Week of November 16: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

This week in opera streaming, we'll head to The Metropolitan Opera for their "Yannick" series, highlighting operas conducted by Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin. We'll see world-class productions, including Lyric's Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming in Rusalka, a role made famous by the artist herself. We'll also stop by Opera Philadelphia to see tenor Lawrence Brownlee in Cycles of My Being, a virtual offering of a song cycle Brownlee has performed all over the country, including at Lyric. Finally, we'll finish out our week with Verdi's unforgettable masterpiece about a tragic clown in San Francisco Opera's Rigoletto.

Lyric Opera Commentaries discuss the synopses, music, and some historical insights into the creation of the world's most beloved operas, and musical masterpieces you might never have experienced. 

Explore Lyric Commentaries to make the most out of your opera streaming experience. 

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

The Metropolitan Opera 
Verdi: Don Carlo

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Roberto Alagna, Marina Poplavskaya, Anna Smirnova, Simon Keenlyside, and Ferruccio Furlanetto, and was directed by Nicholas Hytner. Don Carlo was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on December 11, 2010. This opera stream will be available until November 17 at 6:30pm. 

This classic Lyric Commentary from the 1989/90 Season is by Alfred Glasser.

Houston Grand Opera
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde

This production from Houston Grand Opera stars Ben Heppner, Nina Stemme, Claudia Mahnke, and Ryan McKinny, and was directed by Christof Loy. Tristan and Isolde was conducted by Patrick Summers in 2013. This radio broadcast will be available through December 7, 2020. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2008/09 season is by Sir Andrew Davis and Nicholas Ivor Martin.

The Metropolitan Opera
Gounod: Faust

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Jonas Kaufmann, Marina Poplavskaya, and René Pape, and was directed by Des McAnuff. Faust was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on December 10, 2011. This opera stream will be available until Wednesday, November 18 at 6:30pm.

Lyric Commentary from the 2017/18 Season is by Nicholas Ivor Martin.

The Metropolitan Opera
Dvořák: Rusalka

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Piotr Beczała, Dolora Zajick, John Relyea, and Emily Magee, and was directed by Giancarlo Del Monaco. Rusalka was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on February 8, 2014. This opera stream will be available until Thursday, November 19 at 6:30pm.  

Lyric Commentary from the 2013/14 Season is by Roger Pines. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Verdi: La traviata

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Diana Damrau, Juan Diego Flórez, and Quinn Kelsey, and was directed by Michael Mayer. La traviata was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on December 15, 2018. This opera stream will be available until Friday, November 20 at 6:30pm.

Lyric Commentary from the 2018/19 Season is by David Buch. 

Opera Philadelphia
Sorey: Cycles of My Being

This virtual presentation from Opera Philadelphia is a song cycle that centers on what it means to be a Black man living in America today. Cycles of My Being stars tenor Lawrence Brownlee and is directed by Leslie Rivera. This is a pay-to-view streaming opportunity. 

Lyric presented Cycles of My Being during the 2017/18 Season. We invite you to visit our production page for program articles, and behind-the-scenes videos. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Poulenc: Dialogues des Carmélites

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Isabel Leonard, Adrianne Pieczonka, Erin Morley, Karita Mattila, Karen Cargill, and David Portillo. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducted the legendary John Dexter production, which was directed by David Kneuss on May 11,2019. This opera stream will be available until Saturday, November 21 at 6:30pm. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2006/07 season is by Roger Pines.

San Francisco Opera
Verdi: Rigoletto

This production from San Francisco Opera stars Željko Lučić, Aleksandra Kurzak, Francesco Demuro, Andrea Silvestrelli, and was directed by Harry Silverstein. Rigoletto was conducted by Nicola Luisotti in 2012. This opera stream premieres on Saturday, November 21 at 12pm CST, and will be available through Sunday, November 22.

Lyric Commentary from the 2017/18 Season is by Colin Ure.

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center presents Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter, a free virtual concert celebrating the depth and breadth of Black artistry. Hosted by world-renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who also serves as artistic advisor for the event, the concert features prominent Ryan Opera Center alumni—soprano Whitney Morrison, mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and baritone Will Liverman—and three current 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members—tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam, and baritone Leroy Davis. Performances are accompanied by Craig Terry, the Grammy Award-winning music director of the Ryan Opera Center; and Chris Reynolds, current Ensemble pianist. Members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra make an appearance in a special selection, performing from their homes.

Visit our production page for program notes, artist biographies, and video conversations with the artists discussing their musical selections and why this concert is taking place. This stream will be available through January 26, 2021. 

WATCH LAWRENCE BROWNLEE AND FRIENDS: THE NEXT CHAPTER

For the Love of Lyric 

For the Love of Lyric's starry lineup is led by world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming and features special guests, including Tony Award® and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-actress Heather Headley, sopranos Ailyn Pérez and Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna J'Nai Bridges, and bass Soloman Howard, with Doug Peck serving as music director. Members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble and members of the Chicago Children's Choir also perform in this enlightening and entertaining program of familiar and revelatory selections from the worlds of opera, Broadway, popular music, and some surprising sources.

Visit our production page to listen to a special commentary from dramaturg Roger Pines as he delves into what to expect from this unique virtual concert. This stream will be available through December 13, 2020. 

WATCH FOR THE LOVE OF LYRIC