Don Carlos opens Wednesday, November 9

View Don Carlos images here

CHICAGO (11/9/2022) – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Verdi’s towering masterpiece Don Carlos — performed for the first time at Lyric in its definitive five-act version with the matchless eloquence of its original French text — for five performances only, November 9-25, 2022.

Based on the historical characters and events of the Spanish Inquisition but with a dramatic political storyline seemingly ripped from today’s headlines, Don Carlos features some of Verdi’s most beautiful music, woven together with a story of love, royalty, and revenge. This epic tale is brought to life on a musical and theatrical scale that only Lyric can deliver.

Following his success with the season-opening performances of Verdi’s Ernani, Lyric Music Director Enrique Mazzola conducts the Lyric Opera Orchestra in interpreting Verdi’s majestic score. (Mazzola will soon showcase a different side to his musical leadership while also conducting performances of Rossini’s comic delight Le Comte Ory, which opens at Lyric on Sunday, November 13.) The work of director Sir David McVicar returns to Lyric following last season’s new production of Macbeth; revival director Axel Weidauer makes his Lyric debut adapting McVicar’s original vision for this production’s Chicago premiere.

Bringing the opera’s iconic characters to vivid life are an internationally acclaimed cast of Olympic-caliber singers: tenor Joshua Guerrero in the title role, soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Elisabeth, mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine as Princess Eboli, baritone Igor Golovatenko in his Lyric debut as Rodrigue, bass Dmitry Belosselskiy as King Philippe, and bass Soloman Howard as the Grand Inquisitor.

A massive ensemble of more than 200 musical and dramatic artists — including a chorus of 84 singers expertly prepared by Lyric Chorus Master Michael Black — performs Verdi’s tour-de-force masterwork for Chicago audiences. Don Carlos runs for 5 performances only, through November 25.

View Don Carlos images here

Please utilize Lyric Opera's online press room, where you can easily access the latest images, artwork, and video files, plus press releases—all in one place. We've introduced a password-protected area within the press room to enable media access to images.

A high-resolution video trailer is now available on Lyric's YouTube channel.

Read the Don Carlos digital program book

Performance dates for Don Carlos are November 9, 12, 17 matinee, 20 matinee, and 25, 2022. All performances take place at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago.

Don Carlos is sung in French, with English translations projected above the stage.

Running time is 3 hours and 50 minutes, including one intermission.

For tickets and information, call 312.827.5600 or go to lyricopera.org/doncarlos. 

Maestro Enrique Mazzola is generously sponsored by the following members of the Enrique Circle: Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, and Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation.

The Enrique Circle is comprised of Lyric's most dedicated supporters who are committed to championing Maestro Enrique Mazzola's exciting artistic vision and legacy.

Lyric's premiere of Verdi's Don Carlos in five acts is presented by Julie & Roger Baskes with additional support from Production Sponsors an Anonymous Donor, Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, Josef & Margot Lakonishok, Sonia Florian, The Julius Frankel Foundation, and Bulley & Andrews.