5 / 72
L Y R I C O P E R A O F C H I C A G O
8
|
October 15 - November 6, 2016
The 2016-17 season here at Lyric Opera of Chicago is going to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, and my wife and
I are looking forward to every production. I expect you are, too.
I’m particularly excited about the launch of the new
Ring
cycle with
Das Rheingold
. The first time I experienced the complete
Ring,
I wondered, as with many
Ring
neophytes, if this was just going to be four very long nights in a dark room! But I found that
it is spellbinding, and that the longest of the operas seems to slip away in minutes. It’s a profound, transformative experience, and
the fact that we’re creating a brand-new expression of the
Ring
makes me very proud of the artistic choices we’ve made at Lyric.
It’s likely that the production you’re enjoying tonight is benefiting from an
ambitious stage-improvement project, the first step of which was implemented over
the summer. Three new stage lifts, a turntable, and 16 new point hoists (individual
motorized lines that can lift sets or people in the air) are enabling us to present
Das
Rheingold
,
Les Troyens
, and
The Magic Flute
. None of those new productions would
have been possible were it not for that initial investment. Over the next two years
we will see 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 investments backstage 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 traffic
flow, and better signage for our first-time guests are just a few of the changes you’ll
be experiencing this season. We are 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” 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 banner and post it on my
Facebook page!
This season has so much to offer, from the
Ring
and
Les Troyens
to a new
Magic Flute
and star-studded productions of
Carmen
and
Eugene Onegin
. 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 President
TODD ROSENBERG
David T. Ormesher