On the steps of the palace On the steps of the palace

Anyone arriving at Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Rossini’s Cinderella (La Cenerentola) expecting the Disney-fied version of the story will be in for a surprise.

on January 26, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Martial “La” Martial “La”

I’ve never had a better time in an opera house.

on November 20, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Midwest Side Story Midwest Side Story

Lyric Opera of Chicago has brought back its wildly successful 2019 production of West Side Story, directed by Francesca Zambello.  I thought it was terrific back then and, even with numerous cast changes, it was just as terrific on Sunday afternoon.

on June 06, 2023 at 9:19 AM
Preaching to the choir Preaching to the choir

Unfortunately, LOC’s Proximity works only fitfully. 

on March 30, 2023 at 10:22 AM
This is the part when I break free This is the part when I break free

Following the great success of its new piece The Factotum, Lyric Opera of Chicago returned to the tried and true with the audience-pleaser Carmen in an equally tried and true 20-year old Lyric production that has stood the test of time.

on March 21, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Seamless Seamless

Baritone Will Liverman is becoming a real Renaissance man. 

on February 08, 2023 at 7:44 PM
Hunger games Hunger games

Director Richard Jones’ well-traveled and visually arresting production of Humperdinck’s 1893 opera Hansel and Gretel has returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago after a 10-year absence.

on February 04, 2023 at 3:00 PM
Three dimensions Three dimensions

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Don Carlos was a real feast of good singing and orchestral grandeur.

on November 21, 2022 at 1:02 PM
Down for the comte Down for the comte

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Le Comte Ory was a lovely cake with waaaay too much frosting.

on November 15, 2022 at 1:31 PM
Power and precision: ‘Ernani’ in Chicago Power and precision: ‘Ernani’ in Chicago

LOC’s Ernani is a satisfying evening of Verdi sung by four stars at the height of their powers.

on September 12, 2022 at 10:38 AM
In the line of ‘Fire’ In the line of ‘Fire’

A co-production of Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Metropolitan Opera, and Los Angeles Opera, Fire Shut Up In My Bones blazed into Chicago as a stunning, highly emotional and moving performance.

on March 31, 2022 at 2:53 PM
Same as it ever was Same as it ever was

I must confess to feeling a bit of “Tosca fatigue” as I entered the Lyric Opera of Chicago house for Wednesday’s matinee of the Puccini standard.

on March 28, 2022 at 12:53 PM
The river of dreams The river of dreams

The opera utilizes the idea of “magical realism,” telling a realistic story combined with elements of magic and fantasy.

on November 24, 2021 at 6:10 PM
Lady willpower Lady willpower

Hie thee hither to the Lyric Opera House!

on October 05, 2021 at 2:48 PM
The brew that is true The brew that is true

This is an exuberant, uplifting, and joyous Elisir, and, for once, it was actually laugh-out-loud funny.

on September 28, 2021 at 12:30 PM
Our god is an awesome god Our god is an awesome god

Our Own Henson Keys will make his opera debut in the role of Wotan in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Twilight: Gods, directed by Yuval Sharon and starring Christine Goerke.

on April 07, 2021 at 4:51 PM
Skeleton key Skeleton key

Original Director Richard Jones and revival director Benjamin Davis have created a staging that veers wildly between fascinating and fatally flawed.

on February 25, 2020 at 1:20 PM
Under the covers Under the covers

Winter weather has taken a toll on the cast of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s revival of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

on February 12, 2020 at 1:37 PM
Distant ‘Light’ Distant ‘Light’

Whether Lyric Opera of Chicago is an appropriate venue for such an intimate, gentle show as The Light in the Piazza is a subject of much critical debate.

on December 17, 2019 at 12:14 PM
Give me libertine Give me libertine

Ryan McKinny’s Don is subtler, slyer, smoother, with a sharp wit and sense of dark humor that gives added dimension to the role.

on December 07, 2019 at 1:25 PM
The three faces of Sondra The three faces of Sondra

It was a gloomy, chilly, rainy day in Chicago on Sunday afternoon, a perfect reflection of the sad and gloomy fates of the title characters in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s presentation of The Three Queens.

on December 03, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Darkness on the edge of town Darkness on the edge of town

Lyric Opera of Chicago’as Don Giovanni lands smack dab in the middle of our current debate about wanted or unwanted sexual advances and outright sexual abuse.

on November 19, 2019 at 11:51 AM
“Haven’t we all suffered enough?” “Haven’t we all suffered enough?”

Sunday’s matinee at Lyric Opera of Chicago was my first experience of Heggie and McNally’s 2000 opera Dead Man Walking. It certainly won’t be my last.

on November 12, 2019 at 9:00 AM
The Wurm turns The Wurm turns

Luisa Miller snowballs toward disaster and death.

on October 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM