Week 13: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more!

Welcome to another week of opera streams and Lyric commentaries! This week, you're in for something special when Lyric's 2017/18 production of Turandot broadcasts on WFMT. Relive the magic of Lyric's take on Puccini's masterpiece, and supplement your listening experience with the Lyric Commentary by our very own Sir Andrew Davis. Be sure to revisit our production page for program articles, musical highlights, and more!

Also featured this week are selections from week 13 of the Met's Nightly Streams, The Rake's Progress at Festival Aix-En-Provence, a chamber opera from our friends at Opera North, and two Verdi classics from Teatro Municipale di Piacenza and Opera Australia. 

To help you get the most out of these operas, Lyric Opera Commentaries discuss the synopsis, music, and some historical insight into how each piece was created. It’s like a Pre-Opera Talk you can enjoy at home!

Enjoy the background, and enjoy the operas! View more Lyric commentaries that enhance your weekly opera streaming. 

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

Festival Aix-En-Provence 
Stravinksy: The Rake's Progress

This production from Festival Aix-En-Provence stars Julia Bullock, Paul Appleby, Kyle Ketelsen, and David Pittsinger, and was directed by Simon McBurney. The Rake's Progress was conducted by Eivind Gullberg on July 5, 2017.

A new-to-Chicago production of The Rake's Progress designed by famed artist David Hockney will be part of Lyric's 2020/21 Season. We invite you to visit our production page for more information. 

Teatro Municipale di Piacenza
Verdi: Falstaff

This production from the Teatro Municipale di Piacenza stars Luca Salsi, Vladimir Stoyanov, Giuliana Gianfaldoni, Serena Gamberoni, and Marco Ciaponi, and was directed by Leonardo Lidi. Falstaff was conducted by Jordi Bernácer on January 26, 2020.

Lyric Commentary is from the 2007/08 Season and is presented by Gianna Rolandi in collaboration with Nicholas Ivor Martin.

Metropolitan Opera
Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel

This production from the Metropolitan Opera stars Christine Schäfer, Alice Coote, Rosalind Plowright, Philip Langridge, and Alan Held, and was directed by Barbara Willis Sweete. Hansel and Gretel was conducted by Vladimir Jurowski on January 1, 2008.

Opera Australia
Verdi: Aida

This production from Opera Australia stars Latonia Moore, Walter Fraccaro, Milijana Nikolic, and Michael Honeyman, and was directed by Gale Edwards. Aida was conducted by Brian Castles-Onion in 2015. 

The Lyric Commentary is from the 2011/12 Season and is read and written by Roger Pines.

Opera North
Britten: The Turn of the Screw

This production from Opera North stars Nicholas Watts, Sarah Tynan, Eleanor Dennis, and Heather Shipp, and was directed by Alessandro Talevi. The Turn of the Screw was conducted by Leo McFall on February 21, 2020. 

As part of Lyric's intiative to produce contempoary and chamber works, we invite you to get acquainted with the work of the brilliant Benjamin Britten. Check out our 2020/21 Season for information on two contempoary works being presented by Lyric in the next year: Lessons in Love and Violence and Blue. 

Lyric Opera of Chicago
Puccini: Turandot

Now in its second week, we are so excited to broadcast select Lyric productions in collaboration with WFMT. This production of Turandot from Lyric's 2017/18 Season stars Amber Wagner, Stefano La Colla, Maria Agresta and Janai Brugger. Sir Andrew Davis conducts this production directed by Rob Kearley.  

In addition to the Lyric commentary by Sir Andrew Davis in collaboration with Jack Zimmerman, we invite you to visit our production page for musical highlights, program articles, a synopsis and photos. 

Metropolitan Opera
Handel: Rodelinda

This production from the Metropolitan Opera stars Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, Andreas Scholl, Iestyn Davies, Joseph Kaiser, and Shenyang, and was directed by Matthew Diamond. Rodelinda was conducted by Harry Bicket on December 3, 2011.

To supplement your time watching this Baroque opera, we invite you to listen to our Lyric Commentary from Handel's Ariodante from the 2018/19 Season. Listen to opera translator Derek Matson as he dives into the universal musical themes of Baroque operas that you might also find in Rodelinda. 

Photos: Todd Rosenberg, Dan Rest, Cory Weaver