Krainik, Ardls (Joan)
Krainik, Ardls (Joan)
Krainik, Ardls (Joan), distinguished American opera administrator; b. Manitowoc, Wise, March 8, 1929; d. Chicago, Jan. 18, 1997. She was educated at Northwestern Univ. (B.S., 1951; postgraduate studies, 1953-54). In 1954 she joined the staff of the Lyric Theater in Chicago, and remained with it after it became the Lyric Opera in 1956. She sang minor roles there until becoming asst. manager in 1960. From 1975 to 1981 she was its artistic administrator. In 1981 she became general director, and proceeded to mold the Lyric Opera into one of the most prestigious opera companies in the world. During her tenure, the Civic Opera House was renovated, new scores were commissioned, and a composer-in-residence program was established. In 1996 she oversaw the first complete staging of the Ring cycle by the company, but ill health forced her to retire that same year.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire