Chicago Opera Theatre
by Annette Dixon
   Congratulations to the Chicago Opera Theatre for their first production of this year at Harris Theatre with two performances of King Roger, Composer Karol Szymanowski and Conductor, Lidiya
Yankovskaya. The Opera was outstanding in every way, even though Polish is not my native language, but it was easy to understand the English Subtitles.
    Queen Roxana begs King Roger to pardon the shepherd accused of preaching a philosophy of pleasure, as for the King is fighting with his inner self. He’s torn between the idyllic ideas of the stranger. There
was mysticism, romance, seduction within the 90 minutes of this exciting opera.
   Composer Szymanowski spent nearly six years between 1918 and 1924 finishing this opera. Conductor Lidiya Yankovskaya was named Chicagoan of the year in 2020 and recently chosen to be included in the
Newcity Stage. The director was Dyland Evans. Chicago Opera Theatre is a company base focused on expending the tradition of opera as a living art form and producing high-quality works to Chicago
audiences. They have a top tier cast and creative talent. Founded in 1973, with store front theatres thriving side by side, COT has grown from grassroots, community vibrant, diverse art form. COT has staged over 150 operas.



Pictures: Mariusz Godlewski, Iwona Sabotka, Dylan Evans, Lidiya Yankovskaya, and Tyrone Chambers III