Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 1 - Medea

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 20 ACT I Outside Creonte’s palace on the day before her wedding, Glauce, princess of Corinth, is preparing for her wedding to the hero Giasone. Yet on a day when she should be filled with joy, her overarching emotion is that of fear: For years, Giasone has been in a relationship with the sorceress Medea, the mother of his children. Glauce knows that Medea and Giasone have a long and complicated history — the sorceress used her magic to help him steal the treasure known as the Golden Fleece, murdered her own brother and Giasone’s uncle in her efforts to help him regain his throne, and ultimately accompanied him into exile in Corinth. Aware of this past, Glauce worries that Medea, who is still in love with Giasone, may do something to stop the wedding. Giasone promises Glauce that he no longer has any interest in Medea, and preparations for the wedding feast begin. The celebrations are interrupted when Medea appears and demands that Giasone return to her. Giasone rejects Medea’s pleas, saying that he has chosen Glauce. Medea, hurt and enraged, curses Giasone, calling on the gods of Olympus to help her take revenge. ACT II Inside the palace, Medea is still burning with fury over Giasone’s betrayal. Concerned by Medea’s obvious distress, Neris suggests that she leave Corinth. King Creonte arrives, and he, too, asks Medea to leave the city. Medea pleads with Creonte to be allowed just one more day with her children. When Creonte agrees, she seems to calm down, and she even orders Neris to deliver a gown and crown as presents to the bride-to-be. As the wedding procession passes by, however, Medea expresses cruel wishes for the newlyweds. INTERMISSION ACT III Between the palace and the temple, Medea greets her two children as a dark storm appears in the sky. Suddenly, cries of lamentation issue from the palace: Medea’s presents were soaked in poison, and Glauce has died as a result. As an outraged crowd assembles, Medea, her children, and Neris escape and hide in a nearby temple. When Medea and Neris finally emerge from the temple, the sorceress is holding a bloody knife. Thinking only of hurting Giasone as much as possible, she has murdered her own sons. Giasone, realizing what has happened, collapses in grief. Medea delivers a final curse and sets the temple on fire. Thunder roars and lightning flashes through the sky as the terrified crowd flees the blazing temple. PRODUCTION SPONSORS Lisbeth Stiffel Julie & Roger Baskes Marlys A. Beider Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary Alice & John Butler + H. Gael Neeson + Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel + Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation + Mary Stowell + Zell Family Foundation + + Enrique Circle members A coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Metropolitan Opera, Greek National Opera, and Canadian Opera Company. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the NIB Foundation Italian Opera Endowed Chair. Additional Costumes by Das Gewand, Krostyne Studio, Uber Costume, Austin Pettinger, and Jan Dieckmann. English titles by Christopher Bergen, courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera. Cherubini’s Medea (Critical edition by Flavio Testi). By arrangement with Hendon Music, Inc., a Boosey & Hawkes company, Sole Agent in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for Casa Ricordi/Universal Music Publishing Ricordi S.R.L., publisher and copyright owner. Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, United Airlines. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS This production will be performed with one intermission. Acts I & II 1 hour 40 minutes Intermission 30 minutes Act III 35 minutes TOTAL 2 hours 45 minutes LYRIC’S 2025/26 PRESENTING SEASON SPONSOR: The Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Synopsis TIME AND PLACE | Ancient Corinth To regain his birthright, the kingdom of Iolcus, stolen from him by his half brother, Pelias, the hero Jason has sailed in his ship, the Argo, to the distant land of Colchos in search of the fabled Golden Fleece. There he met and fell in love with Medea, daughter of King Aeetes and a sorceress. She betrays her family and helps him to steal the fleece. To stall the pursuit of Aeetes and his army, she has killed her own brother, and she and Jason have sailed for Iolcus. During the long journey, Jason has married Medea and she has borne him two sons. Pelias has refused to linquish the throne and Medea has used her magic arts to kill him. Pursued by Pelias’ son Acastus, they have fled in the Argo for Corinth — but Jason ha abandoned Medea on the journey. Arriving in Corinth with his sons, Jason has fallen in love with Glauce, daughter of King Creon. In return for the fleece, Creon has arranged the marriage of Jason and Glauce. ACT I,Th Palace of Creon Glauce is being prepared for her wedding but is t rtured by fear of Med a’s vengeance. Jason and Creon try to calm her, and Jason orders his crew of Argonauts to lay the Golden Fleece at her feet as a token of his love and protection. The sight of it frightens her even more and she senses Medea’s approach. As the court celebrates the wedding, a stranger arrives at the gates. It is Medea, who has found her way to Corinth. She claims Jason and threatens Glauce. Creon orders her to leav his kingdom and the court ru hes away. Medea pleads wit Jason to return to her but he refuses. Medea swears revenge. ACT II, Outside the City Gates Neris, Medea’s confidant, warns her that a mob is baying for her blood. Creon arrives with his soldi rs to force her to leave Corinth but Medea begs for one single day mor . Against his will Creon agree but warns her sh will die if she tays beyond this time. Neris we ps o r Me ea’s bitter fate. Jason arrives and Medea asks him to let her see her children one more time before she leaves. He is moved by her entreaties and agrees. Medea orders Neris to send a golden robe and a diadem as a wedding gift to Glauce, but at that moment they hear praying inside the temple as the marriage is celebrated. Medea prays to the dark gods to aid her revenge. INTERMISSION ACT III,Outside the Temple As a thunderstorm breaks, Neris delivers Medea’s gifts to Glauce. Medea plans to kill her two sons but when Neris returns with the children, she is unable to raise the dagger, embracing her sons in tears. She tells Neris that the gifts for Glauce are cursed with powerful magic and will kill her the moment she puts the robe and diadem on. Neris begs her to be satisfied with this act of vengeance and to sp re her children. Mede agrees an orders Neris to take sons into t e temple for th ir own rotection. Left lone, Medea is torn b twe n her love for her sons and her desire t punish Jason. She hears sounds f lamentation inside the palace as Glauce dies an agonizing death, poisoned by Medea’s gifts. The sorceress is now determined to complete her vengeance and goes into the temple, knife in hand. A crowd gathers outside, demanding Medea’s death. Jason rushes in, desperately searching for his sons. Neris runs from the temple and warns him of Medea’s murderous intent. The doors of the temple open and Medea emerges to co front him, covered in her children’s blood. Jason falls to the ground in despair as the temple goes up in flames.