parterre box

46 comments

• WindyCityOperaman says:

  Lyric Opera of Chicago 2009-2010 Season Announced:

  TOSCA – Voigt/Urmana, Galouzine/Berti, Morris/Gallo, cond: Davis/Lord
  *
  FAUST – Maria Marinez,Beczala/Kaiser, Pape/Ketelsen, Meachem, cond: Davis
  *
  ERNANI (New Prod) – Radvanovsky, Licitra, Daniel, Prestia, cond: Palumbo
  *
  KATYA KABANOVA – Matilla, Forst, Jovanovich, Collins, Shore; cond: Stenz
  *
  MERRY WIDOW (New Prod) – Futral, Churchman, Honeywell, Costello, Travis cond: Villaume
  *
  L’ELISIR – Cabell/Phillips, Filanoti/Lopardo, Cobelli, Vivani, cond: Campanella
  *
  DAMNATION OF FAUST (New Prod-Souglides/Goebbel) – Graham, Groves, Relyea, cond: Davis
  *
  NOZZE DI FIGARO – deNiese, diDonato, Schwanewilms, Kwiecien, Silvestrelli, Jameson, cond: Edward Gardner
  *
  According to the press they’re proud that they stayed in the black

  http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/chi-0128-lyric-seasonjan28,0,5996264.story

  Note, no contemporary/American operas this season.

  on January 28, 2009 at 9:32 AM
• Harold says:

  Very sad.

  on January 28, 2009 at 10:36 AM
• leontyneschiava says:

  This makes me sick…Aprile was really looking forward to this!

  on January 28, 2009 at 10:52 AM
• Loretta di Frankly says:

  Very bad news. OONY was on the brink of closing down just a year or so ago. Let’s hope this doesn’t finish them off.

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:00 AM
• Will says:

  I think it’s going to be brutal for the performing arts.

  Berkshire Opera, that mixed the familiar with American opera and even premieres of new work, has laid everyone off and canceled all future production plans. Berkshire may be “the provinces” to some, but these companies are of great value both as training grounds for young singers, conductors, directors and designers that feed companies up the line, and because they frequently do important work larger companies won’t touch.

  When I was first hooked on opera via the MET broadcasts, Mrs. Belmont was still alive and always lauded as the woman who organized the effort to save the MET during The Great Depression (The First Depression, now?). Let’s hope that if other would-be company savers emerge there will be people left with funds to go to pull off the rescue.

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:13 AM
• doug says:

  the second half of the lyric opera story, in great contrast to the OONY story, is that bill mason announced the company is in very solid shape financially. it has always been a VERY tightly run ship, a conservative ship, and it’s paying off right now. granted, it’s very unadventurous repertory, and the casting gets less and less starry, but the operas go on.

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:20 AM
• balabanov11 says:

  3) yeah, like Aprile was actually going to end up singing….

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:25 AM
• tinney says:

  very disappointed that I will not get to see Aprile do this role. I hope things turn around soon with this blasted economy.

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM
• leontyneschiava says:

  #7…well the thought of it was enough to keep me excited….whether it happened or not. It is not often that there is an event in this town anymore….I mean a real one and not a PR happening.

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:31 AM
• isepo says:

  Queler (among others) took a huge hit in the Madoff scandal, and I am sure she poured a lot of her own money into OONY to keep it afloat. Very sad…

  on January 28, 2009 at 11:33 AM