Lyric Opera of Chicago lectures - 2015

This year we will be featuring six operas from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and they will be led by former docents.  Every lecture will be held in the Multipurpose Room at 7:00.

Thursday, September 3     
The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The Marriage of Figaro continues the plot of The Barber of Seville several years later.  Resourceful Figaro, the count's valet, and Susanna, the countess's maid, are desperate to marry, but the count has designs on Susanna himself, even though he has his own bride

On one occasion the Count finds that the nuptial apartment for Figaro and Susanna is cluttered with pieces of furniture covered with dust sheets.  Because he was not at the rehearsal, he did not know where Cherubino was hiding and had to search each piece of   furniture.  Cherubino had to voluntarily jump out of hiding because the Count could not find him.

Thursday, October 1  
Cinderella by Giachino Rossini

Cinderella is dressed in rags and destined to toil away for her nasty stepsisters and horrible stepfather - who is scheming to convince the Prince to marry one of his "real" daughters.  There is a happily-ever-after though for the maid with the heart of gold.

There is no glass slipper, fairy godmother, pumpkin coach, or wicked stepmother.  The wicked stepmother is a wicked stepfather, Don Magnifico.  The Fairy Godmother is Alidoro, a philosopher and the Prince's tutor.  Cinderella has a bracelet.

Wednesday, November 14
The Merry Widow by Franz Lehar

Beautiful Hanna Glawari is a very rich widow and her homeland's entire economy rests on her marrying a "local" instead of a Frenchman.  So the ambassador springs into action, determined to save his country by convincing his attache, the dashing playboy
Count Danilo (who is an old flame), to make Hanna his bride.