A luminous Merry Widow in Chicago

By Graham Emberton, 15 November 2015

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“Fleming has a glorious, honeyed tone in her middle and high registers”

Reviewed at Lyric Opera House, Chicago on 14 November 2015

Lehár, Die lustige Witwe (The Merry Widow)

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Sir Andrew Davis, Conductor

Susan Stroman, Director

Julian Crouch, Set Designer

William Ivey Long, Costume Designer

Renée Fleming, Hanna Glawari

Thomas Hampson, Count Danilo Danilovich

Heidi Stober, Valencienne

Michael Spyres, Camille de Rosillon

Patrick Carfizzi, Baron Mirko Zeta

McKinley Carter, Sylviane

Jennie Sophia, Olga

Jonathan Johnson, Raoul de St Brioche

Michael Weber, Bogdanovich

Jonathan Weir, Kromow

Jeff Dumas, Njegus

Fred Zimmerman, Pritschitsch

Paul La Rosa, Vicomte Cascada

Sir David McVicar’s psychologically driven Salome arrives in Chicago

Graham Meyer, 25th January

Revived at Lyric Opera of Chicago, the notorious opera director’s take stirs sympathy for Salome, but leans on some of his theatrical hobby-horses

****1

Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners takes its Chicago bow

Graham Meyer, 2nd April

Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Missy Mazzoli's opera, which the company co-commissioned, has strong, dramatic, expressive music throughout, but the story lacks continuity.

**111

A light Marriage of Figaro makes the case for fun in Chicago

Graham Meyer, 9th November

Lyric Opera of Chicago revives its diverting and divisive 2015 original production by Barbara Gaines, who does it like a Shakespearean sex farce.

****1

Rigoletto cast dazzles in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season opener

Graham Meyer, 14th September

Through brilliant singing and layered acting, Javier Camarena, Mané Galoyan, and Igor Golovatenko drive a Rigoletto to warm a traditionalist's heart.

****1

Davidsen and Stemme anchor an extraordinary Jenůfa in Chicago

Cameron Kelsall, 12th November

Claus Guth's production foregrounds the regimented, repressive world that drives the plot of Janáček’s tragic masterpiece.

*****

A vibrant, urgent Ariodante at Lyric Opera of Chicago

Katherine Syer, 2nd March

A revival of Richard Jones’ production of Handel’s emotionally probing opera.

*****

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Graham Emberton

Graham Emberton is a violinist and teacher based in Chicago, where he is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Performance at DePaul University. A recent Chicagoan, Graham is excited to be exploring the various musical events on offer in the Windy City.