The BHS is coordinating the opportunity to hear and possibly meet Sondra Radvanovsky, internationally-renowned opera star who was born and lived in Berwyn during her childhood.
She will be singing the lead role in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena at the Lyric Opera, in eight performances from Dec 6 to Jan 16.
BHS President David Olson has been in touch with Ms. Radvanovsky, who will try to arrange backstage passes for Berwyn folks attending the opera at the 2:00 p.m. matinee performance on Dec. 21st. At this time there should be plenty of good seats available.
If you wish to attend, please secure your own tickets through the Lyric Opera website: http://www.lyricopera.org/bolena/ AND let the BHS know that you plan to participate by emailing us at info@berwynhistoricalsociety.org
Read about Ms. Radvanosky on her official website or Wikipedia:
Would I love to be there, but I live in Naples, FL now and winter in Chicago doesn’t work very well for us. My family, Charles F. and Georgia B. and Joyce lived at 2234 Grove Ave. I grew up there in the 40s and 50s. I am enjoying your newsletter very much. Interestingly, at the age of 65 I started singing opera with Opera Naples and have sung minor roles and in the chorus for O.N. for ten years now. It’s professional opera but, of course, not on the scale of the Lyric. Interestingly our first opera was Tosca and we borrowed costumes from the Lyric Opera in Chicago. I had an overcoat (sang Sciarrone) that must have weighed 10 pounds. I wonder if the Lyric sang this opera outdoors in December.