Sparkle, Lyric, sparkle! Sparkle, Lyric, sparkle!

It’s an old chestnut of a joke that applies even more to opera than to the theatre: A veteran actor is on his deathbed.

on September 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM
Lakeside story Lakeside story

In our current political climate with issues of immigration, tribalism, and white nationalists, the 1957 musical West Side Story has a distinctly contemporary feel.

on May 07, 2019 at 2:04 PM
Ryan’s hope Ryan’s hope

Sunday’s “Rising Stars in Concert”, featuring the Ryan Opera Center ensemble and members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, was a stirring and entertainingly musical afternoon.

on April 11, 2019 at 3:34 PM
Silver lining Silver lining

Saturday night, Lyric Opera of Chicago gave us a wonderful evening of vocalism in honoring Renée Fleming’s 25th anniversary at Lyric. 

on March 25, 2019 at 10:58 AM
In the baroque midwinter In the baroque midwinter

It’s been a rough winter in Chicago, and an especially rough one for lead singers at Lyric Opera of Chicago

on March 07, 2019 at 10:30 AM
Cover girl Cover girl

Those of us who were hoping for “a star is born” performance were, alas, disappointed.

on February 22, 2019 at 8:41 AM
Revenge served cold Revenge served cold

Of course, Stemme had the character’s frenzied fury at her father’s murderers in hand, but she had far more nuance—at times this Elektra was seductive, sympathetic, loving, even humorous in her bitterness. 

on February 04, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Ring around the Loop Ring around the Loop

Sondra Radvanovsky in a “Three Queens” concert and The Queen of Spades, plus three cycles of the Ring (senza Sondra) highlight Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2019-2020 season. 

on January 24, 2019 at 2:19 PM
Just to watch it get dark from the Top of the Mark Just to watch it get dark from the Top of the Mark

San Francisco Opera continues its competition with Lyric Opera of Chicago for the title of “World’s Dullest Opera Company.”

on January 22, 2019 at 4:23 PM
This is a job for Captain Obvious This is a job for Captain Obvious

“We’ve realized that, actually, the status quo is not an option if we want to survive, let alone thrive.”

on December 21, 2018 at 1:07 PM

“Give the gift of Renée!”

on December 17, 2018 at 6:15 PM
Dream a little dream Dream a little dream

Jules Massenet’s version of the Cinderella fairy tale, Cendrillon, seems to be back in vogue after many years of obscurity.

on December 07, 2018 at 10:35 AM
Great Chicago fire Great Chicago fire

If sheer clarion vocalism is what draws you to the opera, then hie thee to Lyric Opera of Chicago’s rousing revival Of Verdi’s Il Trovatore, the oddly plotted but musically sublime opera that opened last night in the David McVicar production, originally seen in 2006.  

on November 19, 2018 at 10:30 AM

Director David Pountney and his splendid designers have brought Lyric Opera of Chicago a visually spectacular Siegfried full of daring ideas.

on November 09, 2018 at 11:23 AM
Her heart will be blessed with the sound of music and she’ll sing once more Her heart will be blessed with the sound of music and she’ll sing once more

“Renée Fleming herself will sing, of course…”

on October 24, 2018 at 11:14 AM
Beyond the sea Beyond the sea

Those readers who know my musical tastes will not be shocked to find that I have a somewhat conflicted view of Mozart’s operatic works.

on October 23, 2018 at 11:29 AM
Best in snow Best in snow

Lyric Opera of Chicago resumed its season on Wednesday evening with the new-to-Chicago production of Puccini’s perennial audience pleaser La bohème.

on October 19, 2018 at 9:47 AM
Job action in Chicago Job action in Chicago

The Chicago Federation of Musicians (CFM) Local #10-208 is striking against Lyric Opera of Chicago.

on October 09, 2018 at 12:24 PM
E lucevan le stelle E lucevan le stelle

The Stars of Lyric Opera weren’t under the stars last night, prevented by a persistent cloud bank, but they nonetheless provided a stirring evening of music in Chicago’s Millennium Park.

on September 09, 2018 at 8:25 AM
Jesus hopped the L train Jesus hopped the L train

Just a few years back it would have been seen as ridiculous to put “Lyric Opera of Chicago” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the same sentence.

on April 30, 2018 at 11:50 AM
Thanks for scaring Thanks for scaring

I found Fellow Travelers intellectually and politically riveting, musically thrilling, and profoundly moving. It was a triumph. 

on March 27, 2018 at 10:54 AM
Reframing Reframing

The production is at all times visually arresting, but it’s also extremely distracting.

on March 06, 2018 at 1:13 PM
Puritani, as the driven snow Puritani, as the driven snow

It was an afternoon of spectacular singing, particularly from the two principals and the glorious Lyric Opera Chorus.

on February 07, 2018 at 8:00 AM
And one for Handel! And one for Handel!

“It’s quite a coup to have Alice Coote starring in not one but two company premieres at Lyric next season.”

on February 06, 2018 at 3:28 PM