Bellissima Opera Explained

Bellissima Opera is an Oak Park, Illinois based initiative of the not-for-profit organization Working In Concert. Co-founder Christine Steyer serves as Bellissima Opera's current artistic director.

History

It was founded in 2006 by opera singers Christine Steyer, Paul Geiger and Franco Martorana as Bellissima Opera Productions. The organization changed to Bellissima Opera LLC in 2009 and was incorporated as the non-profit Bellissima Opera in 2010. Over that time the company has given dozens of concerts and produced and performed in abridged versions of La Traviata [1] [2] [3] and Madame Butterfly.[4] [5] [6]

In 2008 the company, in partnership with Sounds True, recorded a CD of sacred music entitled Caroline Myss' "Voices of the Sacred".[7] [8] In 2014, it produced a concert called "The Music of the Universe" that combined voice, violin, Hawaiian dance and images, and featured a new vocal work for soprano by David Shenton set to a poem by Charlie Rossiter.[9] [10]

In 2019, Bellissima Opera became a founding initiative of the newly formed not-for-profit organization Working In Concert.[11]

Artists

The founders of Bellissima Opera are often the initiative's core performers. Bellissima Opera has also featured singers Partick Blackwell, Dominique Frigo, Ryan de Ryke, Marta Kasten and pianists Eugenia Chang, Anatoliy Torchinskiy, Jeff Panko and Marta Johnson. Others include violinist Chris Nemeth, dancers Fujima Shunojo, Fujima Yoshinojo and June Tanoue, artist David Robbins and directors Carl Ratner and Beaumont Glass. The company has also commissioned arrangements and new works from Ed Zelnis, Stuart Leitch, Daniel Vines and David Shenton.

Bellissima Opera Outreach

In 2009, the founders created Bellissima Opera Outreach which has since presented age-appropriate classical vocal concerts for 23,000 youth ages pre-K to 12 in three states.[12] [13] The presentations are given directly in students classrooms and are designed to introduce the children to a variety of vocal music produced without the need for amplification.[14]

Tales of Transcendence Series

Bellissima Opera is currently creating the Tales of Transcendence series, a limited series of operas that examine individuals and groups who have transcended the human divide.[15] [16]

These currently include:

  1. 2021: On Call: COVID-19, an opera which tells story of health care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.[17] [18] [19] The opera featured a national cast which represented six international healthcare workers. The cast included: Emanuel-Cristian Caraman, tenor (South Bend, IN), Gwendolyn Brown, contralto (Nashville, TN), Russell Hoke, baritone (Elgin, IL), Jeong Eun Joo, soprano (Chicago, IL), Carl Ratner, baritone (Kalamazoo, MI), Christine Steyer, soprano (Oak Park, IL), and David Shenton, piano (Queens, NY).[20] The opera also featured an international chorus of 30 virtual singers. This opera was also performed by a student cast from Western Michigan University.
  2. 2022: Future Perfect, a full-length opera which tells the story of Miranette, a girl who leaves a forbidden society that has lost its connection to the outside world.[21]
  3. TBA: Outside The Ring, is based on the friendship between the German boxer Max Schmeling and the American boxer Joe Louis.[22]
  4. TBA: Reconciliation, examines Restorative Justice in the modern world and its impact on communities who are seeking measures of healing and restoration over past hurts.[23]

Performances by year

2006:
La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi, the Village Players Theatre, Oak Park, Illinois, May, 2006.

2007:
Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, the Village Players Theatre, Oak Park, Illinois, June, 2007.

2008:
La Traviata by Verdi, the New Buffalo Performing Arts Center, New Buffalo, Michigan, July 26, 2008.

Caroline Myss' Voices of the Sacred, songs of the world's most famous and beloved sacred music, recorded in partnership with Sounds True©. The CD release concert was held at Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois, Sept. 6, 2008.

2009:
"The World's Greatest Arias" a concert including songs from La Traviata, Madame Butterfly, La Boheme and The Merry Widow, the Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, Illinois, Nov. 21, 2009.

2010:
"A Night of Opera and Song," including songs of Tosti, Tchaikovsky, and Donizetti, as well as traditional Japanese dance and the world premiere of a song by composer Daniel Vines, Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois, Aug. 5, 2010.

2011:
La Traviata, Opera Up Close, The Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, University Park, Illinois, Mar. 27, 2011.

2013:
"Celebrate Earth Day" with Bellissima Opera, Munch Restaurant, Oak Park, Illinois, Apr. 22, 2013.

2014:
"Music of the Universe," a multimedia concert in voice, violin, dance and imagery. The concert featured an original commission by composer David Shenton, who composed a song to the poem "Music of the Universe" by Charlie Rossiter, at Unity Temple, Oak Park, Illinois, Jun. 1, 2014.

2022:
An International Women's Day Concert, including compositions by Chicago women including Patrice Michaels, Lena J. McLin, Elizabeth Rudolph, and Lita Grier. Performed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Oak Park, Illinois, Mar. 8, 2022.[24]

Notes and References

  1. News: Oak Park residents produce and star in a unique new production of the opera La Traviata at Village Players Theatre. 7 September 2014. Oak Park Journal. 26 May 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20140824054805/http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2006/2006-La-Traviata-Oak-Park-May-26.html. 24 August 2014. dead.
  2. News: All-consuming opera: singers offer big sounds of Traviata in a small setting. Oak Park Oak Leaves. 24 May 2006.
  3. News: Bonfiglio. Jeremy D.. Singers stage accessible La Traviata. 7 September 2014. SouthBend Tribune. 24 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070352/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2008-07-25/news/26919443_1_germont-parisian-courtesan-giuseppe-verdi-s-la-traviata. 4 March 2016. dead.
  4. News: Hansen. Amy Gail. Butterfly soars in intimate setting. Oak Park Oak Leaves. 6 June 2007.
  5. News: Wilkinson. Cathryn. Steyer lights up the stage in Butterfly. 7 September 2014. Wednesday Journal. 6 June 2007.
  6. News: Trainor. Ken. It's not over til the diva dies. 7 September 2014. Wednesday Journal. 20 August 2013.
  7. News: Petlicki. Myrna. Chance encounter led to sacred songs concert. Oak Park Oak Leaves. 27 August 2008.
  8. Abushady, Mark Maxwell. "Media Reviews: Caroline Myss’ Voices of the Sacred". Creations Magazine.
  9. News: Petlicki. Myrna. Voices, words, images blend in Music of the Universe. https://archive.today/20140907120635/http://oakpark.suntimes.com/2014/05/22/music-of-the-universe-concert/. dead. 7 September 2014. Oak Park Oak Leaves. 22 May 2014.
  10. News: Trainor. Ken. Voyagers of the human condition. Wednesday Journal. 28 May 2014.
  11. Web site: Arts & Culture Career Fair Career Services University of Illinois at Chicago. 2021-06-16. careerservices.uic.edu.
  12. Vincent, Ed. Web site: Bellissima Opera's Outreach, Featuring Soprano Christine Steyer Delights Class After Class at Oak Park and River Forest High School.. Oak Park Journal. 2014-12-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924054034/http://www.oakparkjournal.com/2010/2010-OPRFHS-Christine-Steyer-performance-Jan-7th.html. 2015-09-24. dead.
  13. News: Bellissima Opera Outreach inspires more than song. https://web.archive.org/web/20150209010406/http://www.triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/01/bellissima-opera-outreach-inspires-more-than-song/. dead. 9 February 2015. Chicago Tribune Triblocal Oak Park/River Forest. 7 January 2010.
  14. Fritz, Matt. "Lunch, recess and arias: Opera goes to school". The Herald-Palladium, November 6, 2009/
  15. News: Trainor. Ken. 'Triptych,' an opera about boxing, truth and transcending. 6 January 2015. Wednesday Journal. 6 January 2015.
  16. Web site: The Transcendence Operas. 2021-06-16. Bellissima Opera. en.
  17. Web site: Schering. Steve. New international opera by Oak Park librettist tells story of health care workers battling COVID-19 pandemic. 2021-06-16. chicagotribune.com.
  18. Web site: Criscitiello. Alexa. Working In Concert Premieres ON CALL: COVID 19 An Opera Love Letter To Health Care Workers. 2021-06-16. BroadwayWorld.com. en.
  19. Web site: Galil. J. R. Nelson, Leor. A new Zoom opera honors the health-care workers fighting COVID. 2021-06-16. Chicago Reader. en.
  20. Web site: Criscitiello. Alexa. Working In Concert Premieres ON CALL: COVID 19 An Opera Love Letter To Health Care Workers. 2021-06-16. BroadwayWorld.com. en.
  21. Web site: The Transcendence Operas. 2021-06-16. Bellissima Opera. en.
  22. Web site: The Transcendence Operas. 2021-06-16. Bellissima Opera. en.
  23. Web site: The Transcendence Operas. 2021-06-16. Bellissima Opera. en.
  24. Web site: Photos: Bellissima Opera Presents International Women's Day Concert. 2022-03-19. Broadway World Opera. en.

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