Lyric Opera of Chicago announces film of Lawrence Brownlee & Friends: a special recital celebrating diversity and musical excellence

CHICAGO (12/13/23) — Lyric Unlimited, the education and creative engagement division of Lyric Opera of Chicago is pleased to announce the upcoming premiere of Lawrence Brownlee & Friends, an original recital film featuring renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee alongside special guest performers. The free film, including never-before-seen interviews with the singers involved, is set to premiere on Lyric Opera of Chicago's YouTube channel on December 14, 2023.

Following the success of Lawrence Brownlee & Friends in 2019, and Lawrence Brownlee & Friends: The Next Chapter, a Lyric virtual recital hosted in 2020, the recital series returned in November. The live recital, held in Lyric's stunning Rice Grand Foyer, features special multi-genre musical performances. This sold-out recital experience will now be available to the widest possible audience, with special insights from the artists.

“Friends” in the recital performance include soprano Lisette Oropesa and mezzo-soprano Ronnita Miller, Brownlee’s co-stars from Lyric's recent production of The Daughter of the Regiment, alongside talented members of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble—tenor Travon D. Walker, baritone Laureano Quant, and bass-baritone Christopher Humbert Jr. Accompanied by Grammy-Award winning music director Craig Terry, the filmed recital documentary captures a captivating night of musical artistry.

Through this recital, Brownlee, hailed by The Guardian as "one of the world’s leading bel canto stars," is aiming to level the playing field of music. "Growing up in the church and not on classical music, I felt that there were stigmas about opera in the black community,” said Brownlee. “Through the unique and wide-ranging repertoire we have selected for this recital, I am on a mission to make people feel more comfortable coming into the opera house, breaking down walls and inviting people inside in a fun and entertaining way with gospels, popular music, and more."

The repertoire, selected by the artists themselves, encompasses a rich array of styles and performances, each carrying its own significance to the cultural background of each artist. Lisette Oropesa performs the beautiful habanera "Tu" by Eduardo Sanchez de Fuentes, in celebration of her Cuban heritage, while Ronnita Miller explores her love of jazz with Errolyn Wallen's haunting "Daedalus". Additional selections include:

“Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” Music by Harry Barris - Performed by Lawrence Brownlee
“Romanza” from Maria la O Music by Ernesto Lecuona - Performed by Lisette Oropesa
“This Little Light of Mine” traditional - Performed by Lawrence Brownlee and Travon Walker

For more information including full program notes and to view the trailer, visit lyricopera.org/brownlee.

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About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Enrique Mazzola, and Special Project Advisor Renée Fleming, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

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