****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
"safronia" is very much a Chicago story. It is also one that is deeply personal to young, whose title character is an amalgamation of his own grandmother's journey from the American South during the Great Migration, which took place between 1910 and 1970. It is a profound work which plays with the idea of memory as a solace for the sting of reality in addition to illuminating the basic rights of inheritance and personal integrity.
avery r. young. Photo by John Shaw/Lyric Opera of Chicago
young composed a score which features elements of gospel, blues, R & B and even funk. He also created the libretto inspired by poems he had written in which his grandmother appeared to him in a dream. Proving that he is truly a modern Renaissance Man, young also sings the male lead role, that of the patriarch, baar booker.
To hear this eclectic score for the first time was staggeringly overwhelming. The music alone has moments of brash and exuberant celebration and bone-crushing strength as well as quieter, more introspective significant points. The libretto, as previously mentioned, is distinctively intimate and blends young's own tailored storytelling with folkloric poetry. The performance of baar booker as rendered by young can only be described as overflowing with blistering intensity.
Lorenzo Rush Jr as king willie tate and Meagan McNeal as safronia booker. Photo by Obisoulstar
Meaghan McNeal gives a heartbreaking performance as safronia booker. As the eldest child, safronia may suffer more than her other eight siblings only because she has bigger hopes and greater aspirations than they might. Filled with frustration, safronia relies a little bit too heavily on escaping her present situation by imbibing the hooch that her father's distillery produces. Never one to shy away from a confrontation, safronia demands to be accepted on her own terms. She shares the goal -- along with her father -- of using the profits of their liquor sales to build a school across the street from the factory.
Maiesha McQueen shines radiantly in the role of magnolia booker, baar's seamstress wife. A great deal of the score's most demanding musical material can be heard in the role of magnolia, and McQueen more than easily rises to the challenge.
The company of safronia. Photo by Obisoulstar
It is nice to see Chicago favorite Lorenzo Rush, Jr. in his Lyric debut singing the role of king willie tate. Rush has been slowly building a phenomenal career here in Chicago (well, perhaps not all that slowly -- he has already received three Joseph Jefferson Awards)! His impressive vocal stylings are an incredible asset to this production.
Also delivering strong performances are Jeff Parker as the initially sympathetic bossman and Zachary James as the scoundrel cholly.
The company of safronia. Photo by Kyle Flubacker
Paul Byssainthe, Jr. conducted and worked very closely with young to create the orchestrations. His insightful input cannot be overlooked.
There is no doubt that "safronia" is a major addition to the contemporary American operatic repertoire. Since Lyric Opera of Chicago had only slated a mere two performances of this world premiere, far too many people missed out on the opportunity to experience its majestic beauty and soulful meditation on lives lived and lost. Alas, fear not. Court Theatre, located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, has announced that "safronia" will be the final production during their 2026/2027 season. Be sure to SEEK IT OUT when it opens in May of 2027.