March 16, 2020

Week of January 11: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

This week in opera streaming, we’re warming up with two productions from the U.K.’s Grange Park Opera and Royal Opera House, and several from The Metropolitan Opera—all starring Renée Fleming! .

Have you had a chance to watch virtual offerings from Lyric yet? Catch up with recent virtual concerts Pasión Latina and Lawrence Brownlee and Friends, and be sure to take a look at what we have planned for 2021!

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.

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

Monday, January 11

Grange Park Opera
Britten: Owen Wingrave

This production from Grange Park Opera, Surrey stars Ross Ramgobin, Susan Bullock, Richard Berkeley Steele, and William Dazeley, and was directed by Stephen Medcalf. Owen Wingrave was conducted by James Henshaw in September 2020.

Tuesday, January 12

The Metropolitan Opera
Massenet: Thaïs

This production from The Metropolitan Opera (originally presented by Lyric in 2002/03) stars Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, and Michael Schade, and was directed by John Cox. Thaïs was conducted by Jesús López-Cobos on December 20, 2008. This stream will be available until 6:30pm on Wednesday, January 13. 


Lyric Commentary from the 2002/03 Season is by Sir Andrew Davis. 

Thaïs

By Jules Massenet


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

Commentary by sir andrew davis

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Wednesday, January 13

The Royal Opera House
Giordano: Andrea Chénier 

This production from The Royal Opera House stars Jonas Kaufmann, Eva-Maria Westbroek, and Željko Lučić, and was directed by Sir David McVicar. Andrea Chénier was conducted by Antonio Pappano. This production is available through February 6, 2021.

Thursday, January 14

The Metropolitan Opera
Rossini: Armida

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Lawrence Brownlee, Barry Banks, John Osborn, and Kobie van Rensburg, and was directed by Mary Zimmerman. Armida was conducted by Riccardo Frizza on May 1, 2010. This stream will be available until 6:30pm on Friday, January 15.

Friday, January 15

The Metropolitan Opera
Strauss: Capriccio

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Sarah Connolly, Joseph Kaiser, Russell Braun, Morten Frank Larsen, and Peter Rose, and was directed by Gary Halvorson. Capriccio was conducted by Sir Andrew Davis on April 23, 2011. This stream will be available until 6:30pm on Saturday, January 16.

Lyric Commentary from the 2014/15 Season is by Sir Andrew Davis and Nicholas Ivor Martin.

Capriccio

By Richard Strauss

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

© 2014/15 Lyric Opera Commentaries
Musical excerpts provided through generous arrangement with Warner Classics, Official Education and Promotion Music Provider for Lyric Opera of Chicago. All rights reserved. Recording & production services provided by Mark Travis.
A project of the Women's Board.

Commentary by Sir Andrew Davis and Nicholas Ivor Martin

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Saturday, January 16

The Metropolitan Opera
Handel: Rodelinda

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Andreas Scholl, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser, and Shenyang, and was directed by Stephen Wadsworth. Rodelinda was conducted by Harry Bicket on December 3, 2011.  This stream will be available until 6:30pm on Sunday, January 17. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Dvořák: Rusalka

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Emily Magee, Dolora Zajick, Piotr Beczała, and John Relyea, and was directed by Barbara Willis Sweete. Rusalka was conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin on February 8, 2014. This stream will be available until 6:30pm on Monday, January 18.

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

 

Rusalka

By  Antonín Dvořák

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

Commentary by Roger Pines, Dramaturg

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Pasión Latina

Pasión Latina

Celebrate music of the Spanish-speaking world with a free virtual concert starring and hosted by renowned soprano and Lyric favorite Ana María Martínez, and featuring prominent Ryan Opera Center artists and alumni. 

These engaging artists will perform a dynamic selection of some of their favorite music from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, and Spain, with piano accompaniment by Ryan Opera Center music director Craig Terry and current Ensemble pianist Chris Reynolds.

AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING THROUGH JANUARY 2021

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

Lyric's Ryan Opera Center presents 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 also 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.

Header photo is from Lyric's 2014/15 production of Capriccio (Todd Rosenberg). 

All other photos: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Svetlana Pasedko, Dan Rest, Todd Rosenberg

Music used in Lyric Commentaries is provided courtesy of Warner Classics, the Official Education and Promotion Music Provider of Lyric Opera of Chicago.