Chicago Opera Theater: Fifty and Fabulous.

By Judy Carmack Bross

^{James McCormick, Linden Heubner, and Ron Bauer, photo by Kyle Flubacker.}

^{Chicago Opera Theater’s Edlis Neeson General Director Lawrence Edelson.}

“Every opera we love was once a new opera, whether Carmen or The Marriage of Figaro. Part of my attraction in coming to Chicago Opera Theater was its commitment to living composers opportunities for amazing new artists,”—Lawrence Edelson, new Edlis Neeson General Director, Chicago Opera Theater.

“Fifty & Faboulous Emcee emcee David Cangelosi with Tracy Cangelosi.

A singer from Chicago Opera Theater’s very first opera performance, Mozart’s Cozi Fan Tutti was among the guests at “Fifty & Fabulous” emceed by another Chicago opera singer David Cangelosi, for the night of song and celebration and a toast to COT’s Vanguard Composers initiative which raised $270,000.

The Vanguard composers embrace _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Vanguard composers Shawn Okpebholo (L) and Gillian Rae Perry (R) with their guests

he Vanguard composers with Elizabeth Morse & Genius Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya (C) _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Co-Chaired at Venue West by COT Board members Henry Fogel and Susan Noel, the event celebrated the tenures of Board chair Susan Irion and Elizabeth Morse and Genius Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya, and honored the composers of COT’s industry-leading Vanguard program: Stacy Garrop, Matthew Recio, Wang Lu, Shawn Okpebholo, Gillian Rae Perry, and Carlos R. Carrillo.

In honor of the momentous landmark, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson officially proclaimed April 5th Chicago Opera Theater Day in Chicago.

COT Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya with COT’s Young Artists, who performed that evening _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

.Bill Elsbury and Richard O. Ryan_ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Opera for All students perform_ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Emcee David Cangelosi, Linden Heubner, Former COT General Director Brian Dickie, COT Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya, Dorothy Walton Osborn, and Edward Dobbins _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Carol Gutknecht and Warren Fremling, who sang with COT in the first two performances in 1974-1975 _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

The evening featured an elegant seated dinner with specialty desserts provided by Brown Sugar Bakery, a rousing live auction, and an entertaining musical program highlighting the work of the Vanguard Composers and COT’s rich contributions to the operatic landscape in Chicago. Performances by students from COT’s Opera For All Program, COT’s Young Artists, and other local opera singers rounded out the evening.

Edelson told us: “Our programs compliment the other arts and opera presentations in Chicago. We are a leader in bringing new masterpieces to Chicago and works that have never been seen here before. An early example of this was our performance of

Mother of Us All by Virgil Thompson and Gertrude Stein in our third season. For a long time we have been real innovators in presenting contemporary works. We believe opera is a living art.”

We asked Edelson, who has been praised by Opera Now magazine as doing a “splendid job of making opera relevant and understandable”, why opera is like no other art form: “Opera is magical because it is always a combination of many things—singing, orchestra, visual arts, often dance. It draws on everything. That is what keeps me so engaged. To be able to offer works from the 17^th and 18^th centuries to contemporary is a joy. They say that opera is both a lens and a mirror. For example, our first opera Cosi Fan Tutte still tells us today about the human condition. This year’s COT performance of The Nose, composed by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1927 and rarely seen anywhere, gives us a way to reflect on the political world of today.”

The evening’s honorees, (L-R) Shawn Okpebholo, Carlos R. Carrillo, Wang Lu, Gillian Rae Perry, Matthew Recio, and Stacy Garrop_ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Emcee David Cangelosi_ photo by Kyle Flubacker Emcee David Cangelosi_ photo by Kyle FlubackerEmcee David Cangelosi_ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Young Artist Michelle Mariposa performs a selection from Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, the first opera COT produced in April 1974 _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

Young Artist Hayley Fox _ photo by Kyle Flubacker Young Artist Hayley Fox _ photo by Kyle FlubackerYoung Artist Hayley Fox _ photo by Kyle Flubacker

The Vanguard Initiative is COT’s fully comprehensive program for composers ready to delve into the world of opera. This immersive residency includes participation in all COT productions, sessions with top industry leaders, extensive study of repertoire and vocal writing, direct insight into administrative and other behind-the-scenes processes, and culminates with the development of a full-length chamber opera commissioned by COT. The program aims to bridge the gap between general compositional skills and the dramatic storytelling, vocal writing, practical considerations, and real-world experience that help inform an operatic composer’s work.

Launched in 2018, the program identifies skilled composers who have not yet had sufficient opportunities for writing opera and provides them with a two-year comprehensive course of study and full immersion in the company, culminating with a commission together with an established librettist. The program is guided and overseen by COT’s Elizabeth Morse & Genius Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya, with Vanguard Advisors Jake Heggie, Kamala Sankaram, and Gene Scheer.