Press Room
2009 Press Releases
June 29, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 55th Season — From Heaven to Hell, and Several Points Between!!
May 20, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold dance auditions Saturday, June 20 at the Civic Opera House for Hector Berlioz's The Damnation of Faust.
May 19, 2009 — Lyric Opera in the black for 2008/09 season. Sells 93% of its seats and slightly exceeds $18.65 million fund-raising goal thanks to Wine Auction. Dietrich M. Gross receives Lyric’s Carol Fox Award.
May 11, 2009 — Bruno Bartoletti, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Artistic Director Emeritus, to be awarded honorary citizenship by the City of Florence on May 15, 2009, at the Palazzo Vecchio
April 21, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold dancing/singing auditions for Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow Saturday, May 30 at the Civic Opera House
March 30, 2009 — The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago “Rising Stars in Concert” to close spectacular 2008-09 season on Saturday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m.
March 25, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago 2009/10 season preview to air live on 98.7WFMT Saturday, March 28, 9 – 11 a.m. William Mason/general director, Sir Andrew Davis/music director, and Roger Pines/dramaturg discuss upcoming season and musical highlights with WFMT host Lisa Flynn
March 25, 2009 — The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts of the 2008/09 Lyric Opera of Chicago season will be rebroadcast internationally by The WFMT Radio Network May 2 – June 20
March 9, 2009 — Three years of preparation for one incredible evening: Lyric Opera of Chicago's WINE AUCTION 2009 nets $1.2 million
February 10, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's Fantasy of the Opera Gala — $511,000 net raised! Attendance 575! Guild Board of Directors' 25th annual Fantasy fundraiser, "Be Dazzled," rocked the Civic Opera House
January 28, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 55th season begins Saturday, September 26, 2009, at 6:00 p.m.with Sir Andrew Davis conducting Giacomo Puccini's immortal TOSCA
January 6, 2009 — Finnish bass-baritone Juha Uusitalo withdraws from Lyric Opera of Chicago’s presentation of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
2008 Press Releases
December 9, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction 2009 — Friday, March 6, 2009
December 8, 2008 — HOLLY AND IVY — Lyric Opera of Chicago's first-ever choral concert — Sunday, December 14, 3 p.m.
November 19, 2008 — LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES CHORUS AUDITIONS FOR THE 2009-2010 SEASON
November 19, 2008 — Due to unprecedented demand, Lyric Opera of Chicago adds performance of the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
November 14, 2008 — Ryan Smith (December 15, 1976 – November 12, 2008) First-year Ensemble Member, Ryan Opera Center, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Oct. 31, 2008 — The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess to have its Lyric Opera of Chicago premiere
Oct. 24, 2008 — Sir Andrew Davis introduces you to LULU the twisty, sexy thriller opera that opens at Lyric Nov. 7, in a just-posted web video
Oct. 24, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces casting updates for Lulu and Porgy and Bess
Oct. 22, 2008 — Barbara Gaines Founder and Artistic Director, Chicago Shakespeare Theater to open Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2010-11 season with a new production of Verdi's Macbeth starring Thomas Hampson, Nadja Michael, Dmitri Pittas, and Štefan Kocán
Oct. 20, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's OPERATHON 2008 RAISES $443,032
Oct. 14, 2008 — New release on New World Records: Amistad
October 9, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold auditions TUESDAY, October 14 for Black/African-American volunteer supernumeraries as "extras" for George Gershwin's American Folk Opera Porgy and Bess
Oct. 8, 2008 — AUDITION NOTICE — Lyric Opera of Chicago casting six principal roles (three women/three men plus two understudies) for next season's new production of The Merry Widow
Oct. 8, 2008 — Gary Griffin - Director, Tony-nominated Broadway production of The Color Purple, Associate Artistic Director, Chicago Shakespeare Theater - to debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago stage directing a new production of Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow
October 2, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Opening Night Gala Benefit and Opera Ball raises more than $500,000 (net proceeds) Saturday, September 27, 2008
October 2, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's Education Department & The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center launch the new season of OPERA IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS with performances of Mozart's delightful The Magic Flute in English
September 26, 2008 — The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts resume this Saturday, September 27, starting at 5:45 p.m. with MANON by Jules Massenet, starring Natalie Dessay and Jonas Kaufmann!
September 26 , 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago Music Director Sir Andrew Davis wins Classic FM Gramophone Award
September 19, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's first DISCOVERY SERIES session of the 2008-09 season now ready for download!
September 18, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago receives $1 million gift from Peer Pedersen. Lyric's new Wacker Drive restaurant to be named The Sarah and Peer Pedersen Room
September 10, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2008-2009 Benefits, Lectures, Tours, and Special Events
September 5, 2008 — "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park" free concert and all eight operas of the Lyric Opera of Chicago 2008-09 season can be heard live locally on 98.7WFMT and nationally/internationally through www.wfmt.com via The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts
September 3, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to offer Free Pre-Opera Lectures for all performances during 2008/09 season (except for Opening Night, Sept. 27)
August 25, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks German-speaking actor to portray Pasha Selim in new production of Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio
August 20, 2008 — Opera Enlightenment can be yours! Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2008-2009 LYRIC SEASON COMPANION and COMMENTARIES ON CD are now available!
August. 13, 2008 — Free Pre-Season Concert!! "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park"
August 5, 2008 — NICOLA RESCIGNO: May 28, 1916, New York City – August 4, 2008, Viterbo, Italy - Conductor and Cofounder, Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Dallas Opera
August 1, 2008 — Mozart and Massenet, Gershwin and Bizet, Wagner and Puccini, Verismo and Expressionism – Lyric’s got it all!! Single tickets now on sale for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2008 - 2009 season!
July 29, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks actors and supernumeraries for 2008-09 season to portray acrobats, clowns, knights, party guests, priestesses, priests, sailors, servants, soldiers and more!
June 20, 2008 — Two new dining facilities for Lyric Opera patrons made possible by company's purchase of additional space in Civic Opera Building
June 5, 2008 — Save the Date! Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction 2009 will be held in the Civic Opera House Friday, March 6, 2009.
May 23, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold dance auditions for Manonon Monday, June 23, 2008, at the Civic Opera House
May 20, 2008 — Lyric Opera sells 98% of its seating capacity for 2007/08 season. Lyric again "in the black," as it has been for 20 of the past 21 years—a record among the country's major not-for-profit music and dance performing arts companies. Lyric exceeds its $16.85-million fundraising goal. Surplus expected to exceed $800,000.
April 29, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago 2008/09 season preview to air live on 98.7WFMT Saturday, May 3, 9 - 11 a.m. William Mason/general director, Sir Andrew Davis/music director, and Roger Pines/dramaturg discuss upcoming season and musical highlights with WFMT host Carolyn Paulin. The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts of the 2007/08 season will be rebroadcast internationally by The WFMT Radio Network May 10 – June 28
April 3, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago dramaturg Roger Pines to be heard on the Metropolitan Opera broadcast's "Opera Quiz" this Saturday afternoon, April 5,airing in the Chicago area on 98.7WFMT-FM
March 31, 2008 – The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago "Rising Stars in Concert" to close spectacular 2007-08 season on Saturday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m.
January 31, 2008 — Juan Diego Flórez cancels engagement in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Feb. 16 - Mar. 22 due to throat infection; John Osborn will take over role of Count Almaviva for all performances
January 24, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 54th season begins Saturday, September 27, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. with Emmanuel Villaume conducting Jules Massenet's Manon starring Natalie Dessay and Jonas Kaufmann in David McVicar's production
January 15, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago names Laura Freveletti new Director of Corporate, Foundation and Government Support
January 9, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces cast change for first three performances of Rossini's The Barber of Seville: American baritone Philip Kraus to portray Bartolo Feb. 16, 19, and 22, replacing English baritone Andrew Shore, who will sing title role of Verdi's Falstaff at Lyric Jan. 28 through Feb. 23. Shore will then portray Bartolo for remaining nine performances of Barber Feb. 26, 29, Mar. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 19, 22.
January 8, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago names Mark Riggleman new Director of Education.
January 3, 2008 — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces cast change for Verdi's FALSTAFF: Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri withdraws from title role because of family death. Renowned English baritone Andrew Shore will portray Falstaff in all nine performances Jan. 28 through Feb. 23.