Top Things to do in Illinois
Top Hotels in Illinois
Countries
What to do and see in Illinois, United States: The Best Operas
Discover the best top things to do in Illinois, United States including Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera in Focus, The Lyric Opera House, Sandwich Opera House.
Restaurants in Illinois
1. Lyric Opera of Chicago
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 461 reviews
Grand spectacle. The finest singers of our time. And immortal music performed by Lyric's internationally celebrated orchestra and chorus.
Reviewed By shellymR6740XN
Beautiful building & decor. Madame Butterfly was spellbinding. Recommend the pre- order for intermission refreshments. We were able to enjoy a leisurely glass of wine without waiting in line with this service. Was worried about what to wear but there was a wide range of fashion so just go & enjoy.
2. Chicago Opera Theater
3. Opera in Focus
4. The Lyric Opera House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 29 reviews
Reviewed By T802FGangelaa - Chicago, United States
The Lyric is beautiful and ornate. As a family we went to see Madam Butterfly, currently playing at the Lyric. The Stage was amazing, it was well thought out. It incorporated the east and the west into the scenery. It is helpful to read the program before the Opera begins, the three Acts have a synopsis so it was easy to follow; especially if you are not familiar with the story line. If you find yourself falling behind, the translation is right above the stage. Don't miss it.
5. Sandwich Opera House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
On August 20, 1878, 25 years after Sandwich first became a town, a contract was signed for construction of the Sandwich City Hall and Opera House. An allotment of $10,000 was given for the project. Fast forward 108 years. After much time, money and energy by volunteers to restore and renovate the City Hall and the Opera House, a grand re-opening was held on April 12, 1986. Once again the building functions as a community oriented facility, bringing community theater, lectures, recitals, style shows, weddings and a wide variety of outstanding performers, ranging from country to classical, to its stage.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Take a guided tour of the Sandwich City Hall and Opera House. Located at 140 East Railroad Street in Sandwich, Illinois, it was built in 1878, a quarter-century after Sandwich first became a town. It was one of the early buildings in the expanding Midwest which proved to be a complete "community center" with offices for the mayor, city government, police department and fire department and a five-cell jail on the first floor and the Opera House on the second floor. The Opera House served as the core of social and cultural activities of the community with shows by traveling troupes from vaudeville to Shakespeare, home talent productions, lecture series, recitals, high school graduations, political rallies, temperance meetings, the Fireman's Ball and church gatherings. Over the years, the 48-foot by 80-foot building, with the lower floor 12 feet high and the upper floor with balcony 11 feet high, outside facilities took over many of the Opera House's activities (the last high school graduation was held there in 1922) and it was largely abandoned after World War II. However, the functions of city government continued within the building. In 1979, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and a community group formed to restore and renovate the Opera House. Extensive research was done to provide an accurate representation of the theater as it was in the 1890s. Wall and ceiling stenciling was reproduced and chandeliers appropriate to the period were installed. New sophisticated sound and lighting equipment was integrated inconspicuously into the historic fabric of the space and an addition was built to house dressing rooms, a theater workshop, storage areas and a community room on the first floor. Since work was completed in 1986, the building once again began to function as a community-oriented facility, bringing community theater by the Indian Valley Theatre company, recitals, dance, concerts, style shows, lectures, weddings, summer theater workshops for children and country western, classical and bluegrass performers to its stage. On your tour, be sure to note that the old jail cells on the first floor have been converted into washrooms with the steel bars still on display.
