Lyric Opera of Chicago facts for kids

The outside of the Civic Opera Building, home to the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the top opera companies in the United States. It started in Chicago in 1954. It was first called 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago'. Carol Fox, Nicola Rescigno, and Lawrence Kelly founded it. Their first season was very special because it featured Maria Callas's first performance in America, in the opera Norma. In 1956, Carol Fox changed the company's name to Lyric Opera of Chicago. It has been a major opera company ever since. The Lyric Opera performs in the Civic Opera Building. The company now owns the parts of the building where they perform.

Opera History in Chicago

The first opera ever performed in Chicago was La sonnambula on July 29, 1850. A traveling opera group put on the show. Chicago's first opera house opened in 1865. But it was destroyed in the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. A second opera house, the Chicago Auditorium, opened in 1889.

The current Civic Opera House opened in 1929. It is located at 20 North Wacker Drive. The original opera company there, the Chicago Civic Opera, closed during the Great Depression. For many years, different opera companies performed in Chicago. Finally, the Lyric Opera was formed in 1954. It has been performing almost every year since then.

Lyric Opera: The Early Years (1954-1980)

Carol Fox was a very important person in the Lyric Opera's history. She was only 28 when she started the company in 1954. She was the first woman in America to lead an opera company. She brought Maria Callas to Chicago for her American debut. This was a huge success.

Carol Fox had studied opera singing in Italy. She realized she wanted to bring the best artists to Chicago. Her hard work paid off. In 1954, the Lyric Opera season was only three weeks long. By 2007, it was almost six months long!

Fox also invited famous dancers to perform at the Lyric. These included Rudolf Nureyev, Vera Zorina, Alicia Markova, Erik Bruhn, and Maria Tallchief. The famous choreographer George Balanchine even created dances for the Lyric. Bruno Bartoletti was a main conductor, and other famous conductors like Tullio Serafin also worked there. Franco Zeffirelli staged many operas.

After she stopped dancing, Maria Tallchief became the ballet director for the Lyric from 1973 to 1979. She also started the Lyric Opera's ballet school in 1974.

Carol Fox was known for bringing many world-famous singers to the Lyric. Some of these included Luciano Pavarotti, Tito Gobbi, Birgit Nilsson, Renata Tebaldi, Plácido Domingo, and Joan Sutherland. Many other great singers also performed there.

The Lyric Opera of Chicago is known for presenting the best singers, conductors, and directors. They perform classic operas and new ones. They have been doing this since 1954.

Later Leaders of the Lyric Opera

After Carol Fox, her assistant Ardis Krainik became the leader (1981–1996). The opera house's main theater was later named after her. William Mason then led the company from 1997 to 2011. Anthony Freud took over in October 2011 and continues to lead the company.

Bruno Bartoletti was a main conductor and artistic director for many years (1964–2000). Sir Andrew Davis became the music director in 2000 and retired in 2021. Now, Enrique Mazzola is the Lyric Opera's music director and main conductor.

Danny Newman was the company's press agent for a long time (1954–2002). He is famous for creating the idea of selling subscriptions for arts events. This is how many arts groups in the US get their funding today. In 2020, Sylvia Neil became the first woman to lead Lyric's board of directors.

Opera Productions

The Lyric Opera performs many well-known operas. They also present new and modern works. Some recent productions have included The Great Gatsby (2000), Street Scene (2001), and Sweeney Todd (2002). They also put on Doctor Atomic and A Wedding.

In 2015, the company premiered a new opera called Bel Canto. It was written by Jimmy López and based on a popular novel.

From 1971 to 2001, Lyric Opera shows were broadcast on the radio. After a break, the broadcasts started again in 2006. You can now listen to them on the WFMT network and SiriusXM Radio.

The Civic Opera House

The beautiful Ardis Krainik Theatre inside the Civic Opera House.

The Lyric Opera's home is the Civic Opera House. The company rented parts of the building from 1954 until 1993. After renovations, they bought those parts of the building. The building was built in 1929 and has a cool Art Deco style inside.

The main theater has 3,563 seats. This makes it the second-largest opera theater in North America. Only the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City is bigger. In 1996, the inside of the theater was named The Ardis Krainik Theatre. This was to honor Ardis Krainik, who helped with the building's big renovation.

Joffrey Ballet

In 2017, the Lyric Opera announced that the Joffrey Ballet would move its performances to the Civic Opera House in 2020. The Joffrey Ballet used to perform at the Auditorium Theatre. This move happened around the time the Lyric presented a new production of Orfeo ed Euridice. This show combined music and ballet and featured the Joffrey Ballet.

Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center is a special program for young artists. It was started by Carol Fox in 1974. It helps talented young singers become professional opera performers.

The Ryan Opera Center is one of the best vocal programs in America. Many famous singers have come from this program, including:

About a dozen young singers are chosen each year from almost 400 who audition. They live in Chicago for twelve months. During this time, they get advanced training in singing, languages, and acting. They also learn from famous opera artists. The singers perform in concerts around Chicago. During the main opera season, they perform roles and learn backup roles in Lyric Opera shows. They work with top opera singers, conductors, and directors. This helps them become professional artists.

Gianna Rolandi, a famous soprano, was the director of the program from 2006. The program is now led by Dan Novak, Craig Terry, and Julia Faulkner. Renée Fleming, another famous singer, is an advisor.

See also

In Spanish: Ópera lírica de Chicago para niños

• List of museums and cultural institutions in Chicago