Chicago Opera Theater - Chicago | 14 April 2021 |
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Performance reviews
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Taking Up SerpentsChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Chicago Opera Theater’s scorching ‘Taking Up Serpents’ captures America’s Pentecostal fervor |
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In ‘Taking Up Serpents’ a young woman tries to escape a snake-loving father |
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COT’s offbeat “Taking Up Serpents” gives notice of a talented new composer |
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The Transformation of Jane DoeChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
‘Jane Doe' a virtual success with an intense story of ambition |
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Freedom RideChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
A triumph of art and history |
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‘Freedom Ride’ illuminates a battle for civil rights |
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COT’s trivial “Freedom Ride” reduces Civil Rights heroes to soap opera cliches |
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EverestChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Chicago Opera Theater captures extreme passions in pair of life-and-death one-acts |
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Conquering Everest and Aleko: Chicago Opera Theater's bold study of contrasts |
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On a bountiful opera weekend, Chicago Opera Theater climbs a peak |
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Chicago Opera Theater scales the heights with “Everest,” “Aleko” |
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AlekoChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Chicago Opera Theater captures extreme passions in pair of life-and-death one-acts |
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Conquering Everest and Aleko: Chicago Opera Theater's bold study of contrasts |
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On a bountiful opera weekend, Chicago Opera Theater climbs a peak |
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Chicago Opera Theater scales the heights with “Everest,” “Aleko” |
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Moby-DickChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() |
This superb ‘Moby-Dick’ is a defining point in Chicago Opera Theater’s history |
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Riding the waves of madness and sanity in opera version of ‘Moby-Dick’ |
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Chicago Opera Theater's Moby-Dick is well worth chasing down |
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COT wraps season in epic fashion with Heggie’s majestic “Moby-Dick” |
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A slightly flawed but still mighty 'Moby-Dick' |
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Dramatic opera on the high seas |
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The Scarlet IbisChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Conflict of brotherly love, honed to lyric pitch |
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Tough and tender opera conjures boy out of place |
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A small story soars in this new opera |
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COT brings an affecting family tale to compelling life with “The Scarlet Ibis” |
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IolantaChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
In jewel-box setting, Chicago Opera Theater polishes rare Tchaikovsky treasure ‘Iolanta’ |
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COT illuminates “Iolanta” with ardent vocalism, rich Russian flavor |
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An impassioned 'Iolanta' at Chicago Opera Theater |
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RitaChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
Donizetti double bill is a masterclass in composition |
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Donizetti’s Il Pigmalione and Rita demonstrate two versions of love |
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COT closes season with uneven Donizetti double bill |
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Chicago Opera Theater brings flair to comic, serious Donizetti one-acters |
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A double-bill of Donizetti pays worthy homage to his genius |
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Il PigmalioneChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
Donizetti double bill is a masterclass in composition |
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Donizetti’s Il Pigmalione and Rita demonstrate two versions of love |
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COT closes season with uneven Donizetti double bill |
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Chicago Opera Theater brings flair to comic, serious Donizetti one-acters |
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A double-bill of Donizetti pays worthy homage to his genius |
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Elizabeth CreeChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
A masterpiece hits the stage in potent fashion |
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Chicago Opera Theater’s gory and good Elizabeth Cree |
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Victorian murder mystery |
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Chicago Opera Theater's 'Elizabeth Cree' is a bloody good show |
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The ConsulChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Menotti’s opera given harrowing production featuring Patricia Racette |
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COT wraps Mitisek era on a high note as Racette soars in Menotti’s powerful “Consul” |
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Racette's searing performance elevates melodramatic hokum of COT's 'The Consul' |
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The Perfect AmericanChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
“The Perfect American:” an imperfect opera |
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A darker Walt Disney conjured in 'The Perfect American' |
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The Invention of MorelChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
A brilliant piece of musical surrealism |
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Blind love and immortality haunt ‘The Invention of Morel’ |
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The Fairy QueenChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
COT's 'Fairy Queen' transplants Purcell's baroque masque to Sin City |
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Purcell’s music, likable cast win out over theatrical excess in COT’s Sin City “Fairy Queen” |
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Le vin herbéChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
Opera Theater's 'Love Potion' casts a haunting spell |
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Chicago Opera Theater makes a case for Martin’s austere “Le vin herbé” |
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Dido and AeneasChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
In music and movement, Mark Morris troupe touches tangled hearts of ‘Dido and Aeneas’ |
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After 27 years, Mark Morris' 'Dido and Aeneas' only gains in force |
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Dido and Aeneas at the revamped Harris Theater |
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La voix humaineChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Two contrasting views of human desperation |
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Patricia Racette lifts COT double bill of comic, tragic rarities |
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A damned good pairing |
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Gianni SchicchiChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Two contrasting views of human desperation |
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Patricia Racette lifts COT double bill of comic, tragic rarities |
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A damned good pairing |
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Lucio SillaChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Not much to look at, but starkly effective |
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Highly relevant, musically riveting, and a boon for Chicago’s opera lovers |
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Singers provide fleeting pleasures in COT’s trashy revisionist “Lucio" |
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A Coffin in EgyptChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 2 | ![]() |
COT's 'Coffin' a moving star vehicle for von Stade |
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A radiant von Stade can’t raise COT’s “Coffin in Egypt” |
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Frederica von Stade
Famous trouser roles folded away, opera star von Stade channels a queen of Egypt (Texas).
Famous trouser roles folded away, opera star von Stade channels a queen of Egypt (Texas).
Thérèse RaquinChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Operatic passion at heart of COT’s ‘Therese Raquin’ |
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COT delivers effective staging of Picker’s compelling “Thérèse Raquin” |
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Emotionally potent 'Therese Raquin' at Chicago Opera Theater |
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Chicago Opera Theater's Thérèse Raquin is pretty grim—simulated cunnilingus and all |
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MacbethChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() ![]() |
COT's heated, in-your-face Macbeth |
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Chicago Opera Theater buffs up neglected jewel in high-tech staging of Bloch’s grand ‘Macbeth’ |
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The opera is a welcome discovery indeed |
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COT’s worthy revival of Bloch’s “Macbeth” undone by distracting video and unkind cuts |
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The music serves Shakespeare in Bloch's seldom heard 'Macbeth' |
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Die KlugeChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Watercolor Prisons: The Emperor of Atlantis and The Clever One |
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Chicago Opera Theater double bill jarring but effective |
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COT stages two political satires crafted under Nazis |
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Soprano lifts COT’s uneven double bill of wartime works |
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Der Kaiser von AtlantisChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Watercolor Prisons: The Emperor of Atlantis and The Clever One |
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Chicago Opera Theater double bill jarring but effective |
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COT stages two political satires crafted under Nazis |
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Soprano lifts COT’s uneven double bill of wartime works |
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Queenie PieChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
Ellington left his ‘Queenie Pie’ dream in scraps, and COT bucks odds in bid to make it whole |
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Limitations of ‘Queenie Pie’ and its stars magnified in lavish COT production |
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Even with Duke Ellington’s music, COT’s “Queenie Pie” is barely skin deep |
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Queenie Pie performances rescheduled
Chicago Opera Theater reschedules all performances of Queenie Pie After Harris Center fire.
Chicago Opera Theater reschedules all performances of Queenie Pie After Harris Center fire.
Orpheus and EuridiceChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 3 | ![]() |
COT shines shimmering modern light on ancient myth |
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To improve ‘Orpheus & Euridice,’ just add water |
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Chicago Opera Theater goes audaciously aquatic with “Orpheus” |
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Giovanna d'ArcoChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 5 | ![]() |
A chapter from history (well, not really) |
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Muddling the stakes, Chicago Opera Theater drives one through the heart of Verdi’s ‘Joan’ |
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Flashy, shocking reworking of the legend |
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Opera Theater's 'Joan of Arc' yields mixed results |
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COT’s disastrous Regie production burns Verdi and “Joan of Arc” |
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Maria de Buenos AiresChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
COT's 'Maria de Buenos Aires' explores e resilient human spirit |
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COT’s revamped “Maria” makes for brilliant and audacious theater |
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Chicago Opera Theater, Luna Negra Dance team for rarely staged tango opera |
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COT's 'Maria de Buenos Aires' a dark tango with history |
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The Fall of the House of UsherChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
This old ‘House’ a bit shaky as multi-Mitisek ushers in COT regime with goth Philip Glass |
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Cazan's reinterpretation works at heightening the drama |
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Chicago Opera Theater steps through a Glass, darkly |
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Chicago Opera Theater opens season with a mixed local debut for Glass’s “Usher” |
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Die ZauberflöteChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 4 | ![]() |
Thoughtfully modern production keeps this classic engaging |
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A superb young cast sparks COT’s eclectic “Magic Flute” |
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Chicago Opera Theater proves ‘Magic Flute’ isn’t totally played out |
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Dickie era at COT ends with minimalist Mozart |
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TeseoChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 6 | ![]() |
Chicago Opera Theater does Teseo |
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Love conquers all at the Chicago Opera Theater |
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Handel’s early vengeance opera ‘Teseo’ shines amid Chicago Opera Theater’s vocal splendors |
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A rare Handel, done with the utmost care by Chicago Opera Theater |
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Neglected Handel gem a must for early opera lovers |
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COT wraps Medea cycle with a supremely stylish and well sung “Teseo” |
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Moskva, CheremushkiChicago Opera TheaterNo. of reviews: 1 | ![]() |
COT’s young cast and lively production shine in Shostakovich’s charming “Moscow, Cheryomushki” |
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News & Articles
Chicago Opera Theater announces digital 2020-21 season |
Chicago Opera Theater has announced an extensive digital 2020-21 season, which will feature five full operas. |
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Chicago Opera Theater: Seeing light at the end of the tunnel |
Chicago Opera Theater has taken a realistic yet optimistic approach to the future and recently held a streaming event to reveal its upcoming season. |
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Chicago Opera Theater receives $500,000 grant |
Chicago Opera Theater has received a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant will support the Vanguard Emerging Opera Composer Residency Program. |
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Chicago Opera Theater announces 2019/2020 season |
The company's 47th season will include productions of two exciting contemporary operas, a Chicago premiere by Rachmaninov, and the company's second world premiere commission. |
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Chicago Opera Theater names new General Director |
The Chicago Opera Theater has announced that Ashley Magnus will be the new Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson General Director, effective immediately. |
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