At the age of 40, Italian Opera legend Verdi turned from the biblical dramas and ancient histories that inspired much of the grand opera tradition to write La Traviata, a tragic tale that dealt with moral and social dilemmas that were not openly acknowledged by polite society. While it may have caused controversy upon its debut, the opera is one of his most celebrated works, praised for its emotional depth and exquisite, bittersweet beauty.

Donizetti's comic opera Don Pasquale comes back to the Lyric Opera for the first time in more than ten years this season! Directed by Mariam Clemente making her Lyric debut, Enrique Mazzola conducts this scintillating production featuring Misha Kiria in the titular role. A witty tale of intrigue and revenge, the farcical Opera is widely regarded as the toast of the Opera Buffa (comic opera) tradition of the 19th century. An exciting addition to any opera season!

Richard Wagner has created some of the most famous, epic and enduring masterpieces not just in opera, but the entire musical landscape. Pieces such as "Ride of the Valkyries" have transcended opera and classical music to become familiar themes across popular culture even today, while the monumental nature of his operas, with great battles, mythical quests and heroic adventures make for some of the most exciting experiences one can have at the opera house.

Haydn's extraordinary and epic take on the beginnings of the universe meets the peerless skill of Chicago's Lyric Opera, opening for two nights only in January 2027! Utilising excerpts from Genesis and Milton's Paradise Lost alongside a sweeping and transporting score, Haydn's The Creation explores the various aspects of life's origins with beauty and wonder.

Jules Massenet's Herodiade is a hidden gem in the canon, telling the story of the biblical figure Salome, as told in French novelist Gustave Flaubert's 1877 novella Herodias. The Lyric Opera presents the work in concert for the first time ever, at long last bringing this little known masterpiece to Chicago audiences. Enrique Mazzola directs this special production which allows the music's brilliance and the dramatic poetry to shine without distraction.

Richard Strauss' self-referential comedic masterpiece gets a fresh interpretation at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, opening for a strictly limited season in March 2027! Presenting a highly serious opera that somehow accidentally ends up on stage with a troupe of riotous clowns, Ariadne Auf Naxos is a delightful and whip-smart de-construction of opera as an art form.