The Nose Digital Program

Lawrence Edelson Edlis Neeson General Director

Lidiya Yankovskaya

Elizabeth Morse & Genius Music Director

E R E I M RE & 10 P O G CHICA EMBER 8 DEC The Nose is sponsored by Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O'Leary and the Robert & Penelope Steiner Family Foundation, with additional support from Julie & Roger Baskes, Patricia McMillen, Masahiro Kasai & William Myers, the Jentes Family, and the COT President’s Council. Partial support of this project is provided by The Morse & Genius Reserve Fund.

The Nose is used by arrangement with European American Music Distributors Company, U.S. and Canadian agent for Universal Edition Vienna.

SAVE THE DATE! Celebrate Chicago Opera Theater’s landmark 50th Anniversary Season by attending the annual gala on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Where: Venue West (222 N Paulina St) When: 6-10PM Want to get involved and help make this year’s gala an unforgettable night?

Contact Development Manager, Korey Pimental, at kp@cot.org to join the gala committee!

CONTACT INFO @ JANDLCATERING.COM OR CALL 312.280.7900 TO START PERSONALIZING YOUR EVENT

WELCOME FROM LAWRENCE EDELSON EDLIS NEESON GENERAL DIRECTOR It is my great pleasure to welcome you as Chicago Opera Theater’s new General Director as we celebrate our 50th Anniversary Season!

Every opera company has a mission statement, but I have rarely encountered any company that so genuinely lives its mission as COT. Among the many things that excited me about joining the COT family are the company’s commitment to presenting rarely produced operas alongside new works and our long history of championing diverse, local emerging talent, all of which expand the tradition of opera as a living art form. Since its founding fifty years ago, COT has grown from a grassroots, community-based company to a national leader in an increasingly vibrant, diverse, and forward-looking art form. I could not resist being part of that – and I’m glad you can’t resist it either.

Opera is not only a remarkable combination of music, theater, dance, literature, poetry and the visual arts – it is also both a lens through which we look at the world and a mirror in which our world is reflected. Tonight, we are thrilled to share the Chicago premiere of Shostakovich’s The Nose with you, in a new production by Francesca Zambello. One might ask how a Russian opera written almost a hundred years ago – based on a short story written by Gogol almost a hundred years earlier – reflects our world.

On the surface, The Nose might not only sound foreign, but also irrelevant! The truth, however, could not be more different.

The Nose is the story of a man being crushed by society and bureaucracy. The main character, Kovalyov, is a government official who is obsessed with his appearance and social standing. He wakes up one morning to discover that his nose has disappeared. The twists and turns of the story revolve around his efforts to find his missing nose. It is a wildly entertaining satire that highlights the superficial and often arbitrary nature of social hierarchy. The fact that a man can lose his nose, and that the nose can achieve a higher social status than its owner, underscores the absurdity and unpredictability of the social order.

If an opera that shines a light on the dehumanizing effects of a society obsessed with outward appearances and social rank doesn’t feel like opera as a living art form (social media anyone?!), I don’t know what does. Beyond the timelessness of the story, however, is the brilliance of the score.

Shostakovich’s virtuosic writing for singers and orchestra alike, his highly original musical language, his youthful daring, and his visceral theatricality come together to capture the absurd and satirical nature of the story in the most remarkable ways.

Our production of The Nose is also a fitting way to celebrate the tenure of Lidiya Yankovskaya as COT’s Elizabeth Morse & Genius Music Director. Lidiya’s passion for the Slavic repertoire is no secret, and Chicago audiences have had the great fortune of enjoying premiere productions of operas by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov and Szymanowski under Lidiya’s musical leadership. I know that The Nose has been a “bucket list” opera for Lidiya for many years, and we are honored to be able to showcase this remarkable work with Lidiya on the podium in her final performances as music director. I know you all join me in thanking Lidiya for her innovation, passion and commitment to COT over the past six seasons, and we look forward to welcoming her back as a guest in future seasons.

You are in for a thrilling performance this evening, with even more excitement in the weeks and months to come as part of our 50th Anniversary celebrations. What we do at COT is only possible because of your passion and commitment. Thank you for joining us, and for your support of Chicago Opera Theater.

With all best wishes, Lawrence Edelson Edlis Neeson General Director

First Production

January 18,1930 Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich Librettists: Georgy Ionin, Alexander Preis, Dmitri Shostakovich, and Yevgeny Zamyatin

PRINCIPAL SINGERS Aleksey Bogdanov Kovalyov

David Salsbery Fry Janitor 4/3rd Policeman/ 3rd Student/3rd Acquaintance

Samuel Weiser+ Newspaper Clerk/Doctor

Sam Grosby Tenor Solo/2nd Policeman/ 1st New Arrival/ 1st Student

Justin Berkowitz Chief of Police

Kimberly Hann Attendant 6/Traveler 6

Curtis Bannister The Nose

Cornelius Johnson III 5th Policeman/1st Man/ 2nd Student/Eunuch

David Cangelosi Kovalyov’s Lackey Ivan Wilbur Pauley The Barber Ivan Yakolevich Michelle Johnson The Barber’s Wife Quinn Middleman Venerable Countess Podtochina Boya Wei Podtochina's Daughter Sam Grosby Yaryzhkin Evan Bravos Countess's Lackey

ENSEMBLE Emily Birsan Flirtatious Lady/Attendant/ Traveler 1/Female Voice Evan Bravos Ivan Ivanovich/8th Student David Cangelosi Assistant Chief of Police Corinne Costell+ Bagel Vendor/Soprano Solo Leah Dexter Attendant 4/Traveler 4 Peter Scott Drackley Flirtatious Man/1st Son/ Honorable Colonel Louise Floyd* Cab Driver/Janitor 2/Traveler/ Coachman/2nd New Arrival Hayley Fox* Attendant 3/Traveler 3

Michelle Johnson Mother/Respectable Lady Joelle Lamarre Attendant 2/Traveler 2 David Margulis 8th Policeman/3rd Man/ 6th Student Michelle Mariposa* Ensemble Karlos Piñero-Mercado* 7th Policeman/2nd Man/ 5th Student/2nd Acquaintance Quinn Middleman+ Elderly Lady Andrew Morstein Pyotr Fyodorovich/7th Man/ 7th Student Brian Pember 9th Policeman/Little Old Man/ 1st Dandy William Powell III Sentry/Janitor 1/2nd Son/ 4th Man/ 4th Student Leo Radosavljevic Janitor 8/10th Policeman/2nd Son of Respectable Lady Patrick Scully Janitor 6/4th Policeman/ 6th Man/Anonymous Voice Alex Soare Footman/Janitor 7/6th Policeman/ 1st Son of Respectable Lady Pauline Tan+ Attendant 5/Traveler 5

THE NOSE HOC (1927-28) Boya Wei Ensemble Samuel Weiser+ Con-Man/Khozrev-Mirza Peter Wesoloski Janitor 3/1st Policeman/ 2nd Dandy/1st Acquaintance

DANCERS - MEMBERS OF SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATRE Trey Alexander Kelly Anderson Mya Bryant Kim Davis Elijah Richardson Marissa Thomas

COVERS Avery Sujkowski Kovalyov Stephen Clark Newspaper Clerk/Doctor/ Con-Man/Khozrev-Mirza Bradyn Debysingh Chief of Police Alejandro Luévanos The Nose William Johnson Kovalyov’s Lackey Ivan/ Assistant Chief of Police Christopher Filipowicz The Barber Ivan Yakovlevich Hayley Fox* Praskovya Osipovna/ Mother/Respectable Lady Michelle Mariposa* Elderly Lady/Podtochina/ Old Countess Louise Floyd* Countess’s Lackey/ Ivan Ivanovich/Sentry Karlos Piñero-Mercado* Yaryzhkin/Flirtatious Man/ Honorable Colonel/ Pyotr Fyodorovich

Aaron Wardell Janitor 5/Father/5th Man *Denotes COT Young Artist +Denotes Previous COT Young Artist

Costume Design by Erik Teague

ARTISTIC Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya Director Francesca Zambello Choreographer Kia S. Smith

Drapers Alice Broughton Carolyn Cristofani Tyler Phillips Costume Crafts Jonathan Berg-Einhorn Anna Wooden

Cello Jake Hannegan Wei Lui Denton Sean Neidlinger Margaret Daly Bass Jonathan Cegys Michael Hovnanian Jason Niehoff Tracy Dullea

Wig & Makeup Designer Rebecca A. Scott

Stitchers/Wardrobe Quinnyata Bellows Angela Clyde Gemma Decetra Madeline Felauer Laura Freeman Rachel Parent Caroline Shaw Nancy Sidman Veronica Stark Andrea White

Assistant Conductor Zachary Goodman

Lighting Supervisor Aaron Lichamer

Bassoon/Contrabassoon Karl Rzasa

Assistant Director Amy Hutchison

Associate Lighting Designer Maximo Grano de Oro

Horn Greg Flint

Intimacy & Fight Director Katherine Coyl

Supertitles Operator Andrew Wolffking

Trumpet/Cornet Ross Beacraft

Orchestra Contractor Ross Beacraft

Scenic Consultation and Services Provided by Means of Production, Inc.

Trombone/Bass Trombone Adam Moen

Set Designer Marcus Doshi Costume Designer Erik Teague Lighting Designer Marcus Doshi

Rehearsal Pianist Yasuko Oura Second Rehearsal Pianist Paula Gelpi* Dialect Coach Lisa Zilberman

PRODUCTION Stage Manager Rachel Henneberry Assistant Stage Managers Lisa R. Hays Miranda Wilson Props Supervisor Amanda Herrmann Associate Set Designer Sotirios Livaditis Costume Director Brenda Winstead Shop Floor Manager/Wardrobe Serena Sandoval Costume Coordinators Rachel Boylan Trisha Williams

ORCHESTRA Violin I Eleanor Bartsch, concertmaster Paul Zafer Azusa Tashiro Katherine Hughes Jeri-Lou Zike Tom Yang Heather Boehm John Xia Violin II Elizabeth Huffman Eric Pidluski Maria Arrua Caroline Slack Lisa Fako Karla Galva Viola Karl Davis Mark Djordevic Vannia Phillips Oana Tatu Beatrice Chen

Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute Alyce Johnson Oboe/English Horn Grace Hong Clarinet/Bass Clarinet/ E-Flat Clarinet Gene Collerd

Harp Lillian Lau Kara Bershad Domra Yuriy Kolosovskiy Balalaika Elina Karokhina Keyboard/Piano Yasuko Oura Percussion Bobby Everson Rich Janicki Andrew Cierny Brandon Podjasek Russ Knutson Sean Kopp Collin Boltz Chicago Opera Theater orchestra musicians are members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM).

Chicago Opera Theater singers, dancers, and staging staff are members of the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA).

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER BOARD AND STAFF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STAFF

President Susan J. Irion

Edlis Neeson General Director Lawrence Edelson

Secretary Allen Heinemann

Elizabeth Morse & Genius Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya

Immediate Past President Henry Fogel

Director of Artistic Operations Brittany Nelson

DIRECTORS

Director of Development Meaghan Smallwood

Alissa Andraski Peter Ascoli Ron Bauer Merrill Blau Paul E. Freehling Michael G. Hansen Stephanie Hart Mary Lunz Houston Maria Lagios James G. McCormick David McNeel Susan Noel Dorothy Osborn Pavrita Ramachandran Robert E. Shapiro Virginia Tobiason

Director of Operations & Audience Services Scott Gryder

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Roosevelt CCPA Young Artist Program Liaison Shannon McGinnis

Roger Baskes Nancy Dehmlow Joan W. Harris Gael Neeson Gregory J. O’Leary

Director of Production Deborah Vandergrift Director of Community Programming Veronica Chamberlain Marketing Manager Emmelly Villagran Development Manager Korey Pimental Finance Manager Jenny Rudnick Artistic Operations Assistant Andrew Wolffking

Costume Design by Erik Teague

OPERATIC ALCHEMY

The Fusion of Shostakovich and Gogol in The Nose

By Lawrence Edelson

Dmitri Shostakovich's opera The Nose is a groundbreaking work that emerged during a tumultuous period in Soviet history. Composed in 1927 and 1928, The Nose is a striking departure from conventional operatic norms, offering a surreal narrative inspired by Nikolai Gogol's satirical short story of the same name.

Shostakovich created The Nose during a time of intense artistic experimentation in the Soviet Union. This period, known as the Russian avant-garde, witnessed a departure from traditional artistic forms and a surge of innovation across various mediums. At the age of 22, Shostakovich was young and audacious. He fully embraced this spirit of innovation, crafting a work that defied the expectations of both the musical establishment and the Communist authorities.

The narrative unfolds in 19th-century St. Petersburg, where Major Kovalyov, a government official, awakens to a surreal and nightmarish discovery – his nose has inexplicably detached itself from his face.

What ensues is a bizarre quest by Kovalyov to reclaim his lost appendage, leading to a series of absurd encounters and satirical reflections on the nature of identity and societal norms. In Shostakovich’s ruthlessly irreverent hands, The Nose is like an operatic version of Charlie Chaplin, Monty Python, or The Simpsons – a satire of cutting wit, albeit using very different musical and theatrical tools. But, as with the best satirical works, The Nose entertains while provoking thought, criticizing the vices and foolishness of people, institutions, and conventions by exposing and exaggerating their flaws.

Nikolai Gogol's inspiration for writing The Nose is believed to have originated from a peculiar dream he had. According to accounts from Gogol's contemporaries, he woke up one morning with a vivid image in his mind: a nose sitting on a plate. This bizarre and surreal vision served as the impetus for the creation of his short story, written in 1835. Gogol's works often delved into the absurdities of Russian society and bureaucracy, and The Nose is no exception. The character of Kovalyov serves as a vehicle for Gogol to satirize the preoccupations and superficial concerns of the Russian elite, and the detached nose - taking on a life of its own and adopting a higher social status than its original owner - satirizes the arbitrary nature of societal distinctions. Gogol's writing style is characterized by a blend of realism and fantasy, creating a world where the absurd becomes ordinary. His use of humor and exaggeration underscores his critique of a society where appearances and status are often prioritized over genuine human connections.

Shostakovich's decision to adapt Gogol's story into an opera was driven by a combination of factors, including the surreal and satirical nature of the story, the artistic climate of the time, and his own inclination toward musical experimentation. The Nose provided Shostakovich with a narrative rich in absurdity and social critique, aligning with his own artistic inclinations. The story's satirical exploration of bureaucratic absurdities and social conventions resonated with the composer's desire to create works that went beyond traditional boundaries.

Musically, The Nose offered Shostakovich a canvas to showcase his avant-garde tendencies and break away from the more conservative styles advocated by the Soviet authorities under Stalin. The opera's premiere in 1930 was met with bewilderment and controversy. The avant-garde nature of the music and the unconventional storyline confounded both audiences and critics. Some saw it as a bold and innovative statement, while others condemned it as chaotic and subversive. The opera was subsequently banned for almost half a century, highlighting the tension between artistic expression and political control in the Soviet Union.

The Nose is built upon classic operatic structures, but Shostakovich draws upon a remarkable variety of influences to craft a truly unique musical and theatrical tapestry. The score is marked by its use of rhythmic complexity, virtuosic vocal and instrumental writing, dissonance and polytonality (where multiple keys are used simultaneously), and an extraordinary variety in orchestration – including classical music’s first example of an ensemble written entirely for percussion instruments. Shostakovich's incorporation of folk-like melodies, Russian church music, jazz elements, and even a waltz in the midst of this avant-garde landscape showcases his eclectic musical palette. Each of the characters are brought vividly to life, and each scene is a kaleidoscope of musical colors, reflecting the eccentricities and absurdities of the plot. From the bureaucratic monotony of Kovalyov's world to the frenzied chaos that ensues, the score paints a series of vivid sonic portraits that mirror the opera's satirical narrative.

The Nose is a perfect marriage between two of the most original artistic voices in history. Gogol's influence extended beyond his contemporaries, leaving an indelible mark on later generations of writers, including Fyodor Dostoevsky and Franz Kafka. The Nose remains a testament to Gogol's imaginative prowess and his commitment to challenging literary norms, making it a timeless and intriguing piece in the tapestry of Russian literature. In adapting Gogol's story, Shostakovich transformed the written satire into a multisensory experience, using the power of music and drama to amplify the social critique embedded in the narrative. By choosing The Nose as a subject, Shostakovich not only paid homage to Gogol's literary legacy but also contributed to the evolution of Soviet opera, leaving an enduring mark on the intersection of literature and music in the 20th century.

Costume Design by Erik Teague

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER REPERTOIRE 1974

Così fan tutte (Mozart/DaPonte)

1975

The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart/DaPonte)

1976

The Barber of Seville (Rossini/Sterbini) The Mother of Us All (Thomson/Stein)

1977

The Abduction from the Seraglio (Mozart/Bretzner) Summer and Smoke (Hoiby/Wilson) The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart/DaPonte)

1989

Peter and The Wolf (Prokofiev) Where the Wild Things Are (Knussen/Sendak) La Finta Giardiniera (Mozart/Petrosellini & Kalbeck) Albert Herring (Britten/Crozier) Romeo and Juliet (Gounod/Barbier & Carré)

1990

The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai/Mosenthal) The Lighthouse (Davis) Lakmé (Delibes/Gondinet & Gille) Carousel (Rodgers/Hammerstein) Peter and the Wolf (Prokofiev)

1991

Don Pasquale (Donizetti/Ruffini & Accursi) The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai/Mosenthal)

Where the Wild Things Are (Knussen/Sendak) Idomeneo (Mozart/Varesco) Madame Butterfly (Puccini/Illica & Giacosa) Postcard from Morocco (Argento/Donahue)

1979

1992

1978

Così fan tutte (Mozart/DaPonte) Albert Herring (Britten/Crozier) The Pearl Fishers (Bizet/Carré & Cormon)

1980

The Italian Girl in Algiers (Rossini/Anelli) La Perichole (Offenbach/Halévy & Meilhac) Summer and Smoke (Hoiby/Wilson)

1981

La Rondine (Puccini/Adami & Willner) The Good Soldier Schweik (Kurka/Allan) The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart/DaPonte)

1982

The Abduction from the Seraglio (Mozart/Bretzner) Regina (Blitzstein) Daughter of the Regiment (Donizetti/Saint-Georges & Bayard)

1983

Martha (Flotow/Riese) The Consul (Menotti) The Barber of Seville (Rossini/Sterbini)

1984

The Bartered Bride (Smetana/Sabina) The Mother of Us All (Thomson/Stein) Don Giovanni (Mozart/DaPonte)

1985

The Pearl Fishers (Bizet/Carré & Cormon) The Elixir of Love (Donizetti/Romani) The Crucible (Ward/Stambler)

1986

Susannah (Floyd) L’Amico Fritz (Mascagni/Daspuro) The Turk in Italy (Rossini/Romani)

1987

Così fan tutte (Mozart/DaPonte) The Turn of the Screw (Britten/Piper) The Two Widows (Smetana/Züngel)

1988

Orfeo and Euridice (Gluck/Calzabigi) Of Mice and Men (Floyd) Cinderella (Rossini/Ferretti) Don Pasquale (Donizetti/Ruffini & Accursi)

Count Ory (Rossini/Scribe & Poirson) La Traviata (Verdi/Piave) A Water Bird Talk (Argento) The Medium (Menotti) 1993 Four Saints In Three Acts (Thomson/Stein)

1994

The Ballad of Baby Doe (Moore/Touche) Beatrice & Benedict (Berlioz)

1995

The Magic Flute (Mozart/Schikaneder) The Tender Land (Copland/Everett)

1996

The Italian Girl in Algiers (Rossini/Anelli) Ariadne auf Naxos (Strauss/Hoffmansthal) The Jewel Box - A Pastiche (Mozart/Griffiths)

1997

Shining Brow (Hagen/Muldoon) The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein (Offenbach/Halévy & Meilhac) Don Giovanni (Mozart/DaPonte)

1998

The Kaiser of Atlantis (Ullmann/Kien) Bon Appetit (Hoiby/Child & Shulgasser) The Face on the Barroom Floor (Mollicone/Bowman)

1999

There Is A Garden (Bernstein, arr. Reaux) The Tales of Hoffman (Offenbach/Barbier) Hansel and Gretel (Humperdinck/Wette)

2000

Akhnaten (Glass) Gianni Schicchi (Puccini/Forzano) Buoso's Ghost (Ching) The Barber of Seville (Rossini/Sterbini) Orfeo (Monteverdi/Younger)

2001

The Good Soldier Schweik (Kurka/Allen) Noah’s Flood (Britten) Acis and Galatea (Handel/Gay)

2002

Così fan tutte (Mozart/DaPonte) The Rape of Lucretia (Britten/Duncan) Semele (Handel/Congreve)

2003

Agrippina (Handel/Grimani) The Turn of The Screw (Britten/Piper) Comedy on the Bridge (Martinu) Brundibar (Krasa/Hoffmeister)

2004

L'incoronazione di Poppea (Monteverdi/Busenello) Death In Venice (Britten/Piper) Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini/Balocchi)

2005

La resurrezione (Handel/Capece) The Marriage of Figaro (Mozart/DaPonte) Midsummer Night's Dream (Britten/Pears)

2006

The Padlock (Dibdin/Bickerstaffe) Dido and Aeneas (Purcell/Tate) The Abduction from the Seraglio (Mozart/Bretzner) Nixon in China (Adams/Goodman)

2007

2015

Thérèse Raquin (Picker/Scheer) A Coffin in Egypt (Gordon/Foglia)

2015/16

Lucio Silla (Mozart/Gamerra) La Voix Humaine (Poulenc/Cocteau) Gianni Schicchi (Puccini/Forzano) Dido and Aeneas (Purcell/Tate)

2016/17

Le Vin Herbé (Martin/Bedier) The Fairy Queen (Purcell/Betterton) The Invention of Morel (Copeland/Moore) WP, C The Perfect American (Glass/Wurlitzer)

2017/18

The Consul (Menotti) Elizabeth Cree (Puts/Campbell) Il Pigmalione (Donizetti) Rita (Donizetti/Vaëz)

2018/19

Iolanta (Tchaikovsky/M.Tchaikovsky) The Scarlet Ibis (Weisman/Cote) Moby Dick (Heggie/Scheer)

The Return of Ulysses (Monteverdi/Badoaro) Bluebeard's Castle (Bartok) Erwartung (Schoenberg/Pappenheim) Beatrice & Benedict (Berlioz)

2019/20

2008

2020/21

Don Giovanni (Mozart/DaPonte) A Flowering Tree (Adams/Sellars) Orlando (Handel)

2009

La clemenza di Tito (Mozart/Metastasio & Mazzola) La Tragédie de Carmen (Bizet/Brook) Owen Wingrave (Britten/Piper)

2010

Moses in Egypt (Rossini/Tottola) Jason (Cavalli/Cicognini) Three Decembers (Heggie/Scheer) An Evening with Frederica von Stade and Jake Heggie

2011

Death and the Powers (Machover/Pinsky) Medea (Charpentier/Corneille) He/She - Frauenliebe und Leben & The Diary of One Who Disappeared (Schumann & Janacek/Chamisso & Kalda)

2012

Moscow, Cheryomushki (Shostakovich/Mass & Chervinsky) Teseo (Handel/Haym) The Magic Flute (Mozart/Schikaneder)

Everest (Talbot/Scheer) Aleko (Rachmaninov) Freedom Ride (Shore) WP, C The Transformation of Jane Doe (Garrop/Dye) V Taking Up Serpents (Sankaram/Dye) The Puppy Episode (Recio/Vavrek) V La hija de Rappaccini (Catán/Tovar)

2021/22

Carmen (Bizet/Halévy & Meilhac) Becoming Santa Claus (Adamo) The Beekeeper (Wu/Rourke) V Quamino’s Map (Wallen/Brevoort) WP, C

2022/23

King Roger (Szymanowski/Iwaszkiewicz) Albert Herring (Britten/Crozier) The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Chen/Simpatico) WP The Cook Off (Okpebholo/Campbell) V Another Sunrise (Heggie/Scheer) For a Look or a Touch (Heggie/Scheer)

2023/24

Soldier Songs (Little) The Nose (Shostakovich) Book of Mountains and Seas (Ruo) The Weight of Light (Perry/Amaker) V Before It All Goes Dark (Heggie/Scheer)

2013

The Fall of the House of Usher (Glass/Yorkinks) Maria De Buenos Aires (Piazzolla/Ferrer) Joan of Arc (Verdi/Solera) Orpheus and Euridice (Gordon)

2014

​ ueenie Pie (Ellington/McGettigan) Q Emperor of Atlantis (Ullmann/Kien) Die Kluge (Orff) Macbeth (Bloch/Fleg)

WP = World Premiere C = Commission/Co-Commission V = Vanguard Program Commission and Concert Premiere

PRINCIPAL SINGERS Aleksey Bogdanov | Baritone Kovalyov Recent: Akbar (Paria) at Fryderyk Chopin Institute, Tosca (Scarpia) at Arizona Opera, Un ballo in maschera (Renato) at Maryland Lyric Opera, Aleko (title role) at Odyssey Opera, La Fancullia del West (Rance) at Royal Swedish Opera, Boris Godunov (Schelkalov) at The Metropolitan Opera Upcoming: Lohengrin (Telramund cover) at San Francisco Opera, Lohengrin (4th Noble) at San Francisco Opera, Rachmaninoff Recital at Clarion Society, Tosca (Scarpia) at Palm Beach Opera, Tosca (Scarpia) at Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra

Samuel Weiser+ | Bass Newspaper Clerk/Doctor/Con-Man/ Khozrev-Mirza Recent: Un ballo in maschera (Count Ribbing) at The Metropolitan Opera, La bohème (Benoit/ Alcindoro) at Washington National Opera, Don Carlo (Flemish Deputy) at The Metropolitan Opera, L'elisir d'amore (Dr. Dulcamara) at Livermore Valley Opera, Das Rheingold (Alberich) at Nashville Opera, Grounded-workshop (Commander) at Washington National Opera

Justin Berkowitz | Tenor Chief of Police

Curtis Bannister | Tenor The Nose

Recent: La Liberazione di Ruggiero (Pastore) at Haymarket Opera Company, Carmina Burana (Tenor Soloist) with Rockford Symphony Orchestra, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Steve Todd and Arnold Murray) at Chicago Opera Theater, Albert Herring (Mayor Upfold) at Chicago Opera Theater, L'incoronazione di Poppea (Arnalta and Nutrice) at Haymarket Opera Company, Becoming Santa Claus (Yab) at Chicago Opera Theater

Recent: The Scorpions’ Sting (Set) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Candide (Martin) at Atlanta Opera, Bernstein’s MASS (Soloist 1/Celebrant cover) at The Kennedy Center, Quamino’s Map (Juba Freeman) at Chicago Opera Theater, Fidelio (Florestan) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and L.A. (The Broad) at Heartbeat Opera NYC. Upcoming: Inherit The Wind (Reverend Jeremiah Brown) at ASOLO Rep Theatre, Intimate Apparel (George) at ASOLO Rep Theatre, 12 Angry Men (Juror 8) at ASOLO Rep Theatre

David Cangelosi | Tenor Kovalyov’s Lackey Ivan Recent: Magic Flute (Monostatos) at The Metropolitan Opera, King Roger (Edrisi) at Chicago Opera Theater, Die Fledermaus (Einstein) at Western Plains Opera, Cunning Little Vixen (Schoolmaster) at Cleveland Orchestra, Ring Cycle (Mime) at Hong Kong Phil, and Siegfried (Mime) at Juneau Lyric Opera Michelle Johnson | Soprano The Barbers Wife/Mother/Respectable Lady Recent: Tosca (Tosca) at Madison Opera and Opera On the James, La bohème (Mimì) at Florentine Opera and Nashville Opera, Porgy & Bess (Serena) at North Carolina Opera and Opera Carolina, Aida (Aida) at Opera Grand Rapids, Turandot (Turandot) at Opera Southwest Upcoming: Tosca (Tosca) at Madison Opera Boya Wei | Soprano Podtochina's Daughter Recent: Albert Herring (Cis) at Chicago Opera Theater, An American Dream (Setsuko), Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt (Rhoda) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Carmen (Frasquita) at Chicago Opera Theater, afterWARds (Ilia) at Bare Opera, L'elisir d'Amore (Adina) at Opera Santa Barbara

Wilbur Pauley | Bass The Barber Ivan Yakovlevich Recent: The Nose (Ivan Yakovlevich) at Chicago Opera Theater, Albert Herring (Superintendent Budd) at Chicago Opera Theater, Seven Deadly Sins (Mother) at Princeton Festival, Sound and Fury (Narrator) at Grant Park Festival, Rimsky Rebooted (Soloist) at Chicago Opera Theater, Le Grand Macabre (Astradamors) at Elbphilharmonie NDR Orchestra Quinn Middleman+ | Mezzo Venerable Countess Podtotchina Recent: Rusalka (Ježibaba) at Opera Ithaca, Die Zauberflöte (Third Lady) at Annapolis Opera, Pelleas et Mélisande (Genevieve cover) and Orfeo (Ninfa cover) at The Santa Fe Opera, Hansel and Gretel (the Witch) at Opera Birmingham, Salome (The Page) at Madison Opera Quinn Middleman is sponsored by Ron & Queta Bauer

Sam Grosby | Tenor Yaryzhkin/Tenor Solo/2nd Policeman/ 1st New Arrival/1st Student Recent: Sin Eater and unEarth at The Crossing, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing at Chicago Opera Theater, Albert Herring (Albert Herring cover) at Chicago Opera Theater, King Roger (The Shepherd cover) at Chicago Opera Theater

PRINCIPAL SINGERS Evan Bravos | Baritone Countess's Lackey/Ivan Ivanovich/ 8th Student Recent: The Cook-Off (Kenny Kincaid) at Chicago Opera Theater, Hamlet (Claudius) at Ruse Opera, The Puppy Episode (Clay) at Chicago Opera Theater, Little Women (Mr. Brook) at Opera Santa Barbara, Two Remain (Manfred Lewis) at Chicago Fringe Opera, The Merry Widow (Cascada, Danilo cover) at DuPage Opera Theatre

ENSEMBLE Emily Birsan | Soprano Flirtatious Lady/Attendant/Traveler 1/ Female Voice Recent: Giuditta, (Giuditta) at Haymarket Opera, Orfeo ed Euridice (Euridice) at Inland Northwest Opera, Il segreto di Susanna (Susanna) at Festival Opera Chicago, La Traviata (Violetta) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Rusalka (Rusalka) at Madison Opera, Donna Anna (Welsh National Opera) Leah Dexter | Mezzo Attendant 4/Traveler 4 Recent: Albert Herring (Mrs. Herring) at Chicago Opera Theater, Die Walkure (Siegrune) Detroit Opera, Frida (Dimas’ Mother/Lupe/Natalia Trotsky) at El Paso Opera, Quamino’s Map (Mistress Paddington) at Chicago Opera Theater, Fire Shut Up In My Bones (Bertha) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Becoming Santa Claus (Ib) at Chicago Opera Theater Louise Floyd* | Baritone Cab Driver/Janitor 2/ Traveler/ Coachman/2nd New Arrival Cover Countess's Lackey/Ivan Ivanovich/ Sentry Recent: Tatiana’s Secret (Olga) Opera Queen’s, L’inganno felice, Madama Butterfly (Sharpless) Lyrical Opera Theater, Carmen (Escamillo), La Traviata (Germont), and Die Fledermaus (Falke) at Utah Vocal Arts Academy

Corinne Costell+ | Soprano Bagel Vendor/Soprano Solo Recent: The Nose (Vendor/Soprano Soloist) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Cook-Off (Ivy) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Wren) at Chicago Opera Theater, Albert Herring (Emmie) at Grant Park Festival, The Beekeeper (Phoebe) at Chicago Opera Theater, Susanna’s Secret (Susanna) at Operafest XIII Upcoming: Wet Dirt (Deer) at Thompson Street Opera Peter Scott Drackley | Tenor Flirtatious Man/1st Son/Honorable Colonel Recent: Aida (Radamés) at Opera Carolina, Turandot (Calaf) at Opera Grand Rapids, Cavalleria Rusticana/i Pagliacci (Turiddu/ Canio) at Festival of the Atlantic, Queen of Spades (Gherman cover) at Des Moines Metro Opera, Tosca (Cavaradossi cover) at English National Opera, Wozzeck (Tambourmajor cover) at Des Moines Metro Opera Hayley Fox* | Soprano Attendant 3/Traveler 3 Cover Praskovya Osipovna/Mother/ Respectable Lady Recent: Rinaldo (Armida cover) at the Glimmerglass Festival, Susanna (Miss Hayes) at Wolf Trap Opera, Galileo Galilei (Sagredo/Marie/Eos) at CCM Opera, Tale for a Deaf Ear (Laura Gates)

Louise Floyd is sponsored by Jeanne LaDuke

David Salsbery Fry | Baritone Janitor 4/3rd Policeman/3rd Student/ 3rd Acquaintance Recent: The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Don Bayley/Bobby/Prosecutor) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (Stranger) with BMOP, Becoming Santa Claus (Donkey/Messenger) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Chronicle of Nine (The Earl of Pembroke) at Odyssey Opera, “S”, The Sleeping Thousand (the Head of the Shin Bet) at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Les Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg and Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Kimberly Hann | Mezzo Attendant 6/Traveler 6 Recent: Alcina (Bradamante cover) at St. Petersburg Opera, The Magic Flute (Sarastra/Third Lady) at Quisisana Resort, HMS Pinafore (Little Buttercup) at The Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Company, Turn of the Screw (Mrs. Grose cover) at Opera Baltimore, A Little Night Music (Countess Charlotte) at Quisisana Resort, La Hija de Rappacinni (Isabella cover) at Chicago Opera Theater *Denotes COT Young Artist +Denotes Previous COT Young Artist

ENSEMBLE Cornelius Johnson III | Tenor 5th Policeman/1st Man/2nd Student/ Eunuch Recent: The Nose (5th Policemen/1st Man/2nd Student/Eunuch) at Chicago Opera Theater, Proximity at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Harriet Tubman: When I Cross Cross That Line to Freedom at Knoxville Opera, Freedom Ride at Chicago Opera Theater, Messiah at Fox Valley Orchestra David Margulis | Tenor 8th Policeman/3rd Man/6th Student Recent: Ariadne Auf Naxos (Brighella) at Arizona Opera, L’Elisir d’Amore (Nemorino) Vero Beach Opera, The Road of Promise (Jacob/Boaz/David) at Orchestra Miami, Le Timbre d’Argent (Benedict) at Opera Louisiane, Die Fledermaus (Alfred) at Opera Orlando, Tancredi rifatto (Argirio) at Teatro Nuovo Karlos Piñero-Mercado* | Tenor 7th Policeman/2nd Man/5th Student/ 2nd Acquaintance Cover Yaryzhkin/ Flirtatious Man/ Honorable Colonel/Pyotr Fyodorovich Recent: A Journey in Tattered Shoes, The Cook-Off (Álvaro), King Roger (Edrisi cover), Albert Herring (Mr. Upfold cover), The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Christopher Morcom cover), and Freedom Ride (Chorus) at Chicago Opera Theater Brian Pember | Tenor 9th Policeman/Little Old Man/1st Dandy Recent: Michigan Trees (Mother of Trees) at Thompson Street Opera Company, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Cryptanalyst) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Boy Who Wanted to be a Robot (Cleano) at TSOC, Future Perfect (Leggo) at Bellisima Opera, Quamino’s Map (Ensemble) at Chicago Opera Theater, Requiem for 5 (Dracula) at Chicago Opera on Tap Leo Radosavljevic | Bass Janitor 8/10th Policeman/2nd Son of Respectable Lady Recent: The Nose (Janitor 8/Policeman 10/2nd Son of Respectable Lady) at Chicago Opera Theater, Jason and the Argonauts (Narrator/Orpheus cover) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Carmen (Zuniga) Master Voices, Maometto II (Maometto cover) at Teatro Nuovo, L’eslisir d’amore (Belcore) at Opera in Williamsburg, Le nozze di Figaro (Figaro) at Manhattan School of Music *Denotes COT Young Artist +Denotes Previous COT Young Artist

Joelle Lamarre | Soprano Attendant 2/Traveler 2 Recent: Factotum (Sandra cover) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Central Park Five (Mother/Jogger/Ens.) at Long Beach Opera, Quamino’s Map (Elizabeth Alumond) at Chicago Opera Theater, Fire Shut Up In My Bones (Verna) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Freedom Ride (Ruby) at Chicago Opera Theater, and The Violet Hour (Leontyne) at Rochester Film Festival Michelle Mariposa* | Mezzo Ensemble Cover Elderly Lady/Podtochina/Old Countess Recent: Alcina (Ensemble) at Haymarket Opera, L’Orfeo (Pastore 3 cover) at Santa Fe Opera, Maometto Secondo (Cablo cover) at Teatro Nuovo, Sinfonia (Soloist) at Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Messiah (Soloist) at Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, Mass at Orchestra of Music Makers Andrew Morstein | Tenor Pyotr Fyodorovich/7th Man/7th Student Recent: L’aube Rouge (Serge) at Wexford Festival Opera, Le Nozze di Figaro (Don Curzio) at Salzburger Festspiele, L’italiana in Algeri (Lindoro) at St. Pete Opera, Awakenings (Leonard Lev) at Boston Modern Opera Project, Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Almaviva) at Theater an der Wien

William Powell III | Bass Sentry/Janitor 1/2nd Son/4th Man/ 4th Student Recent: Jason and the Argonauts (Chiron/ Pelias/Aeetes) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Assassinio (2nd Tempter/2nd Knight) at Opera Festival of Chicago, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Don Bailey/Bobby/ Prosecutor) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Gift (Mayor) at South Bend Lyric Opera Flemish, Don Carlos (Deputy) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Central Park Five (Antron McCray) at Long Beach Opera Patrick Scully | Tenor Janitor 6/4th Policeman/6th Man/ Anonymous Voice Recent: Le Rossignol (Emperor) at West Edge Opera, The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of Police) at MIOpera, Fidelio (Rocco cover/First Prisoner) at St. Petersburg Opera, Don Giovanni (Masetto) at Light Opera of New Jersey, Don Giovanni (Masetto) at Teatro Grattacielo, La Fille du Regiment (Caporal) at Sarasota Opera

ENSEMBLE Alex Soare | Bass Footman/Janitor 7/6th Policeman/1st Son of Respectable Lady Recent: Tosca (Angelotti) at Madison Opera, Carmen (Escamillo) at Anchorage Opera, Kaiser von Atlantis (Der Tod) at On Site Opera, Il barbiere di Siviglia (Basilio) at Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera, Don Giovanni (Leporello) at Opera Carolina, Don Giovanni (Leporello) at Opera Grand Rapids Aaron Wardell | Bass Janitor 5/Father/5th Man Recent: La Susanna (Primo Giudice) at Haymarket Opera, Songs of a Wayfarer at Northwest Symphony Orchestra, The Merry Widow (Baron Zeta) at New Philharmonic Orchestra, Moby Dick (Spanish Sailor) at Chicago Opera Theater, Die Fledermaus (Falke) at New Philharmonic Orchestra, Amahl and the Night Visitors (Melchior) at Chamber Opera Chicago

Pauline Tan+ | Mezzo Attendant 5/Traveler 5 Recent: Zheng (Suzuki) at Opera San José, The Cook-Off (Beryl Bennett), The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Joan Clarke cover/Ens.), Albert Herring (Florence Pike cover), King Roger (Deaconess cover), and Becoming Santa Claus (Queen Sophine cover) at Chicago Opera Theater Peter Wesoloski | Baritone Janitor 3/1st Policeman/2nd Dandy/ 1st Acquaintance Recent: Gianni Schicchi (Marco) at Opera Steamboat, American Gothical (Dr. Mckeeby) at Cedar Rapids Opera, The Life & Death(s) of Alan Turing (Cryptanalyst) at Chicago Opera Theater, Così fan tutte (Don Alfonso) at Music on Site, Inc., Roméo et Juliette (Count Paris) at Florentine Opera

COVERS Avery Sujkowski | Baritone Kovalyov Recent: King Roger (King Roger cover) at Chicago Opera Theater, The Marriage of Figaro (Antonio) at Boston Opera Collaborative, La Cenerentola (Alidoro cover) at Boston Midsummer Opera, The Consul (Assan), Hydrogen Jukebox (Baritone), Dialogues des Carmélites (Marquis de la Force) at Boston Conservatory at Berklee.

Bradyn Debysingh | Tenor Chief of Police Recent: Alcina (Oronte) at Northwestern Opera, The Gift (The Boy) at South Bend Lyric Opera, In a Grove (Ambrose Raines) at Northwestern Opera, La bohème (Parpignol) at Northwestern Opera, The Medium (Toby) at Northwestern Opera, The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic cover) at Opera Birmingham William Johnson | Tenor Kovalyov’s Lackey Ivan/Assistant Chief of Police Recent: Anonymous Lover (Colin) at Madison Opera, Tosca (Spoletta) at Madison Opera, Die Zauberflöte (Tamino), La Boheme (Rodolfo), and If I were you (Fabian) at Northwestern University Opera Theater, Gianni Schicchi (Rinuccio) at Michigan State University Opera Theater

Stephen Clark | Tenor Newspaper Clerk/Doctor/Con-Man/ Khozrev-Mirza Recent: Jenufa (The Millforeman) at Berlin Staatsoper, The Queen of Spades (Tsurin) at Theater Bremen, Angels in America (Roy Cohn) at Theater Bremen, Ariadne auf Naxos (Truffaldino) at Theater Bremen, The Magic Flute (Sarastro/Der Sprecher) at Theater Bremen, The Barber of Seville (Don Basilio) at Theater Bremen Alejandro Luévanos | Tenor The Nose Recent: Jenufa (Steva cover) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Flying Dutchman (Steuermann cover) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Erani (Riccardo) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Don Carlo (Royal Herald) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Proximity (Passenger) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Bohème (Rodolfo) at Teatro del Bicentenario Christopher Filipowicz | Bass The Barber Ivan Yakovlevich Recent: The Nose (Ivan Yakovlevich cover) at Chicago Opera Theater, It’s a Wonderful Life (Ernie) at San Francisco Opera, Manon (Off Stage Voice) at San Francisco Opera, Macbeth (Servant) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Die Zauberflöte (2nd Priest) at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Jenufa (Off Stage Voice) at Lyric Opera of Chicago

*Denotes COT Young Artist +Denotes Previous COT Young Artist

SOUTH CHICAGO DANCE THEATRE Under the leadership of founder and choreographer Kia S. Smith, South Chicago Dance Theatre (SCDT) is a multicultural organization seamlessly fusing classical and contemporary dance styles as well as preserving historic dance work. With cultural diplomacy at the heart of the organization, SCDT creates, performs, and teaches dance on a local, national, and international platform. Chicago Opera Theater is thrilled to collaborate with SCDT for the first time on this production of The Nose, and to welcome six of the company’s dancers to the stage.

Trey Alexander

Kelly Anderson

Mya Bryant

Kim Davis

Elijah Richardson

Marissa Thomas

ARTISTIC TEAM PROFILES Lidiya Yankovskaya | Conductor COT Morse & Genius Music Director Recent: Rusalka at Santa Fe Opera, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs at English National Opera, Eugene Onegin at Staatsoper Hamburg, Il Trittico with Opera Australia, and concerts with New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Utah Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Francesca Zambello | Director Artistic Director, Washington National Opera, Kennedy Center Recent: Klangwolke Linz at Brucknerhaus, Rebecca at Raimund Theater, Vienna, The Sound of Music at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Idomeneo at Aspen Music Festival, West Side Story at Lyric Opera of Chicago, La Traviata at Seattle Opera

Erik Teague | Costume Designer

Marcus Doshi | Set & Lighting Designer

Recent: Hansel & Gretel at Opera San Antonio, The Rip Van Winkles at Glimmerglass Festival, La Bohème at Glimmerglass Festival, As One at Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera, Hansel & Gretel at New Orleans Opera, The Jungle Book at Glimmerglass Festival

Recent: Treemonisha at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Russian Troll Farm at Geva Theatre Company, Mr. Dickens and His Carol at Seattle Repertory Theater. The Wreckers at Houston Grand Opera, La Traviata at Houston Grand Opera, Edward Tulane at Minnesota Opera

Rebecca A. Scott | Wig & Makeup Designer

Kia S. Smith | Choreographer Founder & Executive Artistic Director of South Chicago Dance Theatre

Recent: The Life & Death(s) of Alan Turing, Albert Herring, King Roger at Chicago Opera Theater, Wife of a Salesman, Once, and Eurydice

Recent: Memoirs of Jazz in the Alley for SCDT at the Auditorium Theater of Chicago, Western Michigan University, Giordano Dance Chicago, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Ruth Page Civic Ballet Training Company, Chicago Opera Theater

WITH GRATITUDE TO OUR DONORS Leadership Circle

$100,000+ Anonymous Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary^ Elizabeth Amy Liebman Mellon Foundation The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust Robert & Penelope Steiner Family Foundation $50,000-$99,999 Paul M. Angell Family Foundation Lucy & Peter* Ascoli Julie & Roger Baskes Nancy Dehmlow ^ Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Julius N. Frankel Foundation Sue & Paul Freehling John R. Halligan Charitable Fund $25,000-$49,999 Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Lloyd A. Fry Foundation Masahiro Kasai & Bill Myers^ MacArthur Foundation The Estate of Edward T. Mack National Endowment for the Arts Polk Bros. Foundation Albert Walavich^

Producer’s Circle

$10,000-$24,999 Anonymous Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc. Queta & Ron* Bauer Fred & Phoebe Boelter^ Dale Connelly & Donna Van Eekeren^ The Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Chicago Allen Heinemann* & William Borden Mary Lunz* & James Houston^ Illinois Arts Council Agency William Jentes^ Michael Leppen Laura G. & James G.* McCormick Patricia McMillen^ Negaunee Foundation OPERA America Jean Perkins & Leland Hutchinson Barre Seid & Barbara Landis Susan & Robert* Shapiro The Siragusa Family Foundation Orli & Bill Staley Bhaskaran Swaminathan Virginia Tobiason* $5,000-$9,999 The Amphion Foundation Judith Barnard & Michael Fain^ Mrs. Arthur A. Billings ^ Judith & Merrill* Blau Joyce Chelberg^ Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation The Aaron Copland Fund for Music Frances & Henry* Fogel Gerald & Dr. Colette Gordon^ Michael Hansen* & Nancy Randa Martha Hesse Susan Irion* & Rob DeLand Ronald B. Johnson^ Sol R. Kaufman Family Foundation A. Jeanne LaDuke^ Maria* & Peter Lagios Lemont Fund David E. McNeel* Frank Modruson & Lynne Shigley^

$5,000-$9,999 CONTINUED Dorothy F. Osborn* & Bud Dobbins^ Dawn Palmer^ Candace Rudmose Dean Yannias

$1,000-$4,999 CONTINUED Mary & Michael Woolever Debbie K. Wright Lidiya Yankovskaya & Daniel Schwartz^ Linda & Owen Youngman^

Opera Benefactors

Friends of COT

$1,000-$4,999 Anonymous (4) Avli on the Park Dean Bachus Sandra Bass Ellen Benjamin & Fredrick Bates Dr. C. Bekerman Suzanne & William E. Bible Shaun & Andy Block^ John & Claudia Boatright^ Richard Boyum & Louie Chua^ Dr. Juliana Y. Chyu & Dr. David H. Whitney Howard & Anne Conant^ Anne Cunningham Robert & Isabel Curley Andrew Davis & Lynn Dykstra Marijane Deters^ De Priest Family Foundation, Inc. Ingrid & Rich Dubberke^ Kent Dymak & Theodore Foss^ Kenneth A. East Anne Egger^ Foster Family and Lincoln & Elizabeth Ellis Erika Erich^ Janet Eyler & Edwin Walker^ Megan Fellman & Anthony Rosso^ Geoffrey Flick^ David Fox Priscilla & Henry Frisch Raymond Frick Stephen & Elizabeth Geer^ James K. Genden+ & Alma Koppedraijer^ Mary & Lionel Go Ethel & Bill Gofen^ Judy & William Goldberg Stephanie Hart*/Brown Sugar Bakery J&L Catering Julian Family Foundation Moses Lee^ Ashley & Brandon Magnus Jeffery & Cynthia McCreary Marilyn McCoy & Charles Thomas Kevin McGirr^ Jean McLaren & John Nitschke Mercat a la Planxa Patrice Michaels & Jim Ginsburg David Miller^ Charles H. Mottier^ Catherine Mouly & Ted Carlson^ Sylvia Neil & Daniel Fischel John H. Nelson^ Ed & Gayla Nieminen^ Susan Noel* Pavitra Ramachandran* Marsha & Robert Rosner^ Richard O. Ryan^ Sahara Enterprises, Inc. Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation Ilene and Michael Shaw Charitable Trust Meaghan & Michael Smallwood^ Laraine & David Spector^ Nancy Stainback Marjorie Stinespring^ Dan Tarlock^ Texas Instruments Foundation Frances Vandervoort David J. Varnerin^ Laura Vesecky^ Drs. Dennis & Anne Wentz

$500-$999 Anonymous (2) Judith Bauer Ross Beacraft Peggy & Ron Beata John P. Blosser Galen Bodenhausen Sheila Barton Brosron Ralph & Rona Brown Richard Abram & Paul Chandler Pamela Crutchfield Jan Feldman Firestone Family Foundation Colleen Flanigan Timothy & Janet Fox Gaylord & William Gieseke Prof. James A. Glazier Barbara & William Herzog Gary Huff William Hulsker Capt. Bernardo Iorgulescu, USMC Memorial Fund of DuPage Foundation Nora Jaskowiak & Matthew Hinerfeld Leah Kazaglis Mary Klyasheff Douglas & Catherine Knuth Paul Kobasa Bozena McLees Robert & Lois Moeller Irmgard & Keith Olson Susan Rabe Heidi Rothenberg Marquita Russel & Mark Tiarks David Saunders Edward Schiele Theresa Schreiber John N. Schwartz & James A. Mosley Michael & Salme Harju Steinberg Pauline Taylor Myron & Karen Tiersky Todd & Cari Vieregg Louella Warrd Peter J. Wender Randi Woodworth Tatyana & Boris Yamrom *COT Board Member ^COT President’s Council Member Donors listed from September 1, 2022 to November 15, 2023. We regret the omission of anyone who contributed after this date, but look forward to recognizing these gifts in future publications.

The Nose is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL Chicago Opera Theater President’s Council was founded by former Board President Gregory J. O’Leary. President’s Council members play an integral role in the future of the company as advocates and supporters. Membership is open to donors contributing at least $1,500 annually, and members enjoy special behind the scenes access on a sponsored production, as well as exclusive events and optional board committee service. In the 2023/24 season, the President’s Council sponsors Shostakovich’s The Nose.

Anonymous (4) Judith Barnard & Michael Fain Mrs. Arthur A. Billings Shaun & Andy Block John & Claudia Boatright Fred & Phoebe Boelter Richard Boyum & Louie Chua Joyce Chelberg Howard & Anne Conant Dale Connelly & Donna Van Eekeren Nancy Dehmlow Marijane Deters Bud Dobbins Ingrid & Rich Dubberke Kent Dymak & Theodore Foss Anne Egger Erika Erich Janet Eyler & Edwin Walker Megan Fellman & Anthony Rosso Geoffery Flick Stephen & Elizabeth Geer James K. Genden+ & Alma Koppedraijer

Ethel & Bill Gofen Gerald & Dr. Colette Gordon Mary Lunz* & James Houston William Jentes Ronald B. Johnson Lori Julian Masahiro Kasai & Bill Myers Patricia A. Kenney & Gregory J. O’Leary A. Jeanne LaDuke Moses Lee Kevin McGirr Patricia McMillen David Miller Frank Modruson & Lynne Shigley Charles H. Mottier Catherine Mouly & Ted Carlson John H. Nelson Ed & Gayla Nieminen Dawn Palmer Marsha & Robert Rosner Candace Rudmose Richard O. Ryan

Meaghan & Michael Smallwood Lousie K. Smith Laraine & David Spector Marjorie Stinespring Dan Tarlock David J. Varnerin Laura Vesecky Albert Walavich Lidiya Yankovskaya & Daniel Schwartz Dean Yannias Linda & Owen Youngman *COT Board Member +Deceased

ENCORE SOCIETY Chicago Opera Theater’s Encore Society is an inspiring group of forward-thinking opera lovers who want to support the future of bold opera in Chicago. These commitments are integral to COT, helping us continue to present exciting premieres and unique productions to the community for years to come. Patrons who have made a designation of any size through bequests, insurance policies, IRAs, or any other legacy-giving asset provision are eligible to become members of COT’s Encore Society.

Members enjoy special communiques and exclusive invitations to donor events.

Anonymous Peter* & Lucy Ascoli Julie & Roger Baskes Charlotte & Alan Bath Judith & Merrill* Blau David Boyce Janet Eyler & Edwin Walker Megan Fellman & Anthony Rosso Frances & Henry* Fogel James K. Genden+ Alma Koppedraijer

Allen Heinemann* & William Borden Mary Lunz* & James Houston Susan Irion* & Rob DeLand Ruth Kane Maria* & Peter Lagios Edward T. Mack+ Laura G. & James G.* McCormick John H. Nelson Ed & Gayla Nieminen Dorothy F. Osborn* & Bud Dobbins

Florence Siefkins+ Dan Tarlock Virginia Tobiason* Albert Walavich Claude Weil *COT Board Member +Deceased

If you are interested in joining the President’s Council, or would like more information about planned giving and the Encore Society, please contact Director of Development Meaghan Stainback Smallwood at ms@cot.org or 312-874-7454.

Theater rental and services have been partially underwritten through the support of the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.

HOW COT IS SHAPING THE FUTURE OF OPERA THE VANGUARD INITIATIVE

The Vanguard Initiative is Chicago Opera Theater's fully-comprehensive program for composers ready to delve into the world of opera. This immersive two-year 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 Music Director Lidiya Yankovskaya, with Composer Advisors Jake Heggie, Kamala Sankaram, and Gene Scheer. Learn more about the Vanguard Initiative at www.cot.org/vanguard Leadership support for The Vanguard Initiative is generously provided by the Mellon Foundation.

Gillian Rae Perry 2022-2024

Carlos Carrillo 2023-2025

COT/CCPA YOUNG ARTIST PROGRAM

Chicago Opera Theater’s Young Artist and Professional Diploma in Opera Program is offered in partnership with with Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts. The COT/CCPA Young Artist Program is a specialized opportunity for emerging professional singers and pianists. It allows developing artists with exceptional career promise and mastery of basic skills to focus on all areas of their artistic growth. The program affords them professional experience, particularly in the development and performance of innovative new work, while also supporting them with voice lessons, vocal coaching, and dramatic training from the illustrious music and performance faculty at CCPA. Participants receive a full-tuition scholarship, as well as a monthly stipend during the performance season, which runs from September to April annually. Learn more about the COT/CCPA Young Artist Program at www.cot.org/yap Contact Meaghan Stainback Smallwood at msmallwood@cot.org if you would like to learn how you can sponsor a member of the Young Artist Program.

OPERA FOR ALL

Chicago Opera Theater believes that the future resides in giving students the opportunity to experience opera as active, generative artists – so opera becomes their art form. Opera for All (OFA) is COT’s elementary program for Chicago Public School students. Opera for All inspires students to understand the art by participating in it, both in production and in performance. During OFA sessions, Teaching Artists guide each classroom through the stages of creating, producing, and performing their own musical shows. In addition to script writing, composing, painting, dancing, and performing, students are able to attend a professional opera performance. Learn more about Opera for All at www.cot.org/ofa Leadership support for Opera for All is generously provided by Marijane Deters, Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, Mary Lutz and James Houston, Polk Bros. Foundation, and The Siragusa Family Foundation.

Mercat a la Planxa is a modern interpretation of timeless Catalan traditions.

Located on Michigan Avenue, Mercat offers an authentic dining experience that combines fresh meats and produces with the energetic spirit of a Barcelona market. The interiors boast bright, rich fabrics and weathered mosaic tiles, accented by dynamic sculptural furniture and distinctive art murals.

Enter the restaurant through The Blackstone Hotel lobby located on Balbo. A discounted parking rate is available with validation from Standard Parking located in the Chicago Hilton.

Dinner Service Sunday - Saturday 5 - 10 PM Bar Sunday - Saturday 4-10 PM Brunch Saturday & Sunday 7:30 AM-1:30 PM

638 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605 (312) 765-0524 www.mercatchicago.com

WELCOME TO THE HARRIS THEATER In Consideration of Other Patrons and the Performers: Photography is not permitted in the Theater at any time and texting during performance is strictly prohibited. Film or digital images will be confiscated or deleted by the Harris Theater house staff; violators will be subject to a fine. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the house management. Smoking is prohibited within the Harris Theater. Allowance of personal items and baggage into the auditorium space is at the sole discretion of house management.

For Your Safety: Please take a moment and note the nearest exit. In the event of an emergency, follow the directions of the Harris Theater house staff. In the event of an illness or injury, inform the Harris Theater Front of House Manager.

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible seating locations, swing arm aisle seating, and inclusive/wheelchair accessible restrooms are available on all auditorium seating levels. The Harris is also equipped with an FM Assistive Listening Device system. Headsets are available for check out with a valid ID. Please call the Box Office in advance at 312.334.7777 regarding ticketing and accessible seating questions. If inquiring on any additional accommodation requests to enhance your performance experience, please reach out to access@harristheaterchicago.org or call 312.334.2486 at least two weeks in advance.

Parking: Discounted parking validation is available for all ticket holders using the Millennium Park Garage.

A validation machine is located on Lobby Level 5 (Upper Randolph).

Rental Information: If you have any questions about the Harris Theater, including rental of the facility, group tours, or volunteer opportunities, please email rentals@harristheaterchicago.org.

About the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance: The Harris Theater is Chicago’s home for music and dance, connecting diverse audiences with artists from across the city, the nation, and the world. An anchor institution of Millennium Park and the first multi-use performance venue built in downtown Chicago since 1929, the Harris was established in 2003 to create a much-needed home for the city’s vibrant community of midsize performing arts organizations. Today, the nonprofit Harris Theater features some of the most diverse arts and culture offerings in the city, from its Chicago-based Resident Companies to the world-renowned visiting artists who perform on its stage through the Harris Theater Presents series.

The Harris represents a distinctive model for artistic excellence, collaboration, and creative symbiosis, making the performing arts relevant and accessible to the widest possible audience. Acting as both a home base for and a supportive partner of its Resident Companies, the Harris provides state-of-the-art performance space and ongoing support to nearly 30 Chicago-based performing arts organizations. Its 1,500-seat multi-use theater brings innovative and boundary-pushing productions from more than 32 countries across six continents to Chicago, creating unique opportunities for dialogue between Chicagoans and the world’s leading artists, thinkers, and innovators. The organization’s signature Harris Theater Presents series has featured acclaimed artists and ensembles including Batsheva Dance, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, English National Ballet, Joshua Bell, Joyce DiDonato, Sir John Eliot Gardiner and the Monteverdi Choir, Angélique Kidjo, and Paris Opéra Ballet. The Theater’s education and community engagement initiatives build bridges between artists and community members, providing master classes, artist talks, and free tickets for more than 35 partner organizations throughout Chicago.

To learn more about the Harris Theater, Chicago’s home for music and dance in Millennium Park, visit harristheaterchicago.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER YOUR TICKET TO INNOVATION FOR 50 YEARS

HUANG RUO

JANUARY 26-28, 2024 Tour Produced by Beth Morrison Projects Presented by Chicago Opera Theater and Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival

GILLIAN RAE PERRY / MARCUS AMAKER

JAKE HEGGIE / GENE SCHEER

APRIL 27, 2024

MAY 25-26, 2024

Vanguard World Premiere

World Premiere Tour Presented in partnership with Music of Remembrance

VISIT COT.ORG OR CALL 312-704-8414 FOR MORE INFO