Always a costume epic onstage and off, Lyric Opera opened its 31st season with a performance of Verdi`s ”Otello,” followed by the opulent Opera Ball in the newly renovated Chicago Hilton and Towers. Placido Domingo, who sang the opera`s title role, flew to Mexico after the performance to check on his family in the aftermath of the earthquakes. Other opening-night stars were introduced at the ball, which raised an estimated $200,000 for the opera company.
Downers Grove native Sherrill Milnes, whom Lyric`s general manager Ardis Krainik introduced as ”a nice guy in real life” despite his villainous portrayal of Iago in ”Otello,” attended the party with his wife, Nancy. Krainik recalled that she and Milnes competed in auditions and contests in the early years of their careers: ”He`d win the contests, and I`d come in around 18th.” —
