Lyric Opera 2022-2023 Issue 10 - West Side Story

13 | Lyric Opera of Chicago The season continues with Verdi’s majestically scaled but intimate love story Aida , conducted by Music Director Enrique Mazzola. Michelle Bradley and Russell Thomas, the star-crossed lovers of last season’s Tosca , reunite as Aida and Radamès, another of opera’s famously doomed couples. Aida also heralds the return to Lyric of Jamie Barton as Amneris. The production, directed by Francesca Zambello, has designs by the contemporary visual artist RETNA, whose work uses calligraphy, hieroglyphics, and bold colors to evoke a mythic past with a contemporary edge. RETNA’s mural work can be seen locally in Chicago on the south wall of 33 East Congress, part of the Wabash Arts Corridor. Aida also features the Lyric debut of renowned modern dance choreographer Jessica Lang. Within his run of Aida performances, Music Director Enrique Mazzola also leads two special performances of Mozart’s Requiem , a beloved masterpiece that puts the Lyric Opera Chorus and Orchestra center stage. The soloists for these performances will be announced in the coming months. To commemorate the 2023/24 Season, musical theater’s biggest star will headline Lyric’s Season Opening Gala: An Evening with Audra McDonald on Friday, October 6. Andy Einhorn conducts the Lyric Opera Orchestra in an evening celebrating McDonald’s unique interpretive talents in a variety of song styles. “I am excited to be conducting such a profoundly diverse repertoire at Lyric next season: Wagner, Verdi, Mozart, and the brilliant Terence Blanchard, whose opera Champion is part of Lyric’s ongoing commitment to new works,” says Mazzola. “Stay tuned for more details about the other new and recent operas Lyric will be commissioning and producing across future seasons. This is constant, essential work for the company and includes important pieces like Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels, The Listeners and Proving Up by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, and the world premieres of the Lyric commissions of Safronia by avery r. young and H of H Playbook by Bryce Dessner and Anne Carson. Lyric is committed to remaining at the center of exploration and innovation in opera for many years to come.” Behind the scenes, Lyric’s work continues year- round, as the new Ryan Opera Center Ensemble begins its work, the new season’s sets arrive for extensive technical rehearsals, the costume artisans prepare all the wardrobe for the new season’s singers, the Orchestra and Chorus review the new season’s musical scores, and workshops are held for the new operas in development. “We are keeping our carefully built pipelines strong— both in terms of the artists we continue to mentor in our recently expanded Ryan Opera Center, and the new operas by new creators we continue to commission, workshop, and produce,” explains Freud. “We have a robust 2023/24 Season ahead, and artistic excellence will continue to be Lyric’s guiding principle.” Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2023/24 Season is on sale now, with more than a dozen curated packages and “create your own” package options that allow you to customize every detail. Explore the season at lyricopera.org/subscribe. AIDA Michelle Bradley RADAMES Russell Thomas AMNERIS Jamie Barton Aida Allison Michael Orenstein Audra McDonald will perform at Lyric’s Season Opening Gala on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 7:30 PM. Concerts tickets go on sale on June 15 at lyricopera.org/audra Scott Suchman/Washington National Opera