The Chicago Opera Theater has announced its 2018-19 season featuring exciting and rarely performed operatic gems. Here is a look at what the season will offer.

Tchaikovsky’s “Iolanta” makes its Chicago premiere with direction by internationally acclaimed and award-winning director Paul Curran and under the baton of COT’s own Staley Music Director, Maestro Lidiya Yankovskaya. Katherine Weber sings the title role with tenor John Irvin, bass Mikhail Svetlov, and baritone Christopher Magiera. 

Performance Dates: Nov. 10-18, 2018

Stefan Weisman and David Cote’s “The Scarlet Ibis” get its Chicago premiere after a successful world premiere at the PROTOTYPE Festival. Elizabeth Margolius directs a new production with David Hanlon conducting a cast that includes Jordan Rutter, Annie Rosen, Quinn Middleman, Sharmay Musacchio, and Bill McMurray. 

Performance Dates: Feb. 16-24, 2019

The season concludes with Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Moby Dick” starring Thomas Studebaker, Aleksey Bogdanov, and Andrew Bidlack. Yankovskaya conducts the opera in Kristine McIntyre’s international production.

Performance Dates: April 25-28, 2019