Chicago Opera Theater to Present the North American Premiere of “Leonora” this Fall
Chicago Opera Theater begins its 2024-25 Season with an exciting and aptly timed production of the North American premiere of Leonora. A classical Italian opera composed by Ferdinando Paër to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa and Giacomo Cinti, the plot to Leonora is based on the same story as Beethoven’s later opera Fidelio. Conducted by Chicago favorite and master interpreter of classical repertoire Dame Jane Glover and staring internationally renowned tenor Edgardo Rocha in his Chicago debut, this production will feature stage direction by Chicago Opera Theater’s own Edlis Neeson General Director Lawrence Edelson. For more information, visit chicagooperatheater.org. A limited number of tickets to the performances on October 4 at 7:30 p.m. and October 6 at 3:00 p.m. are also available.
Note that the run of Leonora has been scheduled to complement Lyric Opera Chicago’s production of Fidelio, giving audiences a rare opportunity to hear two works based on the same libretto side-by-side.
Ahead of both performances, COT and Lyric will join forces for “Revolution, Love, Freedom: Exploring the sacrifice of love and defiance of tyranny in Beethoven’s Fidelio and Paër’s Leonora” a unique discussion the two operas.
Hosted by WFMT program host LaRob K. Rafael, the panel will feature the conductors and directors of both productions: Lyric’s Music Director, Enrique Mazzola, and Matthew Ozawa, Chief Artistic Administration Officer, alongside Dame Jane Glover and COT’s General Director, Lawrence Edelson. The panel takes place at the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple-Sanctuary (77 W. Washington St.), Saturday, September 21, 1:00- 2:30 p.m.
