The Harris Theater for Music and Dance will open the second decade of the Twenty-first Century with a month full of exciting and eclectic music and dance performances this January 2010. Highlights include the highly anticipated returns of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo and Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan; the annual Contempo Double-Bill engagement featuring Grammy Award-winning Harris Theater resident company eighth blackbird along with jazz musicians Kenny Werner and Chris Potter, and a performance by The Chicago Jazz Ensemble, celebrating Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Rounding out the month is the Harris Theater Family Series “DJ Beethoven” engagement featuring a brand-new program by the New Millennium Orchestra! Continue Reading

English mezzo-soprano Diana Montague has withdrawn from all performances in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s revival of The Marriage of Figaro Feb. 28-Mar. 27 due to ill health, Lyric’s general director William Mason announced today. The distinguished singer was to have made her Lyric Opera debut as Marcellina in the Mozart opera. Continue Reading

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Guild Board of Directors celebrates its 26^th Fantasy of the Opera in the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive., on Saturday, February 6, 2010, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Fabulous food! Terrific music! Great friends! The Fantasy of the Opera is presented by the Lyric Opera Guild Board of Directors, and has been heating up Chicago’s winter social scene for 26 years while raising important funds to benefit Chicago’s own world-renowned opera company. It’s one of Lyric’s most exciting and elegant events – truly “the hottest party in the coldest month,” which makes this year’s theme, “Hearts Afire,” especially appropriate!

Guests at the $400 per-person black-tie fundraiser will begin the evening with specialty cocktails or champagne and gourmet hors d’oeuvres prepared by some of Chicago’s top restaurants: Carnivale, Coco Pazzo, Devon Seafood Grill, Il Mulino, Lloyd’s Chicago, Lockwood Restaurant, N9NE Steakhouse, One North Kitchen & Bar, Phil Stefani’s 437 Rush, Piccolo Sogno, primebar, Prosecco, Province, and Shikago Restaurant.

This season’s Fantasy Raffle features American Airlines (Lyric’s official airline) round trips for two to Paris (business class) and round trips for two (business class and first class) on American Airlines to any destination in the world; and a six-month membership at The Spa at Trump Tower.

This season’s Fantasy Silent Auction (held in the Nancy W. Knowles Lobby) features a 4-night stay at Beaver Creek Resort in Colorado, including ski passes and equipment rental; a dinner and fireworks spectacular at the exclusive Independence Day celebration at the Chicago Yacht Club; a chic and practical Prada hobo bag; plus an enticing array of weekend getaways, luxury items, sports-event tickets, opera tickets and memorabilia, and more.

The Cabaret performance in the Ardis Krainik Theatre begins at 8 p.m. and features stars of Lyric’s current and previous seasons. Music Director Sir Andrew Davis will serve as Master of Ceremonies;  Nicole Cabell (Elixir of Love), David Cangelosi (Tosca), Mark Delavan (Cav/Pag), Susan Graham (The Damnation of Faust), Danielle de Niese, Joyce DiDonato, and Philip Kraus (The Marriage of Figaro), Joseph Kaiser (Faust), and members of the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center will perform selections from the great American songbook, Broadway classics, and light operatic fare.

After the Cabaret, guests will enjoy a festively elegant seated dinner prepared by Calihan Catering. At 10 p.m. the “Go-Diva” Chocolate Lounge opens in the lower-level Opera Club. Liqueurs and specialty coffees will be served, along with sweet indulgences courtesy of Godiva Chocolatier. Guests will enjoy dancing to music performed by Ken Arlen’s Indigo in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer, with sizzling décor by Kehoe Designs.

Fantasy of the Opera is made possible by deeply appreciated support from the following: Platinum Grand Benefactor and Lead Sponsor: Harris Private Bank; Golden Grand Benefactors An Anonymous Donor, Bain & Company, Baker & McKenzie, closerlook, inc., Deloitte., Ernst & Young LLP, Jenner & Block LLP, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Jordan II/Jordan Industries, Richard P. and Susan Kiphart, KPMG LLP, Mayer Brown LLP, and Donna Van Eekeren; Silver Grand Benefactors An Anonymous Donor, Eisen Family Foundation, James G. and Laura G. McCormick, Allan and Elaine Muchin, Peer Pedersen, Spencer Stuart, and Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP; and Benefactors BBJ Linen and Quarles & Brady LLP. The Fantasy Raffle Sponsor is American Airlines, the official airline of Lyric Opera of Chicago.

All proceeds benefit Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Valet parking is complimentary to all guests.  To make a reservation and for more information, visit www.lyricopera.org\fantasy or call (312) 827-5656.

For a sneak peek at some hot silent-auction items that are Lyric exclusives, go to http://www.makeitbetter.net/make-a-difference/charity-auctions

Continuing the momentum and building on the critical success of its fall 2009 season, the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park will present a winter/spring 2010 season of impressive and diverse performances by the city’s most acclaimed music and dance institutions as well as world-renowned national and International Artists and ensembles through its Harris Theater Presents series.

The schedule for the Harris Theater winter/spring 2010 season includes a variety of acclaimed Chicago favorites, Chicago premieres and engagements with individuals and organizations that are seldom seen in Chicago. Joining such popular and acclaimed Chicago institutions as River North Chicago Dance Company, Music of the Baroque, eighth blackbird, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago Opera Theater and Chicago Jazz Ensemble is highly anticipated return of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan; the introduction of the Harris Theater’s Broadway Luminaries series, including engagements with composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheimand Chicago area native Christine Ebersole; the annual Contempo Double-Bill, featuring eighth blackbird and jazz musicians Kenny Werner and Chris Potter; classical guitarist Sharon Isbin and violinist Mark O’Connor; The Magnetic Fields; and the conclusion of the Harris’ new Eat to the Beat $5.00 lunchtime dance series. Continue Reading

Elizabeth Futral as Hanna Glawari and Roger Honeywell as Count Danilo star as sparring ex-lovers in classic battle of the sexes – Lyric’s own “Fred & Ginger” wind up waltzing back into each other’s hearts! Continue Reading

Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions in January and February for experienced, classically trained singers in all voice categories who seek positions in the company’s choral ensemble for the 2010-2011 season. Tenors, in particular, are highly encouraged to apply.

Auditions will be held on the following dates in 2010: Continue Reading

Terms of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s new contract with the Chicago Federation of Musicians were released late this afternoon following completion of negotiations and ratification by the orchestra members.

The new contract covers three seasons: 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12. It guarantees orchestra members 26 weeks of employment in the first year of the contract, with a reduction to 24 weeks in the second and third years. Continue Reading

Gary Griffin, one of ShowBiz Chicago’s favorite guests, makes his Lyric Opera debut with a new production of the operetta The Merry Widow by Franz Lehár, starring Elizabeth Futral and Roger Honeywell. Performances will be in English, with projected titles.

Lyric will mount 11 performances of The Merry Widow between Dec. 5, 2009 and Jan. 16,2010, led by French conductor Emmanuel Villaume.  Set designer Daniel Ostling and costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, will make Lyric debuts. Christine Binder is lighting designer and Daniel Pelzig is choreographer. Continue Reading

National Opera Week takes place November 13-22, 2009 and celebrates the vitality of opera in America as a contemporary cultural expression. Chicago Opera Theater (COT), partnering with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, are  proud to participate in this exciting, week-long celebration with “Pop-up Opera” performances around Chicago, a young professionals’ night at Rock Bottom Brewery, and a free double bill of two one-act operas at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center. Continue Reading

British conductor Edward Gardner, music director of the English National Opera, has withdrawn from his debut engagement at Lyric Opera of Chicago, general director William Mason announced today. Gardner withdrew because his first child is due in late February. Continue Reading