Lyric Opera of Chicago Presents Strauss's DER ROSENKAVALIER, 2/8

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.

The opera stars Sophie Koch (Feb. 8-20) and Alice Coote (Mar. 4-13) in the title role as the teenaged "Rose Cavalier," Octavian, who is amorously involved with a woman twice his age, Princess von Werdenberg, a.k.a. the Marschallin, sung byAmanda Majeski. Her cousin, the boorish Baron Ochs (Matthew Rose/debut), plans to marry Sophie (Christina Landshamer/American debut) for her family's money. Sophie, however, falls hard for the betrothal messenger Octavian instead, and he with her. Much merry confusion ensues - including Ochs pursuing a chambermaid who's really Octavian in disguise - before the rapturous trio and duet that conclude this musically divine comedy, when the Marschallin releases her young lover and Sophie and Octavian are united.

Edward Gardner conducts the production directed by Martina Weber (both debuts). Sets and costumes are designed by Thierry Bosquet with lighting byDuane Schuler. Michael Black is chorus master.

"Edward Gardner is marvelous - I'm so happy he's coming to conduct Strauss's most popular opera," says Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director. "He's a real hot property, and he'll make a wonderful Lyric debut."

"The cast is really superb," says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. "Amanda Majeski triumphed here as the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro to open our season and recently sang her first Marschallin in Frankfurt. Sophie Koch and Alice Coote are two of today's most remarkable interpreters of Octavian. Christina Landshamer is a brilliant young German soprano who gave one of the most exciting auditions I've ever heard, and Matthew Rose is a tremendous young bass with a major international career, both of whom will be making their Lyric debuts."

Performance dates are February 8, 13, 16, 20, March 4 and 7 at 6:30pm; andMarch 10 and 13 at 1pm. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go tolyricopera.org/rosenkavalier.

Lyric's presentation of Der Rosenkavalier is generously made possible by anAnonymous Donor and Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross.

About Lyric

Founded in 1954, 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.

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.