Focuses on Chicago's love affair with opera. With hundred illustrations, this book offers an overview, which is supplemented with a complete list of all the professional opera performances in Chicago, from 1850 to 2005. It is suitable for people interested in music - especially opera - and the history of Chicago.

The story also provides an overview of changes in the operatic repertoire, audience development, and approaches to production as opera grew from a "stand-and-sing" event to its full flowering as enriching musical drama. With nearly a hundred illustrations, "150 Years of Opera in Chicago" embraces its subject enthusiastically. This broad and engaging overview is supplemented with a complete list of all the professional opera performances in Chicago, from 1850 to 2005. People interested in music - especially opera - and the history of Chicago will find this book invaluable.