Audio
Backstage at Lyric #48
Discovery Series: The Abduction from the Seraglio with Matthew Polenzani (Belmonte), conductor Sir Andrew Davis and director Chas Rader-Shieber
March 3, 2009
The story's a simple one - but the demands on the singers are anything but! Marvel at our "best in the business" Mozart masters in this delightful Discovery Series podcast featuring tenor Matthew Polenzani, director Chas Rader-Shieber and conductor Sir Andrew Davis.
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Backstage at Lyric #47
The Abduction from the Seraglio: Erin Wall
February 27, 2009
Internationally recognized soprano Erin Wall is Backstage at Lyric. Erin, whose career began at Lyric Opera of Chicago, returns to play the lead role of Konstanze in Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio. Hosted by Roger Pines.
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Backstage at Lyric #46 - 2009/2010 Season Preview
Sir Andrew Davis Introduces The 2009/2010 Season
February 25, 2009
Sir Andrew Davis previews the 2009/10 season with musical excerpts and commentary in this 18-minute audio clip.
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Backstage at Lyric #45
Discovery Series: Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci featuring Guang Yang, Mark Delavan, Ana María Martínez
February 16, 2009
Join host Roger Pines for a lively discussion with Cav-Pag stars Guang Yang (Santuzza), Mark Delavan (Alfio) and Ana María Martínez (Tonio) in Lyric's latest Discovery Series podcast.
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Backstage at Lyric #44
Cavalleria Rusticana: American mezzo-soprano Judith Christin
February 16, 2009
American mezzo-soprano Judith Christin joins us for our latest podcast. A favorite artist with opera companies all across the United States, Judith returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago to play the role of Mama Lucia in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana.
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Backstage at Lyric #43
Discovery Series: Tristan und Isolde with Deborah Voight (Isolde), Clifton Forbis (Tristan) and director José María Condemi
February 15, 2009
Only singers possessed of Herculean talent and stamina are able to do justice to the title roles of Tristan und Isolde - and Lyric has them! Deborah Voight (Isolde), Clifton Forbis (Tristan) and director José María Condemi join Lyric's Jesse Gram for an intimate discussion of Wagner's epic masterpiece.
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Backstage at Lyric #42
Tristan und Isolde: Mezzo-soprano Petra Lang
February 14, 2009
Mezzo-soprano Petra Lang is Backstage at Lyric. One of Germany's most outstanding singers, she's making her Lyric Opera debut in a role she's made her own in major opera houses all over the world, Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde.
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Backstage at Lyric #41
Madama Butterfly: Mezzo-soprano Katharine Goeldner and baritone James Westman
January 28, 2009
We interview two singers who have made highly successful Lyric Opera debuts in this season's production of Madama Butterfly: American mezzo-soprano Katharine Goelder, who's portraying Butterfly's faithful servant Suzuki, and Canadian baritone James Westman, who has the role of the sympathetic American consul Sharpless.
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Backstage at Lyric #40
Discovery Series with Frank Lopardo
January 21, 2009
One of today's most remarkable tenors, longtime Lyric Opera favorite Frank Lopardo stars as Pinkerton in Puccini's heartrending East-meets-West tragedy, Madama Butterfly. Unforgettable as Lensky in last season's Eugene Onegin, Lopardo offers compelling insights into the music and drama of Butterfly, while also captivating the live audience with his irrepressible sense of humor.
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Backstage at Lyric #39
Porgy and Bess Symposium
November 20, 2008
Porgy and Bess is the great American opera and for its Lyric Opera premiere, we've assembled a dynamic panel of artists and Gershwin scholars. They delve into Porgy's extraordinary genesis — descendant of an "Old Southern" family pens a novel on which a Jewish-American composer creates an operatic masterwork that deals with love and death in an insular black community. Enjoy this freewheeling discussion of Porgy and Bess and the reactions it has inspired over the decades in white and black America. Symposium panelists include University of Michigan musicologist Naomi André, Gershwin authority Wayne Shirley, baritone Gordon Hawkins (Porgy), soprano Morenike Fadayomi (Bess), and conductor John DeMain. The presentation is moderated by renowned music critic Wynne Delacoma.
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Backstage at Lyric #38
Porgy and Bess: Baritone Lester Lynch
November 17, 2008
In his debut engagement at Lyric Opera, American baritone Lester Lynch is alternating between the roles of Crown and Porgy in the company premiere of Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS. Lynch discusses the challenges of singing and acting both of those characters, and also explains what he finds most rewarding about the production.
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Backstage at Lyric #37
Lulu: Stage Director Paul Curran
November 12, 2008
Paul Curran has returned to Lyric this season as stage director of the new production of Berg's Lulu. Curran made his Lyric debut last season with another new production, Die Frau ohne Schatten. He's one of the most sought-after opera directors in the world with successes in Santa Fe, Toronto, Milan and Saint Petersburg. He shares his thoughts on the sensuality of Lulu and provides fascinating commentary on his approach to directing this masterpiece of music theater.
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Backstage at Lyric #36
Discovery Series: Lulu with Marlis Petersen and Sir Andrew Davis
November 10, 2008
Fasten your seatbelts! Marlis Petersen is Lulu, the sexually smoldering femme fatale in Alban Berg's crime story/opera. And who better to join her in a Discovery Series session than Sir Andrew Davis, the conductor of the intricate and emotion-layered musical score that contains some of the last century's most complex and expressionistic orchestral writing. Title this one, "Honey, it ain't Die Fledermaus!" Moderated by Roger Pines.
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Backstage at Lyric #35
Lulu: Tenor William Burden
October 30, 2008
The remarkable American tenor William Burden portrays the crucial character of Alwa in this season's new production of Berg's Lulu. In this discussion you'll hear not just about Burden's challenging role in Lulu but also about his feelings for this provocative opera and working with the gifted artistic team putting the production together.
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Backstage at Lyric #34
Lulu: Mezzo-soprano Jill Grove
October 28, 2008
After her triumph last season in Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten, the extroardinary American mezzo-soprano Jill Grove is back at Lyric in the new production of Berg's Lulu. In this conversation she discusses the character she plays in this opera, Countess Geschwitz; the production (including the exciting film sequence, in which she figures prominently); and being a new mother -- her most important offstage role! Moderated by Roger Pines.
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Backstage at Lyric #33
Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus Master Donald Nally
October 10, 2008
Donald Nally, Lyric Opera's brilliant chorus master, gives us the inside story on preparing the chorus for the first three productions of the 2008/09 season: Massenet's Manon, Bizet's The Pearl Fishers, and the Lyric premiere of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess.
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Backstage at Lyric #32
Discovery Series: The Pearl Fishers with Nicole Cabell, Nathan Gunn, Eric Cutler, and John Mauceri
October 7, 2008
Before he gave us Carmen, Bizet penned this atmospheric jewel of forbidden love and broken promises set in ancient Ceylon. Nicole Cabell (Leïla), Nathan Gunn (Zurga), and Eric Cutler (Nadir) are joined by conductor John Mauceri for an exploration of this exotic work. Moderated by Roger Pines.
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Backstage at Lyric #31
Manon: soprano Andriana Chuchman and mezzo-sopranos Kathryn Leemhuis and Katherine Lerner
September 25, 2008
Soprano Andriana Chuchman and mezzo-sopranos Kathryn Leemhuis and Katherine Lerner are three brilliantly talented members of Lyric Opera's Ryan Opera Center. They're all performing in Massenet's Manon, the opening production of Lyric's 2008/2009 season. They talk not only about the experience of working with the production's stars, but also about what it's like to be a young singer today at a leading international opera company.
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Backstage at Lyric #30
Discovery Series: Manon with Natalie Dessay, Jonas Kaufmann, and Emmanuel Villaume
September 19, 2008
A sweet country girl fluctuates between a life of luxury and one of true love – bad idea! Soon enough she's speeding toward perdition. Natalie Dessay (Manon), Jonas Kaufmann (Des Grieux), and conductor Emmanuel Villaume in a discussion of Massenet's opera and the Abbé Prévost story that inspired it.
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Backstage at Lyric #29
Manon: Baritone Christopher Feigum
September 11, 2008
Christopher Feigum is rapidly making a terrific name for himself as one of the most charismatic and vocally elegant young baritones in America. He's opening the current Lyric season as Lescaut, the heroine's brother in Massnet's Manon. Feigum discusses the roguish aspects of Lescaut's character, working with stage director David McVicar, his experience in Lyric's Ryan Opera Center, and the benefits of living in Chicago.
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Backstage at Lyric #28
2008/09 Season Preview with Music Director Sir Andrew Davis
March 14, 2008
Music director Sir Andrew Davis reveals the spectacular highlights of Lyric's upcoming 54th season - featuring thrilling masterworks including 5 new-to-Chicago productions. For an all-encompassing musical and theatrical experience filled with glorious music that dazzles the senses and stirs the soul, join us for the 2008/09 season at Lyric Opera of Chicago!
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