Chicago Opera Theater received near universal acclaim for its recent production of Ricky Ian Gordon's Orpheus & Euridice, performed poolside at two different venues in Chicago. John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune called the production "pure theatrical magic," writing that "it easily qualified as this city's most daring, offbeat, imaginative and beautifully realized classical music event of the year."
Von Rhein also wrote, "COT general director Andreas Mitisek has said he wants to take the company in fresh new directions." Here's an inkling of those new directions, from COT's announcement of upcoming productions in the first half of 2014.
Chicago Opera Theater will stage the Chicago premiere of Duke Ellington's only opera, Queenie Pie, from February 15 to March 5. The company will also present a double bill of Carl Orff's The Clever One and Viktor Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis from May 31 to June 8.
The title character of Ellington's opera was inspired by the pioneering African-American businesswoman Madam C.J. Walker. She was the first woman, of any race, to become a self-made millionaire in the United States. Madam Walker started her own business in 1905, selling hair care products for African-American women. She built her business into a multi-million dollar corporation by the time of her death in 1919.
"Queenie Pie" is the national honorary degree and title bestowed annually upon the beautician/cosmetologist voted "best" by her professional colleagues. The celebration surrounding the event is a Mardi Gras in Harlem, held the 13th of every May.
Queenie Pie blends big band sound and clever lyrics with the musical styles of opera, jazz and musical theater. For this production at the Harris Theater, COT will partner with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra.
In the spring, COT will present Orff's The Clever One and Ullmann's The Emperor of Atlantis at the Merle Reskin Theatre of DePaul University.
Although both works date from 1943, they were composed in very different worlds. Both are satires about oppression and dictatorship, but Orff wrote Clever One in Frankfurt, Germany, while Ullman wrote Emperor in the Theresienstadt concentration camp.
COT General Director Mitisek says, "COT's pairing emphasizes the political struggle inherent in these two pieces which, despite the circumstances in which they were written, both remain markedly comical and effortlessly satirical."
More information about these productions is available at chicagooperatheater.org.
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