Chicago Opera Theater brings a “trivial comedy for serious people” to Chicago audiences with the Chicago premiere of Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s The Importance of Being Earnest, a sparkling operatic adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s beloved play and a joyful tribute to the history of classical music itself.

Composed in 1961 by the Italian-born composer—who fled fascist Italy in 1939 and later became one of Hollywood’s most influential film composers—The Importance of Being Earnest transforms Wilde’s famously witty comedy into an elegant and effervescent opera. The work preserves Wilde’s razor-sharp satire of Victorian manners while enriching the story with music that heightens both its romance and its absurdity.

Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s score is also a playful love letter to opera and the classical repertoire, filled with musical quotations and affectionate nods to beloved composers. Throughout the opera, listeners will hear dozens of sly references to works by Bach, Mozart, Rossini, Verdi, Wagner and more, woven into the score with wit and theatrical flair. These musical “inside jokes” mirror Wilde’s own sophisticated humor, creating an opera that rewards seasoned opera lovers while also delighting audiences encountering the art form for the first time.

The story follows the tangled identities of Jack Worthing and Algernon Moncrieff, whose elaborate deceptions lead to romantic chaos when both men attempt to woo women determined to marry someone named “Ernest.” As mistaken identities multiply and social conventions collapse, Wilde’s timeless satire unfolds in a world of sparkling wit, irresistible melody, and theatrical charm.

Although the opera premiered in 1962 and has long been admired by musicians and scholars, it has remained infrequently produced. COT’s Chicago premiere invites audiences to experience this rarely performed gem—an opera where impeccable manners conceal outrageous secrets, romance blossoms in the most unlikely circumstances, and the greatest revelation of all may be the true importance of being “Earnest.”

This new production will be directed by Brenna Corner, Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Victoria, and conducted by Kamna Gupta, both making their COT debuts. The cast features the return of COT favorites soprano Vanessa Becerra and mezzo-soprano Leah Dexter, alongside the company debuts of soprano Erica Schuller, mezzo-soprano Emily Treigle, and tenors Martin Luther Clark and Omar Najmi.

Composer: Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
Libretto by the composer after Oscar Wilde

CHICAGO PREMIERE

Wednesday, December 2 @ 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 5 @ 3 PM
Sunday, December 6 @ 3 PM

The Studebaker Theater

This production is 3 hours including intermission.