Chicago Opera Theater announced that it has been awarded a $500,000 multi-year grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The grant, to be used during the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons, will support three contemporary operas and three baroque opera productions. One of the contemporary operas receiving funding has been announced—Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers (2010)—as well as three baroque operas with Medea as a central character: Cavalli’s Giasone (2010), Charpentier’s Médée (2011), and Handel’s Teseo (2012). Under General Director Brian Dickie, who joined the company in 2000, Chicago Opera Theater’s repertoire has centered on baroque and contemporary operas; COT normally presents three operas per year at Chicago’s Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, during its spring festival season. COT’s orchestra of freelancers includes musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra, and Music of the Baroque.
Posted July 28, 2009
