Lyric Opera 2022-2023 Issue 1-Ernani

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 10 Dear Lyric Family, As we celebrate the opening of the cultural season in Chicago, we are reminded of how grateful we are for your ongoing support. You provided much needed emotional and financial assistance during the darkest days of the pandemic; were quick to reclaim the joy of live performance with us last season; and now, we get to once again come together to feel the exhilaration that art provides. Great riches and experiences await us all this season, with two Lyric-commissioned world premieres in Proximity and The Factotum , the North American premiere of an internationally-celebrated Fiddler on the Roof production, and Lyric premieres of Verdi’s Don Carlos in French in the the five-act version and Rossini’s Le Comte Or y. To those, add the return of our highly-acclaimed production of Humperdinck’s Hansel & Gretel , Bizet’s Carmen , and the return of the best-selling title of all time at Lyric, West Side Story . You can already imagine the buzz and anticipation building around the season we now open with Verdi’s Ernani , a thrilling continuation of Lyric’s acclaimed Early Verdi Series. We also mark the beginning of Enrique Mazzola’s second full season as music director, with a production full of vocal fireworks and intense orchestral majesty. Last season, we promised to return, safely, to live performances. Not only did we accomplish that, but together we also made Lyric one of the most talked about cultural hubs in the city. The impact of the season-ending Tosca and Fire Shut Up In My Bones was unparalleled in the company’s history and we are committed to continuing that dynamism, energy, and excitement. We are here and thriving, because of you. We continue to have real, tangible challenges brought on by the pandemic and we acknowledge that the road to full recovery is long. Your support and your confidence are essential. On behalf of the entire company, we thank you. As we open a new season, full of anticipation, we are thrilled to welcome you to the Lyric Opera House. From the Chair and the General Director SYLVIA NEIL Chair ANTHONY FREUD OBE President, General Director & CEO The Women’s Board Endowed Chair Todd Rosenberg Todd Rosenberg