Chicago City Opera presents Die Tote Stadt (The Dead City)

Based on one of the first great symbolist novels, Die tote Stadt (The Dead City) tells the story of a man who is trapped in his grief. Paul’s wife Marie has died, and he has developed a religious devotion to her, building what he calls a “church of the past” in his home. But when he meets a dancer who bears a striking resemblance to Marie and even shares a similar name, Paul believes that his wife has been resurrected in the form of “Marietta.” As the story progresses, the lines between reality and Paul's imagination blur, and the second half of the opera unfolds in a surreal, dream-like state, where Paul must confront his grief and his inability to let go.

Die tote Stadt is a story that explores grief in all its forms—tenderness, suffering, anger, and madness—and ultimately reveals that our deepest loves stay with us.

Cast:
Paul- Karlos Piñero-Mercado
Marietta/Marie- Alannah Spencer
Juliette- Ashley McKinstry
Frank/Fritz- Noah Gartner
Gaston/Graf- Peter Lorenzo
Brigitta/Lucienne- Nicole Rivera-Montañez
Victorin- Kameron Alston

Production:
Conductor- Alexandra Enyart
Director- Paige Cameron
Pianist- Jordan Crice
Scenic Designer- Audrey Tieman
Stage Manager- Julia Dirkes-Jacks
Graphic Designer- Molly Clementz