2018/19 Season Announced!

On February 6, Lyric announced the 2018/19 Season at our exclusive annual Subscriber Season Preview event. Along with lively discussion about the operas, artists, and events that comprise the new season, audiences enjoyed a performance from Ryan Opera Center artists, costume try-ons in the lobby, and the chance to be among the first in line to renew their seats for the new season! So…what’s in store? Four Lyric premieres, seven new-to-Chicago productions, and a host of special events that you can only see at Lyric! Here’s a peek at the new lineup:

The Classics: Whether you’re new to opera and looking for the perfect introduction, or a seasoned opera lover who enjoys melodies that tug the heart strings and stories that make you reach for your hanky, three of opera’s greatest hits are among next season’s 10 productions. See a new-to-Chicago production of La bohème, or gorgeous productions of the Verdi favorites La traviata and Il trovatore in the new season.

The Premieres: Handel’s soulful masterpiece Ariodante is set for its much-anticipated Lyric premiere in the new season. You may also bring the family to enjoy Massenet’s enchanting Cendrillon in the Lyric premiere of this delightful French telling of the Cinderella fairy tale. We’ll return to the Harris Theater for An American Dream, an exciting new chamber work, and we’ll bring you Bernstein and Sondheim’s incomparable West Side Story as the Broadway at Lyric offering.

Larger-than-Life Adventure Awaits: For those who yearn to be thrilled by spectacle, you won’t want to miss Mozart’s Idomeneo in a grand new-to-Chicago production; Strauss’s Elektra featuring what is sure to be a tour-de-force company debut from soprano Nina Stemme; and Wagner’s Siegfried, in an epic new Lyric production.

The Diva Events: Two of the world’s most famous artists take the stage in exclusive events – soprano Anna Netrebko performs in a December recital, and soprano Renée Fleming headlines a star-studded concert to celebrate her 25th anniversary with Lyric. 

Fun for Everybody: From the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert in September, to Family Day at the Opera in April, Lyric looks forward to welcoming you to a wide array of fun and friendly ways to make opera a part of your life.

Now is the time to lock in your seats with a season package! Whether you’re renewing or buying a package for the first time, there are many ways to customize your Lyric experience. New this year: Create Your Own Series and include qualifying events from the 2017/18 Season along with next season’s package. You can even include non-mainstage events like An American Dream and West Side Story as part of your season package.

We look forward to sharing a new season of great music, powerful storytelling, and unforgettable theater with you. Join us!