Ring Cycle 2020 cancellations

At a press conference on March 12, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker and Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a State and City mandate that all large-scale events exceeding 1,000 individuals be canceled for the next 30 days as a preventive measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease (coronavirus). Additionally, the State and the City encouraged that community events of 250 people or more should be canceled until May 1st. This encompasses the time period of our long-planned and highly-anticipated Ring cycle. With great regret, we have no option but to cancel all three Ring cycles and the preceding two performances of Gotterdammerung.

We at Lyric, along with you at home, have been carefully monitoring every moment of this global pandemic, working in lockstep with the Chicago Department of Public Health. The health and well-being of our audiences, artists, and staff is our highest priority, and we have been standing at the ready to fully cooperate with our local and state officials in preventing the spread of this dangerous and unprecedented illness. 

We are, of course, heartbroken to lose the Ring cycle. For the past six years, more than 300 artists have put their hearts and talents into the development of this event, and the excitement about bringing it to audiences from all 50 states and nearly 30 countries has been mounting since the moment the production was announced. The cycle performances themselves, and a large range of festival programming, promised to be a high point in Chicago’s cultural season.

But right now, we all recognize that our top priority must be to contain the spread of COVID-19. For the safety of our loyal patrons and the greater good of our community, we recognize that this is the only choice.

We ask for your patience as we work through this extremely difficult slate of performance cancellations. We need your support at this moment more than ever. 

Please bear with us as we work to provide you with the highest level of customer service and look towards a time in the near future when we can all come together to enjoy performances again.

Ring ticket holders should check their email for details with next steps or call Audience Services at 312.827.5600 if you haven't received an email.