The Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited continues to explore previously unchartered territory for the historically conservative company. In June, the Lyric announced yet another set of unique commissioned works with new venues and partnerships coming to Chicago next season.
New programming emphasizes attracting even younger audiences. Lyric previously announced The Magical Victrola as part of their 2014-2015 season. This work will introduce children to famous operatic excerpts joined by the story of children playing in their grandparents’ attic. To complement this offering, Lyric also announced that it will present Second Nature, a newly commissioned children’s opera, for free at the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The initiative is also targeting adults with more unique offerings. In a partnership with the University of Chicago, Lyric is bringing a new klezmer style opera, The Property, to the university’s Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts and Skokie’s North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in January.
Finally, Lyric Unlimited continues experimenting with mariachi operas with next season’s El Pasado Nunca Se Termina. This work, also a world premiere, debuts at the Civic Opera House on 28 Mar., but preview performances will be given at both the Benit Juarez Community Academy in Chicago and the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.
This level of experimentation and outreach is unprecedented for the Lyric which has historically tended towards time-tested classics. Lyric is taking much more initiative to engage the community with surprisingly unusual offerings. Hopefully, these offerings will be as well-received as Chicago Opera Theatre’s performance of Orpheus and Euridice at Eckhart Park Pool last fall.
