Andrew Shore News

The Barber of Seville will have you smiling from the moment it begins. When grumpy Bartolo stands between his beautiful young ward Rosina and her lover Count Almaviva, there's only one person to call on: local barber and man-with-a-plan Figaro. But with Rosina kept under lock and key, can Figaro fix it for them? It could be a close shave.

Extreme flirting, lots of champagne, and dance-to-dawn partying - it's Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. The most famous of all Viennese operettas arrives at Lyric Opera of Chicago tonight, December 10 in an effervescent new-to-Chicago production, starring Juliane Banse* as Rosalinde, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein, Daniela Fally** as Adele, Michael Spyres* as Alfred, Adrian Eröd* as Falke, Emily Fons as Prince Orlofsky, and Andrew Shore as Frank. Die Fledermaus is conducted by Ward Stare with E. Loren Meeker in her Lyric Opera directorial debut.

Extreme flirting, lots of champagne, and dance-to-dawn partying – it's Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr. The most famous of all Viennese operettas arrives at Lyric Opera of Chicago December 10 in an effervescent new-to-Chicago production starring Juliane Banse* as Rosalinde, Bo Skovhus as Eisenstein,Daniela Fally** as Adele, Michael Spyres* as Alfred, Adrian Eröd* as Falke,Emily Fons as Prince Orlofsky, and Andrew Shore as Frank. Die Fledermaus is conducted by Ward Stare with E. Loren Meeker in her Lyric Opera directorial debut. (*Lyric debut, **American debut)

From its earliest days, Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival has included opera among its offerings, although I recall no production being quite so acclaimed as Iván Fischer's DON GIOVANNI of two seasons ago. With so much to live up to, the director-conductor's vision of Mozart's LE NOZZE DI FIGARO had its work cut out for it, seen on August 13 at the Rose Theatre. More than a concert version but less than a fully staged production, this was a FIGARO that charmed the audience with some good singing and lively staging, but was somehow less than the sum of its parts.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season.

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.

The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the five darkly dazzling operas that comprise the company's 2011-12 season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. With opening night on Friday, October 21, 2011, the 55th international season - "Tragic Obsessions" - will showcase compelling works by Donizetti, Janacek, Wagner, Verdi and Mozart, and will include an outstanding Dallas opera-in-concert, important debuts and some of the company's most renowned productions. Each opera will feature the superbly talented Dallas Opera Orchestra and Dallas Opera Chorus and will be performed in its original language, with English translations projected above the stage at every performance. Exclusive subscriber extras include "A Cabaret Evening with Patricia Racette" and a fun-filled family concert starring soprano Ava Pine and the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the five darkly dazzling operas that comprise the company's 2011-12 season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. With opening night on Friday, October 21, 2011, the 55th international season - "Tragic Obsessions" - will showcase compelling works by Donizetti, Janacek, Wagner, Verdi and Mozart, and will include an outstanding Dallas opera-in-concert, important debuts and some of the company's most renowned productions. Each opera will feature the superbly talented Dallas Opera Orchestra and Dallas Opera Chorus and will be performed in its original language, with English translations projected above the stage at every performance. Exclusive subscriber extras include "A Cabaret Evening with Patricia Racette" and a fun-filled family concert starring soprano Ava Pine and the Dallas Opera Orchestra.

The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the five darkly dazzling operas that comprise the company's 2011-12 season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. With opening night on Friday, October 21, 2011, the 55th international season - "Tragic Obsessions" - will showcase compelling works by Donizetti, Janacek, Wagner, Verdi and Mozart, and will include an outstanding Dallas opera-in-concert, important debuts and some of the company's most renowned productions. Each opera will feature the superbly talented Dallas Opera Orchestra and Dallas Opera Chorus and will be performed in its original language, with English translations projected above the stage at every performance. Exclusive subscriber extras include "A Cabaret Evening with Patricia Racette" and a fun-filled family concert starring soprano Ava Pine and the Dallas Opera Orchestra.