Announcing Verdi Voices concert on February 6

A celebration of Verdi's best

CHICAGO (11/18/2021) —Three of the world's most accomplished Verdians—soprano Tamara Wilson, tenor Russel Thomas, and conductor and Lyric Opera of Chicago Music Director Enrique Mazzola—will marshal their powerful musical forces alongside the Lyric Opera Orchestra for a special concert event: Verdi Voices on Sunday, February 6, 2022.

Tickets are on sale now.

The concert features a comprehensive survey of Verdi's musical genius, from his shimmering overtures to La forza del destino and La traviata, to favorite arias from Nabucco and Simon Boccanegra, to mesmerizing duets from Aida and Otello, and more. Continuing Lyric's seasons-long exploration of Verdi's early masterworks, the program also spotlights music from the composer's Ernani.

Chicago-area native Tamara Wilson, winner of the 2016 Richard Tucker Award, made her Lyric debut as Leonaora in Verdi's Il trovatore during the 2018/19 Season. She recently performed the towering role of Odabella in Verdi's "Attila Highlights in Concert," which is available for free streaming.

Russell Thomas made his Lyric debut as Pollione in Bellini's Norma in the 2016/17 Season and has quickly become an audience favorite, returning for Manrico in Verdi's Il trovatore in the 2018/2019 Season and as Canio in the recently released filmed version of Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, which is available for free streaming. He returns later this season to star as Cavaradossi in Puccini's Tosca.

Enrique Mazzola began his tenure as Lyric's third Music Director by conducting the 2021/22 Season-opening performances of Verdi's Macbeth and Donizetti's The Elixir of Love to great critical and audience acclaim. During Lyric's 2019/20 Season, as music director designate, he led Verdi's Luisa Miller to launch the company's Early Verdi Series. His work at Lyric during the 2020/21 Virtual Season included several explorations of Verdi's work, from "Attila: Breaking Down the Score" to "Attila: Highlights in Concert," to "The Great Verdi Chorus Showdown," all still available for streaming.

For more information on the Verdi Voices concert, visit lyricopera.org/verdivoices

Please utilize Lyric Opera's online press room, where you can easily access the latest images, artwork, and video files, plus press releases—all in one place. We've introduced a password-protected area within the press room to enable media access to images.

Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by the following members of the Enrique Circle

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is where the world sings — and where Chicago comes alive.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, Lyric stands at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic purpose, harnessing the full power of opera — voice, orchestra, stagecraft, and story — to illuminate the questions, emotions, and experiences that define us as human beings. Nearly 75 seasons of world-class performances have made Lyric one of the greatest opera companies in the world. What drives us now is what has always driven us: the belief that this art form, at its best, can move people in ways nothing else can.

Lyric is also Chicago’s partner — in its neighborhoods, its schools, and its communities — through education, engagement, and a relentless commitment to making opera accessible, relevant, and irresistible to everyone. At the heart of that commitment is The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, which trains the artists who will carry this art form into its future. Every night when the curtain rises, Lyric reminds this city — and the world — why live performance still matters.

Lyric Opera of Chicago doesn’t just present opera, it redefines what opera can be. It’s where Chicago comes to be moved, inspired, and connected.

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