A Tribute Extravaganza to Women in the Arts by Women in the Arts
#IWD2022 #BreaktheBias
Award-winning female singers are centerstage for an International Women’s Day (IWD) concert celebrating this year’s IWD theme, “Break the Bias.” Working In Concert and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church present Bellissima Opera’s International Women’s Day Concert at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oak Park.
Headlining the event are award-winning sopranos Michelle Areyzaga, Jonita Lattimore and Christine Steyer, along with contralto Corinne Wallace-Crane. They will be accompanied by collaborative pianists Dana Brown and Jennifer McCabe.
“This extravaganza of female talent is designed to delight listeners with arias of opera’s favorite heroines, songs by local women composers, and more,” said Steyer, Artistic Director of Bellissima Opera. “We will truly ‘Break the Bias’ of beliefs that women have not made equal contributions as composers and lyricists, by shining a spotlight on rarely performed gems.”
Local composers represented at the concert are Lita Grier, Lena J. McLin, Patrice Michaels and Elizabeth Rudolph. The evening will also showcase music from “Future Perfect*–a modern fairytale,” set to the lyrics of young women from Lane Tech College Prep and Senn High Schools.
Guest artists are M.G. Bertulfo, emcee and author, who will read from her novel-in-progress about a young Filipino girl, and Kumu Hula June Kaililani Tanoue with a performance by Halau I Ka Pono (The Hula School of Chicago). Images by Japanese artist Mimei Sakamoto will serve as magnificent backdrops. Claudia Hommel, Working In Concert’s Executive Director, will open the event.
Concert is 75 minutes with no intermission. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Attendees should arrive by 6:45 p.m. and be prepared to show proof of vaccination and ID. A VIP reception with artists follows, on-site. Tickets: $25, $40 with VIP reception. $10 students. Brown Paper Tickets: https://iwd2022oakpark.bpt.me or at the door if not sold out.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church is located at 611 Randolph Street in Oak Park. The building is accessible and free street parking is available. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged. If concert is cancelled due to COVID, tickets will be valid for the rescheduled concert date.
Bellissima Opera (Oak Park) presents innovative classical concert experiences. It is an initiative of Working in Concert (Chicago). WIC educates, advocates for, and mobilizes a global community of singers who use the art of song to empower lives and build community.
Donors supporting this concert include Jethra Kapp, Eleanor Sharpe, Illinois Arts Council and private individuals.
EDITORS NOTES:
CONCERT PARTICIPANTS:
Michelle Areyzaga (Arlington Heights)
Jonita Lattimore (Chicago)
Dana Brown (Chicago)
Jennifer McCabe (Chicago)
Claudia Hommel (Chicago)
Christine Steyer (Oak Park)
M.G. Bertulfo (Oak Park)
June Tanoue (Oak Park)
Corinne Wallace-Crane (Naperville)
Mimei Sakamoto (Tokyo, Japan)
*The world premiere of David Shenton’s Future Perfect, commissioned by Bellissima Opera/Working In Concert, will take place at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago this June.