CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Enrique Mazzola can't contain his excitement as he talks about his new position as music director designate of Lyric Opera of Chicago.
"This is a dream coming true for me. It's fantastic, I still cannot believe it," he said. "I'm here and we are in Chicago. I'm preparing Luisa Miller and I'm so happy, I'm so, so happy."
Mazzola has been to Chicago twice before. He conducted Donizetti's Luia di Lammermoor in 2016/2017 and returned to Lyric for Bellini's Puritani in 2017/2018.
"I was here in 2016, and in 2018. I appreciated it so much working at the Lyric, because there are really fantastic spaces for a conductor to work in the best way, long time of rehearsals, and a good exchange with the singers, the chorus, and the orchestra," he said. "There is a fantastic audience and fantastic organization. When artists enter from the stage door, I feel this beautiful thing like I'm somehow at home. People are so welcoming here. It's a beautiful place to work."
He said it was during his first visit, he knew he'd like to make things a little more permanent.
"I come from a musicians' family. One time I went back stage and I saw the many monitors filming the conductor. This was the most fascinating thing for me. At the time there were black and white monitors and the conductor wore black and white tails...He was waving this stick. His face and his waving corresponded each time to a different music mood. Sad, fast, happy. I thought this is magic and my destiny was written in this very moment," he recalls.
"The child experience made me love so much Opera and understand Opera from the inside."
"I walk and walk everywhere. I want to find unknown places. Chicago is a really fascinating city. You can feel the evolution of the history through the buildings. The atmosphere is full of life," Mazzola said.
He said Lake Michigan is one of his favorite things about Chicago.
"I had a fantastic burger in the city. All the burgers we eat in Europe are only a pale copy of what a real burger is here," he laughed. "This was something very good."
And deep dish pizza?
"Everything is live. Orchestra is playing for you live, chorus singing and moving for you live, the singers are live, it's something very difficult. They have to be brave. It takes your heart. There are big emotions. Conductors are there to give you a sense of interest, to new arguments of live that you've never thought of. Don't think that opera speaks of something old," he said.
"You can feel the music be loud, going fast and if the music slows down, we are waiting for something. It's emotional, but it speaks to everyone," he said.
The 2019 season of Lyric Opera of Chicago starts Sept. 28 with The Barber of Seville. Mazzola takes over for Sir Andrew Davis, who concludes his 20-year run at the end of the 2020/2021 season. Mazolla will conduct Luisa Miller at the Lyric on Oct. 12.