Lighting Designer

The opera that launched Verdi's career, Nabucco is a sweeping saga featuring some of the most passionate music ever written. Never before performed at the COC, this is opera at its most spectacular: a rousing epic of the search for hope amid brutal cruelty and oppression, with a cast of over 120 performers.

EPSG:4326

Nabucco

Canadian Opera Company

Join Lyric Opera of Chicago for Giuseppe Verdi’s masterpiece Rigoletto, a powerfully dramatic work based on a play by Victor Hugo. The composer brings astounding intensity to the court jester Rigoletto, tragically obsessed with avenging his daughter Gilda’s dishonor. The score’s highlights are unforgettable, from Rigoletto’s hair-raising denunciation of the Duke of Mantua’s courtiers, “Cortigiani,” to the immoral, philandering Duke’s “La donna è mobile,” to Gilda’s ecstatic “Caro nome.” Conducted by Music Director Enrique Mazzola, a much-acclaimed Verdian, Lyric’s visually sumptuous production stars the sensational baritone Igor Golovatenko. He's joined by two other international luminaries making eagerly awaited company debuts: Mané Galoyan, the exquisite Armenian soprano, and Javier Camarena, the spectacular Mexican tenor.

Rigoletto

Lyric Opera House

Of all the great classics performed by ABT today, Swan Lake remains the quintessential ballet. Featuring the unforgettable corps de ballet moving in magical unison as the majestic, glimmering swans, this romantic fable of dreamlike transformation, set to Tchaikovsky’s glorious score, inspires awe and wonder.

Swan Lake

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare Met appearance, with soprano Angel Blue starring as the sophisticated French courtesan Magda, opposite tenor Jonathan Tetelman in his company debut as Ruggero, an idealistic young man who offers her an alternative to her life of excess. Maestro Speranza Scappucci conducts Nicolas Joël’s Art Deco–inspired staging, which transports audiences from the heart of Parisian nightlife to a dreamy vision of the French Riviera. Soprano Emily Pogorelc and tenor Bekhzod Davronov—both making their Met debuts—complete the cast as Lisette and Prunier.

Puccini’s La Rondine

Miller Symphony Hall

Puccini’s bittersweet love story makes a rare Met appearance, with soprano Angel Blue starring as the French courtesan Magda, opposite tenor Jonathan Tetelman in his highly anticipated company debut as Ruggero, an idealistic young man who offers her an alternative to her life of excess. Maestro Speranza Scappucci conducts Nicolas Joël’s Art Deco–inspired staging, which transports audiences from the heart of Parisian nightlife to a dreamy vision of the French Riviera. In their Met debuts, soprano Emily Pogorelc and tenor Bekhzod Davronov complete the sterling cast as Lisette and Prunier.

La Rondine

Lincoln Center

Following a string of awe-inspiring Live in HD performances, Norwegian soprano Lise Davidsen returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Leonore, the faithful wife who risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny in Beethoven’s Fidelio. Completing the distinguished cast is British tenor David Butt Philip as the political prisoner Florestan, Polish bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as the villainous Don Pizarro, veteran German bass René Pape as the jailer Rocco, Chinese soprano Ying Fang and German tenor Magnus Dietrich as the young Marzelline and Jaquino, and Danish bass Stephen Milling as the principled Don Fernando. Susanna Mälkki conducts the March 15 performance, which will be transmitted live from the Met stage to cinemas worldwide.

Fidelio

Shalin Liu Performance Center

Rossini’s enchanting fairytale heroine returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago stage in classic style. Cinderella (La Cenerentola) tells the story of the downtrodden daughter of a selfish father, Don Magnifico. When Prince Ramiro (disguised as his own valet, Dandini) meets her, they fall instantly in love, leading — after a few complications — to a heartwarming happy ending. Rossini’s score provides endless sparkle, with Cenerentola’s and Ramiro’s arias abounding in fabulous vocal virtuosity. There’s also hilarity, thanks to the antics of Magnifico and Dandini. Two rising stars, Vasilisa Berzhanskaya and Jack Swanson, will be joined by the incomparable Alessandro Corbelli to lead Lyric’s cast in Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s world-famous production led by the exciting Taiwanese conductor Yi-Chen Lin.

Cinderella

Every seven years, an ill-fated sea captain gets a chance at redemption. He needs a bride to break the curse. Can he find a woman pure of heart or will he roam the seas eternally?

David Alden delivers a new production of The Flying Dutchman to Santa Fe Opera audiences for the first time in 35 years. This Dutchman promises to be a dark, turbulent and dangerous voyage for the condemned sailor.

The Flying Dutchman

Santa Fe Opera

The Black Swan Pas de Deux from Kevin McKenzie’s Swan Lake.

University of Iowa

Floria Tosca, the famous opera singer, seems to have it all. Audiences cherish her artistry—and adore hearing about her tempestuous offstage romances. But as storms of repression and rebellion rage throughout Italy, the diva is forced to play a real-life role she never imagined.  Torn between devotion to her lover and the machinations of a treacherous sociopath who will do anything in his power to break her down, she’s trapped in an utterly impossible predicament, with fatal consequences for them all. But this prima donna isn’t going down without a fight.  The cast is led by four of the greatest artists of their generations. Soprano Angel Blue takes on the iconic role of Puccini’s glamorous but tough-as-nails heroine, with tenors Michael Fabiano and Gregory Kunde sharing the role of Mario Cavaradossi, the rebel who becomes the target of the most dangerous man in Rome. Bass-baritone Ryan McKinny is the evil Scarpia, who likes nothing more than seeing his victims suffer. In her company debut, trailblazing Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv leads a heart-pounding production staged by the legendary director John Caird.

Tosca

Los Angeles Music Center

Hansel and Gretel head into the forest in search of food—but they almost end up as tasty treats themselves when they start nibbling on the deliciously edible house of a very nasty witch!

Hansel and Gretel

AT&T Performing Arts Center

Following a string of awe-inspiring Met performances, soprano Lise Davidsen stars as Leonore, who risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny. Tenor David Butt Philip is the political prisoner Florestan, sharing the stage with bass-baritone Tomasz Konieczny as the villainous Don Pizarro, veteran bass René Pape as the jailer Rocco, and soprano Ying Fang and tenor Magnus Dietrich, in his company debut, as the young Marzelline and Jaquino. Bass Stephen Milling sings the principled Don Fernando, and Susanna Mälkki conducts the Met’s striking production, which finds modern-day parallels in Beethoven’s stirring paean to freedom.

Experience the timeless allure of Puccini's La Bohème, presented by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This enduring masterpiece captures the essence of young love in 19th-century Paris, brought to life through the poignant arias of characters like the passionate poet Rodolfo, the delicate seamstress Mimì, and the spirited Musetta. The production features the remarkable talents of sopranos Ailyn Pérez and Gabriella Reyes, alongside tenor Pene Pati in his Lyric debut and baritone Will Liverman. Under the expert direction of conductor Jordan de Souza, the performance promises to be a memorable addition to Lyric Opera's storied tradition of La Bohème renditions. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English titles, ensuring an immersive experience for all attendees. The production also includes innovative accessibility features such as audio-described performances and the SoundShirt, which allows wearers to feel the music through touch sensations. With a running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission, this new-to-Chicago production is set to captivate audiences with its beauty, sensitivity, and universal themes of romance and heartbreak.

La Bohème

Experience the timeless romance and heartache of Puccini's "La bohème" at the Santa Fe Opera, from June 27 to August 23, 2025. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Paris, this classic opera tells the story of six Bohemians navigating love, longing, and artistic ambition during a golden age of artistic revolution. With music by Giacomo Puccini and libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, "La bohème" is performed in Italian with instant translation screens in English and Spanish, ensuring an accessible and immersive experience for all attendees.

The opera unfolds in four acts, beginning on Christmas Eve in a cold attic where the poet Rodolfo and painter Marcello struggle to keep warm, leading to encounters of love at first sight, festive celebrations, and ultimately, poignant farewells and heartbreak. The production boasts approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes of captivating music and drama, including a 25-minute intermission.

This 2025 season features an exceptional cast, including soprano Sylvia D'Eramo as Mimì, tenor Long Long as Rodolfo, baritone Szymon Mechliński as Marcello, soprano Emily Pogorelc as Musetta, and more, under the baton of conductor Iván López-Reynoso and direction by James Robinson. The creative team also includes scenic designer Allen Moyer, costume designer Constance Hoffman, and lighting designer Duane Schuler, promising a visually stunning rendition of this beloved opera.

Performances are scheduled throughout the summer, offering multiple opportunities to witness this masterpiece at one of the most beautiful outdoor venues in the United States. Whether it's your first opera or your hundredth, "La bohème" at the Santa Fe Opera is an event not to be missed, promising an unforgettable evening of passion, friendship, and artistry under the stars.

La bohème

The Santa Fe Opera

Experience the timeless charm of Mozart's comedic masterpiece, "The Marriage of Figaro," at the Santa Fe Opera. This beloved opera, a whirlwind of love, loyalty, and deception, comes to life in a series of performances from June 28 to August 22, 2025. Set against the backdrop of the Santa Fe Opera's stunning venue, this production promises an unforgettable night of music, laughter, and drama.

"The Marriage of Figaro" tells the story of a single day of madness in the palace of Count Almaviva. Figaro, the Count's valet, struggles to wed his beloved Susanna without the interference of the Count, who has his sights set on the bride-to-be. The opera is a brilliant exploration of love in its many forms, masterfully composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Sung in Italian with instant translation screens in English and Spanish, the opera's intricate plot and enchanting music have captivated audiences for centuries.

This production features a talented cast including Florian Sempey as Count Almaviva, Marina Monzó as Countess Almaviva, Riccardo Fassi as Figaro, and Liv Redpath as Susanna, among others. Each performance is brought to life under the baton of conductor Harry Bicket, with direction and costume design by Laurent Pelly, scenic design by Chantal Thomas, and lighting by Duane Schuler.

Performances are scheduled on select dates from late June through August, with tickets available for purchase. Whether you're a seasoned opera lover or new to the art form, "The Marriage of Figaro" at the Santa Fe Opera offers a perfect blend of exquisite music, compelling drama, and visual splendor. Don't miss your chance to witness this operatic treasure in one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world.

Duane Schuler

Lighting Designer

Events

Upcoming events

4 - 15 Mar, 2025

Fidelio · The Metropolitan Opera

Mar 15 - Apr 12, 2025

La Bohème · Lyric Opera of Chicago

Jun 27 - Aug 23, 2025

La bohème · Santa Fe Opera

Jun 28 - Aug 22, 2025

The Marriage of Figaro · Santa Fe Opera

Past events

4 - 25 Oct, 2024

Nabucco · Canadian Opera Company

Sep 14 - Oct 6, 2024

Rigoletto · Lyric Opera of Chicago

About

Duane Schuler hasn't added a bio