Lyric Opera 2018-2019 Issue 6 Il Travatore

40 | December 1, 2018 - January 20, 2019 P A T R O N S A L U T E | L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O Opera companies and commercial airlines have more in common than one might think, and Lyric Opera of Chicago and American Airlines are one such example. From its first flight from St. Louis to Chicago in 1926, just three years before the Civic Opera House opened, to today, American has been transporting passengers from this great city to magical lands far and wide. “We as an airline bring continents and countries closer together, and a lot of them are culturally very different,” says Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of American Airlines in Chicago. “Opera as an art form is an opportunity to embrace that as well, where we can allow people to cross boarders and cross countries and find themselves in some common place.” Born in Italy and raised in a traditional Italian home, Franco’s early exposure to opera came via the vast canon of Italian composers, and those who delivered it. “I loved listening to the great Italian tenors like Luciano Pavarotti and Carlo Bergonzi. I had a collection of tapes that I got by subscribing to a magazine, so I had all the greatest hits from the Italian repertoire. I also remember a commercial where the whole background soundtrack was music from Le nozze di Figaro , and I still have that commercial playing in my mind when I think of what opera means to me.” Franco joined American Airlines in 1990, and has relocated nine times with the airline. He’s lived all over the world, and has experienced many different cultures. His most recent appointment was in Milan, where he had the opportunity to attend performances at La Scala, one of the world’s great opera houses. In 2011, Franco was offered the top job in Chicago, and moved once again, this time to the cultural hub of the Midwest. As the Official Airline and a longstanding corporate partner of 37 years, American Airlines has been represented on Lyric’s Board of Directors almost continuously since 1988. When Franco arrived in Chicago, it was natural that he follow in his predecessors’ footsteps. “It’s with a lot of pride that I’m able to represent our airline and Lyric, but also my personal commitment. I look forward to attending everything with eagerness and excitement, and from a board perspective, I hope to make a meaningful difference and participate where we can move ahead with the success that we’re looking to realize.” An opera fan from a young age, Franco has taken quickly to his role on Lyric’s Board of Directors. He has a special penchant for building opera audiences, and supports Lyric’s efforts to reach future opera goers. “One of the things I think Lyric has done tremendously well has been the Musical eater Initiative, especially with Jesus Christ Superstar , which I thought was fantastic. I think there’s an opportunity to build on that, but I’m also a keen supporter of bringing opera to the next generation, and I feel we are doing that in refreshing productions to make them appeal to new audiences, not just remounting ones that have been around forever.” His participation on the Lyric Unlimited Committee affords him the opportunity to see firsthand what Lyric is doing to introduce opera to young audiences. “My experience on the Lyric Unlimited Committee has been very rewarding because I see that Lyric is going out into the classrooms of those who will ultimately become the next generation of opera supporters. We’re advertising to families that operas are friendly, that Lyric is accessible. ere’s this false sense that opera is out of reach, not something they’d want to do, is too expensive, or only for a certain type of person by way of age and stature. What Lyric Unlimited has done is find ways to diversify and appeal to that broader audience that we’re targeting. We are delivering productions that are simple, fun, and appealing to very young audiences, and that is sending a great message to not only the kids, but the families.” Franco’s passion for Lyric’s work directly mimics his company’s longstanding investment. For decades, American Airlines has provided significant in-kind support of AAdvantage miles to fly artists and designers from around the world to work and perform at Lyric. ese donated miles have also been used for special events like Wine Auction to create unforgettable packages for bidders looking to support Lyric and its programming. In recognition of the company’s significant contribution to the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the mezzanine level of the Lyric Opera House is named the American Airlines Mezzanine. “I see Lyric as being iconic to the city of Chicago, and we treasure our relationship. We find a lot of reward in giving back to the communities which we occupy, and we are proud that we have done that successfully for nearly four decades in Chicago through our partnership with Lyric. We continue to build on that relationship to remind the rest of the company what we can accomplish and achieve.” Lyric could not achieve its status as a world class opera company without the generosity of our globetrotting partner, American Airlines. ank you for bringing the world to Lyric. — Meaghan Stainback Franco Tedeschi and American Airlines: “Transcending Cultural Borders" Franco and Tina Tedeschi at Opening Night, 2018