August 28, 2025
A look back on Sunday in the Park with Lyric
There’s always something special about Sunday in the Park with Lyric and this year is no exception as artists from the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center will be joined by Music Director Enrique Mazzola, members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, and a special performance from The Joffrey Ballet. It's the perfect excuse to gather your favorite music-loving crew, pack a picnic, and soak up a magical night under the stars. Scroll through some highlights from past years and get a taste of why this free, feel-good tradition is a late-summer favorite and a sure sign that a new cultural season is almost here.
Music Director Enrique Mazzola is all smiles as he takes the stage at Sunday in the Park with Lyric in 2024. This September, Maestro Mazzola shares the podium with Ryan Opera Center conductor Chi-Yuan Lin, showcasing the next generation of opera talent.
Pro tip: be sure to get in early to snag a seat in the back of the lower bowl for the best view of the stage.
Sunday in the Park with Lyric is a showcase for Lyric’s professional development program, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. Each summer, these rising stars prepare solos, duets, and scenes from your favorite operas.
Pre-show picnic mode: activated đź’• This free, family-friendly concert is the perfect way to introduce young music lovers in your life to opera.
Ryan Opera Center pianist Michael Banwarth and bass-baritone Finn Sagal celebrate a job well done!
Friends, blankets, and laughter before the first note. Summer nights don’t get better than this.
Whether you’re grabbing takeout along the way or packing a perfectly curated picnic, don’t forget to bring your favorite snacks and drinks to make the evening special.
Sunday in the Park with Lyric is your chance to hear the acclaimed Lyric Opera Orchestra and stars of tomorrow for free in Millennium Park. From classic Italian arias to American songbook favorites, you can follow all the action with live English captions projected above the stage.
With beautiful music in the air and smiles all around, Sunday in the Park with Lyric is the best way to cap off summer in Chicago.
We can’t wait to see you at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park on Sunday, September 7 for an evening of music, dance, and fun under the stars.
