La Cieca assumes that it was while changing frocks from citron to sage that America’s Multitasker Renée Fleming approved the above-pictured outdoor advertising for LOC’s impending season. Because, after all, what celebrity screams “Lyric Opera of Chicago” more obviously than Vanessa Williams? (Thanks to AC for the photo!)

By on September 15, 2011 at 11:45 AM
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This just in: Lyric Opera of Chicago and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) have reached a tentative contract agreement for the coming season. All performances will proceed as planned.

By on August 17, 2011 at 11:33 AM
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This just landed in La Cieca’s inbox:  “We regret to inform you that Lyric Opera of Chicago season is in peril. Yesterday Lyric advised us that if we do not accept their one year demand for a two week reduction of employment, an elimination of wage parity with the orchestra, and an additional 5.2 %…

By on August 11, 2011 at 5:05 PM
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Soprano Amber Wagner will sing all the performances of Ariadne auf Naxos at Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2011-2012, replacing Deborah Voigt, who “is focusing increasingly on dramatic soprano roles and has made the decision to remove the role of Ariadne from her repertoire for the time being.” Performances run November 19-December 11.

By on July 18, 2011 at 11:51 AM
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Houston Grand Opera’s Brit-in-Chief Anthony Freud will take an early departure of his post (recently extended to 2015) to move into the power vacuum created by the departure of William Mason from Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2012, says Culturemap Houston.

By on April 20, 2011 at 5:29 PM
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Among symbolic classical tropes, one of my favorites (perhaps because only another classicist will understand it) is Nessus’ Shirt, an emblem of glory (a promotion, say, or an expensive luxury) that destroys you.

By on March 10, 2011 at 2:03 PM
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Here’s that announcement you’ve been waiting for! The Board of Directors of Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that soprano Renée Fleming has been named Creative Consultant, a first in this company’s history. Simultaneously, she and Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric’s music director, have been elected to the Board of Directors as Vice-Presidents. Ms. Fleming’s appointment as…

By on December 09, 2010 at 5:00 PM
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