Chicago Opera Theatre Announces People's Opera Winner MOSCOW, CHERYOMUSHKI

The winner of Chicago Opera Theater's second annual "People's Opera" contest is Shostakovich's Moscow, Cheryomushki. Moscow, Cheryomushki maintained the lead spot throughout the competition that kicked off on April 15 and ended Friday, June 15. People voted with their dollars to choose one of the operas to be presented in the 2011 Season - one dollar equaled one vote. The People's Opera raised over $33,000 for Chicago Opera Theater.

Moscow, Cheryomushki will be a Chicago premiere when it is presented as part of COT's 2011 Season. Strauss' Capriccio came in second place and Mozart's The Magic Flute finished third.

"It says a lot about Chicago Opera Theater audiences that they chose Shostakovich's largely unknown comedy Moscow, Cheryomushki," said General Director Brian Dickie. "And for the rest of Chicago, I can't wait to have them discover this hilarious show which has been a blockbuster success in its recent revivals in Europe. We are going to have a ball with this one!"

This oft neglected Shostakovich operetta fits perfectly with Chicago Opera Theater's commitment to rarely seen 20th century work. This comical romp takes place in a desirable new housing tenement in Moscow called Cheryomushki (Cherry Town). But not everything is as sweet at the name implies...the tenants must band together to outwit the stubborn and corrupt building management. Below the surface of this romantic comedy Shostakovich has created a satirical political opera. Chicago Opera Theater has never before performed a work by this composer and it has been 25 years since a Shostakovich opera has been performed in Chicago.

Voting took place online at ChicagoOperaTheater.org, as well as at the Harris Theater during Chicago Opera Theater's 2009 Spring Festival Season (April 18-May 26). Over 200 people voted raising $17,000 and an anonymous donor matched $16,000 of that for a total of just over $33,000 to support COT's general operating expenses. 36% of the donors were first-time donors to COT.

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.