'Elektra' Opens Lyric Season

“Elektra” seems a strange choice to open the season at Lyric Opera of Chicago. No arias, no beautiful costumes, no comic relief, just the intense suffering of this title character from the ancient Greek tragedy by Sophocles. Yet the company’s new production of Richard Strauss’s powerful 90-minute theater piece proves a stunning success. Opening night […]

by Dorothy Andries

Lyric's Latest Opera Celebrates Women with Soaring Voices

Three dazzling sopranos electrify the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne Auf Naxos.”   Composed in 1912, “Ariadne” is equal parts high-minded love story and raucous, rustic comedy. It begins with a conflict between a high-strung classical composer and a group of commedia dell’ arte players, both engaged as entertainment at the […]

by Dorothy Andries