Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 2 - Fidelio

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 8 Thank you for joining us! What a thrill it is to present Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio , in this new-to-Chicago production, conceived and directed by our own Chief Artistic Administration officer, Matthew Ozawa. Lyric Opera of Chicago has not performed this work in two decades, which in itself makes for a special occasion. Its political potency seems especially appropriate for the current moment. Just as exciting are the stars we welcome into the lead roles. In the title role is acclaimed South African soprano Elza Van den Heever, who dazzled at Lyric in 2018/19 as Chrysothemis in Elektra . She’s joined by two exciting American artists. Baritone Brian Mulligan, who last sang here as Father/ Hansel and Gretel (2012/13), has since become a star on the international stage, and will take the role of Pizarro. And our Florestan, the persecuted prisoner, is Russell Thomas, a Lyric favorite who most recently sang here as Radamès/ Aida (2023/24) and Ernani/ Ernani (2022/23). The stellar cast will be conducted by our Music Director, Maestro Enrique Mazzola, again demonstrating his mastery across a range of repertoire. And Matthew is that rare breed—a skilled and caring administrator of the arts, as well as an accomplished director of international renown. This, his Fidelio , drew rave reviews when it premiered at San Francisco in 2021. It is indeed an opera for our time. And speaking of the present: Our newly appointed General Director, President and CEO of Lyric, John Mangum, joins the company full time in October. A visionary performing arts executive, John is a true operaphile (not to mention a PhD in history and musicology, focused on 18th century opera seria ). You can learn much more about him in the conversation which appears in this program. It is the ongoing support of you, our audience, that allows Lyric to continue to increase the company’s impact as one of the world’s greatest producers of art and a destination for the globe’s top talent. You have our enduring gratitude. A message from the Chair SYLVIA NEIL Chair Todd Rosenberg O ficer, Ma t e Oza a. Lyric O era v I C i d o r