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Chicago Opera Theater’s New General Director
Andreas Mitisek Announces 2013 Season
3 New Productions by Philip Glass,
Ástor Piazzolla and Giuseppe Verdi

CHICAGO, IL– (April 4, 2012)  Andreas Mitisek announced today Chicago Opera Theater’s (COT) 2013 Season, his first as General Director.  The season opens in February of 2013 with the Chicago Premiere of Philip Glass’ The Fall of the House of Usher, followed by Ástor Piazzolla’s María de Buenos Aires in April, and concluding in September with another Chicago Premiere, Giuseppe Verdi’s Joan of Arc (Giovanna d’Arco).  These three new productions will be presented at theHarrisTheater for Music and Dance inMillenniumPark.

“Each time you come to COT, you should be surprised by something you hadn’t thought existed. We want to make you laugh and cry and reflect on the stories we present,” said Andreas Mitisek. “What ties these operas together is their focus on the tension between the power of love and the love of power. Philip Glass, Ástor Piazzolla and Giuseppe Verdi all question our views and enlighten us with insights into the eternal means of the human heart.”

2013 will mark Chicago Opera Theater’s first season in over a decade that will have the three operas offered in the winter, spring and fall.

“I think it is vital that we engage our current audience more than once or twice a year,” said Andreas. “I also know this will really allow COT to connect with even more Chicagoans, giving them the chance to experience our unique theatrical creations.”

As announced in December, Andreas will also remain the Artistic and General Director of Long Beach Opera (LBO) in California.  In 2013, the two companies will co-produce The Fall of the House of Usher.  Moreover, the new production of María de Buenos Aires which premiered at LBO in January of 2012 will be the same production at Chicago Opera Theater in 2013.

Philip Glass’ The Fall of the House of Usher will open the 2013 Season on February 23 at theHarrisTheater.  The story is based on Edgar Allan Poe’s haunting tale about the fine line between reality and imagination inside the eerie Usher mansion. Philip Glass’ score perfectly captures the mood of this hypnotic and harrowing psychological drama.

Ken Cazan, acclaimed for his 2004 COT production of Britten’s Death in Venice, will direct.  The Financial Times gave the production “5 stars” and The Chicago Tribune called it “exquisite.”

Opening April 20^th  María de Buenos Aires, an opera of “stunning originality,” pulses to the passion and beat of Ástor Piazzolla’s revolutionary nuevo tango and Horacio Ferrer’s mesmerizing, imaginative poetry.

“Piazzolla’s María is the ultimate metaphor for the heart and soul ofArgentinaand, for me, also a metaphor for love, hope, fear and resilience,” explains Mitisek.

In 1967, Ástor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer called their first collaboration, María de Buenos Aires, a “tango operita.” However, this work contains music unlike any conventional tango. Piazzolla took the tango off the dance floor by creating a new style termed “nuevo tango.” 

General Director Andreas Mitisek will both conduct and direct the piece, as he did at Long Beach Opera.  The Los Angeles Times calls María de Bueno Aires “a stunning new production” and says “Mitisek must be one of the premier interpreters of Piazzolla.”

Closing the 2013 Season in September, is Verdi’s Joan of Arc (Giovanna d’Arco), the winner of 2010’s The People’s Opera – a fundraising initiative where COT audiences picked from one of three operas to be performed in a future season.  Telling the iconic story of the courageous St. Joan, the opera features some of Verdi’s most beautiful music as COT celebrates his 200^th birthday in 2013.

“I am greatly looking forward to coming toChicagoand collaborating even more with our audiences and community,” said Andreas.  “I want to create an immersive experience that goes beyond just watching opera.”

 —

Chicago Opera Theater performs at The Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park – 205 East Randolph Drive.

Season Subscriptions are on sale now for the 2013 Season, which include a ticket to all three operas.  Renewing subscribers may take advantage of Early Bird pricing through July 31^st, 2012.  Chicago Opera Theater continues to offer 50% off subscriptions in most sections to new COT Subscribers.

 Tickets to individual shows of the 2013 Season will go on sale in January of 2013.

Tickets are available at 312.704.8414 or online ChicagoOperaTheater.org. 

2013 Season

 Philip Glass
THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
February 23, 27 and March 1 at 7:30pm; February 24 at 3pm

Director:                                            Ken Cazan

Sung in English with English supertitles.

Ástor Piazzolla
MARÍA DE BUENOS AIRES
April 20, 24, 26 at 7:30pm; April 28 at 3pm

Conductor:                                        Andreas Mitisek
Director:                                            Andreas Mitisek

Sung in Spanish with English supertitles.

Giuseppe Verdi
joan of arc (Giovanna d’Arco)
September 14, 18, 20 at 7:30pm; September 22 at 3pm

Sung in Italian with English supertitles. 

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CHICAGO OPERA THEATER PRESENTS

George Frideric Handel
TESEO

The Second Production of the 2012 Season –
General Director Brian Dickie’s last season with Chicago Opera Theater
April 21, 27, 29, May 2
at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park

CHICAGO, IL (March 22, 2012) – Chicago Opera Theater (COT) continues their 2012 Season, and General Director Brian Dickie’s last season with the company, with Handel’s Teseo.   Performances are April 21, 27, 29, and May 2 at theHarrisTheater for Music and Dance inMillenniumPark.  

This is Brian’s 24^th Chicago premiere since he became COT General Director in 1999.  This will be the 6^th Handel work the company has produced since 2001, with Acis and Galatea (2001), Semele (2002), Agrippina (2003), La resurrezione (2005), also being Chicago premieres.

“Handel has been such an integral part of what we have done here this last decade or so, and I am thrilled to produce another Handel in my final season here at Chicago Opera Theater,” said General Director Brian Dickie. 

Teseo marks the final opera in COT’s baroque trilogy devoted to the exploration of operas with Medea as a central character.  COT presented Cavalli’s Jason (Giasone) to great acclaim in 2010 (4 stars – Chicago Tribune) and in 2011 Charpentier’s Medea (“truly inventive” – Chicago Sun-Times. 

Teseo was written in London by Handel at the age of twenty-eight.  In this last chapter of the trilogy, the wicked Medea is tormented by jealousy – this time Teseo of Athens is the object of her affections.  A final unrequited love story that ultimately leads to Medea’s merciless revenge.

Conductor Michael Beattie is making his Chicago Opera Theater debut.   Michael, a highly regarded keyboardist, will also play the harpsichord in the pit.  He has conducted atBoston’s Emmanuel Music, Glimmerglass Opera, American Repertory Theater and Pittsburgh Opera, and has toured internationally with director Peter Sellars.

Chicago’s own Baroque Band is the orchestra for Teseo.  This period-instrument orchestra has been hailed by critics and audiences, and has gained a reputation as one of the most exciting period-instrument ensembles in the United States.

James Darrah is returning to COT after directing Medea in 2011.  The Chicago Tribune called Medea “…a fresh and stimulating production by James Darrah, a gifted young American stage director who is the newest discovery of COT General Director Brian Dickie.”  James will also be designing the costumes for Teseo.

Set Designer François-Pierre Couture returns to COT, also after last season’s Medea.  François-Pierre has been nominated for several awards in Los Angeles in both scenery and lighting design.   He most recently designed Maestro, The Life of Leonard Bernstein, currently touring theUnited States and seen here inChicago this past winter at theRoyalGeorgeTheatre.

Julian Pike, Lighting Designer, returns to COT for his fourth consecutive season.  Last season he designed the lighting for Medea and He/She, and he will also work as Lighting Designer for this season’s Moscow, Cheryomushki opening April 14^th. 

The title role of Teseo will be sung by mezzo-soprano Cecelia Hall.  Cecelia was the inaugural recipient of the Brian Dickie Outstanding Young Singer Award, presented at COT’s recent 2012 Gala honoring Brian.  As a member of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Cecelia appeared this season in Lucia di Lammermoor, The Magic Flute, Aida, and Rinaldo. 

“I am delighted with the Teseo cast, and we can all look forward to a feast of fine singing with local Chicagoan Cecelia leading the way,” said Brian Dickie.

Renée Tatum (Medea) is in her second year of the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. This season at the Met, she sang Fenena in Nabucco, and in February performed La Haine in the Metropolitan Opera and the Juilliard School’s joint production of Gluck’s Armide.   Future engagements include The Magic Flute with San Francisco Opera, and Der Ring des Nibelungen with Seattle Opera.

Manuela Bisceglie (Agilea), an Italian native, is making her Chicago debut.  She has performed at many prestigious opera houses and festivals, including Opèra National de Paris (Francesca da Rimini) and Glyndebourne Festival (L’incoronazione di Poppea).  David Trudgen (Arcano) made his Chicago Opera Theater debut as Medoro in 2008’s Orlando.  He was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as “the next generation’s answer to David Daniels.”

Completing the cast is Deanna Breiwick (Clizia) and Gerald Thompson (Egeo).  Deanna was a 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Grand Finalist, and this season covered the role of Ariel in the premiere of The Enchanted Island with the Met.  Gerald began this season as the cover of Bertarido in Rodelinda at the Metropolitan Opera, and sang the role of Mike Teevee in The Golden Ticket at Atlanta Opera. He rounds out the season with his return to Europe for concert performances of Graun’s Montezuma.

TESEO is generously supported by JULIE AND ROGER BASKES, ELIZABETH F. CHENEY FOUNDATION, JOAN AND JIM SHAPIRO, AND SUZANNE L. WAGNER. 

Teseo runs for only four performances on April 21, 27, 29, and May 2, 2012 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Street.

Individual tickets to Teseo are on sale and range from $45-$125.  COT offers half-off tickets to students in sections A, B, and C. 

COT has also introduced 100@25 – a new ticket program where COT offers 100 tickets to each performance for only $25.  These will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and are available in all sections of the Harris Theater.  (Subject to availability, and a limit of two tickets per household.)

Season Subscriptions for the 2012 Season range from $66-$345, and include a ticket to Teseo, as well as Shostakovich’s Moscow, Cheryomushki (April 14-22) and a new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute (September 15-23).  NEW SUBSCRIBERS RECEIVE 50% OFF IN SECTIONS A, B, AND C!

Tickets may be purchased at Chicago Opera Theater: ChicagoOperaTheater.org or 312.704.8414.    Tickets may also be purchased at the Harris Theater:  HarrisTheaterChicago.org or 312.334.7777.

George Frideric Handel
TESEO
April 21, 27, May 2 at 7:30pm; April 29 at 3pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance

Conductor:                                        Michael Beattie
Director:                                             James Darrah
Set Designer:                                    François-Pierre Couture
Costume Designer:                      James Darrah
Lighting Designer:                       Julian Pike

Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Role                                                    Cast (Alphabetical)
Agilea (Soprano)                            MANUELA BISCEGLIE
Clizia (Soprano)                              DEANNA BREIWICK
Teseo (Mezzo)                                 CECELIA HALL                   
Medea (Mezzo)                                RENÉE TATUM                 
Egeo (Countertenor)                     GERALD THOMPSON
Arcano (Countertenor)                DAVID TRUDGEN              

COT Young Artists Ensemble:  LOREN BATTIESTE, ANDREW HARRIS, DREW LADD, MATTHEW NEWLIN, CORRIE STALLINGS, CAROLYN STEIN, VALERIE VINZANT, MEGAN ROSE WILLIAMS

Supernumeraries:  NATION HENRIKSON, CATHERINE STEGEMANN

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER PRESENTS George Frideric Handel’s “Teseo” | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CHICAGO, IL (May 19, 2010)—Chicago Opera Theater’s (COT) Opera for All, concluding its 10th year, is an educational outreach program that works with Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) to bring opera to Chicagoelementary students at five Chicago Public Schools: Clinton Elementary, Hampton Elementary, McKinley Park, Reilly Elementary and Von Humboldt.   

This year’s curriculum began in the fall of 2009 concentrating on the ancient myth of “Jason and the Argonauts” and Cavalli’s Jason (Giasone), which was presented as part of Chicago Opera Theater’s 2010 Spring Festival Season. Students are currently performing their operatic adaptation titled: Cavalli’s Giasone: Jason and the Golden Fleece.

This year, 330 participating students have created an original performance by taking inspiration from the opera Jason, while also looking to the original mythological sources. In studying these stories the students explored the hero’s journey from the power of the gods to mapping the physical journey itself.

 ”I am very proud of the impact that we have made with Opera for All over the past ten years,” said COT General Director Brian Dickie.  “Not only is arts education an important part of Chicago Opera Theater’s mission to bring opera to the next generation, but we also feel that it is crucial to a child’s well-rounded development.”

COT Education & Outreach Manager Linden Christ continued, “This year the students have collaborated with teaching artists to create an opera that is a unique take on classic mythology. They’ve come up with their own twist on gods and mortals that includes a panel of gods and goddesses debating about the fates of love versus war and incorporates audience participation.”

As part of Chicago Opera Theater’s mission to make opera fresh, engaging, and accessible to the entire community, COT developed an educational outreach program in the spring of 2000. This outreach initiative, known as Opera for All, focuses on demystifying opera for kids through in-depth, participation based programs. COT brings opera to the schools, infuses it into student’s everyday lives, and gives them a chance to experience it firsthand as both audience members and as performers. Working closely with classroom teachers, teaching artists from Opera for All incorporate the many elements of opera allowing students to collaborate and make their very own opera. This curriculum has become a crucial supplement for elementary school students in the Chicago Public Schools and addresses specific Illinois Learning Standards while supplementing participation-based classroom activities with field trips and visits by members of COT’s Young Artists Program. At the end of the year, students perform an abridged version of an opera for classmates and family members. The partnership at Reilly Elementary also offers group violin lessons for students who then serve as part of the Opera for All ensemble at the final performance.

Beginning in the 2008-09 school year Opera for All partnered with CAPE to create an informational website for teachers, students, and donors. This year the partnership was increased and CAPE artists joined COT teaching artists to create a more in-depth and behind-the-scenes experience! CAPE artists worked with the students to focus on all the elements of opera including: composition, staging, props, set design and videography.

The final performances this year will be as follows: Von Humboldt Elementary School, 2620 West Hirsch Street, on May 25th at 9:30am & 11:30am; Reilly Elementary, 3650 West School Street, on June 2nd 9:30am & 11:30am; and Hampton Elementary, 3434 West 77th Street, June 9th at 10:30am and 11:30am.

ABOUT CHICAGO OPERA THEATER

Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artist programs.

Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful – an image well suited to its surroundings at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

For more information visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312.704.8414.

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Chicago Opera Theater’s OPERA FOR ALL Concludes Its 10th Year! | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

April 17, 21, 23, 25, 2010 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) presents the opening production of the 2010 Spring Festival Season – Rossini’s Moses in Egypt (Mosè in Egitto) on April 17, 21, 23 and 25 at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.

“Moses in Egypt was only performed in Chicago once – back in 1863 during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency,” said General Director Brian Dickie. “We like to think our fellow Illinoisan, who we know did enjoy the theatre, might have been at that performance. Of course, we’ll never know – but we look forward to introducing present-day Chicagoans to this very great opera.”

Moses in Egypt is one of Rossini’s many serious but underperformed operas.  Chicago Opera Theater will be presenting the U.S. premiere using the edition by Charles Brauner for Philip Gossett’s critical edition of Rossini’s complete works.

Mr. Gossett, the Robert W. Reneker Distinguished Service Professor at The University of Chicago and a professor “di chiara fama” at the Univeristy of Rome “La Sapienza,” is the  general editor of Works of Gioachino Rossini (a publication of Bärenreiter-Verlag, Kassel.)

The story concentrates on Moses freeing the Hebrews from Egypt.  The opera ends with the famous parting of the Red Sea, as well as the beautiful and famous “Prayer: From thy starry throne (Dal tuo stellato soglio.)”

In 2008, Chicago Opera Theater launched The People’s Opera, the first fundraising initiative of its kind, in which the public voted, dollar by dollar, to choose one of the operas in the 2010 season.  Moses in Egypt was named The People’s Opera, and raised over $40K for Chicago Opera Theater.

The production will be led by Leonardo Vordoni, known for his specialty in Italian repertory, who has conducted most recently at the Minnesota Opera (Les Pecheurs de Perles and Casanova’s Homecoming.)  He will be making his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut later this month in Le nozze di Figaro.

The director will be Andrew Eggert who made his directorial debut with Chicago Opera Theater in last season’s production of Bizet’s La Tragédie de Carmen after eight seasons as assistant director on thirteen COT productions.  His new production of Mourning Becomes Electra was selected as a winner of Opera America’s 2009 Director-Designer Showcase.

Designing both the set and costumes is Anka Lupes, making her Chicago Opera Theater debut.  She has worked numerous times with regular COT director Diane Paulus, including creating the costumes for the Glimmerglass production of Kiss Me Kate in 2008, and more recently in January, for Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of Il mondo della luna.

Returning to Chicago Opera Theater from 2009 is lighting designer Keith Parham.  He is a company member of TUTA Theatre, and has worked at The Public Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, and the Writers’ Theatre, among many others.

In the title role is Andrea Concetti (bass) making his Chicago debut.  He has performed with La Scala, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, the Berlin State Opera, and the Minnesota Opera. Manuela Bisceglie (soprano) sings the role of Elcia in her North American debut.

In the past two seasons, Ms. Bisceglie has sung in a number of Italian opera houses including in Florence, Bologna, and Trieste.  Singing the role of Faraone is Tom Corbeil (bass), who recently sang at Santa Fe Opera and Florida Grand Opera, and who will sing later this season at Ft. Worth Opera.

Taylor Stayton (tenor), who will sing Osiride, made his debut earlier this year at Teatro dell’opera di Roma in Franco Zeffirelli’s new production of Falstaff. Kathryn Leemhuis (mezzo, Amaltea), Samuel Levine (tenor, Mambre), Jorge Prego (tenor, Aronne), and Emily Grace Righter (mezzo, Amenofi) complete the cast.

The chorus is made up mostly of the 2010 class of Chicago Opera Theater’s Young Artists Program, a performance-based training program for young professional singers.  These participants have the opportunity to work with the innovative artistic teams which are the hallmark of Chicago Opera Theater under General Director Brian Dickie.

The intention is to provide an artistic benchmark for young artists as they commence their careers, recognizing performance experience of standard and new repertoire as an essential training element.

Chicago Opera Theater’s 2010 Spring Festival Season runs April 17 through May 16 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, 205 East Randolph Drive.

Season Subscriptions for the 2010 Spring Festival Season range from $90-$345 and include a ticket to Moses in Egypt, as well as Cavalli’s Jason (Giasone) and Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers.

Single tickets are also on sale, and range from $30-$120.  COT also offers a 50% discounted student rate in most sections.

Tickets may be purchased at Chicago Opera Theater: ChicagoOperaTheater.org or  312.704.8414.

Tickets may also be purchased at the Harris Theater:  HarrisTheaterChicago.org or 312.334.7777.

Moses in Egypt is generously supported by The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and an Anonymous Donor.

Gioachino Rossini
MOSES IN EGYPT (Mosè in Egitto)
April 17, 21, 23 at 7:30pm; April 25 at 3pm

CAST (Alphabetical)

Sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Chicago Opera Theater Young Artists -2010

Blake Bard, Leila Bowie, Rabihah Davis Dunn, Catalina Cuervo, Darik Knutsen, Benjamin LeClair,
Samuel Levine, Rebecca Luttio, Jorge Prego, Emily Grace Righter, Nikolas Wenzel, Martin L. Woods

MEDIA CONTACT:

Colleen Flanigan, 312-704-8420, Ext. 225
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
cflanigan@chicagooperatheater.org

Chicago Opera Theater presents Gioachino Rossini’s “Moses in Egypt” | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago Opera Theater (COT) is proud to announce its continued partnership with the City of Chicago’s After School Matters (ASM). This collaboration between COT and ASM, now in its fourth year, will continue the apprenticeship program Chicago Opera Theater for Teens for the 2009/10 school year.

The program helps Chicago high school students to experience opera in a hands-on matter and gives students the exciting opportunity to perform in two separate public performances. COT is eager to continue this important part of its multi-faceted education outreach program that is crucial to its mission of ensuring opera for the next generation.

“Chicago Opera Theater for Teens offers students the opportunity to take part in an extracurricular opportunity that can trigger what may easily become a life long passion for opera and the arts,” said COT General Director Brian Dickie.

For this year’s program approximately 20-30 students will be chosen to participate in the program. Those selected will meet three times a week to collaborate and rehearse selected scenes for their public performances in the fall of 2009 and the spring of 2010. Drawing from musical theater, opera, and operetta the scenes will be assigned to individuals and groups based on their specific vocal skills.

Working directly with their artistic leaders, the students’ involvement with the piece goes beyond simply singing the selections on stage but they will also research their specific scenes to understand the work’s background and context. This experience allows Chicago students the unique opportunity to take part in a paid opera apprenticeship program.

In addition to this research and development of the scenes, students in Chicago Opera Theater for Teens explore the professional performing arts world here in Chicago.

In previous years students have enjoyed special field trips to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and, of course, Chicago Opera Theater. Students also have the rare opportunity to meet internationally accomplished opera singers. Renowned singers who have presented master classes in past years include: mezzo-soprano Buffy Baggott, mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung, and bass-baritone, Alan Held.

From last year’s program eight students were accepted into college vocal programs of their choice with six receiving full scholarships. Not only have students from the program gone off to vocal programs but they have been offered excellent performance opportunities right here in Chicago. Chicago’s First Lady Maggie Daley heard Sabrina Walker, one of the performers in COT for Teens’ 2009 production of Into the Woods, and asked her to perform at the dedication of Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center in Skokie. Among the guests at the dedication event was former President Bill Clinton.

The program is open to high school students who reside in the city of Chicago. Auditions will be held on September 10 from 4 to 8pm, September 19 from 12 to 4pm, September 21 from 4 to 8pm, and September 22 from 4 to 8pm at Gallery 37, 66 E. Randolph St. in Chicago. Students can fill out an application at the audition or in advance online at afterschoolmatters.org. Students should prepare to sing one song – classical preferred but not required – and a pianist will be provided.

If students have any questions they may contact COT’s education outreach department at ajwester@chicagooperatheater.org or 312.704.8420 x23. Chicago Opera Theater will announce dates and locations for the fall and spring Chicago Opera Theater for Teens productions closer to their respective performance dates.

If you would like photos from Chicago Opera Theater for Teens please contact Daniel Jackman at djackman@chicagooperatheater.org or 312-704-8420 ext. 13.

ABOUT CHICAGO OPERA THEATER

Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artist programs.

Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful – an image well suited to its surroundings at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Chicago Opera Theater’s 2010 Spring Festival Season opens with Rossini’s Mosè in Egitto (April 17-25), followed by the Chicago Premiere of Cavalli’s Giasone (April 24-May 2), and closes with Heggie’s Three Decembers featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in her final Chicago opera performances before her retirement (May 8-16). On May 10th COT will also present An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie.

For more information on the 2010 Spring Festival Season, visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312-704-8414.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Daniel Jackman, 312-704-8420 ext. 13
Marketing Associate
djackman@chicagooperatheater.org

Chicago Opera Theater Partners with City of Chicago’s After School Matters to Continue Teen Apprenticeship Program | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“I am thrilled to have The Mellon Foundation recognize that Chicago Opera Theater is an essential part of the international opera world, as well as Chicago’s rich cultural landscape,” said General Director Brian Dickie. “Their support acknowledges the importance of the work we’ve been doing at COT for years – rarely produced masterpieces from the Baroque period and newer works from the 20th century.”

Since Brian Dickie’s first season at Chicago Opera Theater in 2000, he has presented 18 Chicago premieres – a combination of both contemporary works such as John Adams’ Nixon in China (2006) and Britten’s Death in Venice (2004), as well as early works like Monteverdi’s Orfeo (2000) and Handel’s Agrippina (2003).

In the 2010 Spring Festival Season, COT will produce the first opera in the presentation of three Baroque masterpieces through 2012, Francesco Cavalli’s Giasone.  This Baroque “trilogy” will be devoted to the exploration of three operas with Medea as a central character: Giasone, Médée by Marc-Antoine Charpentier presented in 2011, and Teseo by George Frideric Handel presented in 2012.

Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers will close COT’s 2010 Spring Festival Season.  This new work, which premiered at the Houston Grand Opera in March of 2008, will feature Frederica von Stade in her final opera performances in Chicago before retirement.

“In these difficult economic times, this grant is invaluable to Chicago Opera Theater to continue our work that is so well respected in the community,” said General Manager Roger Weitz.   “We are grateful to The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for their generous support.”

About Chicago Opera Theater

Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artist programs.  Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful – an image well suited to its surroundings at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

About The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Foundation’s Performing Arts Program currently provides multi-year grants on an invitation-only basis to leading orchestras, theater companies, opera companies, modern dance companies, and dance-specific presenters based in the United States.

Although the Foundation does not confine its support to large organizations with national visibility, it does seek to support institutions that contribute to the preservation and development of their art form, provide creative leadership in solving problems or addressing issues unique to the field, and which present the highest level of institutional performance. Grants are awarded on the basis of artistic merit and leadership in the field, and concentrate on achieving long-term results.

In conjunction with regular program grants, the Foundation also makes a limited number of grants to research and service organizations that are doing work closely related to program goals.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Colleen Flanigan, 312-704-8420 ext. 25
Director of Marketing and PR
cflanigan@chicagooperatheater.org

Chicago Opera Theater Receives $500,000 Grant From The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Ms. Reinert started her tenure at Chicago Opera Theater on July 7th.Ms. Reinert has a robust background in arts fundraising having previously held positions with Chicago cultural landmarks such as the Goodman Theatre and most recently the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as the Director of Governing Member Gifts. In that position she handled fundraising, recruitment, stewardship, and cultivation efforts of a member volunteer board responsible for raising $2.5 million annually in general operating support.

Ms. Reinert was also a project consultant with KlearSky Solutions and managed development system utilization and implementation projects at several other arts organizations around the Midwest. Ms. Reinert has a Bachelors of Science in Communications from Northwestern University and is currently pursuing her MBA at the Kellogg School of Management.

“After a thorough search for a new Director of Development we are very pleased to have found Elena,” said General Director Brian Dickie. “I believe that the combination of Elena’s experience and enthusiasm are a perfect match for the many challenges of maintaining and garnering additional support for Chicago Opera Theater.”

As Director of Development, Ms. Reinert is responsible for the planning, execution, and evaluation of all fundraising activities: individual, corporate, foundation, and government. She is actively involved in the planning and coordination of patron-centered events including COT’s annual gala. Working with COT’s Board of Directors she acts as a facilitator to their various initiatives in support of the company.

If you would like a headshot of Elena Reinert please contact Daniel Jackman at djackman@chicagooperatheater.org or 312-704-8420, ext. 13.

About Chicago Opera Theater

Founded in 1974 by Alan Stone, Chicago Opera Theater has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its main stage performances, outreach, education and young artist programs.

Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and colorful – an image well suited to its surroundings at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

Chicago Opera Theater’s 2010 Spring Festival Season opens with Rossini’s Mosè in Egitto (April 17-25), followed by the Chicago Premiere of Cavalli’s Giasone (April 24-May 2), and closes with Heggie’s Three Decembers featuring acclaimed mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade in her final Chicago opera performances before her retirement (May 8-16).

On May 10th COT will also present An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie. For more information on the 2010 Spring Festival Season, visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312-704-8414.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Daniel Jackman, 312-704-8420, ext. 13
Marketing Associate
djackman@chicagooperatheater.org

Elena Reinert Named as Chicago Opera Theater’s New Director of Development | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.