Lyric Opera: Andrew Davis Retiring; Enrique Mazzola Succeeds Davis

Anthony Freund, Enrique Mazzola, Sir Andrew Davis

From LOC:

Lyric announced yesterday that after nearly twenty years at the helm of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, Sir Andrew Davis will complete his tenure as music director after the 2020/21 Season, formally "passing the baton" to the dynamic Italian conductor, Enrique Mazzola.

General director, president and CEO Anthony Freud led the announcement on Thursday afternoon in the Lyric Opera House with staff, stage crew, orchestra, chorus, artists, subscribers, donors, and community members present. As Davis continues his responsibilities while overseeing the transition, Mazzola looks forward to his role in leading Lyric through the next chapter of the iconic company’s journey. This announcement marks a historical changing of the guard for Lyric Opera of Chicago, as Mazzola is only the third person to serve in the music director role following Davis.

Sir Andrew will take the podium this season for The Barber of Seville, Tchaikovsky’sThe Queen of Spades, and the four operas of our new Ring cycle. Mazzola is also preparing to take the podium for Luisa Miller in October.

We look forward to the next two seasons with Sir Andrew Davis and we hope you will join us in welcoming Enrique Mazzola to Chicago and to Lyric. Read more about the announcement here.