Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 14 West Side Story

A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T | 2 0 1 8 - 2 0 1 9 May 3 - June 2, 2019 | 37 Miles D. White ABBOTT FUND Abbott and the Abbott Fund are leading corporate contributors to Lyric Opera of Chicago, with a longstanding tradition of dedicated support. Over the last three decades, Abbott has generously cosponsored 24 Lyric productions, including this season’s new coproduction of La bohème . Abbott has championed Lyric’s achievements by making a leadership commitment to the Breaking New Ground Campaign. “Lyric is one of the treasures that make Chicago the world-class city that it is. We’re proud to be associated with it.” says Miles D. White, Abbott’s Chairman and Chief Executive O cer and a valued member of Lyric’s Board of Directors. ADA and WHITNEY ADDINGTON Ada and Whitney Addington are dedicated Lyric subscribers and donors. ey have contributed generously to the Annual Campaign and the Breaking New Ground Campaign, and have made a leadership gift in support of Lyric’s new Ring cycle, including this season’s Siegfried . e Addingtons have also invested in the company’s future through their planned gift to Lyric. Lyric is fortunate to have Dr. Whitney Addington as a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee AMERICAN AIRLINES is season we celebrate 37 years of vital corporate partnership with American Airlines, the O cial Airline of Lyric Opera of Chicago. In recognition of the company’s signi cant contribution to the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the mezzanine level of the Lyric Opera House is named the American Airlines Mezzanine. American Airlines provides important in-kind support for Lyric’s programs and special events. Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of American Airlines, proudly serves on Lyric’s Board of Directors and Lyric Unlimited Committee. PAUL M. ANGELL FAMILY FOUNDATION e Paul M. Angell Family Foundation strives to advance society through the performing arts, conservation of the world’s oceans, and alleviation of poverty. e Foundation’s namesake, Paul M. Angell, founder of Newly Weds Foods, dedicated the early part of his life to serving his country and performing as a member of John Philip Sousa’s U.S. Navy Band during World War I. He believed in hard work, self reliance, and optimism, and the Foundation is intended to honor him and his ideals. At Lyric, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation has been a loyal supporter of Lyric’s Annual Campaign and Lyric Unlimited programming and has generously committed to a high level of multi-year support. ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for Aria Society support received from ten anonymous contributors during the 2018/19 season. AVRAMOVICH CHARITABLE TRUST Michael and Susan Avramovich were ardent supporters of theater, opera, and classical music in Chicago. Longtime subscribers, the Lyric was a special favorite. Michael had deep roots in Italy, and his mother, Margherita, was from Rome. In a salute to that heritage and to many years of Lyric, the Trust is pleased to cosponsor La bohème and La traviata this season. JULIE and ROGER BASKES Lyric treasures the exemplary leadership and dedication of Julie and Roger Baskes. Subscribers for more than four decades, they have generously supported Lyric’s Ryan Opera Center activities as previous cosponsors of Rising Stars in Concert, and currently underwrite the Ryan Opera Center Recital Series on 98.7WFMT. ey have cosponsored numerous productions including, most recently, last season’s Rigoletto and this season's Elektra . ey also made a leadership commitment to the Breaking New Ground Campaign to help safeguard the future of Lyric Opera. Lyric is honored to have Julie Baskes serve on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Julie is also Chairman of the Production Sponsorship Committee, and is a past President of the Ryan Opera Center Board. MARLYS A. BEIDER As an a cionada of Lyric for more than 30 years, Marlys has con- tributed to the Annual Campaign and is a Bel Canto Benefactor of the planned giving Overture Society. Her planned gift com- mitment created the Marlys Beider Wigmaster and Makeup Designer Endowed Chair in memory of her late husband, Harold Beider. Marlys Beider cosponsored several productions including Elektra (2012/13), Parsifal (2013/14), and Tosca (2014/15), and has committed generous leadership gifts to cosponsor two of Lyric’s new Ring cycle productions including Das Rheingold (2016/17) and next season's Götterdämmerung . RANDY L. and MELVIN R. BERLIN Devoted fans of opera education and the arts, Melvin and Randy Berlin are vital members of the Lyric Opera family. “It’s part of Chicago for us. It enriches the city and the community, and we like to be part of that,” says Melvin. e Berlins have contributed signi cantly to the Annual Campaign and made a leadership gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign. Melvin and Randy have cosponsored several productions including last season's Cosi fan tutte and this season's West Side Story . Lyric is honored to have Melvin Berlin serve on its Board of Directors. BMO HARRIS BANK For over 200 years, BMO has been nancing economic expansion and supporting the communities it serves. BMO Harris is proud to support the Lyric Opera through the Lyric’s Annual Campaign and join the production sponsorship family for this season’s La traviata. Lyric is honored to have Richard Pomeroy, Senior Managing Director, BMO Wealth Management U.S., serve on its Board of Directors and Investment Committee. “Opera is truly an inspiration. It a ects how we see and interpret the world around us, and it’s our hope that the support we provide Lyric will help increase exposure to such a beautiful form of artistic expression.” HENRY and GILDA BUCHBINDER FAMILY FOUNDATION Dedicated lovers of the arts, Henry and Gilda Buchbinder are longstanding members of the Lyric Opera family. Committed to sustaining the exceptional quality of Lyric’s artistic product, the Buchbinders made a leadership gift to Lyric’s Breaking New Ground Campaign to name the Henry and Gilda Buchbinder Family Foundation Rehearsal Room. ey have also been longtime generous donors to the Annual Campaign, and are cosponsors of this season’s production of Il trovatore. “I really do believe that Lyric is the best opera company in the world,” is Gilda’s heartfelt assessment, to which Hank adds, “the productions are done so well, and stage sets are marvelous.” Lyric is honored to have Gilda Buchbinder serve on its Board of Directors and the Production Sponsorship Committee. Franco Tedeschi Richard Pomeroy