Lyric Music & More: July 11

Warm weather and longer days are great, but we can’t wait for the opera season to begin. One of the grandest shows in this upcoming season is Verdi’s Aida, and Lyric has assembled an incredible cast of artists to bring you the most exciting production possible. Get a taste of what’s in store with this performance of the Act I aria "Celeste Aida" by Russell Thomas, who stars as Radamès, the young Egyptian warrior who falls in love with the Ethiopian princess Aida.

Plus, follow Lyric on TikTok, watch the film Pagliacci, learn more about the history of our annual Sunday in the Park with Lyric concert, and don’t miss The Factotum on Film.

West Side Story may have closed at Lyric, but we’re still humming the songs. We asked the cast which song from West Side Story gets stuck in their head the most. See what they had to say, and find more great behind-the-scenes content by following Lyric on TikTok!

Watch the TikTok

Experience the film Opera News called “the best-sung account of Leoncavallo’s drama one is likely to hear today.” Pagliacci stars Russell Thomas, Ailyn Pérez, Lucas Meachem, Quinn Kelsey, and Eric Ferring, and is available as a free stream on demand.

Watch now

Pack your picnic, bring your friends, and join us for a free outdoor concert featuring highlights from the 2023/24 Season with Sunday in the Park with Lyric on August 20. Look back at the early days of this great tradition and see what’s on tap in this article.

Take a look back

There’s still time to experience the film of the “vibrant, often heartwarming” (Chicago Sun-Times) opera The Factotum. The new film by Chicago filmmaker Raphael Nash brings you along on the full journey, from page to stage, of the world premiere. Streaming now for a limited time.

Stream now