Preview: Stars of Lyric Opera at Millenium Park

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In what has become a pre-season tradition of Sir Andrew Davis’ seven-year Lyric Opera music directorship, several of the stars of upcoming productions will perform a free outdoor preview of the 2007-2008 season complete with the full Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus, the latter of which is being prepared for the first time by Lyric’s new chorus master Donald Nally, who has the unenviable job of succeeding Donald Palumbo, who did such a spectacular job here that he now has the same position at the Met. Among those performing are soprano Elizabeth Futral, who will sing Violetta in the season opening production of Verdi’s “La traviata,” Quinn Kelsey, who will sing Marcello in “La boheme” and the Spirit Messenger in Richard Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten,” Elizabeth De Shong, who will sing Meg in Verdi’s “Falstaff,” Stacey Tappen, who who will perform in “Schatten” and “Falstaff,” Marjorie Owens, who will perform in “traviata,” along with stars of past season productions such as Isabel Bayrakdarian and James Morris. If you’re too far away to hear well, there will be a live broadcast on WFMT FM 98.7 this year. (Dennis Polkow) Millennium Park’s Pritzker Pavilion, Michigan between Randolph and Monroe, (312)742-1168. Sat 7:30pm. Free.