By Patrick O’Brien In the very white, very old-accustomed world of opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones is a radical new work for both its Black writers (score by Terence Blanchard; libretto by Kasi Lemmons) and its focus on the contemporary Black American experience. It may also be radical as an opera that feints toward a bloody
Lyric Opera’s straightforward ‘Tosca’ belies its messy human story
By Patrick O’Brien For an opera concerning love and lust in a time of war and upheaval, Puccini‘s Tosca, the immortal “shabby little shocker”, is never less than straightforward. The physical production of Lyric Opera’s new-to-Chicago staging is certainly straightforward. There are faithful recreations of the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle, the Palazzo Farnese, and the
Smoke, storms, and soaring spirits in Lyric Opera’s ‘Florencia en el Amazonas’
By Quinn Rigg Love is often regarded as life’s greatest escape — a transcendent and transformative experience that floods the senses and loosens our grip on reality. This untethering effect of such impassioned emotion can either be a spiral, or it can be a release. The Lyric Opera strives to express the dichotomy of freedom
With cutting-edge projections, Lyric Opera’s ‘Magic Flute’ is unmissable
By Anna DeNoia It doesn’t get much more classic than Mozart’s The Magic Flute. As one of the most well-known works from one of the world’s most well-known composers, its soaring melodies and whimsical story of prince rescuing princess have been enchanting audiences for centuries. This is a piece that has been produced constantly all
Lyric Opera pours out an ‘Elixir’ in celebration of togetherness
By Anna DeNoia Lyric Opera’s Elixir of Love provides both a dreamy escape for its audience and further sticks the landing on their reopening. This production crafts a new setting for Gaetano Donizetti’s classic comedy, painting a picture of the Fifties dolce vita Italy. Designer Robert Innnes Hopkins, a master of perspective and precision, makes
