden Scott; also starring soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, baritone Nathan Gunn, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, bass Kevin Burdette, tenor Rodell Rosel and baritone Michael Mayes.

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the eagerly awaited world premiere of Bel Canto, which opens on Monday, December 7 for seven performances. This is Lyric's seventh full-length operatic world premiere. Composer Jimmy López (music) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz(libretto) are the creators of Bel Canto. Lyric's music director Sir Andrew Daviswill conduct the new opera, which was curated by Lyric's creative consultant Renée Fleming. Bel Canto is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Ann Patchett. The production will be directed by Kevin Newbury.

Chicago – Lyric Opera is opening the doors of the Civic Opera House to the public on several dates starting in October. “As part of Lyric's ongoing strategic plan and audience development initiatives, we are delighted to invite the public to explore our amazing home,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. “We are confident that those who are visiting Lyric for the first time on these tours will return to experience live performance at its finest, whether an opera, an operetta, an American musical, or a concert,” says Lisa Middleton, Lyric's director of marketing. “This is a wonderful way for us to engage new audiences.”

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago is proud to present a new exhibition TEN: A Season of Creative Women at Lyric, curated by Scott Marr and Michael Schoenig, at the Civic Opera House. The exhibit runs through May 22, 2016, over the course of Lyric's 61st season.

Chicago – Lyric Opera is opening the doors of the Civic Opera House to the public on several dates starting in October. “As part of Lyric's ongoing strategic plan and audience development initiatives, we are delighted to invite the public to explore our amazing home,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. “We are confident that those who are visiting Lyric for the first time on these tours will return to experience live performance at its finest, whether an opera, an operetta, an American musical, or a concert,” says Lisa Middleton, Lyric's director of marketing. “This is a wonderful way for us to engage new audiences.”

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar in a new-to-Chicago production directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Presented in English with projected titles, the production opens on Saturday, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performance dates are November 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 28 at7:30pm; and December 3, 9, 11, and 13 at 2pm. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go towww.lyricopera.org/merrywidow.

For the past 30 years, he has written about classical music locally and throughout the US and Canada

CHICAGO - OPERATHON 2015, Lyric Opera of Chicago's annual live-radio marathon fundraiser on 98.7WFMT and WFMT.com, celebrated its 36th anniversary by raising more than $500,000 during its 16-hour broadcast on Saturday, October 3.

A whimsical, wildly colorful production of Rossini's delightful opera Cinderella opens this Sundayafternoon at Lyric Opera of Chicago, with eight performances through Friday, October 30. Performance dates areOctober 4 and 30 at 2pm, and October 7, 10, 13, 17, 23, 26 at 7:30pm. The familiar story (with a few different twists) makes it a great first opera experience. Check out photos from the show below!

            DALLAS, OCTOBER 2, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is proud to present one of the most eagerly anticipated new operas of the year: Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally's GREAT SCOTT, featuring a once-in-a-lifetime cast headed by America's favorite mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato, in the title role of Arden Scott; also starring soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, baritone Nathan Gunn, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, bass Kevin Burdette, tenor Rodell Rosel and baritone Michael Mayes.