Lyric Opera sets new season
Opera fans have plenty to look forward to in the Lyric Opera of Chicago's recently announced 58th season for 2012-13.
Russian superstar soprano Anna Netrebko is set to finally make her Lyric debut as the TB-suffering seamstress Mimi in March 2013 dates for Puccini's tear-jerker “La Bohème.” American soprano Renée Fleming, who is also the Lyric's creative consultant, is also set to star as Blanche DuBois in the local premiere of André Previn's 1998 opera “A Streetcar Named Desire” in a special four-performance concert staging.
The Lyric's regular eight-opera season features:
“Elektra” — Richard Strauss' Greek tragedy opens the season in a new production by Scottish director David McVicar. Lyric music director Sir Andrew Davis is set to conduct, with soprano Christine Goerke making her Lyric debut in the title role.
“Simon Boccanegra” — American baritone Thomas Hampson takes on the title role of Verdi's classic tragedy, which also stars soprano Krassimira Stoyanova in her Lyric debut. Davis conducts.
“Werther” — Wilmette native and tenor Matthew Polenzani teams with mezzo-soprano Sophie Koch for Massenet's classic tragedy of a poet's unrequited love in a new production shared with San Francisco Opera. Davis conducts.
“Don Pasquale” — Donizetti's classic comedy of a deceptive marriage is directed by Sir Thomas Allen and stars German soprano Marlis Petersen with Italian baritone Ildebrando D'Arcangelo. Stephen Lord conducts.
“Hansel & Gretel” — Ward Star makes his conducting debut with this revival of director Richard Jones' creepy take on Humperdinck's 1893 opera. This coproduction with Welsh National Opera was originally commissioned by new Lyric general director Anthony Freud when he was overseeing that company.
“La Bohème” — Soprano Ana Maria Martinez shares the role of Mimi with the aforementioned Netrebko, while tenors Dimitri Pittas and Joseph Calleja double up in the role of the poet Rodolfo for this Puccini classic. Emmanuel Villaume conducts.
“Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” — A new coproduction of Wagner's only comedy features tenor Johan Botha and veteran bass-baritone James Morris. Davis conducts.
“Rigoletto” — Evan Rogister makes his Lyric conducting debut in a revival of Verdi's tragedy of a jester's revenge gone wrong.
Longtime Lyric subscribers will be happy to hear that six of the eight operas are new (or new-to-Chicago) productions. Subscribers also get first crack at special presentations like “Streetcar,” pianist Lang Lang in a solo recital and a subscriber appreciation recital featuring Fleming and mezzo-soprano Susan Graham.
For more information, call (312) 332-2244 or visit LyricOpera.org.