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Home » Orchestra News » Lyric Opera of Chicago to Be Featured on Great Performances


Lyric Opera of Chicago to Be Featured on Great Performances

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The Lyric Opera of Chicago and its orchestra’s recent world premiere production of the opera Bel Canto by Jimmy López will be broadcast on the PBS series Great Performances next season. The opera was on stage during December 2015 and January 2016, and performances in early January were recorded. Orchestra musicians will be covered and compensated for the recorded under the AFM’s Integrated Media Agreement (IMA).

The new opera is based on Ann Patchett’s best-selling novel by the same title, inspired by the 1996 hostage situation in Peru. It was commissioned by Lyric Opera of Chicago and developed with the guidance of Lyric Creative Consultant Renée Fleming.

“This will be the first time since 1991 that a Lyric production of an opera has been televised,” says trumpet player Matt Comerford, a member of Local 10-208 (Chicago, Il) and vice chair of Lyric’s orchestra committee. “Having a national audience for this world premiere is very significant and exciting for our company and all of our musicians. For the Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, it is the second time in five years the group has appeared on Great Performances, the first being at Symphony Hall for a concert with Sir Gilbert Levine and the Chicago Symphony Chorus in honor of Pope John Paul II April 23, 2012 followed by rebroadcasts.”







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