March 16, 2020

Week of January 4: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

It’s the first week of January, and we’re starting the New Year with streaming opportunities that span the opera and dance worlds! In addition to our lineup of opera streams, we’ll also showcase The Royal Opera House’s abridged version of The Nutcracker, available to stream through January 21.

Accompanying our visit to our friends on the other side of the pond, we'll also enjoy streaming opportunities from Opera Australia and Houston Grand 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.

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

Monday, January 4

Opera Australia
Verdi: La traviata


This production from Opera Australia stars Emma Matthews, Gianluca Terranova, Jonathan Summers, and was directed by Francesca Zambello. La traviata was conducted by Brian Castles-Onion in 2012. This opera stream will be available indefinitely.

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

La traviata

by Giuseppe Verdi

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

© 2018/19 Lyric Opera Commentaries. All rights reserved. Recording & Production services provided by Mark Travis. The music featured in Lyric Commentaries is generously furnished by Warner Classics.
A project of the Women’s Board

Wednesday, January 6

The Royal Opera House
The Nutcracker Reworked


The Royal Opera House presents a new imagining of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in a restaging of Peter Wright’s celebrated two-act production. Featuring Yasmine Naghdi, Matthew Ball, Christopher Saunders, Isabella Gasparini and Luca Acri, this ballet is available to stream through January 21.

Friday, January 8

Houston Grand Opera
Live from the Cullen: Sasha Cooke


This recital from Houston Grand Opera features mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke accompanied by pianist Kirill Kuzmin. This stream premieres on January 8 at 7:30pm CST, and will be available through February 7. 

Saturday, January 9

Opera Australia
Verdi: Il trovatore


This classic production from Opera Australia stars Dame Joan Sutherland, Kenneth Collins and Jonathan Summers, and was directed by Elijah Moshinsky. Il trovatore was conducted by Richard Bonynge in 1983. This opera stream will be available indefinitely.

Lyric Commentary from the 2018/19 Season is by Elinor Olin.

Il trovatore

by Giuseppe Verdi

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

© 2018/19 Lyric Opera Commentaries. All rights reserved. Recording & production services provided by Mark Travis. The music featured in Lyric Commentaries is generously furnished by Warner Classics.
A project of the Women’s Board

Pasión Latina

Pasión Latina

Celebrate music of the Spanish-speaking world with a free virtual concert starring and hosted by renowned soprano and Lyric favorite Ana María Martínez, and featuring prominent Ryan Opera Center artists and alumni. 

These engaging artists will perform a dynamic selection of some of their favorite music from Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Argentina, and Spain, with piano accompaniment by Ryan Opera Center music director Craig Terry and current Ensemble pianist Chris Reynolds.

AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING THROUGH JANUARY 2021

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

Lawrence Brownlee and Friends: The Next Chapter

Lyric's Ryan Opera Center presents 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 also 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.

Header photo is from Lyric's 2018/19 production of La traviata (Todd Rosenberg). 

All other photos: Lyric Opera of Chicago, Svetlana Pasedko, Todd Rosenberg

Music used in Lyric Commentaries is provided courtesy of Warner Classics, the Official Education and Promotion Music Provider of Lyric Opera of Chicago.