**** Highly Recommended You don’t have to be a fan of "Dancing with the Stars" to appreciate the dazzling spectacle that is "Savor after Hours". It is quite simply breathtaking! This high-energy production features some of the world’s best ballroom dancers flawlessly executing the brilliant choreography of KC Monnie. Helen and I both loved this show! 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended **** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” is magnificent. If you’re a ballet traditionalist, it might not be the ballet for you. It’s abstract, avant-garde and maybe a bit confusing, but it fascinated me from start to finish. 4 Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED It has been a decade since Lyric Opera of Chicago has presented Verdi’s 1871 opera “Aida.” After such a long absence, this extremely popular grand opera is once again majestically sweeping the stage at Lyric in a bold and contemporary production directed by Francesca Zambello. Lyric Opera’s Music Director Enrique Mazzola conducts his first fully staged performance of the work, which has now become the 100th opera title in his repertoire. Add in a quartet of massively talented singers in the principal roles and you have great cause for celebration.
**** Highly Recommended The Joffrey Academy’s Winning Works, presented annually at the Museum of Contemporary Art, is a performance I await with great anticipation. It’s a chance to see brand new pieces by new choreographers, all ALAANA (African, Latinx, Asian, Arab and Native American) artist, performed by up-and-coming dancers who get a chance to shine. This year’s program was absolutely fabulous. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Highly Recommended I don’t know why the Joffrey Ballet decided to move to Chicago, but I’m eternally grateful they did. Everything performance is sheer perfection. This year’s spring engagement, "Studies in Blue", includes three contemporary pieces which held me spellbound! Once again, the incredibly talented Joffrey dancers execute the most complicated choreography with flawless technique and timing. 4 Spotlights
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED During the 2021/2022 season, Lyric Opera of Chicago presented Terence Blanchard's contemporary opera "Fire Shut Up in My Bones" a mere six months after its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. That production, which was the second opera that Blanchard had ever composed, proved to be a very popular selection with Lyric audiences as well as a huge critical success. While Blanchard was in Chicago for rehearsals of "Fire Shut Up in My Bones," talk quickly turned to presenting his first opera during a future season. Thankfully, that time has now arrived. "Champion," which Blanchard has described as "an opera in jazz" is a triumph. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS
***RECOMMENDED*** It is always a pleasure to see a more youthful audience arrive as spectators to an opera. At the recent opening matinee of Lyric Opera of Chicago's "Cinderella" (La Cenerentola), many of those in attendance were young children. Lyric has proven that this family-friendly 1817 Rossini work is ideal for any age group. From the lengthy overture all the way throughout until the final happy ending, this opera is a delight. It is nearly as much fun watching the reactions on those children's faces as it is to enjoy the frivolity and endless frolicking taking place upon the stage. Kudos to those parents, as all of the children were well-behaved and remained quiet during the entire performance. 3 SPOTLIGHTS
***** Highly Recommended ***** The Joffrey Ballet’s “Chicago-centric” version of "The Nutcracker", choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, is quite simply magnificent. By setting "The Nutcracker" amidst Chicago’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, Wheeldon gave the city a unique gift. It’s become a holiday tradition at my house! No matter how many times I see "The Nutcracker", I never get tired of the feeling of anticipation and excitement before a performance, waiting for that first chord of Tchaikovsky’s glorious music! "The Nutcracker" is absolutely perfect in every way. 4 BIG Spotlights
**** Recommended When I first saw and heard “Jenufa” at Lyric Opera two decades ago, it was a revelation. Even for one enamored of dramatic tragedies, this one felt different: As heartbreaking as it was to experience, the denouement -- with its unexpected sense of peace, reconciliation and profound forgiveness on the part of thrice-wronged Jenufa -- made the musical journey feel worthwhile; I felt “emotionally purified,” in the words of this production’s conductor, Jakub Hrusa, the ending a richly satisfying though terribly sad outcome to “this terrible, cruel story.” 4 SPOTLIGHTS
****HIGHLY RECOMMENDED**** It has been 50 years since Lyric Opera of Chicago has presented a production of "The Daughter of the Regiment." That's much too long a span of time to deprive local audiences the pure joy of witnessing Gaetano Donizetti's 1840 bel canto comedic opera. Under the faultless work of original director Laurent Pelly (revived here by Christian Rath) this charming, new-to-Chicago production simply shines with a stellar cast that delivers all of the laughs -- of which there are many -- hits all of the high notes plus delivers it all with pure heart to make for a splendid experience in the opera house. 4 BIG SPOTLIGHTS
