This orchestra will wave right back at you
mainFrom the Musicians of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra:
Dear friends,
The Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra went back to work today, rehearsing the beautiful music we love to perform. We are incredibly grateful for the positive public support from Chicago and the world. Now we have a favor to ask you.
Please come to the opera.
Come for the 50th time or the first time. Try a new opera or an old favorite. Come one more time than you normally would have attended. And bring a friend. Let’s fill this big old Civic Opera House and prove to the Lyric Opera management that opera is still relevant in the 21st century.
As long as humans have a need to hear beautiful voices. Have a need to laugh and cry. Have a need to feel part of something bigger than themselves—opera will still be relevant. Culture is what keeps us human, and we need it more in the 21st century than ever before.
And when you come to the opera house, please step to the edge of the pit and wave to the orchestra. We will smile, wave back, and perform beautiful music for you.
Sincerely,
The Musicians of the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra
Welcome back!
I’ll be there Saturday fired up to hear great music by one of the world’s great orchestras.
Fired up yes, but I will be spitting mad at Lyric management’s continuing and corrosive disdain for its own creative artists and for Grand Opera in general. If Freud can’t support his own industry and his own product, maybe he ‘s long overdue for a career change?
If he shows his face on Saturday at the orchestra rail, I’ll be happy to discuss with him in detail.
Congratulations to the Lyric Opera Orchestra for taking the high road–and good luck to would-be opera patrons like me as we search for tickets cheaper than $150 apiece to one of the four performances of Siegfried. It’s hard to imagine making opera relevant to all when high prices make the art form accessible only to people who make as much as Anthony Freud and the directors on the board.
A very generous and classy response from the orchestra. I’d like to see that kind of interaction between players and audience!
Now, Management should be equally classy and get the donors together to sponsor the radio broadcasts.