THE LYRIC OPERA IS PREMIERING A TRIO OF NEW OPERAS THAT TAKE ON MODERN TOPICS LIKE GUN VIOLENCE.

THEY WORKED WITH THE ORGANIZATION TO HELP PEOPLE IMPACTED BY GUN VIOLENCE.

HERE'S SEVERE SMITH ON WHY SHE SAYS THAT OPERA IS THE PERFECT MEDIUM TO TELL AN EMOTIONAL STORY.

>> THAT WAS PART OF NAMING IT THAT, HOW PROXIMATE ARE WE TO THE THINGS THAT WE THINK HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH US?

WHAT'S OUR PROXIMITY TO IT?

WE KNOW WE CAN'T BE IT, AND WE CAN'T LIVE IN SOME OF THESE, BUT IF WE UNDERSTAND OUR PROXIMITY, MAYBE THERE'S SOMETHING THAT COULD BE DONE.

PLACES WHERE PEOPLE PERFORM ARE PLACES WHERE OUR IDENTITIES ARE MUTED, AND OUR ABILITY FOR EMPATHY BECOMES SEDUCED.

EXPECT, EMBRACE, AND DELIVERS ON A HEIGHTENED EMOTION.

AND IT IS VERY ATTRACTIVE, EVEN WHEN THE SUBJECT IS NOT ATTRACTIVE.

THERE'S A LOT OF BEAUTY UP ON THAT STAGE.

BEAUTY THAT HAS CREATED.

THE SINGER'S VOICES ARE JUST IN TRANSIT.

SO I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THERE THAT MEETS AN AUDIENCE DIFFERENTLY.

AND I HOPE WHAT IT DOES, ANNUAL ISSUE THAT'S HAUNTED CHICAGO FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AT LEAST SINCE THE 6s 09.

I HOPE THAT IT BRINGS PEOPLE -- OUR OPERA IS CALLED THE WALKERS, AND WE'RE DEDICATING IT TO ARNIE AND OTHERS WHO I SEE AS WALKING WITH FOLKS AS THEY TRY TO MAKE AN IMPORTANT TRANSFORMATION IN THEIR LIVES, AND THEY DON'T GIVE