Chicago Opera Theater Opens TESEO, 4/21

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 the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

This is Brian's 24th Chicago premiere since he became COT General Director in 1999. This will be the 6th 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 at Boston'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 the United States and seen here in Chicago this past winter at the Royal George Theatre.

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 14th.

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.