LOC Looking For a Little Free Help on Stage

"The Lyric Opera of Chicago is looking for extras to play henchmen, soldiers, gravediggers and noblewomen. The Lyric Opera says auditions will start in September and run on certain dates throughout the beginning of next year. They're looking for dozens of extras to play everything from villagers in Mozart's The Magic Flute to Ethiopian prisoners in Verdi's Aida. Auditions take place at the Civic Opera House in downtown Chicago. Extras, or supernumeraries, are unpaid volunteers. They receive $15 per rehearsal and performance to pay for transportation costs. Children who play extras can apply for grants to pay for transportation costs. The opera says attendance at all rehearsals and performances is mandatory." [Source]

Tenor Jim Cornelison Scores With Touching National Anthem

As an example of the recent article written by Susanne Mentzer, watch this stirring rendition of the "The Star-Spangled Banner" sung by tenor (and former Lyric Opera of Chicago Young Artist) Jim Cornelison:

More about Mr. Cornelison after the jump.

James Cornelison (born c. 1964) is a tenor who sings The Star-Spangled Banner and "O Canada" at the beginning of home games for the Chicago Blackhawks. Cornelison started singing the anthem for the Blackhawks part time in 1996; he has been singing the national anthem for the Blackhawks full time since 2007. In the 2010-2011 NFL playoffs, Cornelison also sang the anthem for the Chicago Bears. He sang for the Chicago Bulls during the 2011 NBA Playoffs, the day following the death of Osama Bin Laden. He also sang for the Chicago Bears opening game against the Atlanta Falcons of the 2011 football season on September 11, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 World Trade Center attack. Cornelison graduated from Seattle Pacific University with degrees in music and psychology. He then went on to post graduate work and earned a Masters in Music from Indiana University in 1992. In 1995, he moved to Chicago and joined the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists. In addition to his live work, Corneilson has also performed session vocals for a number of years and is audible on two songs by DMX: "Lord Give Me A Sign" and "X Gon' Give It to Ya". Cornelison has won several awards for music, including: The William Matheus Sullivan Foundation Award, first place in the American Opera Society of Chicago’s 1997 Vocal Competition and the George London Foundation Encouragement Grant. When he is not singing, Cornelison works in real estate for Rubloff Residential Properties. [Source]

Renée Fleming Interviews Francesca Zambello About "Showboat"

Opera seasons are about to launch all across America and everyone is getting out their calendars to plan for which performances will take top priority in their ticket-purchasing budgets. If you are looking for a long romantic weekend around Valentine's Day, then the Lyric Opera of Chicago is the place to be. The company will be performing the musical Showboat on February 12 at 2:00 PM and February 13 at 7:30 PM. Music is by Jerome Kern and the book & lyrics are by Oscar Hammerstein II. Watch a video of Renée Fleming interviewing the director of the show, Francesca Zambello, by clicking here. To learn more about the cast, production and ticket information, click here.

LOC Rehires Development Officer to Aid Fleming Initiative

Mr. Jabin: Gladly accepting
your financial donation.

"Christopher Jabin has been appointed Lyric Opera of Chicago’s director of institutional giving. 'We are very pleased to welcome Chris Jabin back to Lyric in this important capacity. His experience and knowledge in the development field will be key as we raise additional funds to implement new initiatives and programs,' said Mary L. Selander, director of development. Starting in the new position on September 7, Jabin will focus on securing new revenues from nationally-based funding sources. Lyric’s goal is to augment funding for special projects such as the Renée Fleming Initiative, and expanded education and community engagement programs – a priority for Lyric’s

Renée Fleming & Sir Andrew Davis

incoming general director, Anthony Freud. Jabin is currently executive vice president, development of the John G. Shedd Aquarium, where he has worked since 2001. Previously he served as director of development for the Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. Jabin began his career at Lyric Opera of Chicago in the late 1980s as an assistant director of development." [Source]

HGO's Anthony Freud To Replace LOC's William Mason

Mr. Freud will leave Houston

"Lyric Opera of Chicago named Anthony Freud as its new general director, succeeding William Mason, 69 years old, who had announced plans to retire. The changeover becomes effective Oct. 1, opening night of Lyric's 2011-2012 season. Mr. Freud, a 53-year-old native of London, has been general director of the Houston Grand Opera since 2006 and, prior to that, was general director of the Welsh National Opera. He also currently is chairman of Opera America, the largest professional opera association in North America. In 2010, Mr. Freud commissioned and produced the world's first mariachi opera, Cruzar la Cara de la Luna/To Cross the Face of the Moon, a work recounting the story of three generations of a family in Texas and Mexico. Mr. Freud will be the fourth general director in Lyric's 57-year history." [Source]

LOC "Hercules" Production Claimed Success For Sellars

Alice Coote, David Daniels and Eric Owens

"This isn't just a brilliant conclusion to the season. The new production of Handel's Hercules at Lyric Opera of Chicago goes well beyond that. It could be an important springboard for a renewed civic and, indeed, national conversation about issues concerning America's war veterans, issues many people would just as soon sweep under a rug. What happens to these soldiers when they return home, bringing their post-traumatic stress with them? Having turned off their emotions for combat, how do they turn them back on with the family and friends they left behind? The answer, in director Peter Sellars' thoughtful and enthralling new production, which opened Friday night at the Civic Opera House, is they don't." [Source]

 "The cast is exceptional, with debutante English soprano Lucy Crowe breaking out astonishingly in a chilling Abu Ghraib costume and English mezzo Alice Coote making Dejanira dramatically complete. American tenor Richard Croft is a steadfast and dutiful Hyllus. Countertenor David Daniels was born for this music and his Lichas grabs your heart. And American bass-baritone Eric Owens speaks to you even in his silences — Handel gave his title character the least amount of music — and shakes you when he sings." [Source]

Read more about the production here. One more review out from the L.A. Times and can be found here.