Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 1 - Medea

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 2 6 WELCOME TO YOUR LYRIC 8 Greetings — and a look ahead — from the Board Chair and General Director 10 Board of Directors 12 A conversation with Penelope Steiner, an operaphile whose extraordinary gifts to Lyric have helped secure the company’s future. 16 TODAY’S PERFORMANCE 19 Title page and cast 20 Synopsis 23 Opera Notes: Sondra Radvanovsky and Matthew Polenzani join a roster of legendary talents who have tackled the lead roles in Medea . 28 Artist profiles 34 Orchestra and Chorus In this issue Medea | pp. 16-35 36 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT 38 Bravissimi 40 Production sponsors 42 Supporting our future — endowments at Lyric 44 Ardis Krainik Society 48 Corporate partnerships 50 Aria Society 54 Annual individual and foundation support 60 Commemorative gifts 61 Artistic roster 62 Lyric staff 64 RYAN OPERA CENTER 66 Check in with alumni — and meet the 2025/26 Ensemble. 68 LYRIC UNLIMITED 70 Each season, the still-growing Student Dress Rehearsals program offers young people a riveting, free introduction to opera. 72 People of Lyric: Lyric’s Senior Director of Development started in the Ardis Krainik era — and still loves working in the arts. Micheal Cooper / Canadian Opera Company