Chicago Opera Theater (COT), Chicago’s foremost producer of new and rarely produced operas, 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. In fact, it has been convincingly argued by musicologists that Beethoven, who was known to have owned a score to Leonora, was influenced by the Paër while composing his only opera. 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. COT’s production of Leonora will take place Tuesday, October 1 at 7:30 PM, Friday, October 4 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 PM at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building (410 S Michigan Ave.). Tickets start at $50 with discounts available for subscribers, groups, and students and can be purchased at chicagooperatheater.org.

Photo Credit: Chicago Opera Theater