Lyric Opera Of Chicago 2013

Airs Saturday, May 18 at 12 noon. The Lyric Opera of Chicago Season opens with Giuseppe Verdi's Simon Boccanegra (in Italian), a tale of political intrigue, lost love regained and ancient rivalries overcome. The production features Thomas Hampson as Boccanegra, Ferruccio Furlanetto as Fiesco, Krassimira Stoyanova as Amelia, Frank Lopardo as Adorno, Quinn Kelsey as Paolo and Evan Boyer as Pietro. Sir Andrew Davis conducts and Elijah Moshinsky directs this production.

These Opera's aired in 2012

Airs Saturday, June 30 at 12:00 noon.  Here it is—the granddaddy of grand-opera spectacle—complete with pyramids and potentates, priestesses and dancing girls, plus armies of soldiers and slaves! At its heart, a treacherous love triangle and a relationship that was never meant to be. Aida, the enslaved Ethiopian princess, and Radames, leader of the Egyptian army that conquered her homeland, long to be together forever. But someone else wants Radames, too—it’s Amneris, the jealous daughter of the Pharaoh himself! Impassioned arias, surging choruses, and exhilarating orchestral music show us Verdi at the peak of his powers–masterfully balancing pomp and pageantry with a deeply moving personal tragedy.

Airs Saturday, June 23 at 12:00 noon. With Jerusalem as the prize, General Goffredo and his chief knight Rinaldo are battling it out with King Argante. But the king’s lover and ally is the sorceress Armida — and she uses every trick in her arsenal to help win the war. Good thing Rinaldo has some supernatural reinforcements of his own! Handel wanted to make it big in England, and he did it in spades with Rinaldo! For the first time he specified sorcery and magic in the plot — hiring an illustrious producer to bring it off, and booking a megastar for the lead. Three hundred years later, Lyric follows suit! Fabulous David Daniels headlines this amazing new production.

Rinaldo Features charismatic virtuoso singers. David Daniels as Rinaldo, one of the world’s top countertenor; As Armida, Elza van den Heever who offers an astonishing performances filled with emotional conviction and originality; As Argante, the phenomenal Luca Pisaroni, whose lightning vocal attack, nimble upper range, and ringing vivacity will leave you spell bound; and ss Rinaldo’s inamorata, you’ll love Julia Kleiter, the young German soprano who appears to rave reviews with major conductors, including Riccardo Muti!

Airs Saturday, June 16 at 12:00 noon. This spectacular new production marshals the choral and orchestral forces of our world-renowned company to present Show Boat in all its glory! Created in 1927, this seminal masterpiece gave American musical theater and opera a new voice — one with powerful subject matter, astonishing musical variety and an unmistakably American atmosphere. Moving from 1890s Mississippi to Chicago to “Roaring 20s” Broadway, Show Boat follows the lives of a company of theater folk — deeply involving us in their triumphs and sorrows, while illuminating the racial and social changes that were shaping the country. You’ll love every character: Julie, Joe, Queenie…and especially Magnolia and Ravenal. She’s an aspiring young actress; he’s an irresistible, gambling cad who leaves her when his luck runs out. But Magnolia moves on with her life — eventually becoming a major star. Unforgettable songs, dazzling choreography, and an epic story that moves us with its humanity — Show Boat is both great entertainment and great art.