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An Interview with Maestro Mazzola
Photo Credit: Laura Miller My colleague Terri Van Valkinburgh and I had the great pleasure of interviewing Maestro Enrique Mazzola before...
Melissa Trier Kirk, viola
Jul 29, 20214 min read


Broadway at the Opera
Several of our orchestra musicians took part in Lyric’s “The New Classics: Songs from the New Golden Age of Musical Theater,” available...
chicagolyricoperao
Jul 27, 20211 min read


Behind the Curtain: Alyce Johnson, Flute and Piccolo
photo credit Vilma Jovaisa The Lyric Opera Orchestra has missed our audiences - and our orchestra pit - during the past 18 months. We’re...
Mimi Tachouet, Principal Flute
Jul 25, 20213 min read


Hansel and Gretel: Creepier in the Forest?
This pandemic year (actually a year and counting) has created situations in which most of us never imagined we would find ourselves. It...
Linda Baker, Acting Co-Principal/Bass Clarinet
Jul 23, 20212 min read


Underground Opera
By Marie Tachouet Concertmaster Robert Hanford, clearly parked in the wrong spot. “Here come the cars!” As opera musicians, we are used...
chicagolyricoperao
May 26, 20212 min read


Mighty Knight
By Neil Kimel, French horn At a rehearsal on Friday, March 13, 2020, the Lyric Opera Orchestra played through the entirety of Wagner’s...
chicagolyricoperao
May 24, 20213 min read


Honoring Our Retirees - Peter LaBella
By Melissa Trier Kirk I have been given the happy task to interview violinist Peter Labella, who leaves the orchestra after a remarkable...
chicagolyricoperao
May 22, 20213 min read


Pandemic Motivation
March 2020: COVID-19 shutdown. Lyric Opera season: over. Ring cycle: not happening. Education system: all online. Santa Fe Opera Festival...
Mark Fisher, Assistant Principal Trombone
Mar 24, 20212 min read


Meet Our Newest Member, Rebecca Oliverio
A long time ago (2019, winter), Lyric Opera held auditions for a trumpet position previously held by our long-time (and newly retired)...
Terri Van Valkinburgh, viola
Mar 22, 20212 min read


Zooming out to Seniors
While our theater has been shuttered for a year, orchestra members have sought creative ways to continue performing and connecting to our...
Melissa Trier Kirk, viola
Mar 20, 20212 min read


Pet of the Month: Greta
Newest singing sensation Greta knows her big break will happen any day now so she's diligently staying on top of her scales. Living with...
chicagolyricoperao
Mar 18, 20211 min read


Best of Times, Worst of Times
Gus Foss, leaf expert Pandemic life at the Foss household feels like it’s been going on for a lifetime already. Since we’ve been on...
Fritz Foss, Assistant Principal French Horn
Dec 29, 20202 min read


Paperback Writer
Eric Millstein, percussion We percussionists are unlike other orchestral musicians (my colleagues will attest to this!). The main...
Eric Millstein
Dec 26, 20202 min read


Leading a New Generation of Cellists
Walter Preucil, cello This fall I had the opportunity to work with 12 fine cellists from around the country who had signed up for my...
Walter Preucil
Dec 23, 20201 min read


Pets of the Month: Kittens!!! You can't choose just one!
I've been putting the pandemic to good use to clear out the backlog of arranging projects I've had lying around for years and get onto...
Preman Tilson, Principal Bassoon
Dec 20, 20202 min read


Recitals Right Now Are...Different
Violist Amy Hess with pianist Paul Hauer Bowing at the start of applause. Turning with a grateful smile to acknowledge your pianist....
Mimi Tachouet, Principal Flute
Dec 17, 20203 min read


Agreement Reached to Protect Individual Musicians and Lyric Opera of Chicago
The Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra is happy to announce that the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Chicago Federation of Musicians have...
chicagolyricoperao
Nov 11, 20201 min read


A Message to Our Patrons
Dear opera lovers and patrons, We know you are sad to hear of the cancellation of the remainder of Lyric’s 2020-21 season. Because the...
chicagolyricoperao
Oct 21, 20201 min read


Contagious Solitude
Have you ever wondered what musicians do during a pandemic? Back in March, within weeks of the Ring cancellation, I embarked on a...
Paul Dwyer, assistant principal cello
Sep 12, 20202 min read


An Interview with Rick Greenman
Rick Greenman, Lyric Chapters Executive Board President In late July, Rick Greenman, Lyric Chapters Executive Board President, chatted...
Susan Warner, Acting Co-Principal Clarinet
Sep 10, 20203 min read
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