The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. In the Director’s Note, Barbara Gaines reflects on seeing THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO as a young girl. Although she loved the joyful music, Gaines found the production dark, distant with limited interaction by the singers. When Gaines took on this year’s Lyric season opener, her goal ...
The Fourth Walsh
Theatre with a side of life
Category Lyric Opera of Chicago
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Review “The Passenger” (Lyric Opera): Unforgiving and Poignantly Memorable
Lyric Opera presents its premiere of THE PASSENGER. This unforgettable story is based on the Polish radio play by concentration camp survivor Zofia Posmysz. On a luxury ocean liner, a woman is haunted by her past. It’s the 1960s. Liese (performed by Daveda Karanas) and her German diplomat husband (performed by Brandon Jovanovich) are enjoying a ...
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Review “Tannhauser” (Lyric Opera): Lust to Love
Lyric Opera presents TANNHAUSER. Wagner’s love debate of intellectual connection verses physical attraction opens with sensual athleticism. On a surreal set featuring a grand stage on the Lyric’s grandeur stage, Michaela Schuster (Venus) seduces Johan Botha (Tannhauser). He watches from a chair. She beckons from the stage. Reality is blurred. Venus becomes several ladies. Tannhauser becomes ...
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Review “Tosca” (Lyric Opera): For the love of Puccini
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents TOSCA. The Lyric is presenting this Puccini favorite in an extended run featuring two different casts. I reviewed the principals for the January 24th- February 5th performances. TOSCA is being mounted with a new production co-produced by the Lyric and Houston Grand Opera. Scenic and Costume Designer Bunny Christie introduces each ...
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Review “Porgy and Bess” (Lyric Opera): First-Rate Operatic Rendition
Lyric Opera presents PORGY AND BESS. PORGY AND BESS is about the residents of Catfish Row in South Carolina. They struggle in racially influenced poverty. To endure the challenging times, the black folks have established a tight community. The gals anchor their homes in religious fervor. The guys gamble for a better future playing craps. They ...
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Review “Capriccio” (Lyric Opera): Music is the winner!
Lyric Opera of Chicago presents CAPRICCIO. This is my second experience with Composer Richard Strauss’ debate of words verses music. Although Strauss aided Clemens Krauss in creating the libretto, there is no doubt what Strauss believes to be more important. Under the spirited baton of Sir Andrew Davis, the music dominates the stage from the overture ...
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Review “Don Giovanni” (Lyric Opera): Deliciously Wicked!
A funny thing happened on the way to the opera... Well, not so much funny as annoying. Tuesday evening, we arrived at the Lyric at 7:10pm. We found a line coming out of the building and wrapping around the corner of Madison and Wacker. I’ve never experienced any line in my nineteen years of attending the ...
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“La Clemenza di Tito” (Lyric Opera): Music aficionados, listen up!
The Lyric Opera of Chicago presents a new-to-Chicago production of LA CLEMENZA DI TITO. Mozart composed a robust Roman drama. The premise has the emperor, Tito, ready to take a bride. Vitellia believes she is the rightful empress. She coerces Sesto, her love-sick suitor, to instigate a revolt. Meanwhile, Tito picks Sesto’s sister, Servilia, as his betrothed. ...
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“Rusalka” (Lyric Opera): Enchanting Spectacle
Lyric Opera presents RUSALKA. The water nymph Rusalka falls for the prince of her dreams. She decides to coerce the local witch into making her human. Jezebaba will conjure up the spell with a few conditions. First, Rusalka must give up her power of speech. Second, if Rusalka fails in her love quest, she and the prince ...