**** Highly Recommended **** The Joffrey Ballet’s production of "Eugene Onegin" is dramatic, elegant, romantic, poignant and truly exquisite. Seeing Yuri Possokhov’s emotive choreography interpreted with incredible artistry by the Joffrey company was a transformative experience. Every movement demonstrated acting ability as well as grace and artistry. "Eugene Onegin" – c’est magnifique! 4 BIG Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** Now that the 2025/2026 season at Lyric Opera of Chicago has come to a close, it is the perfect time to reflect on the amazing number of diverse productions that were presented during General Director, President and CEO John Mangum's inaugural season in his new role. In hindsight, it appears that Lyric may have saved the best for last. "safronia" enjoyed an extremely spirited -- yet sadly brief -- run last week. Created by Chicago's first Poet Laureate, the immensely talented avery r. young, "safronia" quite literally blew the roof off of the venerable opera house during its world premiere there. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS
An exciting new work starred on stage recently at the Reva and David Logan Center at The University of Chicago.
***RECOMMENDED*** If you are curious to find out what a mash-up of classical Greek mythology, Mexican folklore and liberal doses of surrealism and some sprinklings of early feminist empowerment might look like, you are in luck. Lyric Opera of Chicago is presenting the Midwest premiere of "El ultimo sueno de Frida y Diego," a work composed by Gabriela Lena Frank in 2022 with a highly poetic libretto written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz. Not only is this production visually striking -- one would certainly hope that that was the case in an opera which depicts the lives of two very famous artists/muralists -- but the score composed by Frank is exceptional, veering from the ethereal to downright enchanting. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
I wanted to love or at least like this new interpretation of Puccini’s heartbreaking opera, “Madama Butterfly.” A beautiful, riveting tragedy of love -- and life – lost, with Puccini’s thrillingly beautiful music infusing depth and drama, audiences have kept this opera a favorite almost since its debut in 1904.
**** Highly Recommended Joffrey Ballet’s Grainger Academy’s 14th Annual Winning Works, presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a performance I await with great anticipation. It’s a chance to see brand new pieces by new choreographers, all ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artists, performed by up-and-coming dancers who get a chance to shine. This year’s program was absolutely fabulous! 4 BIG Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED The Chicago premiere of Kurt Weill/Georg Kaiser's "Der Silbersee (The Silver Lake)" is clearly an excellent example of that. This exquisite "Der Silbersee" is quite a polished production and, technically speaking, the best work that Chicago Opera Theater has done thus far. 4 SPOTLIGHTS
**** Highly Recommended "American Icons" is a demonstration of all that makes the Joffrey such a leader in contemporary ballet. Opening night was totally awesome! The Joffrey’s classically trained, incredibly talented dancers execute the most complicated choreography with flawless technique and timing – and they make it look easy! 4 BIG Spotlights
"Cosi fan tutte" is a masterwork of two very gifted artists: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's music has the power to magically transport you to warmer climes and Lorenzo Da Ponte's hilarious libretto will tickle your funny bone and melt whatever frost may be accumulating in your polar vortex-hardened heart.
***RECOMMENDED*** While all of the scandal that surrounded its 1905 premiere in Dresden, Germany has since vanished, Richard Strauss' opera "Salome" still enraptures audiences and may even shock a few today who are not familiar with its incredibly enigmatic music and the details of its corrupt and base cast of characters. In a stunning Lyric Opera of Chicago debut, soprano Jennifer Holloway brings a commanding confidence to her interpretation of the title role. Also, in another remarkable Lyric debut, conductor Tomas Netopil shines as he guides an expanded Lyric Opera orchestra through Strauss' challenging score. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
