Learn about Lyric's shows before the season
Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2008-09 season will be opening in just three weeks, so now is a good time to familiarize yourself with the operas that are new to you, or maybe receive a different perspective on those that you've enjoyed many times through live performances or recordings.
The Lyric has just the resources for both the first-time or veteran opera-goer, with its "Lyric Season Companion" book and "Commentaries on CD," both of which delve into the history, storylines and minutiae of this season's operas.
They are Jules Massenet's season-opening "Manon," George Bizet's "The Pearl Fishers," Alban Berg's "Lulu," George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," Richard Wagner's "Tristan und Isolde," the double bill of Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Ruggero Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci," and the season-concluding new production of Mozart's "The Abduction from the Seraglio."
The "Lyric Season Companion" is a 96-page softcover book that includes articles about each opera's history, including the motivations and personalities of the composers and librettists, along with information about the casts, sets, costumes, stage directors and designers. It also includes numerous photos, a pronunciation guide for each opera, performance schedules and running times (including intermissions). There are also lists lists of the renowned singers who have performed in each of the Lyric's previous productions, along with recommended CD and DVD recordings for each opera, plus resource books and previously published articles.
The "Lyric Season Companion," created through the exclusive sponsorship of Susan M. Miller, costs $17. An order form can be downloaded from www.lyricopera.org, or the book will be on sale in the Civic Opera House lobby at all performances.
For further information, call (312) 827-5912.
The Lyric "Commentaries on CD" are professionally produced recordings exploring each opera, including background on the composer, musical excerpts and interpretations, character analysis and plot summaries. The entire set covering all the productions of Lyric's 2008-09 season is available for $155. Single-opera commentaries are also on sale for $25. Shipping and handling fees are included in these prices. The project is sponsored by Patrick G. Ryan and Shirley Welsh Ryan in honor of their parents.
This season's commentators include music director Sir Andrew Davis for "Lulu," "Tristan und Isolde," "Cavalleria Rusticana" and "Pagliacci," general director William Mason for "Madama Butterfly," Ryan Opera Center director Gianna Rolandi for "The Abduction from the Seraglio," Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger Pines for "Manon," director of operations Nicholas Ivor Martin for "Porgy and Bess" and audience education manager Jesse Gram for "The Pearl Fishers."
The audio commentaries are an annual project of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Women's Board. To order, call (312) 827-5682 or go to lyricopera.org/commentaries and download an order form. Proceeds benefit the Lyric's education and community engagement programming.
Single-performance tickets and subscriptions remain on sale for the 2008-09 season, with certain dates and seat locations subject to availability. Call the Civic Opera House box office during normal businhess hours at (312) 332-2244, Ext. 5600, or visit www.lyricopera.org
In other news from the Lyric, it will be auditioning performers for the German-speaking role and understudy of Pasha Selim in its new production of Mozart's "The Abduction from the Seraglio," which will be staged in March by Chas Rader-Shieber and performed in German.
Auditions will be held beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive. Rehearsals will begin Feb. 2, with nine performances March 2-28, 2009. The male non-singing role of Pasha requires the ability to perform extensive dialogue in German. Native speakers are preferred, but performers who have experience with other languages will be considered. German-language coaching is available for non-native speakers.
According to the lyric, the character of Pasha Selim is "strong, handsome, masculine, sexy, and dignified - a leading-man type." Ideally, candidates for the role should be between ages 40 and 55, standing six feet or taller. In addition to being able to deliver dialogue in German, strong acting ability is essential.
The role will come with an AGMA contract with a minimum weekly salary of $2,064.50, while the understudy will receive $1,710.50 per week. Candidates must have an appointment to audition. Walk-ins will not be seen.
To be considered for an audition, e-mail photo and résumé to: soloaud@lyricopera.org, with PASHA AUD in the subject line.