Week of October 19: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

This week we'll travel near and far for incredible streaming opportunities happening all over the world. To make the most out of what is offered, we'll start our digital opera viewings early on Saturday, October 17 with San Francisco Opera's Attila. You can dive deep into this rarely seen early Verdi work with Breaking down the score: Attila with Maestro Enrique Mazzola, a webseries starring Lyric's own Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola, as he shares personal interpretations and unique insights into the twelve musical numbers of Attila. 

Then we'll head to The Metropolitan Opera for their lineup of operatic comedies, and enjoy additional Verdi classics from opera houses in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Midweek, we'll venture to Texas for Carmen at Dallas Opera, and Vinkensport, or the Finch Opera at Houston Grand Opera. Finally, we'll end our week with a laugh and some sunshine with another incredible opera stream from our friends at San Francisco Opera. 

Lyric Opera Commentaries discuss the synopses, music, and some historical insights into the creation of the world's most beloved operas, and musical masterpieces you might never have experienced. 

Explore Lyric Commentaries to make the most out of your opera streaming experience. 

Lyric Opera Commentaries are sponsored by the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation in memory of their parents.

San Francisco Opera 
Verdi: Attila

This production from San Francisco Opera stars Ferruccio Furlanetto, Ana Lurecia García, Diego Torre, Ryan Opera Center alumnus Quinn Kelsey, and Samuel Ramey, and was directed for the screen by Frank Zamacona. Attila was conducted by Nicola Luisotti in 2012. 

This opera stream premieres on Saturday, October 17 at 10am PDT/12pm CDT, and will be available through Sunday, October 18.

To supplement your time viewing, you can enjoy Breaking down the score: Attila with Maestro Enrique Mazzola, an engaging and delightful web series starring Lyric's own Music Director Designate Enrique Mazzola. In each episode, Mazzola offers unique insights on the twelve musical numbers of Verdi’s Attila. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Rossini: The Barber of Seville 

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Joyce DiDonato, Juan Diego Flórez, Peter Mattei, John Del Carlo, and John Relyea, and was directed by Bartlett Sher. The Barber of Seville was conducted by Maurizio Benini on March 24, 2007. This opera stream will be available until Tuesday, October 20 at 6:30pm. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2019/20 Season is by Nicholas Ivor Martin. 

Teatro Regio di Parma
Verdi: Ernani

This production from Teatro Regio di Parma stars Piero Pretti, Amartuvshin Enkhbat, and Roberto Tagliavini. Ernani was conducted by Michele Mariotti in 2020. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2009/10 Season is by William Mason.

The Metropolitan Opera
Lehár: The Merry Widow

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Lyric's Special Projects Advisor Renée Fleming, Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Alek Shrader, and Thomas Allen, and was directed by Susan Stroman. The Merry Widow was conducted by Sir Andrew Davis on January 17, 2015. This opera stream will be available until Wednesday, October 21 at 6:30pm. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2015/16 Season is by Anthony Freud in collaboration with Nicholas Ivor Martin. 

Teatro Comunale di Modena
Verdi: La traviata

This production from Teatro Comunale di Modena stars Maria Mudryak, Matteo Lippi, Ernesto Petti, and Ana Victória Pitts, and was directed by Stefano Monti. La traviata is conducted by Alessandro D'Agostini. This opera stream premieres on October 18, 2020, and will be available indefinitely. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2018/19 Season is by David Buch. 

The Metropolitan Opera
Mozart: Così fan tutte

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Ryan Opera Center alumnae Amanda Majeski, Serena Malfi, Kelli O’Hara, Ben Bliss, Adam Plachetka, and Christopher Maltman, and was directed by Phelim McDermott. Così fan tutte was conducted by David Robertson on March 31, 2018. This opera stream will be available until Thursday, October 22 at 6:30pm. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2017/18 Season is by Nicholas Ivor Martin.

Dallas Opera
Bizet: Carmen

This production from Dallas Opera stars Stéphanie d'Oustrac, Stephen Costello, Alexander Vinogradov, and Sara Gartland, and was directed by Jack Furness. Carmen was conducted by Pierre Vallet in 2018. This opera stream will be available through November 8. 

Lyric Commentary from the 2016/17 Season is by Jack Zimmerman. 

Houston Grand Opera
Little: Vikensport, or The Finch Opera

This production from Houston Grand Opera stars Nicole Heaston, Ryan McKinny (Lyric's 2019/20 Season productions of Dead Man Walking and Don Giovanni), Elena Villalón, and Alicia Gianni, and was co-directed by Ryan McKinny and E. Loren Meeker. Vikensport, or The Finch Opera will premiere on October 23 at 7:30pm CDT. 

San Francisco Opera
Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

This production from San Francisco Opera stars Philippe Sly, Lisette Oropesa, Luca Pisaroni, and Nadine Sierra, and was directed by Robin Guarino. The Marriage of Figaro was conducted by Patrick Summers in 2015. 

This opera stream will be available for viewing beginning on Saturday, October 24 at 10am PDT/12pm CDT through Sunday, October 25.

Lyric Commentary from the 2015/16 Season is by Colin Ure.

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center presents Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter, a free virtual concert celebrating the depth and breadth of Black artistry. Hosted by world-renowned tenor Lawrence Brownlee, who also serves as artistic advisor for the event, the concert features prominent Ryan Opera Center alumni—soprano Whitney Morrison, mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges, and baritone Will Liverman—and three current 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members—tenors Martin Luther Clark and Lunga Eric Hallam, and baritone Leroy Davis. Performances are accompanied by Craig Terry, the Grammy Award-winning music director of the Ryan Opera Center; and Chris Reynolds, current Ensemble pianist. Members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra make an appearance in a special selection, performing from their homes.

Visit our production page for program notes, artist biographies, and video conversations with the artists discussing their musical selections and why this concert is taking place. This stream will be available through January 26, 2021. 

WATCH LAWRENCE BROWNLEE AND FRIENDS: THE NEXT CHAPTER

For the Love of Lyric 

For the Love of Lyric's starry lineup is led by world-renowned soprano Renée Fleming and features special guests, including Tony Award® and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-actress Heather Headley, sopranos Ailyn Pérez and Julia Bullock, mezzo-soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna J'Nai Bridges, and bass Soloman Howard, with Doug Peck serving as music director. Members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble and members of the Chicago Children's Choir also perform in this enlightening and entertaining program of familiar and revelatory selections from the worlds of opera, Broadway, popular music, and some surprising sources.

Visit our production page to listen to a special commentary from dramaturg Roger Pines as he delves into what to expect from this unique virtual concert. This stream will be available through December 13, 2020. 

WATCH FOR THE LOVE OF LYRIC