At Lyric Opera And Cot A Pair Of Mozart Operas

  This week, Chicago’s being treated to dueling performances of Mozart by the city’s two major opera companies. 

     For the fan of Mozart’s unfailingly beautiful music, these are two strong productions that play off each other in interesting ways.  One (Figaro) is a comedy, the other (Silla) a drama. One is sumptuous, the other striking.  Both stories are about a powerful ruler with a yen for a woman who’s in love with someone else. Both have women singing roles originally written for castrati. And—with a little wiggle room for the difference in resources—both offer fine ensemble work by the featured singers, bolstered by an excellent chorus and orchestra. At Lyric, Henrik Nanasi conducts the Lyric Opera orchestra and chorus; at COT, the Apollo Chorus and the Chicago Philharmonic are led by Francesco Milioto.