Jeanne Gang to design acoustical shell for Lyric Opera

Thu May 29, 2014 at 1:12 pm

By Lawrence A. Johnson

Aqua architect Jeanne Gang will design an acoustical concert shell for the Lyric Opera.
Aqua architect Jeanne Gang will design an acoustical concert shell for the Lyric Opera.

*Moving forward with its emphasis on non-operatic events, the Lyric Opera of Chicago has hired celebrated architect Jeanne Gang to design an acoustical shell for the Lyric stage to improve the venue’s sound for concerts and recitals. Gang is best known for her striking Aqua building in Chicago.

“[Gang] has redefined the Chicago skyline, and seemed the perfect match for Lyric Opera as it moves into the future with passion and a redefined mission of what it means to be a great opera company in the 21st century,” said company general director Anthony Freud in a statement released by Lyric.

The shell will be used for the first time at Lyric’s 60th Anniversary Concert on November 1. lyricopera.org

* Grant Park’s Berlioz program is moving indoors to escape the blues

The Grant Park Music Festival’s second program of the summer will now take place at the Auditorium Theatre rather than the originally scheduled Pritzker Pavilion. The June 13 and 14 performances of Berlioz’s Romeo et Juliette have been moved to avoid unwonted competing sonic distractions from the Chicago Blues Festival, which will be happening the same weekend at the Petrillo Band Shell.

Also popular bass-baritone Eric Owens has been added to the lineup of soloists for the Berlioz performances, joining mezzo-soprano Julie Boulianne and tenor Paul Appleby. Carlos Kalmar conducts. gpmf.org

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