September sizzles with savory music and theater

The following is a look both forward and back to some of the best Chicago music and theater:

Goodman Theatre's smash "The Who's Tommy" became the most successful play in the history of the Goodman and is headed for Broadway. The fall season begins with the acclaimed comedy "The Nacirema Society" by Pearl Cleage from September 16 through October 15. Visit goodmantheatre.org

Steppenwolf Theatre opens with "Sanctuary City" by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok from September 14 through November 18. For tickets and information, call (312) 335-1650 or head over to steppenwolf.org

A Red Orchid Theatre presents the world premiere of "Revolution" by Brett Neveu, said to "interrogate and celebrate the very nature of creating community and building friendships in our evolving, ever disconnecting world." September 16 through October 29. A Red Orchid Theater is at 1531 N. Wells; call (312) 943-8727 or check out aredorchidtheatre.org

I'll share much more on fall theater in our October column.

Lyric Opera: Under ideal weather after a hot day, Lyric's "Sunday in the Park with Lyric" in Grant Park made a fabulous introduction to the upcoming season. Enrique Mazzola and Donald Lee III split the conducting duties while stars from the Ryan Opera Center sparkled: sopranos Lindsey Reynold and Kathryn Henry; mezzo-sopranos Lucy Baker and Sophia Maekawa; tenors Ryan Capozzo, Alejandro Luevanos and Travon Walker; baritones Laureano Quant and Ian Rucker; bass-baritone Christopher Humbert Jr.; and basses Ron Dukes and Wm. Clay Thompson. The season begins with Mazzola conducting Wagner's "The Flying Dutchman" on September 23. Visit lyricopera.org

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra will open their new season with Riccardo Muti leading Liadov's "The Enchanted Lake," Stravinsky's "Suite from the Firebird," and Brahms Symphony No. 2 at 7:30 on September 21, 22, and 26. Visit cso.org

Grant Park Music Festival: David Danzmayer conducted a fast and irresistible Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, guitarist Aniello Desiderio played a captivating Rodrigo "Concierto de Aranjuez, and Unsuk Chin's exciting 5-minute "subito con forza" proved a winner. When the festival moved into the Harris Theater for the evening, conductor Eric Jacobsen scored a big success with an ebullient Dvorak "Carnival" Overture, a nostalgic Copland "Quiet City," and a rhythmic and colorful "L.E.S. Characters" by Jessie Montgomery, inspired by people from her Lower East Side of N.Y.C.; and finally a roof-raising Respighi "Pines of Rome." Conductor Carlos Kalmar's final programs of the season had much to recommend them. Much-praised Violinist Augustin Hadelich played a truly virtuosic Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2, while the wartime Shostakovich Symphony No. 8 received a darkly dramatic, intense, and tremendously powerful performance. An audience member dressed as a witch, complete with a tall, pointed black hat, for Kalmar's spooky finale, which began with an appropriately harrowing Mussorgsky "Night on Bald Mountain" and moved to a sometimes otherworldly Mendelssohn "The First Walpurgis Night" which featured some of the finest singing of the season by the Grant Park Chorus, prepared by Michael Black. All of which makes you look forward to the Opening Night of the upcoming season on June 12, 2024.

Ravinia: What opera house would not want the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as its pit band? Marin Alsop conducted the C.S.O. in a light-hearted and funny Mozart "The Magic Flute," with a fine cast including Mathew Polenzani as Tamino, Kathryn Lewek as the Queen of the Night, Christian Sanders as Monostatos, Janai Brugger as Pamina, David Leigh as Sarastro, Diana Newman as Papagena, and—most amusing of all—Joshua Hopkins as Papageno. Kudos to the Apollo Chorus of Chicago and stage director James Robinson. September treats at Ravinia include Jane Glover conducting Music of the Baroque on September 5. Visit ravinia.org

Chicago Jazz Festival 2023 will play from August 31 through September 3. For more information, visit Chicago Jazz Festival 2023