Lyric Opera 2019-2020 Issue 2 The Barber of Seville

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 42 LAURA WILDE At Lyric this season: Freia/ Das Rheingold , Sieglinde and Ortlinde/ Die Walküre , Third Norn/ Götterdämmerung . Pictured here in Das Rheingold , 2016/17. Recently: Title role/ Jenufa , The Santa Fe Opera; Title role/ Katya Kabanova , Scottish Opera; Fiordiligi/ Così fan tutte , Stuttgart Opera. It’s hard to put into words how incredibly grateful I am for my time in the Ryan Opera Center. I remember flying to Chicago for the Final Auditions, a mezzo beginning the transition to soprano, having no idea what the outcome would be. The program took a chance on me and helped me through the tumultuous experience of switching voice types. Everyone in the company was encouraging and supportive as I worked through the change and discovered my new soprano instrument. I had the unique experience of understudying and rehearsing “in-role” for a number of weeks in operas such as Rusalka , Capriccio , and Der Rosenkavalier . These experiences helped to unlock my voice and point me in the right repertoire direction. My teachers, coaches, administrators, patrons, and colleagues made my time in the Ryan Opera Center tremendously memorable and invaluable in launching my professional career. Returning to Lyric Opera of Chicago feels like coming home, and I’m looking forward to doing so this season! Ryan Opera Center alumni around the world Todd Rosenberg Franco Pomponi Carmen Finnish National Opera Kathleen Kim Hansel and Gretel Korea National Opera Annie Rosen Akhnaten Metropolitan Opera Administration Dan Novak Director , The Ryan Opera Center Board Endowed Chair Craig Terry Music Director The Jannotta Family Endowed Chair Julia Faulkner Director of Vocal Studies Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation Renée Fleming Advisor Faculty Julia Faulkner W. Stephen Smith Vocal Instruction The Robert and Ellen Marks Vocal Studies Program Endowed Chair in honor of Gianna Rolandi Deborah Birnbaum Sir Andrew Davis Matthew A. Epstein Renée Fleming Enrique Mazzola Gerald Martin Moore Louisa Muller Patricia Racette Anne Sofie von Otter Guest Master Artists William C. Billingham Alan Darling Laurann Gilley Celeste Rue Eric Weimer Pedro Yanez Coaching Staff Irina Feoktistova Julia Savoie Klein Derek Matson Sharon Peterson Marina Vecci Alessandra Visconti Melissa Wittmeier Foreign Language Instruction Dawn Arnold Katie Klein Andrew Gordon Knox Laurel Krabacher E. Loren Meeker Acting and Movement Instruction Orit Carpenter Performance Psychology Roger Pines Guest Lecturer and Consultant Artistic/Production Personnel Michael Christie Ari Pelto Conductors Louisa Muller Patricia Racette Directors Donald Claxon Bill Walters Stage Managers Theresa Ham Lucy Lindquist Maureen Reilly Wardrobe Allison Burkholder Sarah Hatten Hair and Makeup PROGRAM STAFF THIS SEASON