8 / 74
L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
8
|
February 26 - March 20, 2017
TODD ROSENBERG
The production of
Eugene Onegin
that you are enjoying this evening is the climax of what has certainly been one of the most exciting
Lyric seasons in recent memory. My wife and I have hugely enjoyed every production, and I hope you have, too.
Tonight’s production is benefiting from an ambitious stage-improvement project, the first step of which was implemented over
the past summer. Three new stage lifts, a turntable, 16 new point hoists (individual motorized lines that can lift sets or people in
the air), and sophisticated video projection technology has enabled us to present
this season’s new productions of
Das Rheingold
,
Les Troyens
, and
The Magic Flute
.
None of those productions would have even been possible were it not for that initial
investment. Over the next two years we’ll witness the second phase of the project,
including additional stage lifts and point hoists, plus various other crucial technical
capabilities. This will ensure our being able to present future productions exactly as
our directors have imagined them, and in a safe, efficient manner. We’re exceedingly
grateful to our Breaking New Ground campaign donors whose generosity has made
this possible.
Along with our backstage investments to enable these amazing productions, we
are also investing in the front of the house to enhance your experience at Lyric. New
concierge greeters in the lobby, additional ticket scanners to improve your entrance,
and a reworking of the traffic flow on Wacker Drive to expidite your arrival and
departure are just a few of the changes you’ve experienced this season. We’re looking
for fresh ways to make your total Lyric experience a delight, from the moment you
purchase your ticket until you depart after a wonderful performance.
The future of opera and of Lyric is dependent not only on the loyalty of our
longtime audience members, but also on our ability to cultivate the next generation.
As we all know, “Millennials” and young professionals have many more
opportunities for entertainment and cultural consumption than ever before. In
achieving our goal of continually attracting and engaging younger audiences, we’ve
embraced the types of media that they’re familiar with. Many of you who spend time online, particularly in social media,
have noticed in the past year many more banner ads for Lyric productions or mentions and “likes” on Facebook and Twitter
and photos on Instagram. I’m delighted to see social media channels bringing greater awareness of Lyric and its exciting offerings
to a whole new audience.
I use Lyric’s website on a regular basis, whether to provide background information for an upcoming production or to review
the biography of an artist I don’t know. It’s not unusual for me to snap a picture of a current production poster and post it on my
Facebook page, and I encourage you to do the same!
Even as we are sensing the end of this opera season, I am already getting excited about the next! There is a great deal to
look forward to, and you can count on the entire 2017-18 season exhibiting the musical, dramatic, and visual excellence that
you’ve come to expect from Lyric. The richness and diversity of opera and the world-class quality of our orchestra, chorus and
artists remind us how valuable and exciting the Lyric experience is, and how fortunate we are to have an opera company of this
caliber in the city of Chicago.
From the Chairman
David T. Ormesher