From the Lyric Opera House in Chicago, experience live opera featuring today’s most exciting artists.
Join WFMT’s Lisa Flynn and Lyric Opera of Chicago Dramaturg Roger Pines for a series of rebroadcasts from Lyric’s past seasons. Lyric Opera of Chicago boasts having the most loyal subscribers in North America. Year after year, Chicago’s largest opera company presents the finest international singers, directors, and designers. The broadcasts deliver the magic of live performance while taking you backstage to meet the stars.
“Turandot”– Giacomo Puccini (Rebroadcast)
Puccini’s "Turandot" transports us to a fantasy of ancient China, where a princess challenges suitors to solve her riddles or face death.
“The Pearl Fishers”– Georges Bizet (Rebroadcast)
For sheer transcendent beauty, Bizet’s "The Pearl Fishers" has few rivals in the entire repertoire. The opera’s famed duet for tenor and baritone is a soaring melody that has turned countless opera newcomers into ecstatic fans.
“Die Walküre”– Richard Wagner (Rebroadcast)
Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its thrilling journey through Wagner’s Ring cycle with "Die Walküre," a riveting, devastating drama that involves complex relationships between brother and sister, husband and wife, father and daughter.
“Rigoletto”– Giuseppe Verdi (Rebroadcast)
There’s no character in opera more powerfully dramatic than the court jester Rigoletto, whose acid tongue and all-consuming desire for revenge lead to catastrophe for himself and his sweet, love-struck daughter Gilda.
“Orphée et Eurydice” – Christoph Willibald Gluck (Rebroadcast)
One of opera’s most beautiful masterpieces, Gluck’s exquisite drama introduces us to Orpheus, the poet and musician whose every word and note communicate the most overwhelming love for his Eurydice. Refusing to accept her death, he courageously journeys to the Underworld to bring her back to life.
“Faust”— Charles Gounod
Loosely based on Goethe’s epic drama, Gounod’s Faust is the epitome of French Grand Opera. The ageing scholar Faust signs a pact with the devil and regains his youth. But such deals can never end happily and the price Faust has to pay cannot be measured in gold.
“Così fan tutte”– Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A cherished operatic comedy, Così fan tutte, is a probing look into romantic relationships. What starts with philosopher’s bet that two beautiful young women can’t remain faithful to their fiancés ends with the couples’ true feelings revealed through the sheer genius of Mozart.
“I Puritani”– Vincenzo Bellini
The art of bel canto will take center stage in Bellini’s lyrical jewel, "I Puritani". This historical 17th-century English drama, is centered around a passionate young couple who find themselves caught up in a conflict between opposing political factions.
“Turandot”– Giacomo Puccini
Puccini’s "Turandot", transports us to a fantasy of ancient China, where a princess challenges suitors to solve her riddles or face death.
“The Pearl Fishers”– Georges Bizet
Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers” transports us to Ceylon, where two devoted friends find themselves in love with the same woman, an entrancingly beautiful priestess, Leïla.
“Die Walküre”– Richard Wagner
Lyric Opera of Chicago continues its thrilling journey through Wagner’s Ring cycle with "Die Walküre", a riveting, devastating drama that involves complex relationships between brother and sister, husband and wife, father and daughter.
“Rigoletto”– Giuseppe Verdi
There’s no character in opera more powerfully dramatic than the court jester Rigoletto, whose acid tongue and all-consuming desire for revenge lead to catastrophe for himself and his sweet, love-struck daughter Gilda.
“Orphée et Eurydice” – Christoph Willibald Gluck
One of opera’s most beautiful masterpieces, Gluck’s exquisite drama introduces us to Orpheus, the poet and musician whose every word and note communicate the most overwhelming love for his Eurydice. Refusing to accept her death, he courageously journeys to the Underworld to bring her back to life.
Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park
Preview Lyric’s upcoming season in the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert. The program includes highlights from Rigoletto, Turandot, Die Walküre, The Pearl Fishers, Orphée et Eurydice, Faust, and more.
“Rusalka”– Antonín Dvořák
Lyric’s production of Rusalka stars an internationally-renowned cast including Ana María Martínez in the title role. Brandon Jovanovich plays the Prince who loves and leaves Rusalka. Jill Grove is Jezibaba, Eric Owens is Vodnik, Rusalka’s father, and Ekaterina Gubanova is the Foreign Princess, who steals the Prince from Rusalka. Sir Andrew Davis conducts.
“Romeo and Juliet”– Charles Gounod
He's a Montague and she's a Capulet — families who have hated each other for centuries. Yet when Romeo meets Juliet, they fall instantly and rapturously in love. Secretly, they marry — but Shakespeare's famed young couple is ultimately doomed. Everything that could have been is lost as they die tragically in each other's arms.
“Der Rosenkavalier”– Richard Strauss
Can the elegantly alluring Marschallin find lasting happiness with her lover Octavian, who's half her age? Does the hot-blooded Baron really think his exalted position guarantees that young Sophie will be his wife? All bets are off when Sophie receives an engagement rose from the Baron.
“Nabucco”– Giuseppe Verdi
Politics. Religion. A dangerous love triangle. Plus two killer roles and some of the greatest choral music ever written, including the soul-stirring "Va, pensiero" chorus. "Nabucco" is the opera that made Verdi a star!
“The Merry Widow”– Franz Lehár
Baron Zeta is desperate that the wealthy widow Hanna Glavari marry a Pontevedrian man so that her fortune remains in the country. He attempts to match her with the handsome, Danilo, but it turns out that the have had a love affair in the past.
“Wozzeck”– Alban Berg
Wozzeck, a poverty-stricken soldier, is working to support Marie and their young son, born out of wedlock. Mocked, discounted, and abused by his superiors, when he is cheated on by the only woman he loves, he finally snaps — driven to madness and murder.