Parsifal is an enigmatic work by the greatest of all German opera composers. Hear John Caird, the director of this new production, set designer Johan Engels, and Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger Pines discuss Wagner’s last opera.

Backstage at Lyric #133 -- Discovery Series: Parsifal


Shakespeare’s searing drama is made more intense by Verdi’s music. Enjoy this discussion with Johan Botha (Otello), Ana María Martínez (Desdemona), and conductor Bertrand de Billy. Moderated by dramaturg Roger Pines.

Backstage at Lyric #132 -- Discovery Series: Otello


One of Verdi's defining operas, Rigoletto is a fountain of memorable melodies, while its suject matter involves moral depravity, licentiousness, and plenty of emotional devastation. Be there when Giuseppe Filianoti (the Duke of Mantua), conductor Evan Rogister, and director Stephen Barlow delve into this Verdi favorite.

Backstage at Lyric #131 -- Discovery Series: Rigoletto


Twenty-four hours in 18th-century Nürnberg on the longest day of the year. That's the when and where of Wagner's comedy. But there is much more-after all, it's Wagner! Join James Morris, Johan Botha, Bo Skovhus, Sir Andrew Davis, and director Marie Lambert as they discuss the opera that Paderewski called "the greatest work of genius ever achieved by any artist in any field of human endeavor."

Backstage at Lyric #130 -- Discovery Series: Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg


Some people say La Bohème is a comedy with a sad ending; for others, it's a heavenly romance. Regardless of how it's viewed, it's the most popular opera of all time! Ana María Martínez (Mimì), Dimitri Pittas (Rodolfo), and conductor Emmanuel Villaume talk about this melody-filled Puccini jewel.

Backstage at Lyric #129 -- Discovery Series: La Bohème


We all know the children's story of two kids getting lost in the woods and happening upon a witch who lives in a gingerbread house. But the opera, especially this production, goes much deeper into the characters and their motivations. Elizabeth DeShong (Hansel), Maria Kanyova (Gretel), and general director Anthony Freud give you the what's-what on this late-Romantic classic.

Backstage at Lyric #128 -- Discovery Series: Hansel and Gretel


What's funnier than an old codger smitten with a beautiful young woman? That's the plot of this Donizetti comedy. But there's much more to it! Hear director Sir Thomas Allen, conductor Stephen Lord, and Marlis Petersen (Norina) discuss this comedy with a heart.

Backstage at Lyric #127 -- Discovery Series: Werther


One of the great romantic tragedies, Werther is a story of love, hope, and finally, despair. This production of the Massenet masterwork is directed by Francisco Negrin, who dazzled us last season with his Rinaldo. For this Discovery session he's joined by Matthew Polenzani (Werther) and Sophie Koch (Charlotte) in a thoughtful discussion of the opera that's based on the classic Goethe novel.

Backstage at Lyric #126 -- Discovery Series: Werther


Simon Boccanegra

If you love the bass voice, here's your chance to get up close to one of the most illustrious stars in the business. Hear Ferruccio Furlanetto explain the intricacies and delights of one of Verdi's most sublime scores.

Backstage at Lyric #125 -- Discovery Series: Simon Boccanegra


Richard Strauss became the "bad boy" of classical music by pushing the envelope to the extreme. His Elektra only cemented that reputation! Listen as Elektra herself, Christine Goerke, along with Emily Magee (Chrysothemis), Jill Grove (Clytemnestra), and conductor Sir Andrew Davis discuss this musically complex psychological thrill-ride.

Backstage at Lyric #124 -- Discovery Series: Elektra


Behind-the-scenes interviews from Lyric Opera of Chicago

I love the discovery series podcasts the most! I go to sleep listening to them!

Discovery Series podcasts are my favorites

This podcast is very entertaining having details that engage people with experience with opera, and may draw in those with less experience. The episodes range from exploration of individual opera in the Lyric&#39;s season to interviews with artist involved in the productions. this is one my favorite podcasts and i recommend it to anyone with an interest in opera.

Interesting and Engaging

Lyric Opera of Chicago Podcasts

Sir Andrew Davis previews the 2009/10 season with musical excerpts and commentary in this 18-minute audio clip.

Backstage at Lyric #46 -- 2009/2010 Season Preview

A Swedish monarch flirts with his trusted friend's wife and soon enough, they're on the road to perdition. Join A Masked Ball's director, opera legend Renata Scotto and celebrated tenor Frank Lopardo (King Gustavo) as they explore duty, honor, and middle-period Verdi.

Backstage at Lyric #98 -- Discovery Series: A Masked Ball


Acclaimed American bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen, Escamillo in this season's Carmen, joins celebrated French conductor Alain Altinoglu for an illuminating discussion of Bizet's richly melodic and powerfully dramatic masterpiece.

Backstage at Lyric #91 -- Carmen: Discovery Series


Bel canto means beautiful singing, and Lucia is full of it. Listen to Lyric's Lucia (Susanna Phillips), Edgardo (Giuseppe Filianoti), and Maestro Massimo Zanetti in a discussion of Donizetti's bel canto rendering of murder and madness in 17th-century Scotland.

Backstage at Lyric #116 -- Discovery Series: Lucia di Lammermoor


Join our all-star panel – Lyric’s own Nicole Cabell (Pamina), Charles Castronovo (Tamino), Stéphane Degout (Papageno), and Sir Andrew Davis - to get the what's what on Mozart's final opera, a story of love, friendship, and the ideals of the Enlightenment.

Backstage at Lyric #119 -- Discovery Series: The Magic Flute


Joyce DiDonato

American mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato is Backstage at Lyric!  In this episode, the renowned singer discusses her role as Cherubino in Lyric's current production of The Marriage of Figaro, the challenges of singing Mozart's music, and performing at London's Covent Garden in a wheelchair!  WFMT's George Preston hosts.

Backstage at Lyric #84 -- The Marriage of Figaro: Joyce DiDonato


Kyle Ketelsen

Danielle de Niese

It's one of the great works of Western culture, and Lyric's cast is second to none. Do not miss this Discovery Series session with the delightfully engaging Danielle de Niese (Susanna) and Kyle Ketelsen (Figaro).

Backstage at Lyric #83 -- The Marriage of Figaro Discovery Series: Danielle de Niese and Kyle Ketelsen


Sagebrush verismo! Rough-and tumble characters, soaring arias, and a harmonically sumptuous score in the original spaghetti Western! Deborah Voigt (Minnie), Marcello Giordani (Dick Johnson), and conductor Sir Andrew Davis hitch up the buckboard and head west for a look at this most adventuresome addition to the Puccini oeuvre.

Backstage at Lyric #109 -- Discovery Series: The Girl of the Golden West


Shakespeare has inspired more than a few memorable operas, and this season Lyric is offering two of them -- Verdi's Macbeth (1847) and Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream (1960). This two-hour symposium features director Barbara Gaines (Macbeth) of Chicago Shakespeare Theater; singers David Daniels (A Midsummer Night's Dream), Thomas Hampson (Macbeth), and Nadja Michael (Macbeth); conductor Rory Macdonald (A Midsummer Night's Dream); and University of Chicago Shakespeare scholar David Bevington. Moderated by classical music critic Wynne Delacoma and Chicago Public Radio's Steve Edwards.

Backstage at Lyric #95 -- Symposium: Shakespeare Goes To The Opera 


JOHAN BOTHA

South African dramatic tenor Johan Botha, a true master-singer and hugely acclaimed worldwide portraying the heroes of Wagner, returns to Lyric Opera in the title role of Lohengrin.

A STAR YOU SHOULD KNOW: JOHAN BOTHA


The vivacious Australian-born lyric soprano, who created a sensation in her Lyric debut two seasons ago as Handel's Cleopatra, is making her eagerly awaited return to the company as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro. Here she discusses the qualities she most admires in Susanna, as well as her stage partnership in this opera with Kyle Ketelsen, her feelings regarding Figaro as a whole, and how her performances of pre-1800 repertoire has enhanced her artistry.

Backstage at Lyric #81 -- The Marriage of Figaro: Danielle de Niese


Sondra Radvanovsky

American soprano Sondra Radvanovsky is acknowledged by audiences and critics throughout North America and Europe as one of today's few true Verdi sopranos.  She is returning to Lyric this season to sing her first Amelia,  one of the most eagerly awaited role debuts of her career.  Here she discusses the formidable challenges of the role in relation to other heroines in her repertoire.   Lyric Opera dramaturg Roger Pines poses the questions.

Backstage at Lyric #101 -- A Masked Ball: Sondra Radvanovsky


Boris Godunov

Bass Ferruccio Furlanetto (Boris), stage director Julia Pevzner, and Lyric music director Sir Andrew Davis offer lively discourse on Mussorgsky's dark portrait of a tormented ruler and his long-suffering subjects.

Backstage at Lyric #117 -- Discovery Series: Boris Godunov


Matthew Polenzani

Sir Andrew Davis

The story's a simple one - but the demands on the singers are anything but!  Marvel at our "best in the business" Mozart masters in this delightful Discovery Series podcast featuring tenor Matthew Polenzani, director Chas Rader-Shieber and conductor Sir Andrew Davis.

Backstage at Lyric #48 -- Discovery Series: The Abduction from the Seraglio with Matthew Polenzani (Belmonte), conductor Sir Andrew Davis and director Chas Rader-Shieber

James Morris

A legendary artist and a great Lyric favorite, American bass-baritone James Morris has long been celebrated throughout the world in many of the most formidable roles in the repertoire, including Wagner's Wotan and Dutchman, Puccini's Scarpia, and the four villains of Offenbach's TALES OF HOFFMANN.  But Morris is also a big fan of Gilbert and Sullivan, and he was delighted to return to Lyric this season in the title role of THE MIKADO.  He discusses this amazing change of pace in conversation with Lyric broadcast host George Preston of 98.7WFMT.

Backstage at Lyric #108 -- The Mikado: James Morris


Mariusz Kwiecien

The renowned Polish baritone, who triumphed at Lyric two seasons ago as Tchaikovsky's Onegin, is back with the company in 2009-10 in his internationally celebrated portrayal of the Count in The Marriage of Figaro.  In this podcast he explores the Count's complex character and also discusses his aria, the most challenging for a baritone in the Mozart repertoire.

Backstage at Lyric #80 -- The Marriage of Figaro: Mariusz Kwiecien


Listen as Verdi soprano supreme Sondra Radvanovsky (Aida) and the always-incendiary Jill Grove (Amneris) discuss the late Verdi favorite, Aida.

Backstage at Lyric #120 -- Discovery Series: Aida


Marcello Giordani

Tenor Marcello Giordani, one of Italy's greatest stars and a huge favorite at the Metropolitan Opera, makes his long-awaited return to Lyric as Dick Johnson in The Girl of the Golden West.

A STAR YOU SHOULD KNOW: MARCELLO GIORDANI


Thomas Hampson

The magnificent American baritone Thomas Hampson, a great favorite of Chicago audiences, is returning to Lyric this season in one of his most celebrated characterizations, the title role of Macbeth.  Here he discusses the role in depth with Mark Travis, producer of Lyric's broadcasts.

Backstage at Lyric #87 -- Macbeth: Thomas Hampson, Part 1


Corey Crider

The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center was established in 1974 as the professional artist-development program for Lyric Opera of Chicago.  In this podcast, host Roger Pines interviews soprano Amber Wagner and baritone Corey Crider, two exceptionally gifted young artists currently completing their tenure in the program.

Backstage at Lyric #85 -- Rising Stars: Amber Wagner and Corey Crider


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