Wagner's TANNHAUSER Opens Next Month at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Richard Wagner's majestic Tannhäuser conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in a new-to-Chicago production by Tim Albery. It opens on Monday, February 9 with seven performances through Friday, March 6. Performance dates are Feb. 9, 14, 18, 26, Mar. 2, and 6 at 6pm; and Feb. 22 at 1pm. (Note earlier curtain times.) Tannhäuser will be sung in German with projected English translations.

Tannhäuser "is one of Wagner's most melodic, memorable scores, with perhaps the most famous chorus he ever wrote. Under the magisterial conducting of Sir Andrew Davis, and in Tim Albery's spellbinding production, our orchestral and choral forces, and our outstanding soloists, led by the magnificent Johan Botha in the title role, will deliver a deeply memorable experience," says general director Anthony Freud.

"I've conducted all Wagner's major operas except Tannhäuser - and I'm so looking forward to it!" says music director Sir Andrew Davis. "Johan Botha's voice is fantastic and has immense power - he can thrill you with the sound of a trumpet, and seduce you with this beautiful sense of intimacy as well. No one can sing this role as he can."

Wagner's fifth opera, previously seen in Lyric's 1988-89 and 1963 seasons, Tannhäuser presents one of the most formidable tours de force for a tenor in the entire repertoire. The title role (tenor Johan Botha) requires an artist of phenomenal vocal power, superhuman stamina, interpretive sensitivity, and dramatic power. The character is a minstrel/poet, torn between the sensual love represented by the goddess Venus (mezzo-soprano Michaela Schuster) and the purity of the saintly Elisabeth (soprano Amber Wagner). At a song contest sponsored by the Landgrave (bass John Relyea), Tannhäuser competes against Wolfram (baritone Gerald Finley) and other poets. All are shocked to discover that he has been visiting Venus's lair. He is sent on a pilgrimage to Rome to ask the Pope's pardon. When he returns home, it's clear that his spirit is utterly crushed.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts the new-to-Chicago production, directed by Tim Albery (debut). The set designer is Michael Levine, and the costume designer is Jon Morrell (debut), with lighting by David Finn. Michael Black is chorus master and Jasmin Verdimon (debut) is choreographer.

South African tenor Johan Botha, acclaimed as one of today's few genuine heroic tenors, will sing his first U.S. performances of Tannhäuser at Lyric Opera. He has previously triumphed in the role at the Vienna Staatsoper and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Botha has interpreted six roles at Lyric since 1998-99, most recently the title role/Otello (2013-14); Walther von Stolzing/Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (2012-13); and the title role/Lohengrin (2010-11). He is frequently heard at the Metropolitan Opera and is a greatly admired guest artist with virtually every major European house. Among his standard-setting Wagner portrayals are Lohengrin (Covent Garden, Met, Vienna, Basel, Cologne), Walther von Stolzing (Tanglewood, Cologne, Vienna), and Siegmund/Die Walküre (Bayreuth, DVD).

American soprano Amber Wagner returns to Lyric after her acclaimed portrayal of Leonora/Il trovatore here earlier this season. The Ryan Opera Center alumna has sung the title role/Ariadne auf Naxos (2011-12) and Elsa/Lohengrin (2010-11) at Lyric, and has rapidly established herself internationally in formidable starring roles of Verdi and Wagner, with major achievements to date including Amelia/Un ballo in maschera (Metropolitan Opera), Leonora/La forza del destino (Washington National Opera), Elsa/Lohengrin and Senta/The Flying Dutchman (both at Finland's Savonlinna Festival), Sieglinde/Die Walküre (Oper Frankfurt - also Act Three with Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood), and Brangäne/Tristan und Isolde (European debut, Prague State Opera).

For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/tannhauser.

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