Anthony Freud News

The Lyric Opera of Chicago and American Guild of Musical Artists have settled an agreement.

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the eagerly awaited world premiere of Bel Canto, which opens on Monday, December 7 for seven performances. This is Lyric's seventh full-length operatic world premiere. Composer Jimmy López (music) and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz(libretto) are the creators of Bel Canto. Lyric's music director Sir Andrew Daviswill conduct the new opera, which was curated by Lyric's creative consultant Renée Fleming. Bel Canto is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Ann Patchett. The production will be directed by Kevin Newbury.

Chicago – Lyric Opera is opening the doors of the Civic Opera House to the public on several dates starting in October. “As part of Lyric's ongoing strategic plan and audience development initiatives, we are delighted to invite the public to explore our amazing home,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. “We are confident that those who are visiting Lyric for the first time on these tours will return to experience live performance at its finest, whether an opera, an operetta, an American musical, or a concert,” says Lisa Middleton, Lyric's director of marketing. “This is a wonderful way for us to engage new audiences.”

CHICAGO - Lyric Opera of Chicago is proud to present a new exhibition TEN: A Season of Creative Women at Lyric, curated by Scott Marr and Michael Schoenig, at the Civic Opera House. The exhibit runs through May 22, 2016, over the course of Lyric's 61st season.

Chicago – Lyric Opera is opening the doors of the Civic Opera House to the public on several dates starting in October. “As part of Lyric's ongoing strategic plan and audience development initiatives, we are delighted to invite the public to explore our amazing home,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. “We are confident that those who are visiting Lyric for the first time on these tours will return to experience live performance at its finest, whether an opera, an operetta, an American musical, or a concert,” says Lisa Middleton, Lyric's director of marketing. “This is a wonderful way for us to engage new audiences.”

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar in a new-to-Chicago production directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Presented in English with projected titles, the production opens on Saturday, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performance dates are November 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 28 at7:30pm; and December 3, 9, 11, and 13 at 2pm. For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go towww.lyricopera.org/merrywidow.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the sparkling operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár in a new-to-Chicago production to launch the holiday season. It opens on Saturday, November 14 with 10 performances through Sunday, December 13. Performance dates are November 14, 17, 20, 23, 25, 28 at 7:30pm; and December 3, 9, 11, and 13 at 2pm. Performances are in English with projected titles.

CHICAGO - OPERATHON 2015, Lyric Opera of Chicago's annual live-radio marathon fundraiser on 98.7WFMT and WFMT.com, celebrated its 36th anniversary by raising more than $500,000 during its 16-hour broadcast on Saturday, October 3.

A whimsical, wildly colorful production of Rossini's delightful opera Cinderella opens this Sundayafternoon at Lyric Opera of Chicago, with eight performances through Friday, October 30. Performance dates areOctober 4 and 30 at 2pm, and October 7, 10, 13, 17, 23, 26 at 7:30pm. The familiar story (with a few different twists) makes it a great first opera experience. Check out photos from the show below!

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Alban Berg's Wozzeck in a new production this fall. It opens on Sunday, November 1 with six performances through Saturday, November 21. Performance dates are November 1 at 2pm, and November 4, 7, 12, 16, 21 at 7:30pm

Dan Novak, director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, is pleased to announce that soprano Ann Toomey and mezzo-soprano Lauren Decker have been accepted into the prestigious program for its 2016-17 Ensemble.

?To open its 61st season, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Mozart's joyous comedy The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Henrik Nanasi in a glamorous new production from renowned director Barbara Gaines, founder and artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

CHICAGO – To open its 61st season, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Mozart's joyous comedy The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Henrik Nánási in a glamorous new production from renowned director Barbara Gaines, founder and artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The Marriage of Figaro is Gaines' first non-Shakespearean opera, following her acclaimed operatic debut staging Verdi's Macbeth at Lyric in 2010.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Rossini's delightful Cinderella in a new-to-Chicago production this fall. It opens on Sunday, October 4 with eight performances through Friday, October 30. Performance dates are Oct. 7, 10, 13, 17, 23, 26 at 7:30pm; and Oct 4 and 30 at 2pm.

The management of Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Federation of Musicians Local 10-208 are pleased to announce that they have reached a tentative agreement on a new 3-year contract for members of the Lyric Orchestra. The terms of the agreement are confidential, pending ratification by the Lyric musicians and the Lyric Board of Directors. 

CHICAGO – To open its 61st season, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Mozart's joyous comedy The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by Henrik Nánási in a glamorous new production from renowned director Barbara Gaines, founder and artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The Marriage of Figaro is Gaines' first non-Shakespearean opera, following her acclaimed operatic debut staging Verdi's Macbeth at Lyric in 2010.

Lyric Unlimited presents the world premiere of Second Nature, a new opera for youth from the acclaimed composer/librettist Matthew Aucoin, at Café Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo (2021 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago). Four world-premiere performances will take place today, August 19 at 10am and 12pm, and tomorrow, August 20 at 4pm and 6pm.

Lyric Opera of Chicago launches its new season with the 15th annual Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:30 p.m. The free outdoor performance, presented in cooperation with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, annually attracts capacity crowds of 16,000 to the pavilion, great lawn, and surrounding areas of the park.

Lyric Unlimited presents the world premiere of Second Nature, a new opera for youth from the acclaimed composer/librettist Matthew Aucoin, at Café Brauer at Lincoln Park Zoo (2021 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago).

Single tickets go on sale July 8 at 10:00am for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 61st season.