Conceived by and with Book and Lyrics by Julia Jordan Music and Lyrics by Juliana Nash Directed and Choreographed by James Beaudry Music Direction by Nicholas Davio At the Flat Iron Building, Chicago Contemporary rock opera is a murder mystery or is it? The concept here is intriguing. The set is a dive bar in … Read more
“On the Town” CD Review by Joe Stead Last year Chicago audiences got their first taste of a musical theatre classic when the Marriott Theatre went “On the Town”. A critically acclaimed 70th anniversary Broadway revival followed, which has finally resulted in the show’s first complete Broadway cast album by PS Classics. With several excellent … Read more
A Rock Opera in two acts in English Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics by Tim Rice Directed by Fred Anzevino Music Direction by Jeremy Ramey Choreographer by Brenda Didier At No Exit Cafe, Chicago Who said you couldn’t produce a rock opera in an intimate cafe? I have never been an avid fan of … Read more
Opera in two acts By Mieczyslaw Weinberg Libretto by Alexander Medvedev based on the novel of the same name by Zofia Posmysz Conducted by sir Andrew Davis Stage Direction by David Pountney At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Stunningly powerful Holocaust opera is a tasteful testimony to the courage and heroism of the human spirit. … Read more
Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis Stage Director: Tim Albery Choreographer: Jasmin Vardimon At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Energetically sensual movement and dance introduces audiences to the world of Wagner’s morality drama/opera In one of the longest (at least 15 minutes) sensual dance sequences seen in any opera, choreographer Jasmin … Read more
New Production Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica Conductor: Dmitri Jurowski Stage director: John Caird At the Lyric Opera of Chicago Stunning, lush and so romantic new production of the popular Tosca delights the opening night audience. “Living for Art, Dying for Love? –Tosca Anchored by the amazing vocals of … Read more
Though the arrangement is probably old, a large part of what makes this performance successful is how conductor Stephen Alltop is able to scale up Handel’s chamber piece to the massive scale of Orchestra Hall, where I saw it, and the upcoming performance at the Harris. Handel was only writing for a chorus of a couple dozen, but the Apollo has over 110 singers
Not produced at the Lyric Opera since 1985 when Joan Sutherland soared in Anna Bolena, this new production reaches the heights of the bel canto style (beautiful singing) with matching register and tonal quality of the voice to the emotional content of the words. Led by the powerful and stylistic soprano Sondra Radvanovsky as Ann and the smooth mezzo-soprano from Jamie Barton as Anna’s rival for the affections of King Henry, this melodic production of Donizetti’s Tudor-inspired 1830 opera is a major triumph for the Lyric!
The story is minimal but allows Joffrey to establish a tone of vaguely holiday related fancy. A family is hosting a Christmas party. The older child, Clara, is calm and well-behaved, while her hyperactive little brother Fritz is everywhere at once. A magician, Dr. Drosselmeyer, arrives and produces mechanical dolls to delight the guests. Gifts are exchanged; some genius gave Fritz a bugle. Dr. Drosselmeyer gives Clara a figurine nut cracker in the shape of a soldier, which Fritz breaks within two seconds. That night, the dolls come to life and battle against mice trying to eat them. Clara saves the nutcracker by bonking the mouse king with her slipper, and in gratitude nutcracker, now a handsome prince, takes her and Dr. Drosselmeyer to a magical kingdom to be entertained for the night.
It was one of those very special nights that can only in happen live, onstage. Over three thousand five hundred people gather to witness an ambitious and thoroughly beautiful production of Gershwin’s masterpiece, the American Folk Opera Porgy And Bess. For me, it was one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve ever spent in the theatre, just like the production of this wonder piece I saw in 2008. The Lyric Opera of Chicago’s second production of Porgy And Bess ranks among the finest opera I’ve seen to date!It is sheer perfection!