Lucas Meachem sang the title role at Lyric Opera of Chicago’s fall production of Don Giovanni as a last-minute replacement. He starred alongside Matthew Rose, Amanda Majeski, Rachel Willis-Sørenson, and Benjamin Bliss with James Gaffigan conducting. Read below reviews of his riveting performance:

Lucas Meachem, who is completely convincing as Giovanni both vocally and dramatically. Meachem possesses the rakish looks essential to the role and aptly conjures Giovanni’s limitless self-confidence and sensual appeal, with graceful, sweeping gestures and sturdy, preening postures, as well as the character’s menacing edge.

PBS-WTTW

Lucas Meachem, who not only uses his rich baritone to fine effect but also captures the arrogance, deceptive charm and cruelty of his character.

Opera News

How gratifying to see him tackle one of the towering roles in the repertory with the kind of vocal command and dramatic intensity Meachem demonstrated Thursday night. As admirable as his previous Lyric outings have been, nothing prepared one for Meachem’s Don, which delivered as consummate a performance of this difficult role as one is likely to encounter. But Meachem’s more American Giovanni was just as valid; indeed he eased into the show’s version of the sexually prolific libertine as cocaine-sniffing, Jazz Era playboy with striking grace and assurance. When Meachem’s Don violently rammed Masetto’s head into a brick wall there were gasps opening night. A career performance by a singer who is clearly revealed as one of the finest Don G’s of our era.

Chicago Classical Review

Lucas was last seen at LOC as Chorèbe in Les Troyens in 2017 and will appear as Yeletsky in Queen of Spades this February.