Amanda Majeski News

The Civic Opera House was transformed into 1920s Paris, complete with the Eiffel Tower, the Moulin Rouge nightclub, and classic boulevard signs (environmental design by Event Creative). This set the scene for 'Midnight in Paris,' the 29th annual Fantasy of the Opera Gala benefit hosted by Lyric Opera of Chicago's Guild Board of Directors on Saturday, February 9. The gala benefit raised more than $450,000 net for the world-renowned opera company.

Lyric Opera of Chicago and its general director, Anthony Freud, announced the lineup for Lyric's 2013-14 season today. Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette are among those headlining the new season's offerings. These comprise 67 performances of eight different operas, beginning October 5, 2013 and concluding March 23, 2014: new productions of Parsifal, La traviata, The Barber of Seville, and Rusalka (Lyric premiere); a revival of Otello; and new-to-Chicago stagings of Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, and La clemenza di Tito. Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will lead three operas, and guest conductors Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy and Michele Mariotti will make their house debuts. Additionally, Lyric will present a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music in the spring of 2014, continuing the company's American Musical Theater Initiative, and Davis will conduct a special Subscriber Appreciation Concert in March featuring Lyric's creative consultant - the star soprano Renee Fleming - with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Lyric Opera of Chicago and its general director, Anthony Freud, announced the lineup for Lyric's 2013-14 season today. Joseph Calleja, Joyce DiDonato, Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson, Ana Maria Martinez, Matthew Polenzani, and Patricia Racette are among those headlining the new season's offerings. These comprise 67 performances of eight different operas, beginning October 5, 2013 and concluding March 23, 2014: new productions of Parsifal, La traviata, The Barber of Seville, and Rusalka (Lyric premiere); a revival of Otello; and new-to-Chicago stagings of Madama Butterfly, Die Fledermaus, and La clemenza di Tito. Lyric's music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will lead three operas, and guest conductors Marco Armiliato, Bertrand de Billy and Michele Mariotti will make their house debuts. Additionally, Lyric will present a new production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music in the spring of 2014, continuing the company's American Musical Theater Initiative, and Davis will conduct a special Subscriber Appreciation Concert in March featuring Lyric's creative consultant - the star soprano Renee Fleming - with tenor Jonas Kaufmann.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that Gianna Rolandi will retire as director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center on April 15, 2013, following the annual "Rising Stars in Concert" performance April 13. Rolandi has held that position since May 2006, and served as director of vocal studies for the Ryan Opera Center for the previous four years, following a distinguished international career as a coloratura soprano. Rolandi will continue her association with the Ryan Opera Center as vocal consultant, a new position.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season. The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 68 performances of 9 operas in the 25-week season, including 6 new-to-Chicago productions, Saturday, October 6, 2012, through Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public Wed., Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season. The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 68 performances of 9 operas in the 25-week season, including 6 new-to-Chicago productions, Saturday, October 6, 2012, through Saturday, April 6, 2013.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced yesterday the repertoire, principal singers, conductors, directors, and designers for Lyric's 2012-13 season. This was Freud's first news conference since becoming Lyric's general director on Oct. 1, 2011. Joining Freud for yesterday's announcement was Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director, and Renee Fleming, Lyric's creative consultant (via Skype).

Today, New York City Opera announced additional casting, creative team, and production details for the company's 2011/12 season.

New York City Opera General Manager and Artistic Director George Steel announced today that the company will make New York City its stage for the 2011/12 season. With an imaginative and accessible season that encompasses productions ranging from the Baroque to Classical to Romantic and Contemporary, City Opera will create a living presence in neighborhoods across New York, including Brooklyn, the Upper West Side,Harlem and Central Park. The company will present a season of classics, undiscovered and new works that explore a repertory ranging nearly 300 years.

If I was going to introduce someone to the world of opera, I might have them take in a performance of THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, because it's a tuneful show filled with farcical plot machinations that are both amusing and satisfying in the manner in which they unfold. There's a reason why Mozart's work, with its witty libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte (translated with considerable aplomb by Andrew Porter) has become one of the most performed operas of all time; it's a great deal of fun. The Opera Theatre of St. Louis has opened their Spring season with a charming and delightful production that perfectly captures the spirit of this delicious satire of the aristocracy.

Carnegie Hall today announced that Kristin Chenoweth, who was scheduled to perform in the Marilyn Horne Foundation Annual Recital-entitled Dames At 'C'-in Zankel Hall on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m., is unable to perform due to contractual obligations with the television series Glee and must therefore cancel her appearance.

Carnegie Hall today announced that Kristin Chenoweth, who was scheduled to perform in the Marilyn Horne Foundation Annual Recital-entitled Dames At 'C'-in Zankel Hall on Friday, January 22 at 7:30 p.m., is unable to perform due to contractual obligations with the television series Glee and must therefore cancel her appearance.

Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth will join mezzo-soprano opera singer Marilyn for the upcoming DAMES AT 'C' concert at Carnegie Hall. The concert series will take place January 22nd at 7:30pm. DAMES AT 'C' is part of Marilyn Horne's THE SONG CONTINUES... series taking place at Carnegie Hall January 19th through January 22nd.

Chicago Opera Theater opens their 2009 Spring Festival Season on April 18 with Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (through May 1) at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Absent from Chicago stages in more than a generation, La clemenza di Tito has made a resurgence in the rest of the world. Most notably in New York City last year?both at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival. The New York Times declared, 'Clemenza emerges as a musically ravishing and dramatically complex opera of great immediacy.'

Chicago Opera Theater opens their 2009 Spring Festival Season on April 18 with Mozart's La clemenza di Tito (through May 1) at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park. Absent from Chicago stages in more than a generation, La clemenza di Tito has made a resurgence in the rest of the world. Most notably in New York City last year?both at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival. The New York Times declared, 'Clemenza emerges as a musically ravishing and dramatically complex opera of great immediacy.'