All stories by John Von Rhein on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

'Figaro' and friends get the Barbara Gaines touch in Lyric's season opener by John Von Rhein

Barbara Gaines was giving me a peek at the luminous set and sumptuous costumes that grace her new production of "The Marriage of Figaro," which will open the Lyric Opera season Saturday nigh…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:08PM

'Figaro' and friends get the Barbara Gaines touch in Lyric's season opener by John Von Rhein

Barbara Gaines was giving me a peek at the luminous set and sumptuous costumes that grace her new production of "The Marriage of Figaro," which will open the Lyric Opera season Saturday nigh…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:09AM
Tuesday, August 18, 2015

An opera premiere at Lincoln Park Zoo? It's all 'second nature' to Matthew Aucoin by John Von Rhein

With his scraggly beard, tousle of curly brown hair, dark jeans and well-worn T-shirt, Matthew Aucoin could easily pass for your average rumpled college freshman.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:29AM
Tuesday, August 11, 2015

A generic 'Cold Mountain' and marvelous Mozart mark Santa Fe Opera season by John Von Rhein

Performing in an alluring aerie of an amphitheater atop a mesa in the Sangre de Cristo mountains of northern New Mexico, Santa Fe Opera stands practically alone among major American summer f…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:29AM
Sunday, July 19, 2015

Review: 'Madame Pompadour' a merry bedroom romp by John Von Rhein

Once again Chicago Folks Operetta has taken a Fall - that's Leo Fall - on behalf of an unjustly neglected Viennese operetta from the early years of the 20th century.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:22AM
Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Chicago Folks to the rescue of obscure operettas by John Von Rhein

When you occupy as specialized a niche in the area's classical scene as Chicago Folks Operetta, you just naturally try harder.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:01PM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Variety is spice of Ravinia's 2011 festival summer by John von Rhein

The season also will mark the 75th anniversary of George Gershwin's sole Ravinia appearance in 1936, when audience members reportedly climbed trees to catch a glimpse of the musical legend. …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 05:58PM
Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Lyric Opera names Ormesher new president-elect by John Von Rhein

David T. Ormesher, a Lyric Opera of Chicago board member since 2012 who serves on several board committees, has been named the company’s president-elect, effective immediately.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 04:58PM
Sunday, April 26, 2015

Opera review: COT's 'Coffin' a moving star vehicle for von Stade by John Von Rhein

Few opera greats of a certain age have been privileged to be granted quite the career coda Frederica von Stade has been enjoying in recent years. The beloved American mezzo-soprano was coaxe…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:56AM
Saturday, March 14, 2015

Opera review: Haymarket Opera Company's 'Don Quichotte' by John Von Rhein

In its four seasons, Chicago's Haymarket Opera Company has staked out an enviable corner of the period-performance turf and, in the process, built an avid following, eager to experience the …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:59AM
Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Andrew Patner, longtime Chicago writer, dies by John Von Rhein

Andrew Patner, a critic and interviewer on WFMT-FM 98.7 and a lifelong observer of the arts in his native Chicago, died Tuesday. Patner was 55 and died at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chicago.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:49AM

Andrew Patner, longtime Chicago writer, dies by John Von Rhein

Arts critic and broadcaster had a wide followingArts critic and broadcaster had a wide following

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 10:49AM
Sunday, January 25, 2015

Opera review: Lyric Opera's grim 'Tosca' by John Von Rhein

Lyric Opera's imperishable love affair with Puccini's "Tosca" goes back as far as the company's inaugural season in 1954. Some of the greatest sopranos of their day have loved, killed and le…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:41AM
Tuesday, October 7, 2014

REVIEW: 'Capriccio' by Lyric Opera of Chicago by John Von Rhein

Renee Fleming has taken her time bringing one of her most celebrated operatic roles, Countess Madeleine in Richard Strauss' "Capriccio," to the company for which she serves as creative consu…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:23PM
Sunday, September 28, 2014

Lyric opens season with riveting new 'Don Giovanni' ★★★½ by John Von Rhein

It's easy to see what attracted Robert Falls to staging Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at Lyric Opera of Chicago. It's easy to see what attracted Robert Falls to staging Mozart's "Don Giovanni" at…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:23PM
Sunday, September 14, 2014

OPERA REVIEW: 'Macbeth' at the Harris Theater ★★★½ by John Von Rhein

As far as most operatic buffs are concerned, there is only one musical setting of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" – the revised 1865 version of Giuseppe Verdi's masterpiece.

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 11:44AM
Saturday, March 8, 2014

Haymarket's double bill a stylish bow to the French baroque by John Von Rhein

OPERA REVIEW: "Acteon" and "Le Jugement de Pan" at Haymarket Opera Company OPERA REVIEW: "Acteon" and "Le Jugement de Pan" at Haymarket Opera Company. The urge to breathe fresh contemporary…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:23PM
Thursday, March 6, 2014

Static drama, glorious singing, in Lyric Opera's season finale by John Von Rhein

OPERA REVIEW: 'La Clemenza di Tito' at Lyric Opera of Chicago ★★★½ OPERA REVIEW: 'La Clemenza di Tito' at Lyric Opera of Chicago ★★★½ Mozart's penultim…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:01PM
Monday, February 24, 2014

Poignant heroine, splendid staging, make Lyric's first 'Rusalka' a winner by John Von Rhein

OPERA REVIEW: 'Rusalka' at Lyric Opera of Chicago ★★★★ The belated entry of Antonin Dvorak's "Rusalka" into the Lyric Opera repertory is an event to be celebrated.&nb…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:00AM
Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Dvorak's adult fairytale, 'Rusalka,' comes to the Lyric by John Von Rhein

The final new production of the current Lyric Opera season is a work few audience members have ever encountered in live performance: Antonin Dvorak's "Rusalka."    

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 02:20PM
Sunday, February 16, 2014

The Duke's music is a delight, but COT's 'Queenie Pie' is flawed as drama by John Von Rhein

OPERA REVIEW: 'Queenie Pie' at the Harris Theater ★★★ OPERA REVIEW: 'Queenie Pie' at the Harris Theater ★★★Duke Ellington died in 1974, the same year tha…

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 01:57PM
Sunday, February 2, 2014

Review: Lyric's new 'Barber' brings strong cast to old classic by John Von Rhein

OPERA REVIEW: 'Barber of Seville' at the Lyric Opera of Chicago ★★★★ Of all the great operatic comedies, "The Barber of Seville" has led a particularly charmed life …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 03:15PM
Monday, January 27, 2014

New 'Don Giovanni,' 'Tosca' highlight Lyric Opera's 2014-15 season by John Von Rhein

Lyric Opera’s 60th anniversary season will run Sept. 27 to March 15 at the Civic Opera House and will consist of 68 performances of eight operas, the same total as that of the current …

SOURCE: Chicago Tribune Subscription at 12:04PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards