Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading Opera companies in the United States, founded in 1954 by Carlo Maria Giulini, Tito Gobbi, Nicolai Ghiaurov, and Christa Ludwig. The company has a long history of showcasing renowned singers, including Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, and Bryn Terfel, and has collaborated with esteemed conductors such as James Levine, Riccardo Muti, and Daniel Barenboim. With a strong commitment to Verdi, Mozart, and Wagner, the company has also presented works by Richard Strauss, Giuseppe Verdi, and Gioachino Rossini. The company's productions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Grammy Award and the Laurence Olivier Award.

● History

The company's history began with its first performance of Puccini's La Bohème in 1954, conducted by Rudolf Kempe and featuring singers such as Jussi Björling and Victoria de los Ángeles. Over the years, the company has presented a wide range of operas, including Verdi's Aida, Mozart's The Magic Flute, and Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, with notable conductors such as Georg Solti, Claudio Abbado, and Pierre Boulez. The company has also collaborated with other prominent arts organizations, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New York City Opera, and the San Francisco Opera. Notable singers who have performed with the company include Maria Callas, Luciano Pavarotti, and Joan Sutherland, as well as conductors such as Herbert von Karajan and Leonard Bernstein.

● Music Directors

The company has had several notable music directors, including Bruno Bartoletti, Argeo Quadri, and Andrew Davis, who have all contributed to the company's artistic growth and success. Other notable conductors who have worked with the company include Valery Gergiev, James Conlon, and Emmanuel Villaume, who have led performances of operas such as Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin, Britten's Peter Grimes, and Massenet's Werther. The company's current music director is Enrique Mazzola, who has conducted performances of Rossini's The Barber of Seville and Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, featuring singers such as Lawrence Brownlee and Isabel Leonard.

● Performances and Repertoire

The company's performances have included a wide range of operas, from classic works such as Verdi's La Traviata and Mozart's Don Giovanni to more contemporary works such as Philip Glass's The Fall of the House of Usher and John Adams's Nixon in China. The company has also presented numerous world premieres, including William Bolcom's A View from the Bridge and Thomas Adès's The Tempest, featuring singers such as Nathan Gunn and Patricia Racette. The company's repertoire has also included operas by Richard Strauss, such as Der Rosenkavalier and Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as works by Britten, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Turn of the Screw.

● The Civic Opera House

The company is based in the historic Civic Opera House, which was built in 1929 and features a unique Art Deco design. The building has undergone several renovations, including a major restoration project in the 1990s, which was led by architects Graham, Anderson, Probst & White. The Civic Opera House has also hosted numerous other performances and events, including concerts by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera Orchestra, as well as productions by the Joffrey Ballet and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The building's design has been recognized with several awards, including the National Historic Landmark designation and the American Institute of Architects' Twenty-five Year Award.

● Education and Community Engagement

The company is committed to education and community engagement, with a range of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting opera and the arts. These include the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, which provides training and support for emerging singers, as well as the Lyric Opera Orchestra's Community Engagement program, which brings music to underserved communities throughout Chicago. The company has also partnered with other organizations, such as the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Park District, to provide arts education and outreach programs. Notable programs include the Opera in the Neighborhoods initiative, which brings opera performances to community venues throughout the city, and the Lyric Opera's Ryan Opera Center, which provides training and support for young singers.

● Notable Productions

The company has presented numerous notable productions over the years, including a 2015 production of Verdi's La Traviata, conducted by Massimo Zanetti and featuring singers such as Ambrogio Maestri and Ekaterina Gubanova. Other notable productions include a 2018 production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, conducted by James Gaffigan and featuring singers such as Amanda Majeski and Adam Plachetka, as well as a 2020 production of Wagner's Die Walküre, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and featuring singers such as Christine Goerke and Greer Grimsley. The company's productions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording and the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Opera Production.