Week of December 7: Lyric Commentaries for opera streaming and more

It’s the first full week of December and you’re in for a treat! This week in opera streaming, we’ll visit our friends at The Metropolitan Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Portland Opera, and Pittsburgh Opera for innovative streaming opportunities. Then, this Sunday, December 13 at 6pm, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is proud to present its newest digital offering, Pasión Latina, a free concert celebrating music from the Spanish-speaking world with soprano Ana María Martínez joined by current and former members of the Ryan Opera Center.

This is also your final week to stream For the Love of Lyric, Lyric’s concert headlined by soprano Renée Fleming, and featuring Tony Award® and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter-actress Heather Headley, soprano Ailyn Pérez, mezzo-soprano and Ryan Opera Center alumna J'Nai Bridges, and bass Soloman Howard, with Doug Peck serving as music director. Members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center Ensemble and members of the Chicago Children's Choir also perform. Watch before it’s too late!

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.

Houston Grand Opera
Wagner: Tristan and Isolde

This radio broadcast from Houston Grand Opera stars Ben Heppner and Nina Stemme, and was directed by Christof Loy. Tristan and Isolde was conducted by Patrick Summers in 2013. This radio broadcast will be available through Monday, December 7.

Lyric Commentary from the 2008/09 season is by Sir Andrew Davis and Nicholas Ivor Martin.

The Metropolitan Opera
Adams: Doctor Atomic

This production from The Metropolitan Opera stars Sasha Cooke, Thomas Glenn, Gerald Finley, Richard Paul Fink, and Eric Owens, and was directed by Penny Woolcock. Doctor Atomic was conducted by Alan Gilbert on November 8, 2008. This opera stream will be available until 6:30pm on Wednesday, December 9.

Lyric Commentary from the 2007/08 Season is by Jesse Gram. 

Portland Opera
Live from the Hampton Opera Center

Presented by Portland Opera, the “Live from the Hampton Opera Center” series features opera artists who call Portland and the Pacific Northwest  home. Each hour-long performance will be broadcast live from the Hampton Opera Center, where featured artists follow health and distance protocols, reviewed by the company’s medical advisors, to ensure safe performance practices without an in-person audience.

On Wednesday, December 9 at 7:30pm PST/9:30pm CST, soprano Vanessa Isiguen performs accompanied by pianist Nicholas Fox. 

Houston Grand Opera
The Making of The Snowy Day: An Opera for All

In advance of the world premiere of composer Joel Thompson and librettist Andrea Davis Pinkney’s new opera, based on the beloved children’s book by Ezra Jack Keats, Houston Grand Opera is offering a behind-the-scenes look at The Snow Day. This documentary premieres on Thursday, December 10 at 7:30pm CST, and will be available through January 10, 2021.

Pittsburgh Opera
David T. Little: Soldier Songs

This production from Pittsburgh Opera stars Yazid Gray, is conducted by Mark Trawka, and directed by Kaley Karis Smith. Soldier Songs premieres on Friday, December 11.

Houston Grand Opera
Gounod: Faust 

This radio broadcast from Houston Grand Opera stars William Burden and Samuel Ramey, and was directed by Francesca Zambello. Faust was conducted by Sebastian Lang-Lessing in 2007. This radio broadcast will be available through December 20, 2020.

Lyric Commentary from the 2017/18 Season is by Nicholas Ivor Martin. 

Lyric Opera of Chicago
Pasión Latina

Celebrate music of the Spanish-speaking world with Pasión Latina, a free virtual concert starring and hosted by renowned soprano and Lyric favorite Ana María Martínez.

Presented by The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Pasión Latina also features prominent Ryan Opera Center alumni—Mexican-American tenor René Barbera, Mexican-American tenor David Portillo, Mexican tenor Mario Rojas, and Mexican-American bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba—and two current 2020/21 Ryan Opera Center Ensemble members—Mexican soprano Denis Vélez and Puerto Rican baritone Ricardo José Rivera. Members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra will also appear in the concert finale.

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.

Premiering December 13, 2020, at 6:00 pm CST on Lyric's YouTube and Facebook channels.

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