Week of November 2: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

Opportunities abound to stream your favorite operas! We'll bookend the first week of November with productions from San Francisco Opera, whose streaming series continues with Donizetti's heartbreaking Lucia di Lammermoor and Verdi's charged thriller, A Masked Ball (remember to set your clock back an hour for the return to standard time on November 1). Then, we'll head to Houston Grand Opera for radio broadcasts of some opera favorites, stop by Pittsburgh Opera to rewatch a recent livestream, and, of course, see our friends at The Metropolitan Opera, who are kicking off a series called "From the Baroque to the Present: A Two-Week Tour of Opera History." For opera streaming near and far, old and new, dark and romantic—we have you covered! 

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.

San Francisco Opera
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor

This production from San Francisco Opera stars Natalie Dessay, Giuseppe Filianoti, Gabriele Viviani, and Oren Gradus, and was directed by Graham Vick and Marco Gandini. Lucia di Lammermoor was conducted by Jean-Yves Ossonce in 2008. 

This opera stream premieres on Saturday, October 31 at 12pm CDT, and will be available through Sunday, November 1.

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

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 opera stream will be available until Tuesday, November 3 at 6:30pm. 

Houston Grand Opera
Puccini: Tosca

This production from Houston Grand Opera stars Patricia Racette, Alexey Dolgov, and Raymond Aceto, and was directed by John Caird. Tosca was conducted by Patrick Summers in 2010. This radio broadcast will be available through November 30, 2020.  

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

Pittsburgh Opera
Mozart: Così fan tutte

This production from Pittsburgh Opera stars Angel Romero, Yazid Gray, Jeremy Harr, Madeline Ehlinger, Maire Therese Carmack, and Véronique Filloux, and was directed by Crystal Manich. Così fan tutte was conducted by Antony Walker on October 23, 2020. This opera stream will be available indefinitely. 

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

Houston Grand Opera
Borodin: Prince Igor

This production from Houston Grand Opera stars Sergei Leiferkus, Zvetelina Vassileva, Vsevolod Grivnov, and Vladimir Ognovenko, and was directed by Francesca Zambello. Prince Igor was conducted by Alexander Anissimov in 2001. This opera stream will be available through Monday, November 9, 2020. 

San Francisco Opera
Verdi: A Masked Ball

This production from San Francisco Opera stars Ramón Vargas, Julianna Di Giacomo, Thomas Hampson, Heidi Stober, and Dolora Zajick, and was directed by Jose Maria Condemi. A Masked Ball was conducted by Nicola Luisotti in 2014. This opera stream premieres on Saturday, November 7 at 12pm CST, and will be available through Sunday, November 8.

Lyric Commentary is from the 2010/11 Season and is by Sir Andrew Davis. 

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