Porgy and Bess

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Aria Society Spotlight 2014-2015 Season

season, Julie and Roger Baskes generously cosponsor Il Trovatore . They also made a leadership commitment to the Breaking New Ground Campaign to help safeguard the future of Lyric Opera. Lyric is honored to have Julie Baskes serve on its Board of Directors, Executive, and Production Sponsorship Committees, and as immediate past President of the Ryan Opera Center Board. JAMES N. and LAURIE V. BAY

ABBOTT FUND Abbott and the Abbott Fund are leading corporate contributors to Lyric Opera of Chicago, with a longstanding tradition of generous support. Over the last three decades, Abbott has generously cosponsored 20 Lyric productions, including the 2014/15 season-opening production of Don Giovanni and last season’s Otello . Abbott has championed Lyric’s achievements as a contributor to the Great Opera Fund, the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, and

Jim and Laurie Bay are passionate sup- porters of the arts in Chicago. They have previously contributed to Lyric’s Wine Auction, Stars of Lyric Opera at Millennium Park, Annual Campaign, and education programs. They also cospon- sored Madama Butterfly (2013/14). This

Miles D. White

Wine Auctions, among other efforts. Lyric is honored to have Abbott’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Miles D. White, serve on its Board of Directors.

KATHERINE A. ABELSON and ROBERT J. CORNELL Kathy Abelson and Robert Cornell are longtime friends of Lyric Opera. Kathy comes from generations of opera lovers and is a former singer, having trained with some of the best voice teachers in the world, including Elvira de Hidalgo, who taught

season, the Bays are supporting the Wine Auction and are Emerald Patrons of the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball. Lyric is honored to have Jim Bay, a principal of Bays Corporation, serve on its Board of Directors and Compensation Committee. MARLYS A. BEIDER

As an aficionada of Lyric for more than 30 years, Marlys has contributed to the Annual Campaign and is a Bel Canto Benefactor of the planned giving Overture Society. Her planned gift commitment created the Marlys Beider Wigmaster and Makeup Designer Endowed Chair in memory of her late husband, Harold Beider. Marlys Beider cosponsored several productions including Elektra

Maria Callas. Kathy has been a donor and a season subscriber to Lyric since 1977. Deeply committed to Lyric Opera’s renowned artist development program, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Kathy is a Past President and current member of the Ryan Opera Center Board, in addition to being a leadership donor to the Ryan Opera Center for over twenty years. Lyric is also honored to have Kathy Abelson on its Board of Directors. This season Kathy and Robert are generously supporting the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball as Emerald Gala Patrons.

(2012/13) and Parsifal (2013/14) and this season generously cosponsors Lyric’s new production of Tosca. Marlys has also made a leadership commit- ment to cosponsor Lyric’s new productions of Das Rheingold (2016/17) and Götterdämmerung (2019/20), part of Lyric’s new Ring Cycle.

AMERICAN AIRLINES This season we celebrate 33 years of vital corporate part- nership with American Airlines, the Official Airline of Lyric Opera. In recognition of the company’s significant contribu- tion to the Building on Greatness Capital Campaign, the mezzanine level of the Civic Opera House is named the American Airlines Mezzanine. American Airlines provides important in-kind support for Lyric’s programs and special

MELVIN R. and RANDY L. BERLIN Devoted fans of opera education and the arts, Melvin and Randy Berlin are vital members of the Lyric Opera fam- ily. They have contributed significantly to the Annual Campaign and are Diamond Sponsors of the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball this season. Melvin and

Franco Tedeschi

events such as the Annual Meeting, Fantasy of the Opera, Operathon, The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center National Auditions, and the Wine Auction. Franco Tedeschi, Vice President of American Airlines, proudly serves on Lyric’s Board of Directors. ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTORS Lyric Opera is extremely grateful for Aria Society support received from seven anonymous contributors during the 2014/15 season. JULIE and ROGER BASKES

Randy have cosponsored several productions such as Simon Boccanegra (2012/13) and The Barber of Seville (2013/14). Melvin and Randy generously cosponsor this season’s new production of Don Giovanni . Lyric is honored to have Melvin Berlin serve on its Board of Directors. HENRY M. and GILDA R. BUCHBINDER

Committed lovers of the arts, Henry and Gilda Buchbinder are longstand- ing members of the Lyric Opera family. The Buchbinders have contributed to the future of Lyric Opera by making a leader- ship gift to Lyric’s Breaking New Ground

Lyric treasures the exemplary leadership and dedication of Julie and Roger Baskes. Subscribers for more than three decades, they have generously supported Lyric’s Ryan Opera center activities as cosponsors of Rising Stars in Concert, and sponsors of the Ryan Opera Center Recital Series

Campaign. They have also been long-time generous donors to the Annual Campaign, including sponsoring their first production, Boris Godunov (2011/12). This season, they are supporting the 60th Anniversary Concert and Diamond Ball as Emerald Patrons. Lyric is honored to have Gilda Buchbinder serve on its Board of Directors and the Nominating/Governance Committee.

on 98.7 WFMT. They have cosponsored numerous productions including, most recently, Simon Boccanegra (2012/13) and La Clemenza di Tito (2013/14). This

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