'Tosca,' 'Faust' top Lyric's plans for next season
With Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2008-09 season heading into its final two months with this week's opening of "Tristan und Isolde," next season can't be that far away.
Details of the Lyric's 55th season, announced this week, include a return by soprano Deborah Voigt (currently starring as Isolde), who will open the season Sept. 26 in the title role of Giacomo Puccini's "Tosca," starring opposite tenor Vladimir Galouzine as the painter/revolutionary Cavaradossi; and bass James Morris in one of his signature roles as the vengeful Baron Scarpia.
The 2009-10 season will also include two widely different interpretations of Goethe's "Faust" legend, both by French composers. Opening on Oct. 5 will be the familiar "Faust" by Charles Gounod, a Lyric Opera staple throughout its history, which will also mark the 150th anniversary of the opera's 1859 Paris premiere. The Lyric will then present its first performances of "The Damnation of Faust," the rarely staged "dramatic legend" by Hector Berlioz, to be seen in February-March 2010.
The other five operas next season are Giuseppe Verdi's "Ernani," Czech composer Leos Janacek's "Katia Kabanova," Franz Lehár's "The Merry Widow," Gaetani Donizetti's "L'elisir d'Amor e" ("The Elixir of Love") and Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro."
Next season will feature 77 performances, down from 79 this season, due to the economic climate and the Lyric's adjusting subscription packages to meet market demand. The latter includes a new four-opera Friday matinee series (called the MC Series) and new four-opera evening series on Tuesdays and Fridays.
"All three of our current matinee series are completely sold out," said general director William Mason. "The demand for matinee performances is clearly increasing, and we think the new Friday MC Series fits the bill."
Also new next season for all subscribers is a 25 percent down payment plan, with the remaining three monthly credit-card payments charged automatically. In addition, depending on the series they choose, full-season subscribers (eight operas) have an opportunity to see up to two operas free.
In another nod to the economy, there will be no increase in upper-balcony subscription prices for all series next season, with only about a four percent increase for all subscriptions in other sections of the Ardis Krainik Theatre.
Subscribers will have a selection of 23 different series. Subscription brochures will be mailed in February. Weekday prices are Monday through Friday, including matinees, while weekend rates apply Friday evening through Sunday matinees. There are no Sunday night performances scheduled.
Three operas will receive new productions next season. "The Damnation of Faust" (the first work by Berlioz to be heard at the Lyric) will star Paul Groves, Susan Graham, and John Relyea (debut), conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in a new production by English stage director Stephen Langridge and designer George Souglides.
The new production of "The Merry Widow" will have Gary Griffin, associate artistic director of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, making his debut at the Lyric as stage director. The cast includes Elizabeth Futral, Roger Honeywell and Stephen Costello (debut). Conductor Emmanuel Villaume returns from this season's triumph in "Manon," with set designer Daniel Ostling and costume designer Mara Blumenfeld making their Lyric Opera debuts. Verdi's "Ernani," starring Salvatore Licitra, Sondra Radvanovsky, Boaz Daniel, and Giacomo Prestia (debut), will return in a new production by José Maria Condemi and Scott Marr, conducted by Renato Palumbo.
Also in his Lyric debut will be Jonathan Miller, whose production of "Katya Kabanova," originally created for New York's Metropolitan Opera, will star Karita Mattila, Judith Forst and Brandon Jovanovich (debut). Conductor Markus Stenz and stage director Paula Williams will make their Lyric Opera debuts.
Next season's revivals of familiar Lyric Opera productions are "Tosca," "The Elixir of Love" and "The Marriage of Figaro." In addition to opening the season with "Tosca," music director Sir Andrew Davis will conduct "Faust" and "The Damnation of Faust," while Donald Nally will prepare the Lyric Opera Chorus for all eight operas next season.
"Our 55th season will be exciting in its breadth and depth, with sparkling comedies, searing tragedies, and brilliant music in a variety of styles," Mason said. "And, of course, we have an exceptional roster of world-class singers, conductors, stage directors, and designers. Having two operas explore Goethe's 'Faust' myth in one season offers our audiences a unique opportunity to compare and contrast between the relatively familiar Gounod and the less frequently staged Berlioz."