Lyric Opera of Chicago (Photo: Keegan Morris)
After previously canceling performances through the end of 2020, Lyric Opera of Chicago has announced all performances of its 2020-21 season have been canceled.
Says Lyric CEO and president Anthony Freud, “Having to cancel the remainder of our season is devastating but unavoidable, in order to keep our guests, artists, and company safe.” Freud continues that that Lyric is working to continue to create a “broad array of special digital offerings.” Last month, the company launched its season digitally with a free virtual concert entitled For the Love of Lyric. Over the summer, Lyric hosted another free virtual performance honoring Black opera artists starring tenor Lawrence Brownlee.
Among the canceled 2021 productions are Saint-Saëns’s Samson and Delilah, Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro; and Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, as well as a recital by Christine Goerke and a concert tribute to Lyric’s longstanding music director Sir Andrew Davis, who concludes his 20-year tenure at the end of this season. Also canceled are productions of Singin’ In the Rain, which was to be the latest installment in the “Broadway at Lyric” as well as Blue by composer Jeanine Tesori and librettist Tazewell Thompson. Lyric says that it remains committed to presenting the Chicago premiere of this latter title, an opera about police violence, at a later date.
Also included in the announcement was a partial preview of Lyric’s 2021-22 season, which will feature Mozart’s The Magic Flute as well as Verdi’s Macbeth in the debut of Enrique Mazzola as Lyric’s music director. Lyric has also announced the presentation of three contemporary operas: Florencia en el Amazonas by the late Mexican composer Daniel Catán, Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, and Missy Mazzoli’s Proving Up. Finally, 42nd Street, the “Broadway at Lyric” production that had been scheduled to conclude the 2019-20 season, will now round out the 2021-22 season.
Ticketholders for canceled performances will have those funds transferred to their accounts with the option to purchase tickets for future performances, seek a refund, or donate the amount. Visit lyricopera.org for more information.
