Chicago’s South Shore Opera Company to make debut

In Wednesday’s (2/25) Chicago Tribune, Lisa D. Lenoir writes, “The South Shore Opera Company of Chicago emerged, its founder says, out of a need to be heard. ‘There were way too few opportunities for African-American opera singers in Chicago,’ said Marvin Lynn, executive director of the 11-member group, which will debut this weekend at the newly renovated South Shore Cultural Center. … African-American opera singers here are often passed over for artists from the East Coast or they tend to be restricted to performing in all-black casts, said Lynn, a lyric baritone who trained at DePaul University. … Last year, Lynn took his concerns and the idea of starting an opera company to the South Shore Advisory Council, which immediately bought in and partnered with Lynn to get it started. … The inaugural concert will highlight scenes from Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Verdi’s Falstaff, Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and selections by budding youth performers.”