American Opera Company News

The start of the new season at Lyric September 23 signals a fresh and exciting start for Lyric's restaurants and its hospitality services for patrons.

Dan Novak, director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, the professional artist development program at Lyric Opera of Chicago, is pleased to announce that soprano Emily Pogorelc, mezzo-soprano Kayleigh Decker, tenor Eric Ferring, baritones Christopher Kenney and Ricardo Jos Rivera, and bass-baritone David Weigel, have been accepted into this prestigious program for its 2018/19 Ensemble.

For the fourth (and final!) performance for Bryant Park Presents, New York City Opera is proud to present a performance filled with Giuseppe Verdi's most beloved arias and duets, culminating with Rigoletto. The concert, titled 'Viva Verdi!' is set for Friday, September 15 at 6 p.m.

Lyric Opera of Chicago will present international singing phenomenon Choir! Choir! Choir! at the Lyric Opera House (20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago) on Saturday, October 21 at 8pm.

Here's what you need to know about RIGOLETTO, running at Lyric Opera of Chicago, October 7 - November 3...

For the third performance in the ongoing Bryant Park Presents New York City Opera series, New York City Opera will present a free preview of its upcoming production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West today, August 22 at 6 p.m.

Brundibar returns to Monmouth County in Count Basie Theatre's new production led by Eli Villanueva and Jason Tramm August 19 & 20

Lyric Unlimited is thrilled to present the U.S. premiere of The Scorpions' Sting, an opera for families and young people with music and libretto from acclaimed Canadian composer Dean Burry. The opera follows a group of archaeology students and their professor as they uncover the Lost Temple of Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess of healing. A mythic tale unfolds as they discover the ancient hieroglyphics, and the students learn the importance of knowledge and the power of forgiveness. The production is ideal for families with children ages 7-12.

Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its new season with the 17th annual Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert. Join us at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, September 8, at 7:30pm. The free outdoor performance, presented in cooperation with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, annually attracts capacity crowds to the pavilion, great lawn, and surrounding areas of the park.

For the past two years, Lyric Unlimited's groundbreaking Chicago Voices initiative has cast a spotlight on the unique vocal past and present of our vibrant city. Through the Community Created Performances program, groups of Chicagoans were encouraged to share the untold stories of their community through song.

For the third performance in the ongoing Bryant Park Presents New York City Opera series, New York City Opera will present a free preview of its upcoming production of Puccini's La Fanciulla del West on Tuesday, August 22 at 6 p.m.

Lyric Unlimited has announced casting for the Chicago premiere of Fellow Travelers. Tenor Jonas Hacker and baritone Joseph Lattanzi will sing the lead roles of Timothy Laughlin and Hawkins Fuller, two men who fall in love during the height of the McCarthy era in 1950s Washington D.C. Devon Guthrie will sing the role of Mary Johnson, Hawkins's assistant and Timothy's confidante.

Lyric Opera of Chicago today announced that Mary Ladish Selander, Lyric's Director of Development, will take on a new role as Senior Philanthropic Advisor. She will continue to lead Lyric's development team and engage with the Board and other major donors as usual until her successor is appointed and will subsequently serve in this newly created consultancy role.

New York City Opera's 2017/2018 season will offer four new mainstage productions at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater, including a Spanish-language opera as part of its Ópera en Español series. City Opera will also offer two New York City Opera Concerts in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall and a chamber opera series at locations to be announced. New York City Opera Orchestra will be featured in every opera.

Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that single tickets are on sale now for Celebrating 100 Years of Bernstein, a musical event honoring the legendary composer, conductor, and pianist Leonard Bernstein. Celebrating 100 Years of Bernstein is part of Lyric's 2017/18 season, but in anticipation of high demand for this special evening, single tickets are being made available early. 

In its 2016 - 2017 season, New York City Opera presented the New York staged premiere of Rachmaninoff's Aleko, the New York premiere of Tobin Stokes's Fallujah, 10 sold-out performances of Bernstein's Candide, the modern-day revival of Respighi's La Campana Sommersa, and the American premiere of Antonio Literes's Baroque rarity Los Elementos. This June, New York City Opera concludes the season with the eagerly anticipated New York premiere of Peter Eotvos's Angels in America, based on the play by Tony Kushner.

Beginning on Saturday, May 20, and continuing every Saturday through July 22, The Lyric Opera Broadcasts of the 2016/17 Lyric Opera of Chicago season will air nationally and internationally by The WFMT Radio Network and locally on 98.7WFMT. The opera broadcasts may also be streamed on WFMT.com.

Los Elementos by Literes Tuesday, June 13 - La Cenerentola by Rossini Tuesday, August 22 - La Fanciulla del West by Puccini Friday, September 15 - Viva Verdi: Arias and Duets by Verd. Featuring extraordinary performances produced by New York City Opera,  including original hour-long previews of the company's upcoming shows.

In recognition of its global thought leadership, Lyric Opera of Chicago has been chosen to receive the 2017 British-Consul General Award.  Dr. Stephen J. Bridges LVO, Consul General, stated that “on behalf of the British-American Business Council in Chicago, we are exceedingly happy to recognize the long-standing and ever- increasing thought leadership of Lyric Opera.  Its impact is manifest in Chicago, the United States, and internationally.”  The Award will be presented to Lyric Opera during the Gala Dinner of the 2017 Transatlantic Conference on 11 May at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions for dancers with strong technique and significant stage experience for its upcoming production of the opera The Pearl Fishers by Georges Bizet on Monday, June 5, 2017.