In Friday’s (12/10) Chicago Tribune, John von Rhein reports, “In a coup certain to add luster to the company’s national and international reputation, Lyric Opera of Chicago appointed the celebrated American soprano Renee Fleming to the newly created position of creative consultant. Her five-year term is to begin immediately. The announcement came Thursday at a press conference in the Civic Opera House. In her new capacity, believed to be a first for a major American opera company, Fleming, 51, will join the Lyric board as a vice president and take an active leadership position within the artistic administration. Along with performing opera and concerts at the Lyric, she will work with senior officials to create new projects, expand education and marketing efforts and collaborate with other Chicago arts organizations, including the Chicago Symphony, Art Institute of Chicago, Goodman Theatre and Harris Theater. Fleming, moreover, will be involved in the selection of a composer and the property itself, for a new opera scheduled to have its world premiere during Lyric’s 2015-16 season. … Fleming said she is interested in developing programs that will ‘help newcomers test the opera waters.’ ”
Posted December 10, 2010
