Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 8 - The Listeners

15 | Lyric Opera of Chicago Opposite,clockwise from top: The grandeur of Madama Butterfly ; the jollity of Così fan tutte ; and the searing drama of Salome . This page: Frida y Diego ; avery r.young; Renée Fleming the vivid spectacle — from stunning sets to exquisite costumes — seamlessly paired with the soaring melodies that have kept this tale alive for generations. As Butterfly falls for a Naval lieutenant in a captivating love arc, it seems everyone but Cio-Cio-San knows that the sailor will soon break her heart. Join Lyric to experience the tragic and soaring melodies conducted by Domingo Hindoyan and brought to life by Lyric’s own, director Matthew Ozawa, in a stirring reimagined production, where not all is at it seems. After a critically acclaimed world premiere in 2022, El último sueño de Frida y Diego ( The Last Dream of Frida and Diego ) arrives for its Lyric premiere. This magical- realist opera, by composer Gabriela Lena Frank and the librettist Nilo Cruz (librettist for Lyric’s world premiere Bel Canto in the 2015/16 Season), brings the iconic marriage of the legendary Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera to life — at least for a short time. On the Day of the Dead, the ghost of Frida is allowed to leave the underworld for 24 hours to visit her grieving husband, Diego. The opera, inspired by Mexican folk music traditions, is led by conductor Roberto Kalb and director Lorena Maza as they make their Lyric debuts. Starring Daniela Mack as Frida, the production invites audiences to join the couple as they answer the question: How would you spend a single day reunited with your lost love? From avery r. young, Chicago’s first-ever poet laureate, Lyric presents a musical world premiere commission, for two nights only. safronia follows the Booker family as they journey back to the South to lay their patriarch to rest, retracing the path they once took during the Great Migration. In line with Lyric’s commitment to presenting art that resonates with our Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera Sulyiman Stokes Andrew Eccles / Decca diverse city and its stories, this powerful new work weaves together folklore, poetry, and history with the rich sounds of gospel, blues, funk, and soul. A true masterpiece in the making, this work promises a deeply moving and uniquely Chicago experience. There are, of course, numerous other surprises in the works — chances to visit the opera house that are still being imagined and developed. Please stay tuned. We look forward to seeing you here next season. Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2025/26 Season is on sale now, with several curated packages and “create your own” package options that allow you to customize every detail. Explore the season at lyricopera.org/subscribe , and join us for an extraordinary season of live performances.