In what has became a pre-season tradition of Sir Andrew Davis’ six-year Lyric Opera music directorship, several of the stars of upcoming productions will perform a free outdoor preview of the 2006-7 season complete with the full Lyric Opera Orchestra although, ironically, Davis himself will not appear due to leg-surgery recovery and has been replaced by Richard Buckley, whereas artistic director emeritus Bruno Bartoletti will conduct the September 16 season opening of Puccini’s “Turnadot.” Among those appearing from that production are soprano Andrea Gruber, who will portray the ice princess herself; Russian tenor Vladimir Galouzine, who will portray Calaf, the brave suitor who risks beheading to answer Turandot’s mysterious riddles; tenor Bryan Griffin, who portrays the Prince of Persia who loses his head over Turandot—literally—and who will also sing Tybalt in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” later in the season; soprano Patricia Racette, who will portray Liù as well as Mme. Lidoine in Lyric’s first-ever production of Poulenc’s “Dialogues of the Carmelites.” From the first-ever production of Gluck’s “Iphigénie en Tauride” is hot mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who will star in the title role on the heels of her home state of Texas proclaiming a “Susan Graham Day,” along with soprano Susanna Phillips, who will sing the role of Diane and baritone Mark Delavan who will portray Thoas as well as Count di Luna in Verdi’s “Il trovatore,” and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth De Shong, who will portray the Priestess as well as appear in Richard Strauss’ “Salome.” Also performing will be Canadian soprano Erin Wall, who will portray Fiordiligi in Mozart’s “Così fan tutte,” Meredith Arwady who will sing Gertrude in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette” as well as Mother Jeanne in “Dialogues of the Carmelites,” and bass-baritone Christian Van Horn, who sang in last year’s “Carmen” and “Rigoletto.” (Dennis Polkow)
Sat/7:30pm, Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan between Randolph and Monroe, (312)742-1168. Free.
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