#HASHTAG: ENRIQUE MAZZOLA

The exuberant ENRIQUE MAZZOLA, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Music Director since 2020, has signed a contract extension with the renowned opera company—meaning that, through the 2030/31 season, music lovers across Chicago will continue to enjoy his impact, creativity, and infectious energy. So will his thousands of Instagram followers. The Spanish-born Italian conductor, globally esteemed as an expert in bel canto opera and the works of Verdi, regularly documents his travels around the city (and to opera palaces around the world) with almost unbridled excitement. Here, in advance of Lyric’s upcoming season featuring a mix of core classics from Puccini, Beethoven, and Mozart, as well as the exciting Chicago premieres of two important contemporary American works, the maestro shares a sampling of the latest cultural trends appearing in his feed. Those interested in previewing Lyric’s season can head to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park on August 25 at 7 p.m., for the annual Sunday in the Park with Lyric and catch a selection of the season’s favorites conducted by the maestro himself.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

It’s an ongoing competition between musical scores and books and some things in between. I just finished The Listeners by Jordan Tannahill and am conducting Missy Mazzoli’s American operatic version at Lyric in the spring. Standing by (and there are battling titles in English, French, Italian, and Spanish) are James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room, Fred Vargas’ Sur la dalle, and Mark Wigglesworth’s The Silent Musician—a book about orchestral conductors!

#ON MY MOBILE

Living life between the U.S. and Europe means that my mobile is my constant link to the world. It is all about connectivity with daily use of WhatsApp, emails, texts, and all of the social platforms that are important parts of my life. Instagram is my current favorite and a daily diary of my full-time “music life” where I share about my work, my colleagues, and my travels, including my recent performances leading Der Freischütz at the Bregenz Festival in Austria.

#IN MY EARBUDS

I listen to a lot of music for my conducting work. Recently, I explored numerous versions of Verdi’s Rigoletto and Beethoven’s Fidelio to understand what I didn’t like in these recorded interpretations and inform my approach to exploring the works differently in my upcoming live performances. One exciting discovery is the music of the Icelandic singer Laufey and her album Bewitched which is on constant repeat—so intriguing, sweet, and lovely. I also love to listen and re-listen to one of my favorite bands of all time, Dire Straits, and their masterpiece Love Over Gold.