In this month's issue of Lyric Notes go behind the scenes with the Bel Canto creative team ahead of its world premiere and go inside Ryan Opera Center's Workshop of The Marriage of Figaro. Get to know Isabel Leonard, who returns to Lyric as Cinderella, and director-choreographer Susan Stroman as she takes on The Merry Widow. You can also learn more about Second Nature, the children's opera where animals and arias meet.
It’s exciting – and complicated! – to get a brand-new opera from page to stage. The set elements for Bel Canto (by composer Jimmy López and librettist Nilo Cruz, based on Ann Patchett’s bestselling novel) arrived and Lyric’s technical staff ensured everything fits together and works as planned.
This summer, Lyric’s mainstage might be dark, but The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is in the height of their training and performance activities. The current members of Lyric’s prestigious artist-development program are hard at work, preparing a weekly recital series that will later be broadcast on WFMT as well as their preparing a summer workshop production.
Attention, everyone who fell head over heels for Isabel Leonard in her Lyric debut two seasons ago — and that means the entire Lyric audience! You’ll be delighted to know that she’ll be back with us this season as leading lady of Rossini’s Cinderella.
If you want to get director-choreographer Susan Stroman’s attention, just say “Stro!” That’s what people have called her since she got into show biz in New York 35 years ago, first as a dancer, then a choreographer and director for some of Broadway’s top shows. She’ll be a regular at Lyric this fall as she rehearses the sizeable cast of The Merry Widow.
This August, animals and arias meet in Lyric Unlimited’s world premiere youth opera from acclaimed composer Matthew Aucoin. Second Nature, a unique chamber opera written specifically for children ages 7 to 12, will premiere at Chicago’s historic Lincoln Park Zoo.
As we gear up for a new Lyric Opera of Chicago season, mark your calendar for these upcoming opportunities to enjoy free concerts from some of Lyric's favorite voices — on the radio at WFMT 98.7FM, or at Millennium Park!
Lyric Notes is part of the Innovation Initiative made possible by Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan.