Lyric Opera Presents STARS OF THE LYRIC OPERA AT MILLENNIUM PARK Review- -Swelling Emotions

It seems that the Lyric’s ability to swell our emotions is limitless…

Chicago came out in full force to enjoy one of the last outdoor concerts in Millennium Park—from the 10+/- year-old in wheel-heeled sneakers, to the walker-assisted, and all in between.

Verdi, Puccini, Mozart and more—these were some of the more recognizable of opera’s greatest hits, this year brought to us under the baton of energetic Venezuelan conductor Domingo Hindoyan.

It was two deep throated spurned men –cuckholds actually—characters created by Verdi, and sung by baritone Zachary Nelson and bass Adrian Sâmpetrean that first got us in the mood.

We read the libretto from the giant screen above mixing with the swelling music telling of how they crave vengeance and then lament their loss of so sweet times before. What a perfect choice for openers, reminding that this is opera, where no emotions are ever small.

Lyric Opera Regales with Glamorous Diva Power

Then glamour strode on to the stage—in the person of J’Nai Bridges garbed in a luxurious turquoise high-fashion gown, whom we learned was an 11^th hour substitution. Really? Singing from Saint-Saëns Samson et Dalila with regal bearing and voice, she smiled to the chorus of “BRAVA” coming at her conclusion.

How soothing and stirring at once to then hear “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s actually more comic opera Gianni Schicchi, that for many in the audience probably transported to them to treasured Starlight Serenade memories. Better yet, this serenade came from charismatic red-clad diva Danielle De Niese whose waves to the crowd and later embodiment of flirtatious Musetta of Puccini’s La Bohème suggested that Millennium Park was right-sized for her. One wonders if perhaps the grand Lyric Opera house might be a tad tiny for her outgoing person.

Then, we all enjoyed an audio hors d’oeuvre of the season opener, La Bohème, and to be the first Chicagoans to see famed Michael Fabiano as Rodolfo and Maria Agresta as Mimi perform one of the world’s most melodious recounts of love at first sight, followed by the complete Act II.

It’s a ritual. It’s annual. It’s a guarantee for walking-on-air bounce at the concert’s conclusion and reminder of the role that Lyric Opera plays in defining Chicago as a global cultural leader.

If you missed the concert you also missed the discount code for tickets that they share with attendees every year. This is yet another reason to make a mental note for next year.

You can still get tickets though for the season or individual operas. Visit the Lyric Opera website.

All photos: Todd Rosenberg

Performers:

LYRIC OPERA ORCHESTRA, LYRIC OPERA CHORUS, CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR

DOMINGO HINDOYAN, Conductor