Inside Chicago’s grand Lyric Opera House, world-class singing is a given. What is far more rare in that vaunted venue, however, is an audience clapping and dancing along. But avery r. young has made that kind of enthusiasm the stated goal for his upcoming world premiere, “safronia.”
“This is unlike any opera you have ever seen in your life and you don’t have to think it is improper to have a good time,” said young, 51, who forgoes capital letters for both his own name and those of his characters. “Our job is to not be the only people in the theater clapping and rocking. We shouldn’t feel successful until that happens.”
You’re subscribed!
Please check your inbox for your confirmation.
Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts & culture newsletter!
Sorry, there was an error registering your email.
Sign Up
By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
Young’s mainstage debut, which will close Lyric’s season, follows the booker family, who have been banished from their land in Mississippi and forced to move north as part of the Great Migration. During that period in the 20th century, an estimated 6 million Black Americans resettled in northern cities — like Chicago, Detroit and New York — in an attempt to find new opportunities and escape the discrimination of the Jim Crow era.
Young’s tale is loosely based on his own family history, although he notes, “it is not a documentary.” Instead, this work is his attempt to tell a specific story about a time period that is often perceived as a monolith. And, by bringing notes of blues, funk and gospel to the Lyric stage, young is boldly asking: What exactly is opera? He hopes this production — which runs April 17-18 — will help redefine the answer. And, throw open the doors of
