As companies around the globe celebrate the centennial of Giacomo Puccini’s death in 2024,  COT  presents a unique concert that highlights how Puccini’s work impacted the evolution of opera and musical theater. This special event will feature beloved arias and ensembles from Puccini’s operas alongside a variety of scenes from operas and musicals by composers who were influenced by the great Italian composer, including Franz Lehár, Leoš Janacek, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Gian Carlo Menotti, Daniel Catán, Richard Rodgers, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and Jonathan Larson.  Featured guest artists will be announced this summer.

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Bohème & Beyond

DePaul University Welcome Center

Experience the brilliance of Sondra Radvanovsky as she takes the stage at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in a captivating concert titled "The Puccini Heroines." Renowned for her exceptional performances in the works of Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi, Radvanovsky now brings her extraordinary talent to the operas of Giacomo Puccini. This concert will feature excerpts from each of Puccini’s twelve operas, showcasing not only his celebrated masterpieces but also his lesser-known early works. 

Radvanovsky has garnered international acclaim for her portrayals of Puccini’s iconic characters, including the title roles in "Manon Lescaut," "Tosca," "Suor Angelica," and "Turandot." Her magnificent voice, impeccable stylistic command, and powerful dramatic presence make her a perfect fit for this demanding repertoire. 

Under the baton of Music Director Enrique Mazzola, this performance promises to be a tour-de-force, highlighting the emotional depth and musical richness of Puccini’s compositions. The concert will be sung in Italian with projected English titles, allowing audiences to fully immerse themselves in the beauty and drama of the music. 

This presentation is generously supported by Sonia Florian, with Maestro Enrique Mazzola’s sponsorship provided by Alice & John Butler, H. Gael Neeson, Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel, and the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation. Join us at the Lyric Opera House for an unforgettable evening celebrating the timeless allure of Puccini’s heroines.

Sondra Radvanovsky in Concert: The Puccini Heroines

Lyric Opera House

Experience the timeless allure of Puccini's La Bohème, presented by the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This enduring masterpiece captures the essence of young love in 19th-century Paris, brought to life through the poignant arias of characters like the passionate poet Rodolfo, the delicate seamstress Mimì, and the spirited Musetta. The production features the remarkable talents of sopranos Ailyn Pérez and Gabriella Reyes, alongside tenor Pene Pati in his Lyric debut and baritone Will Liverman. Under the expert direction of conductor Jordan de Souza, the performance promises to be a memorable addition to Lyric Opera's storied tradition of La Bohème renditions. The opera is sung in Italian with projected English titles, ensuring an immersive experience for all attendees. The production also includes innovative accessibility features such as audio-described performances and the SoundShirt, which allows wearers to feel the music through touch sensations. With a running time of 2 hours and 20 minutes, including one intermission, this new-to-Chicago production is set to captivate audiences with its beauty, sensitivity, and universal themes of romance and heartbreak.

La Bohème

The Lyric Opera of Chicago proudly presents "The Listeners," a compelling new opera by the acclaimed composer/librettist team Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek. This gripping narrative follows Claire, a woman tormented by an incessant, low-frequency hum that only she can hear. In her quest for relief, Claire joins a group called The Listeners, dedicated to uncovering the source of the noise and eliminating it. However, the organization takes a dark turn, evolving into a cult-like entity with catastrophic consequences. 

Under the baton of Music Director Enrique Mazzola and the visionary direction of Lileana Blain-Cruz, the production promises a vocally and dramatically powerful experience. The opera is sung in English with projected English titles, ensuring accessibility for all attendees. The performance features a stellar cast, including Nicole Heaston as Claire, Kyle Ketelsen as Howard, and Jasmine Habersham as Ashley, among others. 

The Lyric Opera House will host this event, offering additional accessibility features such as audio-described performances, touch tours for patrons with low vision, and ASL-interpreted performances. The innovative SoundShirt technology will also be available, allowing wearers to feel the music through touch sensations. 

"The Listeners" is co-commissioned and co-produced by Lyric Opera of Chicago, Norwegian National Opera, and Opera Philadelphia, with generous support from the Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation and the Zell Family Foundation. This production is set to be one of the most significant operatic events of the 2024/25 season, showcasing the exceptional talents of its cast and creative team.

The Listeners

Set in a world devoid of color and inspired by the imagery of surrealist painter Remedios Varo, a lone tree holds within its rings the memory and possibility of music, poetry, and art. An herbalist struggles to heal a community afflicted by a siege of maladies, and a homesick boarding-school student dreams of escape. An ancient medicinal, written in Spanish (one of countless forbidden languages), just may hold the key — to transcendence, or complete obliteration. This searing new opera looks at a culture rapidly strip-mining itself of its riches, and embraces the realm of the imagination as fertile ground for regeneration.

Remedios Varios

Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture

Experience the enchanting world of opera with "Lyric in Concert: A Wondrous Sound" at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. This program showcases some of the most thrilling overtures and beloved choral works in the operatic repertoire. Featuring masterworks by iconic composers such as Mozart and Puccini, the concert will be brought to life by the exceptional talents of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus and Orchestra. Under the expert guidance of Music Director Enrique Mazzola, the performance will journey through a range of emotions, from the rousing and life-affirming to the quietly introspective. This event offers a rare opportunity to hear both well-known favorites and some of the more rarely-performed pieces by your favorite composers. The Lyric Chorus and Orchestra, often the unsung heroes of many productions, will take center stage, allowing their artistry to shine. Whether you are a seasoned opera aficionado or new to the genre, this concert promises to be a memorable celebration of the wondrous sound of opera.

A Wondrous Sound

Everyone has heard of Rosa Parks, but she wasn’t the first to refuse to move. She Who Dared recenters the spotlight on the courageous women who helped desegregate the Montgomery bus system in the 1950s. These Civil Rights pioneers pay homage to the quiet struggle for justice that has often gone unknown – further amplifying the effects of the historic case of Browder V Gayle. While often riotous and sometimes hilarious, these women demonstrate how everyday people have the power to challenge the systems around them and affect tangible change – if only they dare. 

She Who Dared

Fine Arts Building Chicago

Everyone has heard of Rosa Parks, but she wasn’t the first to refuse to move. She Who Dared recenters the spotlight on the courageous women who helped desegregate the Montgomery bus system in the 1950s. These Civil Rights pioneers pay homage to the quiet struggle for justice that has often gone unknown – further amplifying the effects of the historic case of Browder V Gayle. While often riotous and sometimes hilarious, these women demonstrate how everyday people have the power to challenge the systems around them and affect tangible change – if only they dare. She Who Dared will feature sopranos Jasmine Habersham, Jacqueline Echols, Lindsey Reynolds, and mezzo sopranos Chrystal E. Williams, Jazmine Olwalia, Leah Dexter, and Cierra Byrd. Conductor Michael Ellis Ingram and director Timothy Douglas make their COT debuts at the helm of the world premiere production.

Opera events in Chicago, IL

Bohème & Beyond

Chicago Opera Theater

Sondra Radvanovsky in Con...

Lyric Opera of Chicago

La Bohème

Lyric Opera of Chicago

The Listeners

Lyric Opera of Chicago

Remedios Varios

Chicago Opera Theater

A Wondrous Sound

Lyric Opera of Chicago

She Who Dared

Chicago Opera Theater

She Who Dared

Fine Arts Building Chicago