THIS is what COMMANDOpera likes to hear from houses when it comes to fundraising!
BRAVO!
Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Fantasy of the Opera Gala
$ 504,000 net raised!
Guild Board of Directors’ 26th annual Fantasy fundraiser, “Hearts Afire,” sizzled in the Civic Opera House on Sat., Feb. 6, 2010
A thousand ruby and magenta roses, fiery red table linens and curtains, plus cut crystal centerpieces, elaborate rose-colored lighting, and ornately painted signage all set the scene for “Hearts Afire,” the 26th annual Fantasy of the Opera Gala benefit hosted by Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Guild Board of Directors at the Civic Opera House on Saturday, February 6.
Early in the evening, an array of elegant tastings prepared by some of Chicago’s top chefs enticed the crowd of 560 ticket-holders for the festive fundraiser. Restaurant stations could be found throughout the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer and American Airlines Mezzanine. Many enjoyed an “Elixir of Love” cocktail (rum punch served in bright red glasses on lit neon trays) and other refreshments while they placed silent-auction bids beneath red silk canopies in the Nancy W. Knowles Lobby, or purchased raffle tickets.
The Fantasy Cabaret showcased the diverse musical talents of current Lyric artists Nicole Cabell (The Elixir of Love), Danielle de Niese (The Marriage of Figaro), Susan Graham (The Damnation of Faust), Joyce DiDonato (Figaro), David Cangelosi (Tosca), and Philip Kraus (Figaro); as well as Ryan Opera Center members Angela Mannino, Amber Wagner, Kathryn Leemhuis, and David Portillo. Selections by William Bolcom, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, Kurt Weill, Rogers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, and others were performed. Lyric’s music director Sir Andrew Davis was master of ceremonies, and pianist Craig Terry accompanied the singers.
Baritone Mark Delavan, who starred in last season’s “Cav/Pag” and returns next season for A Masked Ball, brought down the house with his soulful renditions of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” which had Fantasy guests clapping along. In a Fantasy Cabaret first, Delavan sang an encore – “Ring of Fire,” also by Johnny Cash. Delavan accompanied himself on guitar, and was joined by pianist Craig Terry and double-bass player Jonathan Gilley.
Following a seated dinner prepared by Calihan Catering, many guests danced to the Ken Arlen’s Indigo in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Grand Foyer until midnight. Others enjoyed elegant chocolates by Godiva in the Opera Club, which was dubbed the GoDiva Lounge for the evening.
Sometime after 11 p.m. mezzo-soprano Susan Graham joined Ken Arlen’s Indigo onstage for an impromptu rendition of George Gershwin’s “Summertime.” Guests on the main floor stopped dancing to listen, while those on the mezzanine level (including Lyric general director William Mason and his wife Diana Davis), crowded the rail to watch. Mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato, who earlier in the evening had crooned “My Funny Valentine” during the cabaret, encouraged her fellow mezzo to go for the high C.
Lyric Opera Edition of IDOL
On so many levels COMMANDOpera smiles broadly at this story. Perhaps the most fun is that the Lyric Opera of Chicago is going to New York to poach some Eastern Seaboard vocal talent. COMMANDOpera HIGHLY advises vocal artists in the Tenor range who reside in the New York area to take a good look at this article. A year of chorus with The Lyric Opera of Chicago looks pretty decent on any C.V. thank you very much!
Chorus Tenor Auditions in New York City for LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO on Monday, April 12, for Lyric’s 2010-2011 Season Macbeth, Carmen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Masked Ball, The Mikado, The Girl of the Golden West, Lohengrin, & Hercules.
William Mason, General Director
Sir Andrew Davis, Music Director
Donald Nally, Chorus Master
Lyric Opera of Chicago will hold auditions in New York City on Monday, April 12 for experienced, classically trained tenors to fill chorus tenor openings in the company’s choral ensemble for the 2010-2011season.
The world-renowned opera company has openings for tenors in its Regular Chorus and Supplementary Chorus for its 56th season, which commences Oct. 1. Lyric Opera of Chicago’s eight-opera season comprises 68 performances in 24 weeks.
CHORUS TENOR AUDITIONS will be held in NEW YORK on Monday, April 12, from 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. AUDITIONS ARE BY INVITATION ONLY. To be considered for an audition, tenors should send a current résumé and photo to:
Chorus Auditions Coordinator
Lyric Opera of Chicago
20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 860
Chicago, IL 60606
or choraud@lyricopera.org
The deadline for submitting materials is Monday, April 5, 2010. Once materials are received, applicants will be evaluated by the Chorus Master and appointments will be made for qualified candidates. Not all applicants who submit a résumé and photo will be asked to audition. Walk-ins will NOT be seen.
New York City chorus tenor auditions for Lyric Opera of Chicago will be held on the Lincoln Center campus in the Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Rehearsal Studio. The Daniel and Joanna S. Rose Rehearsal Studio is located in the Rose Building, 10th floor, at 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks classically trained tenors who are prepared for a professional career. Candidates are expected to prepare one operatic aria in a foreign language by memory that best demonstrates vocal ability. A second aria may be requested which may be in English. Lyric Opera of Chicago will furnish an accompanist. Candidates must provide a copy of each aria for the accompanist – legible and in the correct key. They should also be prepared to sight read. The ability to read and memorize music quickly and accurately is a must.
Candidates are required to prove United States citizenship; permanent residency; or possess, at the time of the audition, legal permission to work in the United States of America during the rehearsal and performance period.
Please note that guests will not be permitted into the audition site.
For more information please call the audition hotline at (312) 827-3548 or email choraud@lyricopera.org
REGULAR CHORUS
In the 2010-2011 season, first-year choristers will be offered a 32-week contract at a salary of $1,343.50 per week. Musical rehearsals will begin on or about August 2, 2010, with staging rehearsals beginning in September. Prior to the beginning of staging, musical rehearsals will be held Monday through Friday during the day and evening hours. Once staging begins, there will also be weekend rehearsals. A full (tentative) schedule will be provided prior to the commencement of rehearsals. The 2010-2011 performance season runs from October 2010 through March 2011.
SUPPLEMENTARY CHORUS
Musical rehearsals will begin on or about August 2, 2010, with staging rehearsals beginning in September. Music rehearsals involving the supplementary chorus are scheduled on weekdays in the late afternoon and evenings. Once staging begins, there will also be weekend rehearsals. A full (tentative) schedule of rehearsals and performances will be provided prior to the commencement of rehearsals. The 2010-2011 performance season runs from October 2010 through March 2011. The salary for a supplementary chorister depends on the number of productions for which the singer is engaged, ranging from one to four productions. Compensation for a supplementary chorister in the 2010-2011 season ranges from $49.76 to $71.10 per rehearsal hour and $253.00 to $284.50 per performance.
During Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 56th season, the chorus performs in Verdi’s Macbeth and A Masked Ball, Puccini’s The Girl of the Golden West, Bizet’s Carmen, Wagner’s Lohengrin, Handel’s Hercules, and Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado. (Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream uses only children’s chorus.) For more information about the artists and productions of Lyric’s 2010-11 season go to www.lyricopera.org .