The Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building will host Chicago Opera Theater’s mainstage performances during the 2017-18 season
Chicago Opera Theater announced its 2017-18 season: three operas, including a world-premiere co-production with Opera Philadelphia, to be staged at the newly-renovated Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building.
COT’s 44th season begins with three performances of Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Consul on November 4, 10 and 12, 2017. Patricia Racette performs the role of Magda, following her COT debut as Elle in La voix humaine during the 2015-16 season. Andreas Mitisek, who steps down as COT’s artistic director in the summer of 2017, returns to direct The Consul, a co-production with Long Beach Opera. Kristof Van Grysperre conducts COT’s performances.
In 2018, COT presents a new work, Elizabeth Cree, by composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, who worked together on the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night. Elizabeth Cree adapts Peter Ackroyd’s thrilling novel, The Trial of Elizabeth Cree, set in Victorian London. Opera Philadelphia presents the world -premiere performances before the production travels to Chicago for a run of three performances on February 10, 16, and 18, 2018.
A Donizetti double bill presenting his first opera, Il pigmalione, and one of his last, Rita, closes out COT’s season. Three performances on April 14, 20, and 22, 2018 offer a chance to experience these rarely staged works by the bel canto master. Amy Hutchison directs and Francesco Milioto conducts.
Learn more about Chicago Opera Theater and its 2017-18 season on its website.
