Lyric Opera 2024-2025 Issue 8 - The Listeners

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 2 6 WELCOME TO YOUR LYRIC 8 Greetings from the Chair and the General Director, President & CEO 10 Board of Directors 12 Announcing Lyric’s robust 2025/26 Season, filled with fearsome females, the second Mozart/Da Ponte collaboration, a bit of rock ‘n roll (sort of), and an extraordinary roster of international stars. 16 TODAY’S PERFORMANCE 19 Title page and cast 20 Synopsis 22 Director’s note 24 Opera Notes : The latest work from Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek resides at the leading edge of opera today — and asks important and unsettling questions. In this issue The Listeners | pp. 16-37 Erik Berg/Norwegian National Opera & Ballet 28 Artist profiles 36 Orchestra and Chorus 38 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT 40 Bravissimi 42 Production sponsors 43 Supporting our future — endowments at Lyric 44 Ardis Krainik Society 48 Corporate partnerships 50 Aria Society 54 Annual individual and foundation support 60 Commemorative gifts 61 Retirement congratulations 62 Lyric staff 67 Artistic roster 64 RYAN OPERA CENTER 66 A look back at the fifth decade of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, now celebrating its 50th year. 68 LYRIC UNLIMITED 70 For the first time in five seasons, in April we open the opera house for Explore Your Lyric, a full day of fun for all ages. 72 People of Lyric: The critical work of the company’s VP of Finance helps bring opera to life on our stage.