Thank you for joining us for the 2023 Festival Season!
From the writing of T. S. Eliot's 1935 play, "Murder at the Cathedral" remains one of Ildebrando Pizzetti's most celebrated compositions. This dramatic opera portrays the assassination of Archbishop Thomas Becket in Canterbury Cathedral during the reign of Henry II in 1170.
*Ferrucio Furlanetto, previously announced to sing the role of Thomas Becket, has withdrawn from this production to focus on his recital which will take place on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Harris Theater. Replacing him will be Andrea Silvestrelli.
Cast: Andrea Silvestrelli | Maria Kanyova | Anna Laurenzo | Reuben Lillie | William Powell III | Patrick Blackwell | Eric Dubin | Michael Rivera | Franco Pomponi | Frank DeVincentis | André De Mesquita
Our Festival artists will be showcased in an evening dedicated to an exciting selection of music inspired by our season theme of Power, Glory, and Betrayal. Famous arias, duets and trios will alternate with instrumental music inspired by some of the greatest Italian operas of all times and performed on piano, flute, and accordion by three great virtuosi of these instruments.
Cast: Andrea Silvestrelli | Patrick Blackwell | Maria Kanyova | Anna Laurenzo | Reuben Lillie
Due to an extraordinary delay from the U.S. State Department, the Opera Festival of Chicago has been forced to cancel the Thursday, July 13, 2023 performance of Ferruccio Furlanetto in Concert, scheduled for performance at the Harris Theater.
Marking his only U.S. solo recital since 2016, the great Italian basso’s more than 50-yearlong international career will be showcased in this tour-de-force recital. His recent European recitals have been acclaimed by critics as “one of the most exciting musical moments of the year” with performances at Teatro alla Scalla in Milan, Italy and Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg, Russia. Celebrating an incredible career of performances around the world, Mr. Furlanetto will perform selections from his greatest operatic performances including beloved bass arias from The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Boris Godunov and Don Carlo.
Cast: Ferruccio Furlanetto | Natalia Sidorenko
Verdi’s popular 1846 opera in a prologue and three acts takes us to the mid-5th century near Rome following Attila, King of the Huns. A story of Power, Glory, and Betrayal, Attila was Verdi's 9th opera and has been one of his most popular earlier works with soaring melodies, giant choruses within this epic tale.
Cast: Andrea Silvestrelli | Jenny Schuler | Franco Pomponi | Patrick Blackwell | Ben Gulley | Reuben Lillie
An Interview with Ferruccio Furlanetto
Ferruccio Furlanetto is hailed as one of the greatest basses of our time. With a career that spans five decades, he is acclaimed for his vast range, thundering vocal power, and superior acting ability. He joins WFMT host Oliver Camacho to review his signature roles and to share the announcement of his return to Chicago this summer with Opera Festival of Chicago.
2023 Young Artist Program
Supported By
Photos by A. Deran Photography and also Elliot Mandel Photography