Bellissima Opera

A special shout out to everyone involved in our wonderful International Women's Day concert yesterday in Oak Park. (left to right) violin Becky Coffman; piano Alyssa Arrigo and Jennifer McCabe; singers Marissa Howard, Lauren Sutherland, Christine Steyer, Jennifer Kosharsky and Dominique Frigo; composer Dodie Morris Whitaker; art teacher Lindsay Hammer.

We are grateful to announce that Bellissima Artistic Director Christine Steyer is a recipient of the 2026 Illinois Creative Accelerator Grant which is invaluable in supporting the range of projects she currently working on with Bellissima, Working In Concert and independently including a new opera libretto, "And I Did Not Speak Out", exploring silence in the face of fascism; music videos of original songs co‑created with French composer‑pianist Jean‑Claude Orfali; recordings of songs by Chicago‑based composers including Florence Price and Ernst Bacon; and development of a new Bellissima Music in the Schools curriculum featuring songs by Hispanic and American composers. This Illinois Arts Council Grant offers funding supports both out-of-pocket expenses and the countless hours musicians devote to projects from inception to fruition. This grant acknowledges the value artists bring to enrich and inspire their communities. Thank you Illinois Arts Council! Find out more about Christine's projects at Christinesteyer.com

Happy World Opera Day! Our 25-26 season will conclude with our Annual Garden Concert in River Forest. We invite singers who have performed with Bellissima & Working In Concert over the years to sing. See our newsletter this spring for details.

Happy World Opera Day! Hear the next generation 'Under 30' who will present Opera to Cabaret January 18, 2026, 7:30pm at PianoForte Chicago. Tickets Coming Soon.

Happy World Opera Day! Want to support Bellissima in a great way? Order a box of Chocolate for our 1st ever Holiday Fundraiser. Details Coming Soon.

Happy World Opera Day 2025! Since 2008, we have brought professional musicians into schools from Chicago into the tri-state area inspiring 25,000 young people to discover live music and the unamplified beauty of the human voice.
Find out more at BellissimaOpera.com