RIGOLETTO to Open This Fall at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Here's what you need to know about RIGOLETTO, running at Lyric Opera of Chicago, October 7 - November 3:

- There's no role in opera more powerfully dramatic than the court jester Rigoletto, whose acid tongue and all-consuming desire for revenge lead to catastrophe for himself and his sweet, love-struck daughter Gilda.Rigoletto is one of Verdi's greatest characterizations-a complex and tragic figure, pitiful and ferocious, with stupendous music to match.

- Action-packed plot and memorably complex characters |Dishonor and humiliation, a deadly curse, disguises, a kidnapping, revenge, a hired assassin, mistaken identities, a wrongful death, and more.

- A widowed father fiercely protects his teenage daughter | Yet, she has a secret boyfriend - his boss in disguise.

- Hear great melodies you'll recognize instantly -- as they were meant to be heard vs. in a commercial| No Verdi opera boasts more unforgettable tunes than this one. You'll thrill to the licentious Duke of Mantua's jaunty "La donna è mobile"and "Questo o quella," and Gilda's stunning "Caro nome," not to mention the most celebrated quartet in all opera, "Bella figlia dell'amore."

- Two internationally acclaimEd Ryan Opera Center alumni face off with passionate acting and powerful singing |Baritone Quinn Kelsey is the bitter jester Rigoletto (a triumph for him earlier this summer) and tenor Matthew Polenzani is his callous, rakish master, the Duke Mantua.

- Lyric debut artists round out the all-star cast| Rosa Feola (Gilda), Alexander Tsymbalyuk (Sparafucile), and Zanda Šv?de (Maddalena).

- Just 8 Performances | Sat 10/7 through Fri 11/3 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive.

- About 2 hours 30 minutes, including intermission | Enjoy the ambience of the beautiful Art-Deco theater and foyer of the Lyric Opera House.

- New-to-Chicago Production| directed at Lyric by E. Loren Meeker.

- If you're intrigued by the mysterious paintings of Giorgio de Chirico | Rigoletto's set designs by Michael Yeargan are inspired by that 20th-century Italian artist, with elaborate traditional costumes designed by Constance Hoffman and lighting designed by Chris Maravich.

- If you love the stories of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre Dame | French author Victor Hugo also wrote Le roi s'amuse, which inspired Rigoletto.

- Sung in Italian | With projected English translations.

- 30 members of the Lyric Opera Chorus | Prepared by Michael Black, chorus master.

- 65 members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in the pit + 16banda musicians offstage | Conducted by Marco Armiliato.

- The opening-night performance of Rigoletto can be heard live locally on 98.7WFMT and globally on wfmt.com, beginning at 7:15pm onSaturday, October 7.

For more information and to order tickets, visit lyricopera.org/Rigoletto or call 312-827-5600.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's mission is to express and promote the life-changing, transformational, revelatory power of great opera. Lyric exists to provide a broad, deep, and relevant cultural service to Chicago and the nation, and to advance the development of the art form.

Founded in 1954, Lyric is dedicated to producing and performing consistently thrilling, entertaining, and thought-provoking opera with a balanced repertoire of core classics, lesser-known masterpieces, and new works; to creating an innovative and wide-ranging program of community engagement and educational activities; and to developing exceptional emerging operatic talent.

Under the leadership of general director Anthony Freud, music director Sir Andrew Davis, and creative consultant Renée Fleming, Lyric strives to become The Great North American Opera Company for the 21st century: a globally significant arts organization embodying the core values of excellence, relevance, and fiscal responsibility.

To learn more about Lyric's new season, go to lyricopera.org. You can also join the conversation with @LyricOpera on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera

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