Chicago Opera Theater

03/21/2025

"During my seven years as COT’s Board President, I’ve been so proud of how vital it has become to Chicago’s cultural scene. I’ve been moved to tears and felt immense joy hearing its outstanding artists. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of this special family!" – Susan Irion, Immediate Past President

Get your Gala tickets by March 23 → chicagooperatheater.org/gala

03/19/2025

🌸 Grab your paddles and get ready for the paddle raise and the live auction — accompanied by culinary delights, plus a concert performance of Remedios Varios at our gala; INFINITE POSSIBILITIES: BLOSSOMING BEYOND 50 YEARS.

Purchase Gala and Concert tickets by March 25 → chicagooperatheater.org/gala

03/16/2025

Congratulations and toi, toi, toi to all of the finalists in today’s Grand Finals concert at The Met - with a special shout out to former COT young artist Michelle Mariposa (incandescent in her yellow dress!) - your COT family is so proud of you!

03/14/2025

You still have time to make your gala reservations for INFINITE POSSIBILITIES: BLOSSOMING BEYOND 50 YEARS.

Your friends on the gala committee, board, and staff have created an unforgettable experience on April 5th.

Here’s the evening's festive lineup:

⭐A fun-filled cocktail and wine reception at 5pm with a silent auction complete with fine dining, self-care, and cultural experiences.

⭐A delicious dinner expertly prepared and served at 6pm by the incomparable J&L Catering & Events with desserts donated by Brown Sugar Bakery-Chicago.

⭐ World premiere concert performance of Remedios Varios by Vanguard Composer Carlos Carrillo and Librettist Stephanie Fleischmann at 7:30pm.

⭐A smashing after party at 8:45pm with the cast, artistic surprises, and enticing live auction!

Warm up your arms now to raise your paddles high on April 5th to benefit your Chicago Opera Theater!

Purchase Gala and Concert tickets by March 23 → chicagooperatheater.org/gala

02/26/2025

Congratulations to former Vanguard Composer Wang Lu ! 🎉She is a recipient of OPERA America's Discovery Grant — a program supporting the development of new opera and music theater projects.

Lu's work The Red Thread, created in partnership with librettist Deborah Brevoort of COT's Quamino's Map (2022), was one of the eight works selected for the prestigious grant.

We are absolutely thrilled at this news and look forward to the continued success of our extended COT family!

Read the entire announcement here → https://tinyurl.com/3zam55yb

Grants totaling $100,000 will support the development of new opera and music-theater works by these exceptional women composers.

02/25/2025

Is Opera History Black History? (Hint: Yes.)

Ahead of She Who Dared, we reflect on telling Black stories on the Opera stage:

“...I try to tell these stories in a way that I hope will let someone know a little bit more about who they are and who they can be…” said OperaCréole founder Givonna Joseph → https://19thnews.org/

“...There’s this idea that because you’re Black, you’re supposed to fit in a certain box — but the box was made by somebody else.”

[📷 by Cedric A. Ellsworth | Opera Creole]

02/19/2025

🎉 SAVE THE DATE! 🎉 Join Chicago Opera Theater for an unforgettable evening featuring music, dining, and boundless creativity as we celebrate Infinite Possibilities: Blossoming Beyond 50 Years — Saturday, April 5th, 2025.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned — dinner reservations and performance tickets go on sale this week!

📷 by Lenspeak: Kyle Flubacker Photography

02/17/2025

Meet Jo Ann Robinson — an activist and educator whose instrumental work during the 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycotts helped lay the groundwork for figures such as Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks.

Check out the video of her describing the boycotts ahead of COT’s world premiere production of Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Deborah DEEP Mouton's She Who Dared 🎭

02/13/2025

"History had me glued to the seat. It felt as if Harriet Tubman’s hand was pushing me down on one shoulder, and Sojourner Truth’s hand was pushing me down on the other."

We are incredibly excited to highlight Claudette Colvin, among the other women of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, in Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Deborah DEEP Mouton's She Who Dared.

Check out the article below to learn a little bit more about the 15-year girl who came nine months before Rosa Parks 📰

It was a spring afternoon in 1955 when a teenager’s spontaneous act of defiance changed US history. Why did it take 40 years for her to get any credit?

02/10/2025

Before Rosa Parks was Claudette Colvin — a 15-year old girl from Montgomery, Alabama.

Join us in June as we celebrate the powerful women who helped desegregate the Montgomery Bus System in the 1950s with She Who Dared.

Composer Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Librettist Deborah DEEP Mouton bring this story of community and protest to life this June. Get tickets → https://rb.gy/puh87r

02/01/2025

As Black History Month begins today, we take this time to honor and reflect on the achievements, culture, and legacy of Black Americans.

Chicago Opera Theater is proud to be partnering with American Lyric Theater to present the world premiere of Jasmine Arielle Barnes and Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton's new opera, SHE WHO DARED, this coming June. SHE WHO DARED celebrates the women of the Montgomery movement who were responsible for the desegregation of public transportation, paving the way for broader civil rights advancements through their courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice.

Rosa Parks is, of course, the best known of the women of the Montgomery movement. Today we share this ravishing aria from the orchestral workshop of SHE WHO DARED in which Rosa, sung by the incandescent Jacqueline Echols, reflects on what she is about to do. Beyond the historic moment when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat for a white passenger, she remained an activist throughout her life, advocating for civil rights, voting rights, and racial equality. Her legacy continues to inspire generations in the ongoing fight for justice and equity.

But Rosa Parks wasn’t the first who refused to move… Throughout Black History Month, we will share more stories of the courageous women of the Montgomery movement who took a stand against segregation, paving the way for change. To learn more about SHE WHO DARED, please visit:

https://www.chicagooperatheater.org/she-who-dared

12/17/2024

Congratulations to Shawn E. Okpebholo for being named Chicagoan of the Year in Classical Music!

Shawn Okpebholo’s music sings of Chicago, from its waterways to its architecture to its ugly history.

12/06/2024

Planning to attend Bohème & Beyond this Saturday, December 7? Here’s what you need to know:

📍 Location: Gannon Hall, DePaul University
🕒 Box Office opens: 1:30 PM | Seating: 2:30 PM | Concert: 3 PM
❗There will be NO pre-opera talk

We can’t wait to see you there!✨

12/02/2024

✨ The wait is almost over! Join us this Saturday, December 7, at Gannon Hall, DePaul University, for Bohème & Beyond: The Legacy of Puccini.

Don’t miss an afternoon of extraordinary music and fascinating insights into one of opera’s most beloved composers.

🎶 Secure your seat now at COT.ORG before it’s too late!

11/29/2024

It’s hard to imagine opera without Puccini. As we begin rehearsals for our BOHÈME AND BEYOND concert this weekend, we invite you to take a moment to honor and reflect on Puccini’s legacy on the 100th Anniversary of the great composer’s death.

11/26/2024

⏳ Time is ticking—don’t miss your chance to grab tickets for an afternoon filled with captivating musical history and unforgettable performances!

✨ Join COT General Director Lawrence Edelson and renowned dramaturg Cori Ellison as they share fascinating insights into Puccini’s remarkable legacy and his influence on generations of composers.

🎟️ Limited tickets remain—secure yours today at COT.ORG for Bohème & Beyond: The Legacy of Puccini!

11/19/2024

In celebration of Puccini's centennial, COT presents Bohème & Beyond—an extraordinary concert that explores the profound and lasting influence of Puccini on both opera and musical theater.

Step into a world of timeless melodies and unforgettable performances as we honor the legacy of one of the greatest composers on December 7, 2024—limited tickets are available at COT.ORG!

11/18/2024

🎼 Tenor Aaron Short, alongside pianist Leo Radosavljevic, presents his doctoral lecture recital featuring repertoire from the past two decades of Chicago Opera Theater (COT) seasons.

✨ This program offers a unique perspective on the evolving cultural and economic trends in American opera through COT’s artistic programming. Inspired by Dr. Carl Ratner’s 2005 dissertation, Aaron’s lecture recital highlights the company’s role as a trailblazer for innovative opera.

📆 November 24, 2024
🕐 12 PM
📍 Regenstein Master Class Room, Ryan Center Music Building at Northwestern's main campus

The event is approximately 75 minutes and open to the public. While this is not a Chicago Opera Theater event, we’re thrilled to see COT’s legacy explored in such an inspiring way!