Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners takes its Chicago bow

Nicole Heaston (Claire)

Nicole Heaston (Claire) and Kyle Ketelsen (Howard)

John Moore (Dillon)

The Listeners

Daniela Mack (Angela) and Kyle Ketelsen (Howard)

By Graham Meyer, 03 April 2025

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“Nicole Heaston as Claire showed impressive control and a timbral shine”

Reviewed at Lyric Opera House, Chicago on 2 April 2025

Mazzoli, The Listeners

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Enrique Mazzola, Conductor

Lileana Blain-Cruz, Director

Adam Rigg, Set Designer

Kaye Voyce, Costume Designer

Yi Zhao, Lighting Designer

Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra

Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus

Hannah Wasileski, Video Design

Nicole Heaston, Claire Devon

Kyle Ketelsen, Howard Bard

Zachary Nelson, Paul Devon

Jasmine Habersham, Ashley Devon

Jonas Hacker, Kyle Harris

Daniela Mack, Angela Rose

Gemma Nha, Jess

Sophia Maekawa, Lee Ann

Adia Evans, Theresa Alvarez

Kelsea Webb, Danica

Emily Mwila, Sina

Marie Sokolova, Emily

Stephanie Sanchez, Mrs Moreno

Corinne Wallace-Crane, Hortense

Jared V. Esguerra, Vince

John Moore, Dillon

Joseph Lim, Thom

Christopher Filipowicz, Bram

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Graham Meyer

Graham is a Chicago-based arts and culture journalist, covering all forms of live performance, and specializing in classical music. His work has appeared extensively in Chicago magazine and Crain’s Chicago Business, as well as in The Chicago Tribune and at Chicago Classical Review. He has also covered dining and restaurants, winning a City and Regional Magazine Award for the restaurant newsletter Dish. Semi-professionally, he sings baritone in the choir Vox Venti, plays amateur piano, and composes music, especially choral. Apart from music, he constructs crossword puzzles and plays competitive bridge with his teenage daughter.

Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners takes its Lyric Opera bow in Chicago