The vote is on at Chicago Opera Theater, which is letting patrons and the general public select one work to be included in the company's 2010 season. Along the way, Chicago Opera Theater ( COT ) also is earning some cash. For six weeks ( April 30-June 8 ) people can vote for Benjamin Britten's Paul Bunyan, Rossini's Mose in Egitto ( Moses in Egypt ) or Mozart's La finta giardiniera. From the 20th, early 19th and late-18th centuries respectively, all three are rarely-produced works. Each vote also requires a pledge of $1—that's one buck—to COT. You can vote online at ChicagoOperaTheater.org or in person at a 2008 COT performance at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, now through June 8.
COT is making other news, too, as it teams with the Harris Theater and Millennium Park to present a free, live simulcast performance of Mozart's Don Giovanni Fri., May 9, at 7:30 p.m. Paying patrons will see and hear the live performance at the Harris Theatre, which will be beamed to a wide screen on the stage of the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. With the free seats available at the Pritzker Pavilion and the surrounding Great Lawn, the simulcast has the potential to reach 11,000 viewers. Let's hope Chicago's fickle spring weather cooperates.
May is overflowing with varied musical fair. For instance, you can catch Zarbang, a world percussion ensemble from Iran and Afghanistan, at 7 p.m. on Thurs., May 8, at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington. Go back Sun., May 11, at 6 p.m. as the city's Department of Cultural Affairs presents Klapa Grdelin, songs from Croatia. Both concerts are free.
On Sun.-Mon., May 11-12, the Chicago Sinfonietta partners again with the Adler Planetarium to present Portraits of the Blue/Back Into Space. The unusual multimedia concert features digital imagery by Adler Planetarium astronomer Dr. Jose Francisco Salgado, plus the world premiere of Three Songs for Bluesman & Orchestra by Larry Hoffman, featuring guitarist John Primer. The packed concert also offers works by Beethoven, Gershwin and Mussorgsky. The May 11 ( Mother's Day ) concert is at Dominican University ( River Forest ) , and the May 12 program is at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan; 312-236-3681; $26-$40.
Mexican music will be center stage Fri., May 16, at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as its Traffic Series presents Sones de México Ensemble: de coraSON 'From the Heart.' This homegrown troupe, nominated for a Grammy and a Latin Grammy, is Chicago's premier folk-music ensemble specializing in Mexican regional music styles including huapango, gusto, chilenas, son jarocho and more. You may end up dancing in aisles as Sones de Mexico explores the cross-cultural roots of Mexico's mestizo culture in Native American, Spanish and Black musical influences. 1650 N. Halsted; 312-335-1650; $25.
Chamber-music fans should mark Sun., May 18, on their calendars for the one-night-only appearance of the Moscow Virtuosi at Symphony Center. The acclaimed chamber orchestra is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Composed of top players from Russia's many symphony orchestras, the Moscow Virtuosi will offer works by Schoenberg, Hadyn, Shostakovitch, Friedrich Gulda and Argentinean tango composer Astor Piazzola. The ensemble is joined by piano soloist Olga Kern. Call 312-294-3000; $30-$75.
Also on Sun., May 18, at 6 p.m., the schmaltz unt schlag will be heavy in Oak Park as Chicago Folks Operetta presents an evening of luscious Viennese and American operetta melodies by von Suppé, Strauss, Lehár, Friml, Victor Herbert and Romberg, performed by a dozen veterans of the Lyric Opera and Chicago Symphony choruses. Following the show, Viennese pastries from Julius Meinl will be served with coffee and tea. Village Players Theatre, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park; 1-866-764-1010; $30.
As May eases into Memorial Day and IML, the University of Chicago presents adventurous young cellist Matt Haimovitz performing amidst the historic treasures of the Yelda Khorsabad Court at the Oriental Institute Thurs., May 22. The program of classical and newly composed works with literary themes will reflect authors from Shakespeare to Mark Twain. Entitled After Reading Shakespeare, it features solo cello suites by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composers Ned Rorem, Lewis Spratlan and Paul Moravec, the latter two commissioned by Haimovitz. At the Oriental Institute, 1155 E. 58th, 7:30 p.m.; 773-702-1233; $25 ( includes post-recital reception with Haimovitz ) .
