Chicago Voices

Chicago Voices was a televised one-night-only, multi-genre concert held at the Lyric Opera House on February 4, 2017. Performers included Renée Fleming, Shemekia Copeland, Kurt Elling, Lupe Fiasco, The Handsome Family, Jessie Mueller, Matthew Polenzani, John Prine, and Michelle Williams. The episode premiered August 10, 2018, on PBS.

Synopsis

World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming hosts an all-star evening from Lyric Opera of Chicago, featuring rapper Lupe Fiasco, folk legend John Prine, Broadway's Jessie Mueller, pop and gospel artist Michelle Williams, jazz singer Kurt Elling and others

A star-studded array of vocal talent with deep ties to Chicago gathers on stage at Lyric Opera to pay tribute to the city's wide-reaching influence across blues, jazz, rock, folk, hip-hop, gospel, opera and classical music in Great Performances: Chicago Voices, premiering nationwide Friday, August 10 at 10 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) and streaming the following day on pbs.org/gperf and PBS apps. Hosted by four-time Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming, the multi-genre concert special features performances by Fleming, Tony-winner Jessie Mueller (Waitress, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Grammy-winning rapper Lupe Fiasco, three-time Grammy-winning folk legend John Prine, Grammy-winning pop and gospel singer Michelle Williams (Destiny's Child), Grammy-winning jazz singer Kurt Elling and many more in a celebration of Chicago's rich and diverse vocal music legacy.

Led by award-winning music director Doug Peck, the concert features additional performances and unique collaborations by Beverly Sills Award-winning tenor Matthew Polenzani, blues singer Shemekia Copeland, alternative country duo The Handsome Family, Voices of Trinity Mass Choir, Terrence Howard (Empire, Hustle & Flow) and Jussie Smollett (Empire). Civil rights activist and founder of Operation PUSH Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., serves as special guest presenter during the concert.

Set list

1. "The Battle Is Over (But the War Goes On)" – Shemekia Copeland (Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee cover)
2. "Steppin' Out" – Kurt Elling
3. "Goin' to Chicago" – Kurt Elling
4. "Be My Love" – Matthew Polenzani (Mario Lanza cover)
5. "Beau Soir" – Renée Fleming (Mary Garden cover)
6. "Summertime" – Renée Fleming (George Gershwin cover)
7. "Kick, Push" – Lupe Fiasco
8. "Angel from Montgomery" – John Prine
9. "Hello in There" – John Prine
10. "She Used to Be Mine" – Jessie Mueller
11. "How I Got Over" – Michelle Williams (with Voices of Trinity Mass Choir)
12. "A Change Is Gonna Come" – Terrence Howard and Jussie Smollett (Sam Cooke cover)
13. "The Prayer" – Jessie Mueller and Matthew Polenzani
14. "(We're Not) The Jet Set" – Renée Fleming and John Prine (George Jones and Tammy Wynette cover)

Date

Date		Time	City	Venue
February 4, 2017	Sat	7:30 P.M.	Chicago	Lyric Opera House

Gallery

Photo by Paul Natkin

Photo by Paul Natkin