Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 4 - Cavalleria

Lyric Opera of Chicago | 6 From the Chair and the General Director It’s truly a pleasure to welcome you to the Lyric Opera House for this production of one of the great double bills in the operatic repertoire. Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci have been tethered since 1893 — two passionate, tragic stories that reach the emotional heights that make the art form so unique. It’s especially gratifying to present the Lyric debuts of two young stars currently making meteoric rises. Soprano Yulia Matochkinka (Santuzza) has already been heard in many of the most storied houses around the world, and this season will sing Amneris in Aida at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Ortrud in Lohengrin at Hamburg State Opera. SeokJong Baek (Turiddu) won much acclaim, in his 2022 Royal Ballet & Opera debut as Samson, astonishing the audience; not only had he stepped in on short notice, but it was his professional debut as a tenor after beginning his career as a baritone. They will be working with Music Director Enrique Mazzola, whose history with these works goes back to his days in the children’s chorus at La Scala for a production of Pagliacci . He’s well acquainted with some of the other leading talents here: Among their numerous other roles here, Lyric favorites Quinn Kelsey and Russell Thomas appeared in our Grammy-winning film of Pagliacci , made during the pandemic. Both old friends and new will be on our stage starting November 21, for the opening of our world premiere production of A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness , an operatic reimagining of the legendary alternative rock album, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It is a signature piece of programming, demonstrating how Lyric continues to expand the horizons of what it means to be an opera company today. It promises to be a high point of the cultural season — and we hope to see you there. JOHN MANGUM General Director, President & CEO, The Women’s Board Endowed Chair SYLVIA NEIL Chair of the Board Welcome to Lyric Opera of Chicago! Kyle Flubacker