July 22, 2022

Lyric Family Favorites: July 22

One of the reasons that early Verdi operas aren’t often performed is that they require exceptional voices to perform them. To sing a leading lady role in an opera like Ernani, a soprano has to have everything: fabulously warm and beautiful sound over a huge range, terrific power, stunning flexibility, and — last, not least — irresistible charisma onstage. Tamara Wilson, who sings the leading role of Elvira in Lyric's season opening production this September, is one of those artists. Watch as she performs “Ernani, involami…Tutto sprezzo che d’Ernani” from Act One of Ernani, where her character declares that she loves only Ernani, in Lyric's Verdi Voices concert.

Plus, catch up with the students of EmpowerYouth!, hear from composer Daniel Bernard Roumain about his work for Proximity, listen to Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center soprano Katherine Beck in recital, and test your opera knowledge with emojis.

EmpowerYouth! comes full circle

The brilliant students participating in the EmpowerYouth! program this season recently gave their final performance, and it was a truly inspiring experience. Hear more about the program from teaching artists and students in this article.

Hear their story

Daniel Bernard Roumain on his new piece

What does it take to bring a new opera to life? Take a peek inside our latest workshop with composer Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) as he discusses his new work, Git Heremaking its world premiere in our 2022/23 Season as part of Proximity.

Katherine Beck & Craig Terry in recital

Stream the latest Ryan Opera Center recital from WFMT at your convenience! In this program, mezzo-soprano Katherine Beck performs works of George Frideric Handel, Joseph Haydn, Gustav Mahler, Stephen Sondheim, Florence Price, and H. Leslie Adams, with Craig Terry on piano.

Headphones on

Guess that opera

In honor of the recent World Emoji Day, we have a little quiz for you. Can you guess the names of these operas based on the emoji combinations above?

See the answers

Spoiler alert

Answers to the "Guess that opera" quiz

Photos: Kyle Flubacker, Jaclyn Simpson, Richard Torres