(Credit: Picture from Chicago Opera Theater)

Chicago Opera Theater is set to open its 2024-25 Season with the North American premiere of “Leonora.”

The Italian opera composed by Ferdinando Paër to a libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa and Giacomo Cinti is based on the same story as Beethoven’s later opera “Fidelio.” According to musicologists, Beethoven was influenced by Paër while composing his only opera.

The work will be conducted by Dame Jane Glover and will star tenor Edgardo Rocha in his Chicago debut, soprano Vanessa Becerra in the title role of Leonora, soprano Keely Futterer as Marcellina, baritone Joo Won Kang as Rocco, tenor Matthew Pearce as Don Pizzarro, tenor Kameron Alston as Don Fernando, and bass-baritone Alex Soare as Giachino.

Edlis Neeson General Director Lawrence Edelson will make his Chicago directorial debut.

In a statement, Edelson said, “When I joined COT, Paër’s ‘Leonora’ was one of the first operas I considered producing. 2020 was the 250th Anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, and as part of the worldwide celebrations, there was renewed interest in Paër’s opera. Leonora premiered in 1804, and was frequently performed across Europe in the early 19th century. In the 1820s, ‘Fidelio’ began being produced more frequently, and Paër’s opera was neglected for well over a century, with only sporadic performances of heavily cut versions of the score taking place. The first critical edition of ‘Leonora’ was prepared for performances in Austria in 2020, and a recording of those concert performances was issued shortly thereafter. When I heard this new recording, I was blown away. The musical invention – both orchestrally and vocally – is remarkable, and the relationship between Paër’s realization of the story to Beethoven’s is fascinating. Knowing that Lyric Opera was planning on bringing Fidelio back to the stage this fall, it was clear to me that we had to produce Leonora. I am thrilled to be collaborating with Dame Jane Glover and a truly remarkable cast to bring Leonora to life. Audiences are in for a night of sensational, virtuoso singing and a new perspective on a timeless story that is as relevant today as it was when it first premiered.”

“Leonora” will be performed from Oct. 1 to Oct. 6 at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building.