Opera and Dance Reviews

This season’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” one of Wolfgang Mozart’s most beloved operas and a masterpiece of music and the joy of life and love, surpasses all of Lyric Opera’s past incarnations of the last several decades.

In this production, Barbara Gaines, the now-retired founder and longtime director of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, once more brings to Lyric her inimitable ability to imbue centuries-old characters with believable humanity and vibrancy – and make them feel like real people, despite the opera’s purposely contrived plot and the characters’ absurd hijinks.

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED****  Lyric Opera of Chicago's ongoing commitment to presenting at least one contemporary opera per season has an added bonus in the programming of their current 2024/2025 season -- not just one but two of the six fully-staged operas that Lyric is producing are company premieres of operas written by living composers and featuring librettos which are sung in English. The first of these operas is "Blue," an emotionally riveting and profoundly powerful work from composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist Tazewell Thompson, who also serves as the director of this finely crafted production. The second, Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's "The Listeners" will conclude Lyric's season when it opens in March of 2025. 4 SPOTLIGHTS

***RECOMMENDED***  You certainly have to hand it to the clever folks at Chicago Opera Theater, especially their forward-thinking General Director Lawrence Edelson, for perfectly timing the North American premiere of the rarely seen Ferdinando Paer opera "Leonora." Edelson, who also serves as the stage director of this production, has waited many years for the chance to present this obscure work to Chicago audiences. When it was announced that Lyric Opera of Chicago would be presenting Ludwig van Beethoven's only opera, "Fidelio," during their 2024/2025 season, Edelson knew that his company needed to act fast to prepare for their own version of the same story.

****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED  Excitement was in the air at Lyric Opera of Chicago's opening night performance of Verdi's "Rigoletto." Two of the three principals are making their highly-anticipated company debuts and fresh new talent abounds everywhere in this production. As a matter of fact, eight of the twelve cast members are appearing on Lyric's stage for the very first time. Combine that with the insightful and sensitive direction of Mary Birnbaum (also a Lyric debut) as well as the impeccable leadership in the orchestra pit of Music Director Enrique Mazzola, and you have one of the most solid and wholly satisfying productions that Lyric Opera has presented in many, many years. What a glorious way for Lyric to launch their 70th anniversary season.  4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS