I must admit that I’m not a great lover of Superstar due to its pop/rock elements and its completely sung through rock style. However, Flaster’s casting and the skillful enunciation by the singers together with a blend of high-energy staging and haunting dramatization of Christ’s final days made this production of Superstar and explosive journey of redemption for me.
Saluting American Popular Music During the Wartime Years Produced by Jeanne Scherkenbach Musical Director/piano accompanist Carolyn Wehner At the Skokie Theatre Music Foundation Patriotic, nicely sung tribute to American war vets a winner! Using a well played piano (Carolyn Wehner) and the deft work from Joel Kopischke, Rachel Renee, Matt Richardson, Jeanne Scherkback became a … Read more
Theo Ubique, under Fred Anzevino’s leadership, returns to their cabaret roots by paying homage to composer/songwriter Harold Arlen. This revue contains many of the finest songs from the 30’s- 40’s and 50’s including “Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather,” “Get Happy,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon” and “I’ve Got the World on a String” among the 37 songs with music by Arlen in collaboration with many of the finest lyricists of the era.
The loneliness, that sexual urges and the pain of living the blues is honestly presented and sung here. “Good Morning Heartache,” “Lord, I Tried” and “Everyday I Have the Blues” each aptly describe the earthy feelings of this fabulous troupe of blues singers. Felicia P. Fields leads a fine group of blues folks here
What a discovery, what a gem! Music Director Paul Freeman has put together a excellent mixture of the old traditional and new contemporary scores and a new voice in chamber music – the Harlem Quartet. This made for a marvelous evening of music.
It is short, quite melodic with a rich sound from the eleven member orchestra. It is easy to understand as it is sung in English (with English subtitles). It contains a contemporary story and it is sung by two outstanding young performers – Matthew Worth (Charlie) (baritone) and Sara Jakubiak (Beatrice)( soprano). And Three Decembers features the fabulous mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade as Madeline, the matriarch.
Chicago Opera Theater presents the first of three baroque masterpieces over the next few years. This season features Francesco Cavalli’s 1649 opera devoted toMedea as a central character – Jason (Giasone). The rarely presented opera was quite different from any opera I’ve ever witnessed.
“Winterreise” poses more of a challenge as the white box theater is much smaller, but the result is a heightened sense of intimacy more so than constriction. With nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, the 20-some-odd people in the near-sell-out audience and the 5 performers fall into a tangled symbiotic web,…
Figaro contains sweet music, sardonic comedy, and a stinging reflections on love and life — Mozart demonstrates his genius with this masterwork…Besides the melodic, sophisticated score, Lyric Opera has cast Figaro with fabulous actors who are also major star singers
Berlioz based his libretto on Goethe’s classic Faust legend, in which the eponymous scientist pursues love at the expense of his soul. Berlioz unfolds the drama at the onset of Spring, resonating with what Chicagoans must be feeling in coming weeks