The Sound of Music Comes to Chicago’s Lyric Opera
Contents
The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic comes to life on the Lyric Opera stage. See what the cast and crew have to say about this momentous production!
Introduction
The Sound of Music is coming to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The timeless story of the von Trapp family will be brought to life on the Lyric stage with a cast of internationally-renowned opera singers. This production will be a fresh, new interpretation of the classic musical, with a score that has been reimagined for the operatic stage.
The Sound of Music has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years and remains one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The story follows Maria, a young nun who is sent to care for the von Trapp children in Austria. Maria quickly wins over the hearts of the children, and falls in love with their father, Captain von Trapp. As Nazi Germany threatens to invade Austria, the family must make a daring escape over the Alps to safety in Switzerland.
Featuring such unforgettable songs as “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” this Lyric Opera production will be an unforgettable experience for both longtime fans and those new to the story.
The Sound of Music at the Lyric Opera
The Sound of Music will be coming to Chicago’s Lyric Opera from June 7-30. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music is a musical based on the book The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. The Sound of Music was first performed on Broadway in 1959 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical. The Sound of Music has been made into a movie, which was released in 1965 and starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer.
The Production
The Sound of Music will be the latest in a series of successful productions at the Lyric Opera. The show will be directed by Maria Zara, with music direction by Herbert von Karajan and choreography by Antony Tudor. The Lyric Opera is one of the most prestigious opera houses in the world, and has been home to many famous productions over the years. This will be the first time that The Sound of Music has been performed at the Lyric Opera, and it is sure to be a spectacular event.
The Cast
The Sound of Music will be performed by a cast of familiar faces, many of whom are making their Lyric Opera debuts. The role of Maria will be played bycaira Barbieri, who most recently appeared as the Governess in Lyric’s 2014 production of The Turn of the Screw. Soprano Leah Crocetto, who has been praised for her “liquid gold” voice, will play Liesl, and tenor Stephen Powell will portray Captain Georg von Trapp. Rounding out the cast are sopranos Heidi Stober as Elsa Schräder and Lindsay Ammann as Mother Abbess, mezzo-soprano Lauren Snouffer as Frau Schmidt, baritones Kevin Burdette as Max Detweiler and Scott Quinn as Rolf Gruber, bass-baritone Cory Grill as Herr Zeller, and bass Dale Travis as Franz.
The History of the Sound of Music
The Sound of Music is a musical with music by Rodgers and Hammerstein, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. The musical debuted on Broadway in 1959 and was made into a film in 1965. It has become one of the most popular musicals of all time.
The Sound of Music on Broadway
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 16, 1959. Mary Martin, fresh from her triumph as Peter Pan, played Maria von Trapp, and Theodore Bikel co-starred as Captain Georg von Trapp. The original production won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and ran for 1,443 performances.
A legendary figure in American musical theater, Mary Martin was born in Weatherford, Texas in 1913. After making her Broadway debut in the revue One Touch of Venus in 1943, she starred in such musicals as Kiss Me Kate (1948), South Pacific (1949), and The King and I (1951). In 1955 she originated the role of Nellie Forbush in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific on television; the following year she repeated the role opposite Ezio Pinza in the film version. In 1957 she appeared on television as Peter Pan, a role she had played on Broadway in 1950; the broadcast was seen by an estimated 65 million people and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Program – Live.
Theodore Bikel was born May 2, 1924, in Vienna, Austria. He made his professional debut at age 17 with the Habima Players in Tel Aviv and later studied acting at London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After appearing in several productions in London’s West End he made his Broadway debut playing Perchik opposite Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof (1964). Bikel is also a well-known folksinger and has recorded more than 20 albums during his career.
The Sound of Music Movie
The Sound of Music is a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical based on the 1949 memoir The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria von Trapp. It tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as a nanny for the seven children of Captain Georg von Trapp.
The film version of the musical, released in 1965, starred Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, and was directed by Robert Wise. The film was a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for ten Academy Awards, winning five.
Conclusion
The Lyric Opera of Chicago’s production of “The Sound of Music” is a joyous, stirring, and powerfully emotional experience. The production features a stellar cast, a beautiful set, and some of the best singing you’ll ever hear. Whether you’re a fan of the film or not, this is a production that is sure to delight.
