Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 4 - Cavalleria

1 | Lyric Opera of Chicago 4 WELCOME TO YOUR LYRIC 6 A warm welcome from the Board Chair and General Director 7 Board of Directors 8 She Lives for Art: Penelope Steiner’s extraordinary gift to the company is the most recent chapter in a long love story. 12 TODAY’S PERFORMANCE 15 Title page and cast 16 Synopsis 18 Opera Notes: This pair of verismo masterpieces — brought together by chance — have earned their enduring place in the repertoire. 22 Artist profiles 28 Orchestra and Chorus In this issue Cavalleria rusticana & Pagliacci | pp. 12-29 30 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT 32 Bravissimi 34 Production sponsors 36 Supporting our future — endowments at Lyric 38 Ardis Krainik Society 42 Corporate partnerships 44 Aria Society 48 Annual individual and foundation support 35 Commemorative gifts 54 Lyric staff 59 Artistic roster 56 RYAN OPERA CENTER 58 Distinguished alumni perform all over the globe. 60 LYRIC UNLIMITED 62 The company’s High School Residencies program brings expert teachers into classrooms all over the city, sparking lifelong connections to opera. 64 People of Lyric: Our Digital Marketing Associate spreads the word about Lyric — and influences the influencers. Dan Rest / Lyric Opera of Chicago