Anyone else sensing this trend or is this unique to Chicago? This year the Lyric Opera tacked a non-subscription production of "Oklahoma" to the end of the season and last year "Show Boat" was part of the subscription season. These are billed as full productions with the considerable resources of the opera house behind them and faithful to the original scoring. Both shows seem to have gotten alot more local media play than their standard opera productions tend to.
I've noticed some American summer festivals (Central City, Aspen, Glimmerglass just to name a few) doing this too.
Given a choice, I'd still pick Aida over "Annie Get Your Gun", but I guess I've warmed to the idea. If it gets notoriety and attracts the attention of folks who might not otherwise venture into the opera house, it's a good thing. And certainly some of the classic musicals merit the opera house treatment. I haven't attended any of the Chicago productions, but I did attend a festival production of West Side Story, and it was a treat to have a full orchestra in the pit rather than the skeleton crew or synthesized sounds typical of modern productions.
I've noticed some American summer festivals (Central City, Aspen, Glimmerglass just to name a few) doing this too.
Given a choice, I'd still pick Aida over "Annie Get Your Gun", but I guess I've warmed to the idea. If it gets notoriety and attracts the attention of folks who might not otherwise venture into the opera house, it's a good thing. And certainly some of the classic musicals merit the opera house treatment. I haven't attended any of the Chicago productions, but I did attend a festival production of West Side Story, and it was a treat to have a full orchestra in the pit rather than the skeleton crew or synthesized sounds typical of modern productions.