Carmen

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A R I A S O C I E T Y S P O T L I G H T | 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 7
February 11 - March 25, 2017 | 45
STEFAN T. EDLIS and GAEL NEESON
Passionate patrons of the arts, Stefan Edlis and Gael
Neeson are actively involved with organizations in
Chicago, New York, and Aspen. Mr. Edlis and Ms.
Neeson have supported and subscribed to Lyric Opera
for more than 30 years. They have previously cosponsored
the Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park concert and
named their seats through the Your Name Here program. Stefan and Gael have
previously cosponsored five mainstage operas, and are generously cosponsoring this
season’s Lucia di Lammermoor . They also made a leadership gift to the Breaking
New Ground Campaign. Lyric is honored to have Stefan Edlis serve on its Board of
Directors and Production Sponsorship Committee.
EXELON
The philanthropic initiatives of Exelon Corporation help generate and sustain
Chicago’s cultural stature and economic vitality. For several decades, Exelon has
generously supported the Annual Campaign, Fantasy of the Opera, Wine Auction,
and the Great Opera Fund as well as Lyric’s education and community engagement
programs. Exelon’s many cosponsorships have included The Mikado (2010/12),
the Renée Fleming and Dmitri Hvorostovsky Subscriber Appreciation Concert
(2011/12), La bohème (2012/13), Rusalka (2013/14), Lyric’s second mariachi opera,
El Pasado Nunca Se Termina (2014/15), and The Marriage of Figaro (2015/16).
This season, Exelon cosponsors Lyric’s production of
Carmen. Lyric Opera is fortunate to have Exelon as
an outstanding corporate partner.
FORD FOUNDATION
Lyric is honored to have the tremendous support of the Ford Foundation. For
nearly 80 years, the Foundation has worked with visionary leaders and organizations
worldwide to ensure that all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential,
contribute to society, have a voice in the decisions that affect them, and live and
work in dignity. Lyric is deeply grateful for the Ford Foundation’s essential support
for Lyric’s landmark Chicago Voices initiative during
the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons.
Julius Frankel
JULIUS FRANKEL FOUNDATION
A founding patron of Lyric Theatre (now Lyric Opera) and a Lyric
Opera Board member at the time of his death in 1982, Julius
Frankel devoted his philanthropic giving to making Chicago a
great place to live and enjoy life. In past seasons, Julius Frankel
sponsored Lyric productions of Andrea Chénier (1979) and
Lohengrin (1980) in memory of Betty Frankel. The Julius Frankel
Foundation has sustained this noble legacy under the guidance
and longtime dedication of former trustees Nelson Cornelius and
John Georgas and current trustee BMO Harris Bank N.A. Lyric’s audiences have
benefited greatly from the Foundation’s major grants for general operating support
and production sponsorships. The Julius Frankel Foundation has generously
sponsored/cosponsored many celebrated new productions at Lyric, including
Die Fledermaus (1989/90), Xerxes (1995/96), Carmen (1999/00) in memory of
Ardis Krainik, Cavalleria rusticana/Pagliacci (2002/03), Il Trovatore (2006/07),
and La Traviata (2013/14) in honor of the late Nelson D. Cornelius. Lyric has
named Mezzanine Box 25 in honor of Julius Frankel in grateful recognition of the
Foundation’s significant gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign.
Elizabeth Morse Genius
ELIZABETH MORSE GENIUS CHARITABLE TRUST
One of two trusts established in memory of Elizabeth Morse
Genius, daughter of 19th-century industrialist Charles Hosmer
Morse, the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust is a
major, and deeply appreciated, leader among Lyric’s contributors.
Through the Trust’s support of classical fine arts, Co-Trustees
Bank of America, N.A. and James L. Alexander seek to enrich the
quality of life in Chicago, especially for youth and elderly citizens.
In recognition of the Trust’s Building on Greatness Capital
Campaign support, Lyric named the distinctive Opera House chimes and music
library in honor of the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust. Along with its
sister trust, The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust, the Genius Trust has sponsored
many mainstage productions and will be one of the cosponsors of this season’s
company premiere of Les Troyens. In addition to production sponsorship, the Trust
has helped underwrite Lyric’s ongoing efforts to diversify its various boards, and
preserve Lyric’s history through support of its
Archives project.
ANN and GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION
Lyric is extremely grateful for the longstanding support of the Ann and Gordon Getty
Foundation. The Foundation has made vital contributions to the Annual Campaign,
providing essential general operating support to foster Lyric’s achievements. Gordon
Getty served on Lyric’s Board of Directors from 1988-2015.
BRENT and KATIE GLEDHILL
Brent and Katie are proud supporters of numerous causes
in Chicago, and they have made a leadership gift to Lyr-
ic’s Breaking New Ground Campaign. This season Brent
and Katie are a Diamond Record Sponsor of the Chicago
Voices Gala Benefit Concert. Brent Gledhill is the Global
Head of Investment Banking at William Blair & Com-
pany, and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.
Lyric is honored to have him serve on its Board of Directors, Executive Committee
and Audit Committee, and as Chairman of the Innovation Committee.
WILLIAM and ETHEL GOFEN
William and Ethel Gofen have been attending Lyric
Opera productions for more than 50 years. They are
generous donors to Lyric’s Annual Campaign, and
cosponsored the Overture Society Luncheons for many
years. In 1997, Bill and Ethel named seats for each other
in the Ardis Krainik Theatre as part of the Building on
Greatness Capital Campaign. The Gofens generously
cosponsored Lyric’s world premiere of Bel Canto, based on the novel by Ann
Patchett, and are supporting the opera’s appearance on PBS Great Performances.
They have also made a leadership gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign.
Lyric is thrilled to have Ethel Gofen as a member of the Board of Directors and
Lyric Unlimited Committee.
KAREN Z. GRAY-KREHBIEL and JOHN H.
KREHBIEL, JR.
Lyric is deeply grateful for the friendship and support of
Karen Z. Gray-Krehbiel and John Krehbiel. A devoted
member of the Women’s Board, Karen has served on
its Executive Committee as Vice President – Education,
2011 Opera Ball Chair and 2016 Board of Directors'
Annual Meeting Chair. In addition, she contributed
a very generous gift to the Breaking New Ground Campaign in support of stage
renovations. The Krehbiel family plays a prominent role in the continued success of
the company; this season, Karen and John join the production sponsor family with
their generous support of Carmen.
HOWARD GOTTLIEB and BARBARA GREIS
Among Lyric’s most devoted subscribers and patrons,
Howard Gottlieb and Barbara Greis have generously
supported Lyric Opera through major contributions to
the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, Campaign
for Excellence, Breaking New Ground Campaign,
and Annual Campaign. They have cosponsored many
productions, most recently Otello (2013/14), Il Trovatore
(2014/15), The Merry Widow (2015/16), and this season’s Don Quichotte. Mr.
Gottlieb and Ms. Greis are also the exclusive sponsors of this season’s Itzhak Perlman
in Recital. Mr. Gottlieb is the retired chairman of the Glenwood Investment
Corporation and an accomplished violinist. Lyric is honored to have him serve as an
active member of Lyric’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
GRAMMA FISHER FOUNDATION
With an unparalleled record as sponsor of more than 26 Lyric new productions
since the 1960s, the Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa is a
cornerstone of Lyric’s legacy of world-class achievement in the arts. The Gramma
Fisher Foundation has made a leadership commitment to cosponsor each of the four
operas that make up Wagner’s Ring cycle, starting with this season’s Das Rheingold
and concluding with the complete cycle in 2019/20. Lyric is sincerely grateful for
the enduring friendship and leadership of Christine Hunter and other members of
the Fisher family. Lyric is fortunate to have Matthew Fisher serve on its Board of
Directors and Stephanie Fisher as an esteemed member of the Women’s Board.