The Lyric Opera of Chicago, founded in 1954, is one of the most important opera companies in the USA and home to the historic Civic Opera House — a spectacular Art Deco skyscraper from 1929 on Wacker Drive directly along the Chicago River. The hall with around 3,560 seats is the second-largest opera house in North America after the Met. The Civic Opera House was built by energy entrepreneur Samuel Insull — Chicagoans mockingly call it Insull's Throne, as the building shape with its side-attached office section recalls a giant armchair. The Lyric Opera produces about seven premieres per season with a focus on the great works of the operatic repertoire as well as Wagner cycles and American contemporary works.
The hall is so vast that the Lyric Opera uses it for its annual "Stand Up for Opera" gala — and the office tower above still helps fund the opera through its rental income.
At a glance
- Type
- Opera house
- Location
- Chicago, USA
More venues in Chicago
- Chicago Opera Theater · Opera house, Chicago
- CIBC Theatre · Musical theatre, Chicago
- James M. Nederlander Theatre · Theatre, Chicago
- Lifeline Theatre · Theatre, Chicago
More venues in USA
- Academy of Music · Opera house, Philadelphia
- Academy of Vocal Arts · Opera house, Philadelphia
- Al Hirschfeld Theatre · Musical theatre, New York
- Anchorage Opera · Opera house, Anchorage
- Annapolis Opera · Opera house, Annapolis
- Arizona Opera · Opera house, Phoenix