Photo Credit Karl Forster (Salzburg Festival)
CHICAGO – Single tickets go on sale July 8 at 10:00am for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 61st season.
This season offers outstanding casts, tremendous titles, and a world premiere. International stars returning to Lyric’s stage include Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson, Isabel Leonard, Amanda Majeski, Joseph Calleja, Tatiana Serjan, Danielle de Niese, Željko Lučić, and more. Artists making eagerly awaited Lyric debuts include Lawrence Brownlee, Adam Plachetka, Christiane Karg, Heidi Stober, Dmitry Belosselskiy, and more.
“Lyric’s upcoming season represents a wonderful range of musical and dramatic styles, including the company’s first world premiere in more than a decade,” said the company’s general director, Anthony Freud. “Whether you know and love opera or are considering your first experience, Lyric has a great variety of exciting entertainment opportunities for you this season, including the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I.”
The 2015/16 season includes three operas in Italian: Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Rossini’s Cinderella, and Verdi’s Nabucco.There are two operas in German: Berg’s Wozzeck and Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier. Lehár’s The Merry Widow will be sung in English,Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet will be sung in French, and the world premiere of Jimmy López’s Bel Canto (based on the best-selling novel by Ann Patchett) will be performed in Spanish, English, Japanese, Russian, German, and Quechua.
Single tickets for opera performances start at $34/balcony and $66/main floor. Special children’s ticket prices are available for all operas with the purchase of adult tickets. Tickets for The King and I performances start at $22.
Lyric season-ticket packages are still available and offer the best possible pricing and special perks.
- The new Create Your Own Series – you pick the titles, you pick the dates and save up to 30% off packages of 3-9 opera/musical events.
- NEW! The Value Series offers 8 specific fixed-date performances at 50% saving off of the single ticket price
- Subscribers also receive:
- access to purchase special concert performance tickets for Plácido Domingo and Ana María Martínez in concert with Sir Andrew Davis and the Lyric Opera Orchestra Saturday, January 9 at 7:30pm
- other special perks, including easy ticket exchanges, the ability to exchange productions, and suburban shuttle-bus service for select performances
Every ticket holder enjoys:
- Free pre-opera talks – offered before every opera performance in the mainstage season to enhance the opera-going experience. Talks are entertaining and illuminating 30-minute insights presented by members of Lyric’s staff and experts from the community.
- Supertitles – English texts are projected above the stage for every opera performance, so it’s easy to follow the story no matter what language is being sung.
- Access to Lyric’s original publications – Lyric Notes, the monthly e-newsletter, Lyric Opera News, the print-edition magazine and all of the resources created and designed just for Lyric’s official web site at lyricopera.org.
- Priority dining reservations at Lyric’s street-level restaurant, The Sarah and Peer Pedersen Room.
- Special offers and perks available only to Lyric patrons.
There are other ways to plan your 2015/16 season and save on tickets:
- Lyric’s NEXT college student ticket program enables fulltime college students to purchase $20 tickets to select performances. For more information, go to NEXT
- Special pricing for young professionals. For more information go to ENCORE
Group Sales
10 or more in your group or family? Enjoy savings of up to 30%.
Groups of 10 or more can reserve tickets now and enjoy excellent perks and savings. Discounts are available for all opera and spring musical performances and group organizers are eligible for complimentary tickets. Groups always receive personalized service and can take advantage of flexible payment schedules that allow changes to any group’s order. For more information, go to GROUP SALES
The operas of Lyric’s 2015/16 season comprise three new productions (The Marriage of Figaro, Wozzeck, and the world premiere of Bel Canto), three new-to-Chicago productions (Cinderella, The Merry Widow, Romeo and Juliet), and the return of Lyric favorites (Lyric’s production of Nabucco and a revival of Der Rosenkavalier, replacing the new-to-Chicago productions announced in January 2015). The season also includes the American musical classic The King and I, and two special concert performances.
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2015/16 Season – Casts, Creative Teams, Sponsors
New Production
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO/LE NOZZE DI FIGARO by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)
9 performances Sept. 26 – Oct. 24
In Italian with projected English texts
| Figaro
Adam Plachetka*
Susanna
Christiane Karg*
Countess Almaviva
Amanda Majeski°
Count Alamviva
Luca Pisaroni
Cherubino
Rachel Frenkel*
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumna |
|
Conductor
Henrik Nánási*
Director
Barbara Gaines
Set Designer
James Noone
Costume Designer
Susan Mickey*
Lighting Designer
Robert Wierzel
Chorus Master
Michael Black
Choreographer
Harrison McEldowney |
New Lyric Opera production of The Marriage of Figaro generously made possible by The Negaunee Foundation, the Abbott Fund, Randy L. and Melvin R. Berlin, Exelon, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel.
New-to-Chicago Production
CINDERELLA/ LA CENERENTOLA by Gioachino Rossini (1792 – 1868)
8 performances Oct. 4 – 30
In Italian with projected English texts
| Angelina (Cinderella)
Isabel Leonard
Ramiro
Lawrence Brownlee*
Don Magnifico
Alessandro Corbelli
Dandini
Vito Priante*
Alidoro
Christian Van Horn°
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumnus
|
|
Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis
Director
Joan Font*
Designer
Joan Guillen*
Lighting Designer
Albert Faura*
Chorus Master
Michael Black
Choreographer
Xevi Dorca* |
Lyric Opera presentation of Cinderella generously made possible by Margot and Josef Lakonishok and PowerShares QQQ. Coproduction of Houston Grand Opera, Welsh National Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Grand Théâtre de Genève.
New Production
WOZZECK by Alban Berg (1885 – 1935)
6 performances Nov. 1 – 21
In German with projected English texts
| Wozzeck
Tomasz Konieczny*
Marie
Angela Denoke*
Captain
Gerhard Siegel*
Drum Major
Stefan Vinke*
Doctor
Brindley Sherratt
Andres
David Portillo°
Margret
Jill Grove
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumnus |
|
Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis
Director
Sir David McVicar
Designer
Vicki Mortimer
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Chorus Master
Michael Black
Choreographer
Andrew George |
New Lyric Opera production of Wozzeck generously made possible by The Monument Trust (UK) and Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson, with additional support from Robert L. Turner.
New-to-Chicago Production
THE MERRY WIDOW by Franz Lehár (1870 – 1948)
10 performances Nov. 14 – Dec. 13
In English with projected English texts
English translation by Jeremy Sams
Original libretto by Viktor Leon and Leo Stein
| Hanna
Renée Fleming (Nov. 14 – Dec. 3)
Elizabeth Futral° (Dec. 9-13)
Danilo
Thomas Hampson
Valencienne
Heidi Stober*
Camille
Michael Spyres
Zeta
Patrick Carfizzi*
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumna |
|
Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis
Director & Choreographer
Susan Stroman*
Set Designer
Julian Crouch*
Costume Designer
William Ivey Long*
Lighting Designer
Paule Constable
Chorus Master
Michael Black
|
Lyric Opera presentation of The Merry Widow generously made possible by the Donna Van Eekeren Foundation, an Anonymous Donor, Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Hurvis, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and the Mazza Foundation. Production owned by The Metropolitan Opera.
World-Premiere Production
BEL CANTO by Jimmy López (b. 1978, music) and Nilo Cruz (b. 1960, libretto), based on the novel by Ann Patchett (b. 1963)
7 performances Dec. 7 – Jan. 17
In Spanish, English, Japanese, Russian, German, and Quechua with projected English texts
| Roxane Coss
Danielle de Niese
Carmen
J’nai Bridges°
Hosokawa
Jeongcheol Cha*
Gen
Andrew Stenson*
General Alfredo
Rafael Davila*
Messner
Jacques Imbrailo*
Rubén Iglesias
William Burden
César
Anthony Roth Costanzo*
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumna |
|
Conductor
Sir Andrew Davis
Director
Kevin Newbury
Set Designer
David Korins*
Costume Designer
Constance Hoffmann*
Lighting Designer
Duane Schuler
Projections
Greg Emetaz*
Chorus Master
Michael Black
|
Lyric Opera world-premiere production of Bel Canto generously made possible by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,Helen and Sam Zell, Ethel and William Gofen, Ada and Whitney Addington, the Walter E. Heller Foundation, and Roberta L. and Robert J. Washlow, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts and Prince Charitable Trusts.
Lyric Production***
NABUCCO by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
7 performances Jan. 23 – Feb. 12
In Italian with projected English texts
| Nabucco
Željko Lučić
Abigaille
Tatiana Serjan
Zaccaria
Dmitry Belosselskiy*
Fenena
Elizabeth DeShong°
Ismaele
Sergey Skorokhodov*
*Lyric Debut **Lyric Directorial Debut
°Ryan Opera Center Alumna |
|
Conductor
Carlo Rizzi
Director
Matthew Ozawa**
Set Designer
Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer
Jane Greenwood
Lighting Designer
Duane Schuler
Chorus Master
Michael Black |
***Please note that this production is different from the one originally announced in January 2015.
Lyric Opera production of Nabucco originally made possible by the Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa. Revival generously made possible by the Harris Family Foundation and Katherine A. Abelson and Robert J. Cornell.
Revival Production***
Lyric Production***
DER ROSENKAVALIER by Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
8 performances Feb. 8 – Mar. 13
In German with projected English texts
| Octavian
Sophie Koch (Feb. 8 – 20)
Alice Coote (Mar. 4 – 13)
The Marschallin
Amanda Majeski°
Sophie
Christina Landshamer*
Baron Ochs
Matthew Rose*
Faninal
Martin Gantner
A Singer
René Barbera° |
|
Conductor
Edward Gardner*
Director
Martina Weber*
Designer
Thierry Bosquet
Lighting Designer
Duane Schuler
Chorus Master
Michael Black
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumni
|
***Please note that this production is different from the one originally announced in January 2015.
Lyric Opera production of Der Rosenkavalier generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor and Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross.
New-to-Chicago Production
ROMEO AND JULIET/ROMÉO ET JULIETTE by Charles Gounod (1818-93)
9 performances Feb. 22 – Mar. 19
In French with projected English texts
| Romeo
Joseph Calleja (Feb. 22-Mar. 8)
Eric Cutler (Mar. 11-19)
Juliet
Susanna Phillips°
Friar Laurence
Christian Van Horn°
Stephano
Marianne Crebassa*
Mercutio
Joshua Hopkins
*Lyric Debut °Ryan Opera Center Alumni |
|
Conductor
Emmanuel Villaume
Director
Bartlett Sher*
Set Designer
Michael Yeargan
Costume Designer
Catherine Zuber
Lighting Designer
Jennifer Tipton
Chorus Master
Michael Black
|
Lyric Opera presentation of Romeo and Juliet generously made possible by the NIB Foundation, Julie and Roger Baskes, Mr. and Mrs. W. James Farrell, and PowerShares QQQ. Production owned by The Metropolitan Opera.
American Musical Theater Initiative
THE KING AND I by Richard Rodgers (1902-1979,music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960, book and lyrics)
26 performances April 29 – May 22, 2016
Lyric Opera premiere of The King and I generously made possible by The Negaunee Foundation, two Anonymous Donors, Robert S. and Susan E. Morrison, and Northern Trust.
Special Concert Performances
PLÁCIDO DOMINGO & ANA MARÍA MARTÍNEZ with SIR ANDREW DAVIS IN CONCERT
Saturday, January 9, 2016, at 7:30pm
Exclusive Sponsor: BMO Harris Bank
(Tickets are available for purchase by subscribers at any level)
DMITRI HVOROSTOVSKY IN RECITAL with pianist IVARI ILJA
Friday, February 26, 2016, at 7:30pm
Exclusive Sponsor: Ann Ziff
Download photos for 2015/16 season
Evening opera performances of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2015-16 season begin at 7:30pm sharp, except for Sept. 26 Opening Night (5pm) and Der Rosenkavalier (6:30pm). Matinee performances begin at 2pm sharp, except for Der Rosenkavalier (1pm).
Lyric’s Broadcast Season
98.7WFMT will air the opening performance of each opera in Lyric’s 2015/16 season live locally (also streaming live on wfmt.com. The Lyric Opera of Chicago Broadcasts are generously sponsored by The Hurvis Family Foundation, with matching funding provided by The Matthew and Kay Bucksbaum Family, the John and Jackie Bucksbaum Family, and Richard P. and Susan Kiphart.
About Lyric Opera of Chicago
Founded in 1954, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.
Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.
Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.
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