Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 10 - El último sueño de Frida y Diego

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 6 From the Chair and the General Director We are so excited to present the first Chicago performances of El último sueño de Frida y Dieg o, after its triumphant world premiere in October 2022. As new as it is, audiences and critics already have hailed it as one of the most important works of this still young century. It’s no wonder, given the compelling score by Gabriela Lena Frank, one of the leading composers of our time, and the evocative libretto by lauded writer Nilo Cruz. Frank, a Grammy Award-winning composer who was named 2026 Composer of the Year by Musical America, foregrounds her own multicultural heritage — Peruvian, Chinese, Lithuanian, Jewish — in music of great sophistication and irresistible invention. Cruz, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (for his 2003 drama Anna in the Tropics ), frequently collaborates with leading composers; his work is known to many here at Lyric from Bel Canto , his opera with Jimmy López. Though El último sueño de Frida y Dieg o is Frank’s first opera, she and Cruz have collaborated on a number of major works — a requiem, a song cycle, and an oratorio among them. Taking the title role of Frida Kahlo is Daniela Mack, the celebrated Argentinian mezzo, in her third appearance here. She debuted with us in Rusalka (2013) and returned as cult leader sidekick Angela Rose in last season’s The Listeners . Her recent performances as Lorca in Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar at both LA Opera and the Met were a great success. Mexican baritone Alfredo Daza makes his Lyric debut as Frida’s grieving partner, Diego Rivera, a role he created in the work’s world premiere. And it’s always a pleasure to welcome back Grammy winner Ana María Martínez, whose performance as Catrina marks her twelfth role at Lyric since her debut in 2009. Many of you will have seen her earlier this season as Despina in our delightful Così fan tutte . Lyric has a long tradition of presenting new work by the leading creative voices of our time. We’re proud to honor that with Frida y Diego . And we look forward to April 9, when we will share details of our new 2026/27 Season, which is full of the classics you love, local premieres, and some unexpected delights and surprises along the way. Thank you for being here — we do it all for you, our beloved audience, and you make it all possible. JOHN MANGUM General Director, President & CEO, The Women’s Board Endowed Chair SYLVIA NEIL Chair of the Board Welcome to Lyric Opera of Chicago! Bienvenidos a la Ópera Lírica de Chicago! Kyle Flubacker