Lyric Opera 2023-2024 Issue 7 - Aida

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 8 Welcome to the Lyric Opera House! Any production of Aida is a cause for celebration, and this one has special significance for Lyric. It not only marks the first fully staged performance of the work for Music Director Enrique Mazzola, but it also becomes the 100th title now in his repertoire. And there’s at least one other way this production is really meaningful to me and everyone in the Lyric family: The opera marks the last of the remarkable tenure of General Director, CEO and President Anthony Freud, who will retire early this summer. Anthony arrived to take Lyric’s helm as General Director 13 years ago, with a wealth of experience at opera’s highest levels amassed on both sides of the Atlantic, and immediately set to work on what has been nothing less than a transformation of the Company. The artistic productions, creative and business transformations, and contributions to the Company’s culture he has brought about are significant and profound. Even during the pandemic, he showed unwavering confidence in Lyric’s power to survive, thrive, and serve its audiences, and it has been my pleasure to be his partner. It’s fair to say that he has been a paragon of what opera leadership in the 21st century should look like. Even a very short list of his accomplishments would include: Creation of Lyric Unlimited, Lyric’s Learning and Civic Engagement Division. Lyric Unlimited has a wide-ranging mission to create, facilitate, and oversee Lyric’s numerous outreach programs. Artistic growth. Over the past decade-plus, Anthony has led an unprecedented period of innovation, featuring important debuts of singers, conductors, directors, and opera talents of every kind. He re-energized Lyric’s commitment to commissioning, fostering, and presenting new work; last season’s ambitious world premieres of Proximity and The Factotum are just two examples. Bel Canto (2015/16) is another and—along with Orphée et Eurydice (2017/18)—was broadcast nationwide on PBS’s Great Performances. Inclusivity. Anthony’s strong commitment to diversity in all its facets, both onstage and behind the scenes, has made Lyric today better reflect the city that we serve in every respect. Aida seems a fitting finale for Anthony’s tenure. It is, of course, one of the truly grand classics of the repertoire—and we have never lacked in this area—but this particular production also provides fresh perspectives on the work. With Francesca Zambello as director and Jessica Lang as choreographer, the opera continues a string of women in creative leadership roles. Please join me in thanking Anthony and wishing him a fond farewell as he heads into retirement. Enjoy the show! From the Chair SYLVIA NEIL Chair Todd Rosenberg ri r f i L ric producti n of Aida , one of the truly great classics of the repertoire, is a cause for celebratio . You cannot help but love i s stirring music, its tragic love st ry, and its awesome spectacle. And this Aida has special significanc f r Lyric. It is no only the first fully staged p rformance of the work f r Music Director Enrique Mazzola, but it also becomes the 100th title in is repertoire. And ther ’s a other way this production is very poigna t—it marks th last opera in the r markable tenur of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, who will retire this summer. Ant ony arrived to take Lyric’s helm 13 y ars go, the fourth gen ral director in ur his ory. H has led a period of innovation nd excell nce at Lyric, f turing important debuts of si gers, conductors, director , opera talent of ev ry kind. He bro ght fresh perspectives to the historic repertoire. He re-energized Lyric’s co mitment to producing arely-performed repertoire, including a numb r of Lyric premieres, including L s Tro ens , The Pass nger , Ariodante , Le Comte Ory , De d Ma Walkin , Fire S u Up in My Bon s , and Champion . Also, he was responsible for commissioning sever l new works, such as last season’s world premieres of Proximity and The Factotum . During his tenure, our world premiere of Bel Canto and our new pr duction of Orphée et Eurydice were televised nationwide on PBS’s Great Performances . Anthony’s strong commitment to diversity in all its facets—onstage, in the audience, and throughout the company—has establis ed Lyric as the model of a 21st century opera ompany. He created Lyric U limited, our learning and civic engagement program hat is r aching many thousa ds of students and actively retooling opera’s presence and mpact throughout our city. He expanded the program of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center. He brought Maes ro Mazzola to Chic go to much critical accl im, and the renowned Joffrey Ballet to reside in our be utiful opera house, and champion d the res ating of our theater, among other audience-friendly improvements. He has b en my partner and friend t se past several years, including steering Lyric through the pandemic. The heartbreak of canceling the season including our own new production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle did not discourage Antho y—r ther this period was one of en rmou artistic creativity, inclu ing a wide-ranging online p ogr m of outstanding performa ces enjoyed by a global a dience. He has successfully positioned Ly ic as he leading American ope company for the future. His influence will be ever pres nt in Lyric’s fabric. Anthony an his husband, dramaturg Colin Ure, will be heading back to the United Kingdom. Please join me in wi hing them a appy retirement, with heartfelt thanks. A special message from the Chair SYLVIA NEIL Chair Todd Rosenberg