Chicago Music and Theater
Chicago, Illinois
Music and Theater Previews and Reviews
JANUARY RINGS IN NEW YEAR OF EXCITING MIUSIC AND THEATER
By Joseph Cunniff
January gets its name from the ancient Roman god Janus, whocould look forward and back at the same time. Following is a look both forward and back to some of the most interesting Chicagoland music and theater.
LYRIC OPERAhas ended an adventurous season and starts another with Richard Strauss’s thrilling “Salome,’ in a production by Sir David McVicar set in 1940s fascist Italy.
Based on Oscar Wilde’s controversial one-act play, the opera features the Lyric debuts of conductor Tomas Netopil and of Elena Stikhina as Salome. Lyric favorites Brandon Javanovich and Tanja Ariane Baumgartner will also star.
The new-to-Chicago production will be sung in German with projected English titles January 25-February 14.
Lyric will then stage Mozart’s rom-com battle of the sexes “Cosi fan tutte” (“So Do They All”) just in time for Valentine’s Day. Enrique Mazzola conducts and Grammy honorees Ana Maria Martinez and Rod Gilfry star.
Set in a 1930s-era seaside country club with frothy costumes and splashy sets, the new-to-Chicago production will be sung in Italian with projected English titles February1-15. Visit lyricopera.org. Call (312) 827-5600.
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Riccardo Muti leads the CSO on a tour of California in early January (Who can blame them?). The orchestra will be backJan. 29, 30, 31, and Feb. 1 when Esa-Pekka Salonen leads a program of Beethoven and Bruckner.
Salonen also leads a program including Debussy’s “Images” and “La mer” Feb. 5, 6, and 7. Then Music Director Designate Klaus Makela conducts the Sibelius “Lemminkainen” and the Richard Strauss “Ein Heldenleben” (“A Hero’s Life”) Feb. 19, 20, and 21. Visit cso.org. (312) 294-3000.
JOFFREY BALLET: Their smash production of “The Nutcracker” brought the Joffrey still more high praise as fabulous dancing,knockout sets, and a most excellent orchestra combined to bring Christopher Wheeldon’s famous production to life.Conductor Scott Speck as always was perfect for the dancers, not too fast or slow, yet letting the charms of the music bloom.
Now Joffrey will present “American Icons,” celebrating four trailblazing artists of the 20th Century: Joffrey Ballet Co-Founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, Joffrey alum Glen Tetlley, and dance pioneer Martha Graham.
Music of Eric Satie and Francis Poulenc will be included, with performances at 2 pm and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-March 1. Visit Joffrey.org.
STEPPENWOLF THEATER has extended their hit production of “Amadeus” directed by Robert Falls through January 25, 2026. Set in Vienna, Peter Shaffers playbased on an imagined rivalry between Mozart and the less-gifted Salieriis drawing raves. Visit www.steppenwolf.org. (312) 335-1650.
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER presents “Short Shakespeare! Hamlet,” Artistic Director Edward Hall’s first-ever 75-minute adaptation of the timeless classic Ja, 31-Feb. 28. Chicagoshakes.com. (312) 595-5600.
GOODMAN THEATER presents “Holiday,”adapted by Richard Greenberg and based on the classic play by Philip Barryfrom Jan. 31-March 1. Directed by the very busy Robert Falls, the 1920s romantic comedy inspired the much-admired 1930s film starring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn. GoodmanTheatre.org. (312) 443-3800.
RAVEN THEATER presents “A Life of the Mind” by Sam Shepard Feb. 13-March 29 and “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill Feb. 12-March 22. 6157 N. Clark St. www.raventheater.com (773) 338-2177.
REMY-BUMPPO THEATER presents Henrik Ibesen’s classic “Heda Gabler” Feb. 5-March 8. Remybumppo.org. (773) 244-8119.
This column will now takea vacation break. Please look for our previews and reviews again in early March. Happy New Year!
