Chicago Opera Theatre Announces Plans for National Opera Week 11/13-22

National Opera Week takes place November 13-22, 2009 and celebrates the vitality of opera in America as a contemporary cultural expression. Chicago Opera Theater (COT), partnering with the City of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs, are proud to participate in this exciting, week-long celebration with "Pop-up Opera" performances around Chicago, a young professionals' night at Rock Bottom Brewery, and a free double bill of two one-act operas at Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center.

National Opera Week is organized by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

"At Chicago Opera Theater we strive to make opera accessible to contemporary audiences, and National Opera Week is a perfect way to let us demonstrate that," said COT General Director Brian Dickie. "So, we are very excited to bring opera to people throughout Chicago, especially in places you might not expect!"

National Opera Week in Chicago begins with "Pop-up Opera" performances throughout the city. These short "flash" performances of popular opera favorites will be performed by COT Young Artists in unexpected places. Go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek for hints on where and when "Pop-up Opera" will be that week!

On Wednesday, November 18, Chicago Opera Theater's young professional group, Opera Underground, presents "Beers and Baritones" at Rock Bottom Brewery. The evening, aimed at young professionals aged 21 to 45, is only $25 and includes beer, wine, light appetizers, with a short performance by Leila Bowie and Martin Woods, both members of COT's Young Artists Program.

Finally, on Friday, November 20, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Chicago Opera Theater's double bill of two-one act operas: Jake Heggie's At the Statue of Venus and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's Susanna's Secret. This finale of National Opera Week takes place in Preston Bradley Hall at the Chicago Cultural Center and is free and open to the public! The two operas feature COT Young Artists Leila Bowie, Catalina Cuervo and Martin Woods.

The National Opera Week celebration will reach from coast to coast with over 90 opera companies from 32 states and will offer a range of programs for the public. Opera Week will demonstrate the allure and accessibility of opera, this most multi-media of the arts, and will be accessible to both opera lovers and newcomers to the art form.

For more information on Chicago Opera Theater Opera Week events, please go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek.

For more information on all National Opera Week events around Chicago and the country, please go to OperaAmerica.org/now.

All musical preparation by Scott Gilmore, Chicago Opera Theater Director of Musical Studies.

"Pop-Up Opera" Performances
When: November 14 - 20, 2009
Where: All over Chicago!
Price: FREE!

Chicago Opera Theater and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents "Pop-up Opera" all around town during National Opera Week - short performances of opera "favorites" in unexpected places in Chicago!

Go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org/operaweek for hints and tips on where and when "Pop-up Opera" will be, or make sure to sign up for our Twitter alerts at Twitter.com/ChicagoOpera.

Have a Twitter account? Tweet about "Pop-up Opera" when you see it! Anyone who includes #popupopera in a tweet when they witness a "Pop-up Opera" performance during National Opera Week will automatically be entered in a contest! Prizes will include subscriptions to Chicago Opera Theater, tickets to Kathleen Battle with the Chicago Children's Choir at the Harris Theater, and $50 gift cards from COT preferred restaurants.

OPERA UNDERGROUND: "Beers and Baritones" 

When: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 6-8pm
Where: Rock Bottom Brewery
1 West Grand (Grand and State), Chicago
Price: $25 (includes beer/wine, appetizers and performance)

Come and enjoy a night of fun mingling with free beer and wine, as well as light appetizers with your $25 admission. The evening will also include a short performance from soprano Leila Bowie and baritone Martin Woods, both members of COT's Young Artists Program.

Opera Underground is Chicago Opera Theater's young professional club that combines opera with socializing and mingling. COT makes opera contemporary and different - and "Beers and Baritones" is a great way to get started. Chicago Opera Theater's Opera Underground is open to young professionals ages 21 to 45.

A Double Bill:
Jake Heggie's At the Statue of Venus and Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari's Susanna's Secret
When: Friday, November 20, 2009, 6:30pm
Where: Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington, Chicago
Price: FREE!

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presents Chicago Opera Theater's double bill of two-one act operas: At the Statue of Venus and Susanna's Secret. Both operas are sung in English.

Jake Heggie's At the Statue of Venus is an intimate one-act opera featuring Chicago Opera Theater Young Artist Leila Bowie, as a nervous woman waiting "at the Statue of Venus" for the man who will finally change her luck in love...maybe. (Chicago Opera Theater will present Three Decembers, a fully-staged Jake Heggie opera, as part of their 2010 Spring Festival Season at the Harris Theater in Millennium Park.) At the Statue of Venus is directed by Chuck Smith, Resident Director at the Goodman Theatre.

What is Susanna up to? Smells funny. A jealous husband suspects his wife has a secret passion, but is he right, or is he just a stupid man? Wolf-Ferrari's Susanna's Secret features Chicago Opera Theater Young Artists Catalina Cuervo and Martin Woods. Susanna's Secret is directed by Joanie Schultz, who most recently directed Acis and Galatea that performed at both the Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park.

Both pieces are presented in collaboration with the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

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 runs April 17 through May 16 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. The season opens with Rossini's Mosè in Egitto (April 17-25), followed by Cavalli's Giasone (April 24-May 2), and closes with Jake Heggie's Three Decembers (May 8-16) with Frederica von Stade. For more information on the 2010 Spring Festival Season, visit ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312.704.8414.