Single Tickets On Sale Today for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2013-14 season

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season.

The internationally renowned company will present grand opera with exceptional casts and productions in its beautiful home, the historic Civic Opera House. Lyric will offer 67 performances of 8 operas in the 22-week season, including 7 new-to-Chicago productions and one acclaimed revival, Saturday, October 5, 2013, through Sunday, March 23, 2014.

The 2013-14 season includes five operas in Italian: Verdi's Otello and La traviata, Puccini'sMadama Butterfly, Rossini's The Barber of Seville, and Mozart's La clemenza di Tito.There are two operas in German: Wagner's Parsifal and Strauss's Die Fledermaus, and one opera in Czech: Rusalka.

"Lyric's upcoming season represents a wonderful range of musical and dramatic styles, including two less-often-heard operas," says the company's general director, Anthony Freud. "To commemorate two musical bicentennials that are central to Lyric's repertoire, we will present two masterpieces by Verdi and one by Wagner. Whether you know and love opera or are considering your first experience, Lyric has a great variety of exciting entertainment opportunities for you this season - and they're not all opera performances!

"As we've announced previously," Freud continued, "in addition to the operas in our regular season, in 2013-14 Lyric will also present a brand-new production of the beloved American musical The Sound of Music; a special family performance event, The Family Barber; two incomparable singing artists in a joint concert - Renée Fleming and Jonas Kaufmann; and a Lyric-debut recital by the world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. All these performances will take place at the Civic Opera House, and as of Thursday, August 1, tickets for all these performances are now on sale."

Lyric subscriptions are still available and offer the best value - up to 40% off. Four-opera subscriptions are available from just $100. This season also features a Flex-4 package that allows audiences to choose any four operas and the dates of their choice, and still save up to 40%. Lyric subscribers who purchase The Sound of Music by November 1 receive a 10% discount in all price ranges.

Lyric is once again offering reduced prices for school-aged children for an opera in Lyric's regular mainstage season. Children (up to age 17) will be ableto see regular performances of The Barber of Seville when accompanied by an adult with a regular-priced ticket. Children's tickets will range from $20 to $50, and will be available to subscribers first.

Single-ticket buyers who purchase any three operas get a 10% discount*. These personalized combos are available online and easy to purchase - the discount is automatically applied at checkout. *excluding Opening Night and Special Events

To be assured of good seats, the time to reserve is now. Prices for opera performances start at $34 in the upper balcony and $65 on the main floor. Prices for The Sound of Music performances start at $29 in the upper balcony and $54 on the main floor. (Please note: tickets for the April 25preview performance are available at a 25% discount.)

English texts are projected above the stage for every opera performance, so it's easy to follow the story no matter what language is being sung.

The opening performance of each opera production and The Sound of Music will be broadcast live by The Lyric Opera Broadcasts on 98.7WFMT and www.wfmt.com. The Lyric Opera of Chicago Broadcasts are generously sponsored by The Hurvis Charitable Foundation with matching funding provided by The Matthew Bucksbaum Family and Richard P. and Susan Kiphart.

Free pre-opera lectures will be offered before every performance of every opera in the mainstage season (except Oct. 5, opening night of the season) to enhance the opera-going experience. The informative and entertaining 30-minute talks are presented by members of Lyric's staff and experts from the community.

Lyric's website (www.lyricopera.org) is a comprehensive source of information, handsomely designed and easy to navigate. Videos about each production are available for viewing throughout the season, with introductions by Sir Andrew Davis, Renée Fleming, and Anthony Freud, and interviews with other artists and directors.

Website audio features include Sir Andrew Davis's opera previews; the Discovery Series lectures and panel discussions, available for download on lyricopera.org and iTunes as part of Lyric's"Backstage at Lyric" podcast; and the company's in-depth and expertly producedCommentaries (mini-tutorials by Lyric staff members Jesse Gram, Cayenne Harris, Nick Martin, and Roger Pines), available for streaming and downloading, free of charge. Additional website features include articles, recording and DVD recommendations, and photo galleries.

Lyric's website has varied content that is constantly updated during the season, including a new blog, "Lyric Lately." Patrons can enhance their live-performance experience by exploring its multimedia offerings. Lyric's Facebook and Twitter fan base continues to grow, helping to foster opera engagement and excitement in the company's digital communities.

Lyric's website also includes a customer interface "Patron Center" feature allowing patrons to

• view their upcoming and past performances
• exchange tickets
• select their own seats
• renew their donations
• make other contributions,
• make reservations to The Sarah and Peer Pedersen Room restaurant
• redeem coupons for free merchandise
• RSVP for donor events, concerts, and rehearsals
• receive special messaging

Giuseppe Verdi's interpretation of Shakespeare's tragic tale of deadly jealousy, Otello, stars Johan Botha, Ana María Martínez, Falk Struckmann, Antonio Poli (Lyric debut), and Evan Boyerin a revival of the Sir Peter Hall production conducted by Bertrand de Billy and staged byAshley Dean (both Lyric debuts), with set and costume designs by John Gunter,and lighting byDuane Schuler. Chorus master is Michael Black, and choreographer is August Tye. Eight performances Oct. 5-Nov. 2, in Italian with projected English texts. Generous sponsors for this revival are Mr. & Mrs. Dietrich M. Gross, an Anonymous Donor, the Abbott Fund, JPMorgan Chase & Co., andthe Mazza Foundation.

Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly breaks all hearts with the story of the child bride Cio-Cio-San and her love for a thoughtless American navy man, starring Amanda Echalaz (debut, Oct. dates)/Patricia Racette (Jan. dates), James Valenti (debut, Oct. dates)/Stefano Secco (debut, Jan. dates), MaryAnn McCormick, Christopher Purves (debut),and David Cangelosi. Marco Armiliato (debut) conducts. The original director is Michael Grandage (debut), revival director isLouisa Muller, and the designer is Chirstopher Oram (debut). Original lighting designer is Neil Austin (debut). Michael Black is chorus master. Coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Grand Théâtre de Genève. Eleven performances Oct. 15-30 and Jan. 11-26, in Italian with projected English texts. Lyric Opera coproduction generously made possible by Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Reyes, James N. and Laurie V. Bay,the Walter E. Heller Foundation in honor of Alyce H. DeCosta, and the Estate of Howard A. Stotler.

Richard Wagner's Parsifal is a moving and revelatory masterpiece about temptation, healing, and redemption. Paul Groves (role debut), Daveda Karanas (debut), Thomas Hampson,Kwangchul Youn (debut), Tómás Tomasson, and Rúni Brattaberg (debut) star in this complex tale of spiritual and psychological conflict. Sir Andrew Davis conducts the new production directed by John Caird (debut), designed by Johan Engels (debut), with lighting byDuane Schuler. Michael Black is chorus master, and Tim Claydon (debut) is choreographer. Six performances Nov. 9-29, in German with projected English texts. Parsifal is a new Lyric Opera of Chicago production generously made possible by an Anonymous Donor, Marlys A. Beider, and the Kenneth L. Harder Trust.

Verdi's La traviata follows a romance doomed by illness and bourgeois values between Paris's most celebrated courtesan and an ardent young man from Provence, starring Marina Rebeka(debut), Joseph Calleja,and Quinn Kelsey. Massimo Zanetti conducts the new production staged by Arin Arbus (debut) with set designs by Riccardo Hernandez, costumes by Cait O'Connor (debut), and lighting by Marcus Doshi (debut). The chorus master is Michael Black,and choreographer is Austin McCormick. (debut). Ten performances Nov. 20-Dec. 20, in Italian with projected English texts. Coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, and Canadian Opera Company. New Lyric Opera production generously made possible by theJulius Frankel Foundation in honor of Nelson D. Cornelius, Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil and Daniel Fischel, and Helen and Sam Zell.

Johann Strauss Jr.'s Die Fledermaus bubbles with champagne-fueled flirtation and mischief, starring Juliane Banse (debut), Bo Skovhus, Daniela Fally (debut), Adrian Eröd (debut),Michael Spyres (debut), Emily Fons, and Andrew Shore. Ward Stare conducts, and E. Loren Meeker (Lyric directorial debut) directs the San Francisco Opera production designed by Wolfram Skalicki (sets), Thierry Bosquet (costumes), and Duane Schuler (lighting). Michael Blackischorus master, and Daniel Pelzig is choreographer. Nine performances Dec. 10-Jan. 18, in German with projected English texts. Lyric Opera presentation generously made possible by theDonna Van Eekeren Foundation and Katherine A. Abelson and Robert J. Cornell.

Gioachino Rossini's rollicking The Barber of Seville returns to Lyric in a new Lyric production starring Nathan Gunn, Isabel Leonard (debut), Alek Shrader, Alessandro Corbelli, andKyle Ketelsen. Michele Mariotti (debut) conducts. The director is Rob Ashford (debut), with designs by Scott Pask (debut/sets), Catherine Zuber (debut/costumes), and Howard Harrison(debut/lighting). The chorus master is Michael Black. Ten performances Feb. 1-28, in Italian with projected English texts.New Lyric Opera of Chicago production generously made possible by theGramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa,the NIB Foundation, Randy L. and Melvin R. Berlin, and Margot and Josef Lakonishok.

Antonín Dvo?ák's darkly haunting tragic fairytale Rusalka will have its long-awaited company premiere, starring Ana María Martínez, Brandon Jovanovich, Jill Grove, Eric Owens, andEkaterina Gubanova (debut). Sir Andrew Davis will conduct the new production created bySir David McVicar. Designers are John Macfarlane (sets), Moritz Junge (debut/costumes), and David Finn (debut/lighting). Michael Black is chorus master, and Andrew George is choreographer. Six performances Feb. 22-Mar. 16, in Czech with projected English texts. New Lyric Opera of Chicago production generously made possible by The Monument Trust UK,anAnonymous Donor, Marion A. Cameron, Exelon,and Sidley Austin LLP, with additional support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's penultimate opera, La clemenza di Tito, tells a tale of personal and political intrigue and betrayal in imperial Rome, starring Matthew Polenzani (role debut), Joyce DiDonato, Amanda Majeski, Cecelia Hall, Emily Birsan, and Christian Van Horn. Sir Andrew Davis conductsthenew-to-Chicagoproduction originally staged by Sir David McVicar, with revival director Marie Lambert. Designs are by McVicar (debut/sets), Jenny Tiramani(debut/costumes), and Jennifer Tipton (lighting). Michael Black is chorus master. Seven performances Mar. 5-23, in Italian with projected English texts. Lyric Opera presentation generously made possibly by Julie and Roger Baskes, The Negaunee Foundation,andRoberta L. and Robert J. Washlow.

Current ensemble members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center have been cast in 34 roles and will understudy 43 roles in the operas of Lyric's 2013-14 season.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved musical, The Sound of Music, will receive its Lyric Opera premiere in a new production April 25*-May 11, following Lyric's regular opera season. Rob Fisher(debut) will conduct members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, and Marc Bruni (debut) will direct the new production, with set designs by Michael Yeargan,costume designs by Alejo Vietti (debut), and choreography by Denis Jones (debut). The lighting designer will be named at a later date.Christine Brewer will portray the Mother Abbess, and Elizabeth Futral will portray the Baroness Elsa Schraeder. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. Michael Black is chorus master. New Lyric Opera production generously made possible by Northern Trust, Mrs. Herbert A. Vance and Mr. and Mrs. William C. Vance,and Jim and Vicki Mills/Jon and Lois Mills.
*April 25 is a preview performance; opening night is April 26.

The Subscriber Appreciation Concert featuring soprano Renée Fleming and tenor Jonas Kaufmann with the Lyric Opera Orchestra led by Sir Andrew Davis on Weds. Mar. 19 is generously sponsored by Ann Ziff and an Anonymous Donor. Tickets start at $37 and are already 70% sold.

A few days later Lyric Unlimited will present The Family Barber, a special introduction to the joys of opera for youngsters ages 5-10 and their families, on Saturday, March 22, at 2pm at the Civic Opera House. A special cast will perform The Family Barber with the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The 60-minute performance will be fully staged and costumed, and will be entirely in English. As with regular performances, projected English texts will also be used. Tickets range from $10-$20 for kids and teens, and $20-$40 for adults (18+). Media sponsor forThe Family Barber is the Chicago Tribune.

Legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman will perform in recital for the first time ever at the Civic Opera House with pianist Rohan de Silva on Sun., April 6 at 2pm. Tickets start at $25.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season runs Oct. 5 through Mar. 23 at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., with spring performances ofThe Sound of Music April 25-May11. Brochures may be requested and single tickets may be purchased by going to www.lyricopera.org (24 hours a day), or by calling 312-332-2244, ext. 5600 (M-F, 9-5; Sa. 10-5). Individual opera tickets start at $34. Subscription packages are still available, as well. Full cast and sponsor information can be found at www.lyricopera.org, along with articles, videos, podcast interviews, and more.

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