Gov. Pat Quinn was also on hand to give stilted speeches about the importance of the arts, as well as to receive hugs from an exuberant Ma. more ›

A 38-year-old Mundelein man who apparently thought paying $200 to see the Lyric Opera's staging of Carmen trumped house rules found out the hard way that was not the case. Sergey Dembski was warned by a 31-year-old female usher that he would not be allowed back into the auditorium until intermission if he left his seat to get a pair of opera glasses. When Dembski was refused re-entry, he shoved the usher twice. Dembski was arrested and, once in police custody, "became obnoxious and hostile," according to the police report. more ›

Tribune columnist and classical music novice Barbara Brotman recently checked out the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for only the third time in 30 years. Earlier this week, she put together a list of advice, gleaned from the CSO regulars seated nearby, for other newbies thinking about taking the same plunge into the intimidating other-world of orchestra concerts. We thought thought the idea was a good one, so we decided to appraise the advice she received. The good news is that though the list is a bit discursive, it contains some good tips. Let's take a look... more ›

Kate Aldrich, the mezzo-soprano scheduled to make her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut this Wednesday playing Carmen, the title character of Georges Bizet's most famous work, has bowed out due to side effects from her pregnancy. more ›

The Lyric Opera of Chicago's 56th season got underway last weekend with an original production of Giuseppe Verdi's "Macbeth," written in 1846 and revised in 1865 (the version the Lyric is currently performing), his tenth opera and his first to be based on Shakespeare play (and the only until his final two operas, "Otello," based on "Othello," and "Falstaff," based on "The Merry Wives of Windsor," each written some 40 years later). more ›

Rush Hour, the free weekly classical music concert series at St. James Cathedral, begins its eleventh summer-long season this evening. We love Rush Hour for its simple formula that appeals to seasoned fans and classical music neophytes alike: short, casual post-work concerts (usually about 30 minutes long), preceded by refreshments, with additional information to consume, if you're interested (a blog, a podcast, online concert notes, and recordings of the concerts available immediately afterward to take home via flash drive). more ›

Responding to flagging ticket sales, the Lyric Opera of Chicago is reducing the number of performances in the 2010-2011 season to 68, down 11 from the current season's 77. The cut translates to roughly 32,000 fewer available tickets. To further stoke demand, Lyric is also freezing the price of subscriptions. more ›

If you're jonesing for some opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago is your enabler. Maybe you can wait until the season preview concert on September 21. Maybe you can even hold out until the opening night gala on September 26. But if you need a taste of that sweet, sweet opera - and don't have the do-re-mi to be a subscriber (one of the requirements for the exclusive preview) or to afford a ticket to the premiere (still available for $260-$400) - then go to Millennium Park this Friday night when Lyric will be giving away the goods for free. more ›

The Lyric Opera of Chicago announced today that the 2008-2009 season registered a surplus of approximately $100,000, although financial trouble looms as the economy continues to founder. more ›