The Opera Festival of Chicago announces its sixth season with the theme Bohemian Tragedy, June 13 - July 5. The 2026 Opera Festival of Chicago kicks off with its leading artists in concert in Very Verismo! on Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jarvis Opera Hall at DePaul University, 800 W. Belden Ave. The first fully-staged opera, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, opens Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The final production of the season is Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea, Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m and Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m., also at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets are $25 - $150 and are available at OperaFestivalChicago.org.
“The 2026 Festival, our sixth season, is going to be a season dedicated to the everyday struggles of art and love. The Opera Festival of Chicago began forging a path in the opera world in 2021 with the mission of presenting Italian opera masterworks, some of which rarely, if ever, grace the stage in the United States,” said General Director Sasha Gerritson. “These fully-staged productions featured star-studded casts backed by the Opera Festival of Chicago orchestra and chorus and have included several United States and Chicago premieres. We look forward to welcoming audiences from all over the world to our latest season, which is built around a powerful theme, Bohemian Tragedy, and continues our mission with an unforgettable concert and two fantastic Italian masterworks.”
The Opera Festival of Chicago 2026 Includes
Very Verismo!
Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Jarvis Opera Hall, Holtschneider Performance Center at DePaul University School of Music, 800 W. Belden Ave.
With Opera Festival of Chicago’s leading artists
Tickets: $150
Celebrating the Opera Festival of Chicago’s sixth season’s theme, Bohemian Tragedy, Chicago's leading artists gather for a recital concert featuring works by leading Verismo composers, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, Boito, Cilea, Ponchielli and others highlighting the earthy reality of Italian opera at the onset of the 20th century.
La Bohème
Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. and
Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m.
by Giacomo Puccini
Conducted by Maestro Emanuele Andrizzi
Directed by Sasha Gerritson
Featuring Alexandra Razskazoff (Mimi), Nathan Granner (Rodolfo), Joe Lodato (Marcello), Catherine Antonia Samartin (Musetta), Jonathan Wilson (Schaunard) and Anthony Reed (Colline).
George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie
Tickets: $25 to $91
Arguably, La Boheme is one of the greatest of all operas. The tragic story follows struggling young artists trying to survive the harsh life of 1830s Paris. The drama focuses on the poetic, passionate love story between the poet Rodolfo and the frail seamstress and kept woman, Mimi, set against themes of poverty, friendship and the fleeting nature of life. Their struggles and romance unfold with unforgettable music, capturing universal emotions of joy, loss and heartbreak in their bohemian lives.
Adriana Lecouvreur
Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m. and
Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m.
by Francesco Cilea
Conducted by Maestro Emanuele Andrizzi
Directed by Shifra Werch
Featuring Zhanna Alkhazova (Adriana), Franco Pomponi (Michonnet)
Viktoria Vizin (Principessa di Bouillon),David Cangelosi (L’Abate di Chazeuil), Chris Filipowicz (Principe di Bouillion)
George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie
Tickets: $25 to $91
Adriana Lecouvreur is an authentic masterpiece, a tale of burning love and lethal jealousy. This unique Verismo opera brings to the stage a convergence of wicked plots and behind-the-scenes scandals and finishes with the tragedy of real life political intrigue; the story develops in the historical 18th century French theater setting of the famous Comédie Française and follows the vicissitudes of the celebrated actress Adriana Lecouvreur, who is ensnared in a tragic love triangle with a noble soldier and a vengeful princess, ultimately meeting a tragic end. Adriana Lecouvreur was last presented in Chicago 70 years ago with the great Italian soprano Renata Tebaldi in the title role.
Cast and creative teams are subject to change.
ABOUT OPERA FESTIVAL OF CHICAGO
Opera Festival of Chicago is dedicated to bringing opera to life through world-class productions of iconic Italian operatic works, as well as rarely presented masterpieces. Our mission is to create an atmosphere where artists and audiences can be transformed; to champion the next generation of talent by providing essential opportunities and to bring the power and poetry of Italian opera to life.
The Opera Festival of Chicago announces its sixth season with the theme Bohemian Tragedy, June 13 - July 5. The 2026 Opera Festival of Chicago kicks off with its leading artists in concert in Very Verismo! on Saturday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jarvis Opera Hall at DePaul University, 800 W. Belden Ave. The first fully-staged opera, La Bohème by Giacomo Puccini, opens Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. with additional performances Wednesday, July 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, July 5 at 2 p.m. at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The final production of the season is Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea, Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m and Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m., also at the George Van Dusen Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets are $25 - $150 and are available at OperaFestivalChicago.org.
The 2026 Festival is sponsored by the Illinois Arts Council, Istituto Italiano di Cultura, John R. Halligan Charitable Fund and SCM Globe
The Opera Festival of Chicago enjoys partnerships with DePaul University and Northeastern University.
TOP ROW (L to R): General Director Sasha Gerritson and Conductor Maestro Sir Emanuele Andrizzi
BOTTOM ROW: (L to R): Artistic Director Franco Pomponi and Shifra Werch, director, Adriana Lecouvreur