Displaying items by tag: Al Kassouf

Wednesday, 13 May 2026 16:14

Chicago City Opera presents Strauss Masterpiece Der Rosenkavalier

Chicago City Opera (CCO) presents one of late-Romantic composer Richard Strauss' most beloved works, Der Rosenkavalier. Composed by Strauss to a libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, Der Rosenkavalier requires massive forces both on stage and in the pit, and thus, somewhat of a rarity for traditional opera companies. In CCO's signature pared down style, the grand opera is stripped down to its raw essentials, highlighting the complex relationships, sophisticated humor, and nuanced characters at the heart of this work. Set in a 1980's American yachting community, CCO's production brings Strauss' deceptively poignant comedy to audiences in a uniquely intimate setting. Der Rosenkavalier is presented in two performances only: Friday, June 5@ 7:00 PM at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center (4740 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625) and Sunday, June 7@ 7:00 PM at Fulton Street Collective (6273, 1821 W Hubbard St Unit 307, Chicago, IL 60622). General admission tickets are $30 with preferred seating for $40 and select VIP tickets for $100. Tickets are on sale now at chicagocityopera.com.

"Der Rosenkavalier is one of those rare works that, with the help of Strauss' lush Romantic orchestration, manages to deliver both genuine comedy and compelling drama simultaneously. CCO's production gives audiences the opportunity to get up close and personal with this sweeping masterpiece," said CCO Artistic Director Alexandra Enyart. "We are looking forward to returning to DANK Haus German American Cultural Center to bring this masterwork of German opera to life, and partnering for the first time with Fulton Street Collective for our second performance."

Conducted by CCO Artistic Director Alexandra Enyart with stage direction by Rose Freeman The cast for Der Rosenkavalier is soprano Alannah Spencer as The Marschallin, mezzo-soprano Molly Clementz as Octavian, baritone Keaton Payne as Baron Ochs, soprano Al Kassouf as Sophie, baritone Noah Gartner as Faninal, soprano Ariel Emma as Marianne, tenor Jose Vargas as Valzacchi, and mezzo-soprano Angela Born as Annina. Pianist Jordan Crice will serve as the orchestra. Der Rosenkavalier will be performed in German with English supertitles.

About Chicago City Opera

Founded in 2019 under the name Ouroboros Opera, Chicago City Opera is a Chicago based non-profit dedicated to providing high-quality performances of standard operatic repertoire in intimate spaces, making opera accessible to audiences and performers. CCO's unique and egalitarian approach to production utilizes a collaborative model in which all the performers on stage invest as equal shareholders to produce an opera. CCO continues to be committed to the community of Chicago and is dedicated to creating the best experiences possible for our community on both sides of the stage.

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