Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 14 West Side Story

L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O 14 | May 3 - June 2, 2019 Radvanovsky. e awe-inspiring American soprano, who’s triumphed repeatedly at Lyric, returns as Donizetti’s “ ree Queens.” She’ll sing the nal scenes of Anna Bolena (a huge success for her here in 2014/15), Maria Stuarda, and Roberto Devereux, sup- ported by artists from Lyric’s Ryan Opera Center, directed by Matthew Ozawa and conducted by bel canto specialist Riccardo Frizza. is will be “an opera-lover’s dream,” enthuses Freud. e concerts o er a unique opportunity to see and hear Radvanovsky, today’s foremost interpreter of these operas, portraying three of the most formidable women in English and Scottish history: Mary Stuart, Anne Boleyn, and Queen Elizabeth I. Radvanovsky will be back onstage later in the season as leading lady of Tchaikovsky’s e Queen of Spades. is opera’s Lyric pre- miere 19 years ago inaugurated Sir Andrew Davis’s tenure as music director. Sir Andrew, a passionate advocate of this work, will again be on the podium. Radvanovsky will make her role debut as the hapless Lisa, who hope- lessly loves Gherman, a soldier obsessed with learning the secret of win- ning at cards. Starring in that role – vocally and dramatically one of the toughest for a tenor in the entire repertoire – will be Brandon Jovanovich, whose role debut was an enormous success at last summer’s Salzburg Festival. The distinguished American mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel debuts at Lyric as Lisa’s formidable grand- mother, the Countess, one of the most rivet- ing character parts in opera. Lucas Meachem (Yeletsky) and Samuel Youn (Tomsky) join this outstanding cast, which also includes Elizabeth DeShong (Pauline) and Jill Grove (the Governess). Freud commis- sioned Richard Jones’s astoundingly imagi- native production at Welsh National Opera, where it premiered in 2000, subsequently earning acclaim at many other major houses internationally. Director of Lyric’s Jenůfa, Hansel and Gretel, La bohème, and Ariodante , Jones collaborated on this production with John Macfarlane, designer of the company’s acclaimed Rusalka and Elektra. Lyric is recognizing the vital need to bring important contemporary works to audiences’ attention by planning to include a new or recent opera in every mainstage season. In 2019/20 that work, presented in its long-awaited Lyric premiere, will be one of the most widely heard new American operas of recent years, Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s riveting Dead Man Walking , based on the book by Sister Helen Prejean. e opera examines Sister Helen’s role as spiritual adviser to a convicted murderer on Death Row, and the nun’s own personal crisis of faith. She will be portrayed by Patricia Racette (role debut), one of America’s most remarkable singing actresses. Both a role debut (as the murderer Joseph De Rocher) and company debut will be made by Ryan McKinny, the brilliant young American bass-baritone. World-renowned Susan Graham, who created Sister Helen in the opera’s 2000 world premiere and recent- ly took on the role of Joseph’s anguished mother at Washington National Opera, will reprise that hugely acclaimed portrayal at Lyric. e conductor will be Nicole Paiement (debut), rapidly ascending to the top rank among today’s most outstanding young conductors. Freud, who presented director Leonard Foglia’s production of Dead Man Walking at Houston Grand Opera, emphasizes that “the opera examines e Act One nale of Don Giovanni in the premiere of Robert Falls’s Lyric production (2014/15). MICHAEL BROSILOW GARRETT ENGS SIMON PAULY ANDREW ECCLES TODD ROSENBERG ree exciting Lyric debuts: Ildar Abdrazakov (left) and Davide Luciano (right) will sing Don Giovanni, with Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Donna Anna. Sondra Radvanovsky o stage and at Lyric in the title role of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena (2014/015), an opera that will be highlighted in the “ ree Queens” concert.