Press Room
2013 Press Releases
June 10, 2013—Collaboration between Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Second City extends beyond the stage with Lyric’s Ryan Opera Center and area high-school students
June 9, 2013—Bruno Bartoletti, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Artistic Director Emeritus, June 10, 1926 – June 9, 2013
May 14, 2013—Lyric Opera and The Second City present The Second City Guide to the Opera May 31–June 30
May 9, 2013—2012/13 season Lyric Opera Broadcasts to be rebroadcast internationally by The WFMT Radio Network May 18–July 13
May 6, 2013—American baritone David Adam Moore, featured as Jud Fry in Oklahoma!, debuts at Wrigley Field
April 18, 2013—Lyric Opera to hold dance auditions for Die Fledermaus and La Traviata
April 15, 2013—Oklahoma! opens May 4 at Lyric Opera of Chicago
April 9, 2013—“Rising Stars in Concert” with the Lyric Opera Orchestra conducted by Ward Stare to close spectacular 2012-13 season on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at 7:30 p.m.
April 4, 2013—Lyric Opera to hold dance auditions for Parisfal
March 26, 2013—Lyric presents first-ever Student Night
March 11, 2013—A special performance for high-school and college students of A Streetcar Named Desire
March 7, 2013—Lyric presents Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon)
February 13, 2013—Fantasy of the Opera—more than $450,000 net raised
February 12, 2013—Tari Kelly cast as Ado Annie in Oklahoma!
February 7, 2013—2013/14 Season Announced
February 5, 2013—Wesley Daniel likely to return home Thursday
January 18, 2013—Patrons donated 1,599 pounds of food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository over the holiday
season before Hansel and Gretel, Don Pasquale performances
January 11, 2013—Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Renée Fleming and Susan Graham in Soirée française
January 8, 2013—Lyric Opera of Chicago and The Second City to present The Second City Guide to the Opera throughout the month of June
2012 Press Releases
December 17, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago announces chorus auditions for the 2013-2014 season
December 14, 2012—Michael Black
named new chorus master
December 5, 2012—General
Director Anthony Freud announces administrative appointments at Lyric
Opera
December 3, 2012—Chorus Master duties assigned for remainder of Lyric Opera of Chicago season
November 19, 2012—Patrick Stewart to join Renée Fleming to co-host The Second City Guide to the Opera
November 17, 2012—Chorus Master Martin Wright resigns
November 14, 2012—Music Director Sir Andrew Davis marks 25th anniversary with the company
November 14, 2012—Lyric Opera presents Popcorn & Pasquale on Sunday, December 2, at 2pm
November 12, 2012—Lyric Opera debuts in Lights Festival
November 2, 2012—Lyric Opera announces principal casting for Oklahoma!
October 30, 2012—Opening Night Gala Benefit and Opera Ball raised more than $1 million—net proceeds
October 24, 2012—OPERATHON 2012 exceeds goal
October 22, 2012—Lyric Opera announces Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
22 Octubre 2012—Lyric Opera anuncia Cruzar la Cara de la Luna
October 12 , 2012—Lyric Opera Of Chicago unveils 2012-13 season poster by world-renowned artist Per Arnoldi
September 26, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago announces staff changes for The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
September 19, 2012—The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center announces the singers selected for its 2013-2014 ensemble
September 13, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 58th season opens with Elektra
September 12, 2012— Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold singing and dancing ensemble auditions for Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! Oct. 8–16
September 11, 2012—The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago Recital Series debuts on 98.7WFMT this fall
September 6, 2012—The Lyric Opera of Chicago Broadcasts resume September 8
September 4, 2012—Lyric Opera and Chicago Federation of Musicians reach tentative contract agreement
August 29, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago's lectures, special events, and benefits
August 23, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago's 58th season opens with Elektra
August 22, 2012—Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, September 8
August 10, 2012—Lyric Opera and AGMA reach tentative contract agreement
August 1, 2012—Ryan Opera Center ensemble members perform with the Grant Park Orchestra at the Pritzker Pavilion
July 24, 2012—2012/13 single tickets on sale to public August 1
July 23, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago names Tracy C. Galligher Associate Director of Marketing
July 18, 2012—Lyric Unlimited presents The Second City Guide to the Opera and Popcorn & Pasquale
July 18, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago announces creative team and performance dates for new production/company premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!
July 11, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago receives $2 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to support Lyric Unlimited and Bel Canto
July 10, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold dance auditions for Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
July 2, 2012—Evelyn Lear, 1926-2012
June 20, 2012—Current + former members of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center are all over the map this summer!
June 19, 2012—Sir Andrew Davis maintains action-packed international performance and recording schedule
June 17, 2012—Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s music director + principal conductor, adds chief conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra to his responsibilities
May 14, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago in the black for the 2011/12 season
May 2, 2012—Dramaturg Roger Pines returns to the Metropolitan Opera broadcast’s Opera Quiz Sat., May 5
April 18, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago presents piano superstar Lang Lang
April 11, 2012—The Matthew Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcastsof the 2011/12 Lyric Opera of Chicago season will be rebroadcast internationally by The WFMT Radio Network May 12 – June 30
March 26, 2012—Hear tomorrow’s opera stars in a thrilling concert streaming internationally on www.wfmt.com on April 1 – no fooling!
March 19, 2012—Renée Fleming and Yo-Yo Ma delight crowd with surprise performance
March 9, 2012—Renée Fleming to participate in first-ever Career Day organized by Lyric Opera of Chicago for Merit School of Music
February 28, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago announces 2015/16 world-premiere Bel Canto
February 28, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago's Backstage Tours 2012
February 16, 2012—Lyric Opera of Chicago's Wine Auction 2012 nets a record $1.8 million
January 30, 2012—All aboard! A spectacular new production of the American musical SHOW BOAT to dock at Lyric Opera of Chicago Feb. 12-Mar. 17
January 26, 2012—Fantasy of the Opera Gala–more than $470,000 net raised!
January 17, 2012—2012/13 Season Announced
2011 Press Releases
December 13, 2011—Sir Andrew Davis, Amber Wagner, and Cecelia Hall summoned to Valencia for concert performances of Ariadne auf Naxos
December 12, 2011—American Bass Raymond Aceto to portray January-February performances of Verdi's Aida
December 9, 2011—Alexandra Day to serve as director of public relations
December 1, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago announces chorus auditions for the 2012/13 season
December 1, 2011—Tenor Brandon Jovanovich will debut with the Chicago Bears singing the National Anthem
November 29, 2011—Debra Schuerer-DeNoon, May 26, 1957 – November 23, 2011
November 23, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks dozens of supernumeraries for Verdi's Aida
October 24 , 2011—Soprano Audrey Luna to portray the Queen of the Night in all performances of The Magic Flute
October 17 , 2011—OPERATHON 2011 raises record-breaking $500,000
October 13 , 2011—Internationally renowned bass Wilbur Pauley to debut with the Chicago Bears singing the National Anthem
October 11, 2011—OPERATHON 2011
October 3, 2011—Opening Night Gala Benefit and Opera Ball raises $875,000 - net proceeds
September 22, 2011—Internationally renowned tenor Matthew Polenzani debuts with the Chicago Bears singing the National Anthem
September 22, 2011—Lyric Young Professionals
September 20, 2011—Lyric Opera announces 2012-13 roster of singers for The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
September 19, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago Principal Violist Keith Abbott Conant, 1962-2011
September 13, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks supernumeraries for 2011/12 season
September 12, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago and Merit School of Music announce collaboration
September 8, 2011—Lyric Opera rolls out bold new advertising campaign
August 24, 2011—Get the most out of your opera experience
August 22, 2011—Creative Consultant Renée Fleming among the featured artists for Lyric’s annual gift to Chicago! “Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park” free concert
August 22, 2011—Lyric and AGMA settle contract
August 17, 2011—Lyric and AGMA reach tentative contract agreement
August 4, 2011—Sir Andrew Davis to conduct first collaboration of Ryan Opera Center and Civic Orchestra of Chicago
August 2, 2011—Rosanna Bartoletti 1927-2011
August 1, 2011— Single tickets now on sale for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2011 - 2012 season!
July 25, 2011—Operapalooza! Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center ensemble members perform with the Grant Park Orchestra at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance
July 25, 2011—Tenor René Barbera Sweeps Operalia Competition
July 21, 2011—Lyric Opera of Chicago appoints Christopher Jabin to serve as director of institutional giving
July 20, 2011—Lyric Opera presents piano superstar Lang Lang
July 18, 2011—Soprano Amber Wagner to sing title role in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS
July 6, 2011— No off-season resting on his laurels: Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music Director Sir Andrew Davis maintains full international performance and recording schedule
June 24, 2011— The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts to re-air Un ballo in maschera Tuesday, June 28 at 8 p.m. on the WFMT Radio Network
June 22, 2011 — Ryan Opera Center ensemble member Kiri Deonarine and Lyric Opera of Chicago PR man Jack Zimmerman to debut on A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor
June 17, 2011 — From Chicago to Santa Fe to Scotland – they’re everywhere! Current & former members of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center are all over the map this summer!
May 23, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago in the black for 2010/11 season.
May 18, 2011 — Broadway star Ashley Brown to debut at Lyric Opera of Chicago in Lyric Opera premiere/new production of Show Boat
May 5, 2011 — Renée Fleming to headline "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park"
April 28, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago to hold dance auditions for Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II’s Show Boat George Frideric Handel’s Rinaldo and Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida
April 21, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago names Anthony Freud as its new general director beginning in October 2011
March 24, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago names Martin Wright new chorus master starting with the 2012-13 season
February 24, 2011 — The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago Rising Stars in Concert
February 7, 2011 — Sicilian tenor Marcello Giordani withdraws from two performances of The Girl of the Golden West at Lyric Opera of Chicago
February 7, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Fantasy of the Opera Gala $484,000 net raised! Attendance 550!
January 27, 2011 — Walk in the footsteps of the great opera legends! Lyric Opera of Chicago’s BACKSTAGE TOURS
January 18, 2011 — LOHENGRIN opens February 11 at Lyric Opera of Chicago
February 1, 2011 — Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 57th season begins Saturday, October 1, 2011, at 6:30 p.m. with THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
January 14, 2011 — Puccini's THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN WEST at Lyric Opera of Chicago Jan. 22-Feb. 21
January 5, 2011 — Encore Evenings at Lyric
January 4, 2011 — Put some fire in your February! Lyric Opera of Chicago Guild Board's FANTASY OF THE OPERA
2010 Press Releases
December 27, 2010 — Need a little lift after holidays? Let The Mikado help!
December 9, 2010 — Renée Fleming Named by Lyric Opera of Chicago First Ever Creative Consultant
November 23, 2010 — Baritone Mark Delavan to debut with Chicago Bears singing National Anthem at Nov. 28 game
November 23, 2010 — The Mikado Discovery Series
November 22, 2010 — Gilbert & Sullivan's sparkling comedy THE MIKADO at Lyric Opera of Chicago
November 18, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces Chorus Auditions for the 2011-2012 Season
November 5, 2010 — Renata Scotto directs Verdi's A Masked Ball
October 29, 2010 — Career changes lead to two distinctive stage debuts for Chicago-area natives in A Midsummer Night's Dream
October 29, 2010 — Lyric Opera premiere of Benjamin Britten's Shakespearean fantasy, A Midsummer Night's Dream
October 18, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's Operathon 2010 Raises Record-Breaking $476,513
October 6, 2010 — Kate Aldrich withdraws from CARMEN due to pregnancy, Katharine Goeldner will portray the title-role in all six October performances
October 1, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 56th season begins Friday, October 1 with Giuseppe Verdi's Macbeth
September 17, 2010 — 2011-2012 Roster of Singers for The Patrick G and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Announced
September 10, 2010 — The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts resume Saturday, September 11
September 10, 2010 — Lyric Opera again receives A1 Rating from Moody’s
September 9, 2010 — Free Pre-Season Concert! Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park
September 3, 2010 — Dimitri Pittas withdraws from Lyric Opera of Chicago's new production of Verdi's Macbeth
September 2, 2010 — Rock star & humanitarian Bono featured on catalog cover of Operathon 2010
August 6, 2010 — Free Pre-Season Concert! "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park"
August 5, 2010 — Single tickets now on sale for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2010 - 2011 season!
July 27, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus Master Donald Nally to leave company following 2010-11 season
July 7, 2010 — William Mason, General Director of Lyric Opera, to retire at conclusion of 2011-12 season
May 24, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago in the black for 2009/10 season
May 14, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago announces roster updates for 2010-11 season
April 14, 2010 — Amber Wagner to sing Richard Wagner in European debut
March 22, 2010 — The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts of the 2009/10 Lyric Opera of Chicago season will be rebroadcast internationally
March 9, 2010 — Anne Schwanewilms withdraws from Lyric Opera of Chicago revival of The Marriage of Figaro due to bronchial infection
February 9, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's Fantasy of the Opera Gala $504,000 net raised! Attendance 560!
January 26, 2010 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2010/2011 Season Announced
2009 Press Releases
December 18, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago Announces the 2010-2011 Roster of Singers for The Patrick G and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center
December 17, 2009 — English mezzo-soprano Diana Montague withdraws from Lyric Opera of Chicago revival of THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO due to ill health.
December 15, 2009 — Get a jump on Valentine’s Day! Lyric Opera of Chicago Guild Board’s FANTASY OF THE OPERA
December 4, 2009 — Lyric and Musicians Union Settle Orchestra Contract
October 6, 2009 — Star News from Lyric Opera
October 14, 2009 — Lyric Opera of Chicago's OPERATHON 2009 Raises $438,350
October 13, 2009 — 2009/10 Season Lyric Opera NExT – Discount Student Tickets for the Next Generation Launches
October 7, 2009 — 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
August 31, 2009 — Free Pre-Season Concert! "Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park"
August 27, 2009 — 2009/10 Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts Announced.
August 13, 2009 — This season at Lyric Opera of Chicago: Two new restaurants to open at Civic Opera House — Enjoy dinner and a show!
August 13, 2009 — Florian Opera Bistro opens at the Civic Opera House
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