Verdi’s towering epic Aida opens Saturday, March 9

View Aida images here

CHICAGO (3/8/2024) —For the first time in more than a decade, Verdi’s romantic and political drama Aida returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago, March 9 to April 7, 2024.

Music Director Enrique Mazzola celebrates two important milestones with this production: he conducts the epic score of Aida for the very first time in his career, and Aida marks the 100th title to enter Mazzola’s vast operatic repertoire.

Aida’s classic story of duty versus desire is on spectacular display in director Francesca Zambello’s bold and stylized production, which takes its visual inspiration from the chaotic calligraphy of the celebrated street artist RETNA. Renowned choreographer Jessica Lang brings her modern edge to Aida’s powerful dance sequences.

The romantic triangle at the heart of Aida is anchored by three powerful voices: Michelle Bradley and Russell Thomas, who starred as the doomed lovers in Tosca in Lyric’s 2021/22 Season, and returning favorite Jamie Barton. The production also stars Reginald Smith, Jr., direct from his critically acclaimed star turn in Lyric’s Champion.

We hope audiences will join us for this thrilling finale of Lyric’s opera season.

View Aida images here

A high-resolution video trailer will be available soon on Lyric's YouTube channel.

Read the Aida digital program book before the performance.

Performance dates for Aida are March 9, 13 matinee, 17 matinee, 20, 23, 26, 29, April 1, 4 matinee, 7 matinee, 2024. All performances take place at the Lyric Opera House, 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago.

Audio description, a guided touch tour of the set, and SoundShirts are available at the March 17 matinee performance. For more information, visit lyricopera.org/accessibility.

Aida is performed in Italian, with projected English titles.

The running time is 3 hours, including one intermission.

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

Lyric’s presentation of Verdi’s Aida is generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, The Julius Frankel Foundation, Mary Patricia Gannon Trust, Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance, Liz Stiffel, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, and ITW.

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

Athletico is the official provider of physical therapy for Lyric.

Lyric Opera's Season is presented by

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 John Mangum and Music Director Enrique Mazzola, 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.

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For more information on Lyric's upcoming 2024/25 Season, visit lyricopera.org/newseason.