March 24. 2023 - April 09. 2023
Upcoming Dates
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March 24. 2023 - April 09. 2023
World premiere Proximity
Sure to be one of the most widely heralded musical events of 2022/23, Proximity is a gripping, powerful trio of new works that confronts head-on some of the greatest challenges affecting us as a society: yearning for connection in a world driven by technology; the devastating impact of gun violence on cities and neighborhoods; and the need to respect and protect our natural resources. As the story zooms in and out from the individual to the community to the cosmic, we find ourselves in a compelling snapshot of 21st century life, with all of its complex intersections and commonalities. This new Lyric commission, bringing together a complement of some of the most important creative minds of our time, including winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Grammy Awards, and the MacArthur Genius Grant, promises to be by turns riveting, provocative, and inspiring.
The Walkers Composed by Daniel Bernard Roumain with libretto by Anna Deavere Smith.
Four Portraits Composed by Caroline Shaw with libretto by Caroline Shaw and Jocelyn Clarke.
Night Composed by John Luther Adams with libretto by John Haines.
Content advisory: Proximity features adult content that may not be suitable for some audiences, including detailed, firsthand accounts of gun violence, death by gun violence, and profanity. Proximity also includes themes related to loneliness, isolation, and climate change.
- Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
- Running Time: 2 hours 15 minutes with 1 intermission
- Location: Lyric Opera House
Lyric’s world premiere of Proximity is generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, OPERA America, and support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Additional support is provided by Lyric Opera of Chicago's Production Circle.
Pre-opera talk
Speakes: Tanji Harper & Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay
Join us in the Ardis Krainik Theatre one hour before your opera performance begins for a free, 30-minute preview talk discussing that day’s production.
Seating is unreserved, but a ticket for that day’s performance is required. Talks begin one hour before each performance and doors open approximately 15 minutes before the start of the talks.
Pre-opera talks are supported by Raynette and Ned Boshell.
A recorded version of the Pre-opera talk is available below.
© 2022/23 Lyric Opera Commentaries. All rights reserved.
The music featured is generously furnished by Warner Classics.
Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.
Videos
Pre-opera talk
Speakers: Tanji Harper & Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay
Join us in the Ardis Krainik Theatre one hour before your opera performance begins for a free, 30-minute preview talk discussing that day’s production.
Tanji Harper will speak at the March 24 and 26 performances. Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay will speak at the March 29 performance as well as on April 5 and 8.
Seating is unreserved, but a ticket for that day’s performance is required. Talks begin one hour before each performance and doors open approximately 15 minutes before the start of the talks.
Pre-opera talks are supported by Raynette and Ned Boshell.
Photos
Whitney Morrison as Yasmine Miller, Gordon Hawkins as Preacherman, and the company of Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity.
Zoie Reams as Sibyl in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity.
Gordon Hawkins as Preacher Man and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season).
Lucia Lucas as B, Whitney Morrison as Yasmine Miller, Kathryn Henry as Passenger 1, Lindsey Reynolds as Passenger 2, Stephani Sanchez as Passenger 3, Kathleen Felty as Passenger 4, Cornelius Johnson as Passenger 5, Alejandro Luévanos as Passenger 6, and Darren Drone as Passenger 7 in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity.
Kearstin Piper Brown as Chief's Daughter #1 and Jamion Cotten as Lil' Bunchy Bates in Lyric's 2022/23 Season production of Proximity.
Lindsey Reynolds as Very Loud Girl, Zoie Reams as Chief's Daughter #2, and the company of Proximity (2022/23).
Lucia Lucas as B, John Holiday as A, and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season).
Issachah Savage as Curtis Toler, Jamion Cotten as Lil' Bunchy Bates, and the company of Proximity (2022/23 Season).
Articles
by Matthew Ozawa, Chief Artistic Administration Officer
The great opera houses of the world have fostered new work for as long as the art form has existed — taking risks and making investments, cultivating emerging talent and expanding audiences. Here in Chicago, Chief Artistic Administration Officer Matthew Ozawa shares how Lyric is evolving and expanding the art form.
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This spring, acclaimed baritone Lucia Lucas made her Lyric debut in Caroline Shaw and Jocelyn Clarke's Four Portraits, one of the trio of operas that make up Proximity. Her presence in the cast of this world premiere commission is remarkable for a number of reasons. For one, returning to Chicago was a homecoming of sorts: the artist is an alumna of Roosevelt University.
For another, Lucas is the first transgender star to take a leading role on the Lyric stage. That’s consistent with her current focus on her mainstage operatic career, which recently has included exciting debuts on some of the world's biggest stages.
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Composer John Luther Adams discusses his collaboration with poet John Haines and the meaning behind his new work, Night.
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Composer Daniel Bernard Roumain and librettist Anna Deavere Smith share insights into the creation of their world premiere opera, The Walkers.
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Composer Caroline Shaw and co-librettist Jocelyn Clark dive into the inspirations behind their new opera, Four Portraits in this creators' note.
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by Yuval Sharon
The ultimate irony in working on a project called Proximity is that most of it was made in the era of "social distance." Hear how this world premiere opera went from idea to reality in this director's note from Yuval Sharon.
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Join us for a conversation on new works with Lyric’s Chief Artistic Administration Officer, Matthew Ozawa
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By Graham Meyer
“I believe opera is for everyone,” says Anthony Freud, Lyric’s General Director, President & CEO. “Lyric has an unswerving commitment to exploring the great works of the operatic repertoire, mining their power and relevance. But I understand that the heritage repertoire may not have obvious appeal to everyone. I want us to find and create new works that will both thrill the existing opera lover and intrigue and excite people who have never been in the building before.”
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Meet the artists
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John Holiday *
A
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Lucia Lucas *
B
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Whitney Morrison **
Yasmine Miller
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Kearstin Piper Brown
Chief's Daughter #1
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Zoie Reams
Soloist / Chief's Daughter #2
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Gordon Hawkins
Preacher Man
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Issachah Savage
Curtis Toler
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Norman Garrett
Bilal
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Kamari Saxon
Chief's Son #2
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Ron Dukes ***
Chief's Son #1 / Passenger 8
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Kathryn Henry ***
Passenger 1
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Lindsey Reynolds ***
Passenger 2 / Very Loud Girl
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Stephanie Sanchez
Passenger 3
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Kathleen Felty **
Passenger 4
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Cornelius Johnson
Passenger 5
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Alejandro Luévanos ***
Passenger 6
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Darren Drone
Passenger 7
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Jeff Parker *
Arne Duncan
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Jamion Cotten
Lil' Bunchy Bates
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Corinne Wallace-Crane
GPS
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Daniel Bernard Roumain
Composer
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Anna Deavere Smith
Librettist
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Caroline Shaw
Composer & Librettist
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Jocelyn Clarke
Librettist
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John Luther Adams
Composer
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John Haines
Librettist
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Kazem Abdullah *
Conductor
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Yuval Sharon
Director
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Jason H. Thompson
Production Designer
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Kaitlyn Pietras
Production Designer
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Carlos J Soto
Costume Designer
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Jody Elff
Sound Designer
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Michael Black
Chorus Master
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Josephine Lee
Children's Chorus Director
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Rena Butler
Choreographer
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Renée Fleming
Curator
CORNELIUS JOHNSON
PASSENGER 5
UNITING VOICES CHICAGO
* Lyric debut
** Ryan Opera Center alumnus
*** Ryan Opera Center Ensemble
Program book
Go inside this production of Proximity with engaging articles, notes from the director, a complete plot synopsis, artist bios, and more.