Week of December 28: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

We’ll begin our countdown to 2021 on Monday this week with streams from all over the world!

With productions from Opera Theatre of St. Louis, The Metropolitan Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and our Ryan Opera Center artists, there’s a multitude of musical diversions to ease you into 2021. Feel free to sing along!

Our resolution to you? Our continued devotion to bring you world-class performances, however we can, until we can all gather in our beloved Lyric Opera House again. In the meantime, the Lyric familywishes you and yours a Happy New Year!

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.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Holiday Concert

This virtual concert presented by Opera Theatre of St. Louis features OTSL Artistic Director James Robinson, soprano Angela Riley, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Sanchez, tenor Ryan Johnson, baritone Benjamin Taylor, bass Alex Rosen, and OTSL young artists performing opera classics and holiday favorites. This stream is available through Thursday, December 31. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Puccini: Tosca

This classic production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Shirley Verrett, Luciano Pavarotti, and Cornell MacNeil, and was directed by Tito Gobbi. Tosca was conducted by James Conlon on December 19, 1978. This opera stream will be available until 6:30pm on Wednesday, December 30.

Lyric Commentary from the 2014/15 Season is by Anthony Freud and Nicholas Ivor Martin.

Against the Grain Theatre
Messiah/Complex

In partnership with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Against the Grain Theatre presents a reimagining of Handel’s Messiah, featuring multilingual translations and a cast of soloists and chorus from every province and territory across Canada. This concert is conducted by Canadian Opera Company’s music director Johannes Debus. This stream will be available through January 7, 2021.

The Metropolitan Opera 
New Year's Eve Gala

The Metropolitan Opera rings in the new year with performances by sopranos Angel Blue and Pretty Yende, and tenors Javier Camarena and Ryan Opera Center alumnus Matthew Polezani (who will perform live from Parktheater im Kurhaus Göggingen, in Augsburg, Germany). 

The Dallas Opera
Mozart: The Magic Flute

This production from The Dallas Opera stars Paolo Fanale, Andrea Carroll, Jeni Houser, Morris Robinson, Sean Michael Plumb,and Abigail Rethwisch, and was directed by Kyle Lang. The Magic Flute was conducted by Emmanuel Villaume in 2019. This stream will be available through January 5, 2021.

Lyric Commentary from the 2016/17 Season is by Anthony Freud and Nicholas Ivor Martin.

Houston Grand Opera
Mozart: Così fan tutte

This radio broadcast from Houston Grand Opera stars Christine Goerke, Joyce DiDonato,Richard Croft, Nathan Gunn, and Alfonso Antoniozzi, and was directed by Harry Silverstein. Così fan tutte was conducted by Patrick Summers in 2001. This radio broadcast is available through January 4, 2021.

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

WFMT
Ryan Opera Center Series

Each first Sunday of every month, Ryan Opera Center artists perform in a recital series presented on 98.7WFMT and WFMT.com. Performances take place at 7pm CST. This upcoming recital features Ensemble members bass-baritone David Weigel and soprano Maria Novella Malfatti, with Chris Reynolds on piano.