Lyric Cancels Performances Until January 2021

By Keegan Morris |

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Lyric Opera of Chicago (Photo: Keegan Morris)

Today, Lyric Opera of Chicago general director, president, and CEO Anthony Freud announced the decision to cancel performances at the Lyric Opera House through December 2020, eliminating the fall opening of the season that was to begin in September.

Amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the statement explains, in-person performances will be among the last to return, making “operating on anything close to a normal basis until that phase” impossible.

Affected programs include a double bill of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, Tosca, and Attila, as well as the US premiere of a Lyric co-commission and co-production: Lessons in Love and Violence by George Benjamin. However, under the assumption that the season will be able to resume in January 2021, Lyric is evaluating the possibility of shuffling the season schedule so as to accommodate these titles.

Lyric is planning a variety of “alternative artistic activities” for the fall, with the express purpose of “ensuring that the art form of opera remains in the hearts and minds of Lyric audiences and stakeholders.”

According to the statement, those audiences and stakeholders will automatically have the value of their tickets for canceled performances transferred to their accounts, with the option to apply the funds to future performances, a refund, or a donation.

ALSO ANNOUNCED TODAY: No 2020 ‘Nutcracker’ As Joffrey Ballet Cancels Performances through December

For more information about this announcement, visit lyricopera.org.