CHICAGO (7/25/2024) — Celebrate the start of Chicago’s cultural season with a melodic evening under the stars. Lyric’s annual free concert, Sunday in the Park with Lyric, takes place on August 25, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and promises an opportunity to embrace the end of summer with a fun-filled night of music. The event will be hosted by Lyric’s Chief Artistic Administration Officer Matthew Ozawa, NBC5’s Arts and Entertainment Reporter LeeAnn Trotter, and the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Clinée Hedspeth.

Visitors can take in the city skyline as they enjoy this highly anticipated favorite annual event. The evening will showcase performances by members of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center and the Lyric Opera Orchestra in selections from Lyric’s upcoming 2024/25 Season, conducted by Music Director Enrique Mazzola and Ryan Opera Center Conductor Chi-Yuan Lin. As a special feature, Lyric Unlimited’s Artist-in-Residence Karen Slack will make her inaugural appearance. All selections will feature projected English titles.

In his fourth season with Lyric as Music Director, Mazzola will conduct Rigoletto, Fidelio, and The Listeners, in addition to a collaboration with Sondra Radvanovsky for her world premiere trio of concerts, The Puccini Heroines. The upcoming season also marks the 50th anniversary of the Ryan Opera Center — Lyric’s acclaimed artist-development program.

Lyric’s upcoming season, opening on Saturday September 14, is an enchanting mix of new, contemporary works and familiar, classic productions. The season begins with Verdi’s Rigoletto (September 14 – October 6) and will be celebrated through the season opening gala: Patti LuPone: A Life in Notes (October 4). Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio, comes next, with performances from September 26 to October 10. Next is Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro (November 9 – 30), followed by Jeanine Tesori’s Blue (November 16 to December 1), Puccini’s La Bohème (March 15 – April 12), and Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners (March 30 – April 11).

As part of the Sunday in the Park with Lyric festivities, children and their adults can enjoy a new Lyric offering, Art-See Jamboree, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Highlights include:

·       Ongoing creative performances by storyteller Jasmin Cardenas of Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World, with sessions starting every half hour from 11:30 a.m., will provide a preview of the upcoming Opera in the Neighborhoods performance tour based on the story.

·       Art creation activities with William Estrada from the Mobile Street Art Cart Project.

·       Live music featuring DJ Jawon Mayberry.

·       Photo opportunities, Lyric goodies, and a giveaway raffle for attendees.Attendance is first-come, first-served for this free event and no tickets are required. For more information and to view program notes for Sunday in the Park with Lyric, visit lyricopera.org/millennium.