The Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts

Tosca by Giacomo Puccini

Saturday, September 26 at 5:45 p.m.

James Morris sings the role of Scarpia in Tosca. Photo credit: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago

One of the Lyric audience's favorite works, Puccini's fiery melodrama Tosca returns to open the 55th season. The title role of glamorous diva Floria Tosca is sung by soprano Deborah Voigt, starring opposite tenor Vladimir Galouzine as Tosca's lover, the painter/revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi; and bass James Morris as the sadistic police chief, Baron Scarpia, who lusts after her. Tenor John Easterlin plays Scarpia's henchman, Spoletta. The Sacristan is portrayed by bass-baritone Dale Travis.

Sir Andrew Davis conducts. Sung in Italian. Estimated running time: 2 hours, 50 minutes.

The Lyric Opera revival of Tosca is generously made possible by the Abbott Fund, Mr. and Mrs. John V. Crowe, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Nancy W. Knowles.

Faust by Charles François Gounod

Monday, October 5 at 7:15 p.m.

René Pape sings the role of Mephistopheles in Faust. Photo credit: Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lyric's production of Gounod's Faust celebrates the 150th anniversary of this universally popular work, which premiered in Paris in 1859. The story is one of the most justly celebrated in opera. Aged philosopher Faust (tenor Piotr Beczala, debut) – at the urging of Satan's agent, Méphistophélès (bass René Pape) – is made young again in exchange for his soul. The drama encompasses Faust's encounter with the innocent Marguerite (soprano Ana María Martínez) – his wooing and subsequent abandonment of her, the death of her brother Valentin (baritone Lucas Meachem) at Faust's own hand, and Marguerite's ensuing madness, death, and redemption. A comic element in Gounod's opera is the presence of Marthe, Marguerite's busybody neighbor (mezzo-soprano Jane Bunnell, debut).

Conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and sung in French. Estimated running time: 3 hours, 50 minutes.

The Port, Washlow, and Errant Families Production. Revival generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, Randy and Melvin Berlin, and Northern Trust.

New Production

Ernani by Giuseppe Verdi

Tuesday, October 27 at 7:15 p.m.

Salvatore Licitra sings the title role of Ernani. Photo by Karin Cooper/Washington National Opera

Considered one of the most stirring works of Verdi's early years, Ernani was a triumph at its Venice world premiere in 1844. Audiences are invariably captivated by the infectious energy of the music, which requires four principals boasting magnificent vocal beauty and technical prowess. The macho yet romantic nobleman, Don Juan de Aragon, disguised as the bandit Ernani (tenor Salvatore Licitra), loves the young, nobly born Elvira (soprano Sondra Radvanovsky). She returns his love, but must endure the attentions of both the King of Spain, Don Carlo (baritone Boaz Daniel) and Don Ruy Gomez de Silva (bass Giacomo Prestia, debut), her aged uncle who hopes to marry her himself. Silva's protection of Ernani from the angry king's pursuits results in Ernani owing the old man a terrible debt, which precipitates the opera's tragic dénouement.

Conducted by Renato Palumbo and sung in Italian. Estimated running time: 2 hours, 40 minutes.

Lyric Opera production generously made possible by The Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust and The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust.

Katya Kabanova by Leoš Janáček

Sunday, November 22 at 1:45 p.m.

Karita Mattila will sing the title role of Katya Kabanova. Photo by Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

Janáček's supremely moving tragedy represents the lyrical peak of his career. Unhappily married to the ineffectual Tichon (tenor Jason Collins, debut), bullied by his vicious mother, Kabanicha (mezzo-soprano Judith Forst), and stifled by a narrow-minded, oppressive community, heartsick Katya (soprano Karita Mattila) falls in love with the dashing Boris (tenor Brandon Jovanovich, debut), whose future is unfortunately subject to the wishes of his overbearing uncle, Dikoj (bass-baritone Andrew Shore). There is a striking contrast between the tortured love of Katya and Boris and a young, effervescently carefree couple, Varvara (mezzo-soprano Liora Grodnikaite, debut) and Kudrjáš (tenor Garrett Sorenson, debut).

Conducted by Markus Stenz (debut) and sung in Czech. Estimated running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes.

Production originally created for the Metropolitan Opera. Lyric Opera presentation generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, Julie and Roger Baskes, and Margot and Josef Lakonishok.

New Production

The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár

Saturday, December 5 at 7:15 p.m.

Roger Honeywell and Elizabeth Futral star as Count Danilo and Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow. Photo by Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago

Lehár's masterpiece is rivaled only by Die Fledermaus as the most popular of all Viennese operettas. It’s set in Paris, where the high life is being greatly enjoyed by the beautiful widow Hanna Glawari (soprano Elizabeth Futral), whose 20 million francs make her particularly attractive to Paris's most eligible bachelors. Hanna is a native of Pontevedria, whose ambassador, Baron Zeta (bass-baritone Dale Travis), is desperate to have her marry a native Pontevedrian so that her fortune can remain in her own country. He tries to interest Hanna's old flame, Count Danilo (tenor Roger Honeywell), in marrying her, but Danilo prefers to play the field with the girls from Maxim's. The amorous intrigues also involve Zeta's charming young wife, Valencienne (soprano Andriana Chuchman) and the French nobleman who loves her, Camille de Rosillon (tenor Stephen Costello, debut).

Conducted by Emmanuel Villaume and sung in English. Estimated running time: 3 hours, 5 minutes.

Lyric Opera production generously made possible by Jim and Vicki Mills/Jon and Lois Mills, an Anonymous Donor, the Howard A. Stotler Estate, Donna Van Eekeren, and Bank of America.

The Elixir of Love by Gaetano Donizetti

Saturday, January 23 at 7:15 p.m.

Nicole Cabell sings the role of Adina in The Elixir of Love. Photo by Philip Groshong/Cincinnati Opera

Donizetti's most enchanting comedy contains ravishing arias (such as the tenor's celebrated "Una furtiva lagrima"), as well as delightful duets, ensembles, and choruses. Atypical of operas from the Romantic era, the hero is a simple country lad, Nemorino (tenor Giuseppe Filianoti, debut), who pines for a wealthy landowner, Adina (soprano Nicole Cabell). The fun begins when Nemorino buys a phony "elixir of love" from the quack, Dr. Dulcamara (baritone Allesandro Corbelli), hoping that it will help himwin Adina's heart away from his nemesis, Sergeant Belcore (baritone Gabriele Viviani, debut).

Conducted by Bruno Campanella and sung in Italian. Estimated running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes.

The Mrs. Thomas B. Burke and the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation Production.

Revival made possible by Illinois Tool Works Inc., the NIB Foundation, and Roberta L. and Robert J. Washlow.

The Damnation of Faust by Hector Berlioz

Saturday, February 20 at 7:15 p.m.

Susan Graham sings the role of Marguerite in The Damnation of Faust. Photo by Ken Howard Metropolitan Opera

La damnation de Faust (premiere Paris, 1846) is Lyric's first production of any Berlioz work. Described by the composer as a "dramatic legend," Damnation has often been heard in concert form and has always been hugely popular with major orchestras worldwide. In recent decades some major operatic venues have staged it with enormous success internationally. The familiar dramatic events of the work – the suicidal disillusion of Faust (tenor Paul Groves), his encounter with Méphistophélès (bass-baritone John Relyea, debut), the exuberance of the student Brander (bass-baritone Christian Van Horn), Faust's initial encounter with the innocent Marguerite (mezzo-soprano Susan Graham) and the catastrophic results of their romance – are each given incomparable freshness by Berlioz, with episode after episode enchanting the ear.

Conducted by Sir Andrew Davis and sung in French. Estimated running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Lyric Opera production generously made possible by Mr. and Mrs. William C.

Vance, Edgar Foster Daniels, the Mazza Foundation, Mrs. A. Watson Armour, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Sunday, February 28 at 1:45 p.m.

Joyce DiDonato sings the role of Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro. Photo by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

One of the greatest creations in the entire repertoire, The Marriage of Figaro is Mozart's beloved opera centered on a single frantic day in the life of Aguas Frescas, the castle of Count Almaviva (baritone Mariusz Kwiecien). The count has designs on Susanna (soprano Danielle de Niese), maid of the countess (soprano Anne Schwanewilms). Susanna is to be married this very day to the count's valet, Figaro (bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen), but that doesn't stop the nobleman from pursuing a tryst with her. However, secretly, Figaro and Susanna – aided by the countess – conspire to teach the philandering count a lesson. Others major players include the amorous young page, Cherubino (mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato); Susanna's devious music master, Basilio (tenor Keith Jameson); Antonio, the count's gardener (baritone Philip Kraus); and an older couple, Dr. Bartolo (bass Andrea Silvestrelli) and Marcellina (mezzo-soprano Diana Montague, debut), who, much to his own amazement, turn out to be Figaro's parents.

Conducted by TBA and sung in Italian. Estimated running time: 3 hours, 45 minutes.

The Dr. and Mrs. Edwin J. DeCosta and the Walter E. Heller Foundation Production. Revival made possible by Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross.