FIFTH SEASON, MAY 9– JUNE 29
Chicago, IL (January 6, 2025) – The Opera Festival of Chicago returns with a season of celebration in its fifth season, May 9 – June 29, 2025 at venues across the greater Chicagoland area.
“The 2025 Festival, our fifth season, is going to be a season of celebration here at the Opera Festival of Chicago,” said General Director Sasha Gerritson. “This organization began forging its path in the opera world in 2021 with the mission of presenting Italian opera masterworks that rarely-if ever grace the stage in the United States. These fully staged productions feature star-studded casts and have included several US and Chicago premiers. This season, which is based on a powerful theme, “Love is a Triangle,” continues the tradition with two Italian masterworks and several concerts”
The Festival opens on May 9, 2025 with the performances of The Love of Three Kings (L’Amore dei tre Re) by Italo Montemezzi on Friday May 9 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 11 at 2 p.m. at the Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture, at 2936 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657. Montemezzi’s masterpiece, “The Love of Three Kings” (sung in Italian), has not been performed in Chicago in 70 years! This dark and powerful tale of love, passion, jealousy, betrayal and murder, was once a staple of the operatic repertoire, then mysteriously vanished. Directed by Opera Festival of Chicago’s acclaimed General Director, Sasha Gerritson, the opera will feature the celebrated Italian bass Andrea Silvestrelli (Murder in the Cathedral, OFC’s debut in 2023) as the blind king Archibaldo , tenor Matthew DiBattista as the castle guard, Flaminio, baritone Franco Pomponi as the prince Manfredo and Chicago-favorite soprano Maria Kanyova as the deceitful, enigmatic princess, Fiora. Opera Festival Of Chicago Music Director, Sir Emanuele Andrizzi, will conduct.
In addition, the Festival continues to grow its Young Artists program; Our rising stars will be featured on May 31, 7:30pm at Artifact Events, at 4325 N. Ravenswood Ave, Chicago, IL 60613 for a Delicatessen Recital dedicated to food in opera, in collaboration with the Accademia Italiana della Cucina. Opera Festival of Chicago’s Young Artist Program is in partnership with the opera programs at DePaul University and Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
The Opera Festival of Chicago season’s main theme LOVE IS A TRIANGLE will feature Opera Festival of Chicago’s leading artists in a concert on June 14, at 7:30 at the Jarvis Opera Hall on DePaul University’s campus, at 800 W Belden Ave. Chicago, Il 60614. This program includes works by Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo, Mascagni and others with themes of love, betrayal, and jealousy – the beating pulse of Italian opera!
The season concludes with one of the pillars of Italian opera and one of the most passionate dramas of all times, I Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, with performances on Friday June 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 29 at 2 p.m. at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077. Sung in Italian, Pagliacci follows the story of a troupe of actors led by Canio and his unfaithful wife Nedda. Love triangles, heartbreaks, betrayal and violent verismo vendettas erupt on stage, where art imitates life in this tragic masterpiece. Audiences will immediately recognize the famous aria “Vesti la giubba”, which will be sung by the production’s star tenor, Jonathan Burton, as Canio, featured onstage along with rising prima donna Michelle Allie Drever, who will surely mesmerize our public with her passionate interpretation of Nedda. The production will be directed by Sasha Gerritson and with the OFC Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Maestro Sir Emanuele Andrizzi.
Ticket prices range from $25 to $50. Tickets will be available soon.