Lyric Opera’s Davis will discuss with Philip Gossett opera’s future worldwide

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s recently appointed music director, Sir Andrew Davis, will discuss the future of opera in Chicago and around the world with Philip Gossett, the Robert W. Reneker Distinguished Service Professor in Music, during a free lecture titled “The Future of Opera,” at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 20, in Mandel Hall.

“Sir Andrew Davis has had a remarkable career in both symphonic music and opera,” said Gossett, whose distinguished scholarship on Italian opera has garnered international acclaim. “As the music director of Lyric Opera, he, along with general director William Mason and artistic director Matthew Epstein, will decide on artistic matters in the coming years. Sir Andrew is well positioned to think out loud about where opera may be going in the new century,” he continued.

British-born Davis, 56, is one of the world’s most celebrated conductors. Previously, he has held appointments as music director for the Glyndebourne Festival Opera and as chief conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra. At Glyndebourne, Davis was highly regarded for leading successful performances of Mozart, Strauss, Britten, Janacek and Tchaikovsky operas. In his role at the BBC, he conducted major projects such as the London Proms and tours throughout Asia, Europe and the United States.

Davis will come to campus as the Regents Park Opera Lecturer. Martha and Bruce Clinton established the lecture in honor of Douglas Baird, former Dean of the Law School. Regents Park, an apartment complex in Hyde Park, is owned and operated by The Clinton Companies. ReneÈ Fleming was last year’s Regents Park Opera lecturer. For more information, call 702-8369.