About Lyric

Grand spectacle. The finest singers of our time. And immortal music performed by our internationally celebrated orchestra and chorus.

All yours to enjoy in Chicago — and only at Lyric — "one of the best opera companies in the world." Esquire Magazine

Lyric Opera of Chicago, founded in 1954, is one of the world's greatest opera companies. It is renowned internationally for its artistic excellence and financial strength. Over the past two decades the company has achieved unparalleled success in its ticket sales, averaging 100% attendance from 1988-2002. Lyric Opera is also distinguished for having operated in the black for 20 of the past 21 years.

In 2008/09 the company boasts more than 30,000 subscribers. Lyric's eight-opera season starts in late September and concludes in late March, offering 81 performances of opera classics and 20th-century repertoire over that time span. (Several world premieres have been presented over the years, most recently William Bolcom’s A Wedding during the 2004/05 season.)

Each season Lyric audiences enjoy the world's greatest singers in visually spectacular productions.