Chicago Opera Theater Announces GIOVANNA D'ARCO As The 'People's Opera' Winner

The winner of Chicago Opera Theater's (COT) third annual "People's Opera" contest is Giuseppe Verdi's Giovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc). Giovanna d'Arco maintained the lead spot throughout the competition that began on April 15 and ended Friday, June 11.

Opera patrons and audience members voted with their dollars to select an opera to be produced by COT during the 2012-13 Season. Voters chose from three different Verdi operas in recognition of the Bicentenary of Giuseppe Verdi's birth in 2013. The other two nominees were I masnadieri (The Bandits) and I due Foscari (The Two Foscari), which came in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. This year the "People’s Opera" raised over $32,000 for Chicago Opera Theater.

"I am delighted that Chicago Opera Theater audiences have voted for Verdi’s Giovanna d’Arc," said General Director Brian Dickie. "When we present this opera, in celebration of the bicentennial of Verdi’s birth, Chicago audiences will experience Verdi’s unique take on Joan of Arc, the legendary Maid of Orleans, in a thrilling new production by Chicago Opera Theater!"

Giovanna d'Arco will be a Chicago premiere when it is presented as part of COT's 2012-13 Season. The opera tells the legendary story of Joan of Arc, the young woman who was influenced by spiritual voices and leads her country to victory only to later be condemned to death for her spiritual drive.  The opera is a perfect fit for COT's commitment to rarely seen works. 

Voting took place at the Harris Theater during the 2010 Spring Festival Season, as well as by mail, phone and online at ChicagoOperaTheater.org. 

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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