Lyric Music & More: April 20

It’s always inspiring to have Ryan Opera Center alumni return to the Lyric stage, and it’s even more of a thrill to have alumni singing alongside current Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members. So when tenor David Portillo agreed to perform in Pasión Latina, we knew it would be a performance to remember. In this clip he sings the soulful tango "Volver" ("Return") by Carlos Gardel, in which the singer is apprehensive about returning years later to the scene of his first love. After watching this clip, you can enjoy the full virtual concert Pasión Latina, available on demand. Plus, mark your calendar for Rising Stars in Concert, premiering next Thursday, April 29!

Then, catch up with baritone Will Liverman in an interview from VAN Magazine, learn more about Lyric favorite Matthew Polenzani, watch the latest installment of The Sonata Sessions, and find out the truth about Attila, the historical figure and the opera character.

Baritone Will Liverman talks about his inspirations for his new album Dreams of a New Day, the challenges of making music during a pandemic, how he decided to make The Factotum, and more in this interview with VAN Magazine.

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Tenor Matthew Polenzani has starred in numerous productions at Lyric, including Rigoletto, La traviata, and most recently as Foresto in Attila Highlights in Concert. Learn more about this internationally celebrated artist and Ryan Opera Center alumnus in this feature.

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In this episode of The Sonata Sessions, members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra perform Rossini’s String Sonata No. 4 in B-flat Major. It features rapid descending chromatic scales — one of the most technically challenging passages in any of Rossini’s instrumental music.

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Attila the historical figure has ignited great curiosity for centuries, and has been the subject of numerous books, films, and of course the opera by Giuseppi Verdi. How much of the opera plot is actually true to history? Read on to find out.

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