Lyric Opera of Chicago to Open 60th Anniversary Season with DON GIOVANNI, 9/27

To open its 60th anniversary season, Lyric Opera of Chicago presents Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in a brand-new production by renowned director Robert Falls, artistic director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre. It opens on Saturday, September 27 with 10 performances through Wednesday, October 29. Performance dates are Sept. 27, 30, Oct. 11, 14, 17, and 29 at 7:30pm; Oct. 2, 5, 8, and 24 at 2pm.

Frequently proclaimed "the perfect opera," Mozart's masterpiece (composed 1787) tells the story of the infamous ladies man Don Giovanni (baritone Mariusz Kwiecie?), a master seducer who travels across Europe in pursuit of women with his resourceful servant Leporello (bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen). Giovanni arrives in Seville having already seduced and abandoned the fiery Donna Elvira (soprano Ana María Martínez). Within a few hours he has also conquered the noble Donna Anna (soprano Marina Rebeka); murdered her father, the Commendatore (bass Andrea Silvestrelli); and led astray the naïve peasant Zerlina (soprano Andriana Chuchman, role debut and Ryan Opera Center alumna). The nobleman Don Ottavio (tenor Antonio Poli) and the peasant Masetto (bass-baritone Michael Sumuel, debut), the fiancés of Donna Anna and Zerlina, vow revenge for the wrongs he has committed. It is the ghost of the dead Commendatore, however, who eventually gives the defiant Giovanni his comeuppance.

Conducting Lyric's new production will be Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director. The stage director is Robert Falls, the set designer is Walt Spangler (debut), the costume designer is Ana Kuzmanic (debut), and the lighting designer is Duane Schuler. The chorus is prepared by Chorus Master Michael Black. Choreography is by August Tye.

"In 1954, Lyric began its first season with Don Giovanni-it's only appropriate that we celebrate the 60th anniversary with a brand-new production," says Davis. "I always feel like Don Giovanni was written in the heat of the moment; it has a wonderful spontaneity. It's larger than life, and that's reflected in the music."

"Lyric Opera's 'calling-card' opera, Don Giovanni, is one of the most elusive and multilayered pieces in the repertoire-a dramma giocoso, combining comedy and drama," said Lyric's general director Anthony Freud of the season opener. "It will be superbly realized by our brilliant cast, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis,and illuminatingly directed by Robert Falls, one of the leading figures in the Chicago and national theater scenes."

Robert Falls and the creative team have moved this production out of the 18th century and into 1920s Spain, between the Spanish Civil War and World War II. "This distinctive and unusual updating of Don Giovanni-the first of its kind at Lyric-came about because I wanted to introduce a 20th-century sensibility and psychology to the piece while maintaining its Spanish character," says Falls. "The result is a highly theatricalized world that uses the 1920s as a point of reference."

For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org.

The new Lyric Opera production of Don Giovanni is generously made possible by Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross, the Abbott Fund, Randy L. and Melvin R. Berlin, Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Gidwitz, and The Negaunee Foundation. The Opening Night Gala is sponsored by AON. Opening Night Dinner generously sponsored in memory of Debby Jannotta.

Before the performances at the opera house, the principal cast members will perform the final scenes of Don Giovanni as the grand finale of the annual Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park free concert on Sat. Sept. 6, 7:30pm. Both Sept. 6 and Sept. 27 performances will be broadcast live on 98.7WFMT and streamed live on wfmt.com.

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