New-to-Chicago production Aida

Giuseppe Verdi

Opera at its grandest! While Aida delights audiences with its visual splendor, it also captivates them with a score ranging from exquisitely intimate arias to deeply dramatic duets and trios, and the most thrilling choruses Verdi ever composed. Aida presents a riveting love triangle, which unfolds in an alluring Egyptian setting. At Lyric Opera of Chicago, each of the five principal artists boasts not only a sumptuously beautiful voice, but also the charismatic presence to bring these characters vividly to life. Conducting Francesca Zambello’s striking production will be Music Director Enrique Mazzola, acknowledged internationally as an exceptionally authoritative Verdian.

Language: Sung in Italian with projected English titles
Running Time: 3 hours, including 1 intermission
Location: Lyric Opera House

Audio-described performance

Audio-described performances include a narration which guides the listener through the presentation with concise, objective descriptions of new scenes, settings, costumes, and body language, communicated to the patron through headphones at appropriate times throughout the performance. Devices may be borrowed from coat check 1 on the main floor.
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Lyric’s production of Verdi’s Aida is generously made possible by Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, Liz Stiffel, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance, and Randy L. & Melvin R.* Berlin.
^*deceased

Maestro Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, and the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation as members of the Enrique Circle.

Artists

Michelle Bradley

Aida

Michelle Bradley

Aida

The American soprano, a 2018 graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, is beginning to garner great acclaim as one of today’s most promising Verdi sopranos.

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Jamie Barton

Amneris

Jamie Barton

Amneris

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Russell Thomas

Radamès

Russell Thomas

Radamès

American tenor Russell Thomas is one of today’s most admired and stylistically versatile artists on the world’s most important stages.

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Reginald Smith, Jr.

Amonasro

Reginald Smith, Jr.

Amonasro

Baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. made his Lyric Opera debut as Senator Charles Potter, Gen. Arlie, Bartender/ Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Önay Köse *

Ramfis

Önay Köse

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Enrique Mazzola

Conductor (Mar. 18 - Apr. 1)

Enrique Mazzola

Conductor (Mar. 18 - Apr. 1)

As of July 1, 2021, Italian conductor Enrique Mazzola is music director of Lyric Opera of Chicago. He is only the third person to serve in this capacity at Lyric, following the tenures of Sir Andrew Davis and the late Bruno Bartoletti.

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Francesco Milioto

Conductor (Apr. 4 & 7)

Francesco Milioto

Conductor (Apr. 4 & 7)

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Francesca Zambello

Director

Francesca Zambello

Director

The American director is internationally recognized in both opera and theater.

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Michael Yeargan

Set Designer

Michael Yeargan

Set Designer

He has created sets (and sometimes costumes) for many major American companies, among them the Metropolitan Opera (12 productions to date) and San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, and Washington opera companies, as well as the Glimmerglass Festival, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Frankfurt Opera, and Opera Australia.

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Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black

Chorus Master

Michael Black has served as chorus master of Lyric Opera of Chicago since the 2013/14 Season.

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