Lyric Opera of Chicago to produce film version of sold out Twilight: Gods opera production

Film of Twilight: Gods set to be released to audiences in Summer 2021

CHICAGO (3/23/2021) — After three days of presale ticketing, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s upcoming premiere of Twilight: Gods, the radical reimagining of the final chapter of Wagner's epic Ring cycle, has sold out. Due to the high interest and limited availability of the production, Lyric is excited to announce that a produced film of Twilight: Gods will be made available for online viewing to audiences during Summer 2021, created by film director Raphael Nash. The goal of the film is to fully simulate the unique, live drive-through opera experience for the broadest possible audience.

This live experiential production—conceived, directed and with new English translations by Yuval Sharon and original narrative poetry by Chicago interdisciplinary artist avery r. young—will be presented on April 28, 30, and May 2 at the Millennium Garage's Lakeside parking garage in Chicago. Millennium Garages is America’s largest underground parking complex, operating over 3.8 million square foot underground in downtown Chicago. Millennium Garages features over 9,000 parking spaces with pedestrian access on Michigan Avenue, Monroe and Randolph Streets. Consisting of four separate garages, Millennium Garages is located directly beneath several of Chicago’s most famous parks including Maggie Daley Park and Grant Park. Twilight: Gods is a collaboration between Lyric Opera of Chicago and Michigan Opera Theatre.

Lyric is also excited to announce that the role of Brünnhilde in Twilight: Gods will be sung by Christine Goerke, who has been called “the Brünnhilde of dreams," by Dallas Morning News. Goerke has played the role of Brünnhilde at Lyric in both Die Walküre (2017/18) and Siegfried (2018/19). The rest of the cast features previously announced mezzo-soprano Catherine Martin/Waltraute, tenor Sean Panikkar/Siegfried making his Lyric debut, bass Morris Robinson/Hagen, and baritone Donnie Ray Albert/Alberich. Goerke and these artists premiered this production/work/piece in Detroit last fall. The Rhinemaidens will be played by three current Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members: soprano Maria Novella Malfatti; mezzo-soprano Katherine Beck, and mezzo-soprano Kathleen Felty.

The film of Twilight: Gods will be released for online viewing during Summer 2021, free to audiences with registration required. Learn more about Twilight: Gods live performances and behind-the-scenes information, and stay up to date on details of the upcoming film as they are released at lyricopera.org/twilightgods.

Production Details

Twilight: Gods | April 28, 30, and May 2, 2021 at the Millennium Lakeside Parking Garage

A new interpretation of Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner
Concept, direction, and English translation by Yuval Sharon
Cast:

Brünnhilde: Christine Goerke, soprano
Waltraute: Catherine Martin, mezzo-soprano
Siegfried: Sean Panikkar ^, tenor
Hagen: Morris Robinson, bass
Alberich: Donnie Ray Albert, baritone
Rhinemaidens: Maria Novella Malfatti**, soprano; Katherine Beck**, mezzo-soprano; and Kathleen Felty**, mezzo-soprano
Narrator/Norns: avery r. young ^

Feauting members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra
Production Design: PXT Studios (Jason Thompson and Kaitlyn Pietras)
Musical arrangement and orchestration: Ed Windels
Sound Artist: Lewis Pesacov
With new narrative poetry by avery r. young
Film director: Raphael Nash
Performed in English

** Current Ryan Opera Center member
^ Lyric debut

Twilight: Gods is a project of Lyric Unlimited and is generously made possible by Julie and Roger Baskes, Ethel & William Gofen, and Donald and Anne Edwards. Production space generously provided by Millennium Garages - Millennium Lakeside Parking Garage.

About Lyric

Lyric Opera of Chicago is committed to redefining what it means to experience great opera. The company is driven to deliver consistently excellent artistry through innovative, relevant, celebratory programming that engages and energizes new and traditional audiences.

Under the leadership of General Director, President & CEO Anthony Freud, Music Director Sir Andrew Davis, Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola, and Special Project Advisor Renée Fleming, Lyric is dedicated to reflecting, and drawing strength from, the diversity of Chicago. Lyric offers, through innovation, collaboration, and evolving learning opportunities, ever-more exciting, accessible, and thought-provoking audience and community experiences. We also stand committed to training the artists of the future, through The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center; and to becoming increasingly diverse across our audiences, staff, programming, and artists—magnifying the welcoming pull of our art form, our company, and our city.

Through the timeless power of voice, the splendor of a great orchestra and chorus, theater, dance, design, and truly magnificent stagecraft, Lyric is devoted to immersing audiences in worlds both familiar and unexpected, creating shared experiences that resonate long after the curtain comes down.

Join us @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.