Another Angle on Wagner's Lohengrin in Chicago, by Amy Stebbins
Lohengrin
Music and libretto by Richard Wagner
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Civic Opera House
8 March 2011
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Stage Director: Elijah Moshinsky
Set and Costume Designer: John Napier
Lighting Designer: Christine Binder
Chorus Master: Donald Nally
Lohengrin - Johan Botha
Elsa - Amber Wagner
Ortrud - Michaela Schuster
Telramund - Greer Grimsley
King Heinrich - Georg Zeppenfeld
The Herald - Lester Lynch
The Chicago Lyric Opera’s Lohengrin is a testament to the major problem of many American opera productions today. On the one hand, conductor Sir Andrew Davis’ formidable interpretation rivalled the greatest in Wagnerian history, but on the other hand, director Elijah Moshinsky’s lackluster staging rivalled your average high-school production. The irony of hearing some of the world’s greatest Wagnerian voices while seeing some of its most awkward blocking is nothing new to regular attendees of the American Wagner scene. That said, the Lyric might have done well to present the evening in concert form.
