The Listeners

March 30. 2025 - April 11. 2025

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Sunday
03/30/2025
2:00 PM

Starting at $64

Wednesday
04/02/2025
7:00 PM

Starting at $42

Saturday
04/05/2025
7:30 PM

Starting at $64

Tuesday
04/08/2025
7:00 PM

Starting at $42

Friday
04/11/2025
7:00 PM

Starting at $54

March 30. 2025 - April 11. 2025

- Overview
- Artists

LYRIC PREMIERE The Listeners

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents The Listeners, expected to be one of the most significant operatic events of the 2024/25 Season. Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, the renowned composer/librettist team, tell the story of Claire, who is driven nearly mad by an unending, low-frequency hum that she hears. In desperation, she joins a community organization, “The Listeners,” formed to discover the origin of the noise and destroy it. The group becomes frighteningly cult-like, ultimately leading to catastrophic consequences. Lyric’s vocally and dramatically brilliant cast will be conducted by Music Director Enrique Mazzola and directed by one of the most gifted theater artists of her generation, Lileana Blain-Cruz.

Language: Sung in English with projected English titles
Running Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, 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.
Touch tour

Guided touch tours tailored to patrons who are blind or have low-vision are held prior to the performance.
ASL-interpreted performance

All dialogue and lyrics will be translated into American Sign Language by two certified interpreters located near the stage. Select seats are reserved to give you the best sight lines to follow the interpretation and all the action on stage.
SoundShirt

The SoundShirt uses touch sensation to allow wearers the ability to feel music on their upper body, in real time with the orchestra and singers. SoundShirts must be reserved online or by calling the Audiences Services team at 312.827.5600.
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^{Lyric’s presentation of Mazzoli and Vavrek’s The Listeners is generously made possible by the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation.}

^{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.}

^{Major support for The New Work Fund provided by the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, David W. Carpenter and Orit K. Carpenter, in loving memory of David W. Carpenter, and Virginia Tobiason.}

Artists

Nicole Heaston *

Claire

Nicole Heaston

Claire

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Kyle Ketelsen

Howard

Kyle Ketelsen

Howard

The celebrated American bass-baritone has triumphed in many roles at Lyric Opera.

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Jasmine Habersham *

Ashley

Jasmine Habersham

Ashley

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Jonas Hacker

Kyle

Jonas Hacker

Kyle

Award-wining tenor Jonas Hacker made his Lyric debut as Timothy Laughlin/Fellow Travelers (2017|18)

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Daniela Mack

Angela

Daniela Mack

Angela

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Zachary Nelson

Paul

Zachary Nelson

Paul

Baritone Zachary Nelson's Lyric credits include Marcello/La boheme (2018|19), Ping/Turandot (2017|18)

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Enrique Mazzola

Conductor

Enrique Mazzola

Music Director

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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Lileana Blain-Cruz *

Director

Lileana Blain-Cruz

Director

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Michael Black

Chorus Director

Michael Black

Chorus Director and Head of Music

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

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