2024 Season
OPERA EDWARDSVILLE at The WILDEY THEATRE
DECEMBER 19, 2024 at 7:30pm
DECEMBER 19, 2024 at 7:30pm
The Wildey Theatre: 252 N. Main Street, Edwardsville IL 62025
Oh there's no place like Opera Edwardsville for the holidays! Celebrate the holiday season with Opera Edwardsville on December 19th with a concert of festive favorites and classic carols. OE’s signature December event returns to this historic Wildey Theatre in the heart of downtown Edwardsville!
Featuring:
Karen Kanakis, soprano
Ann Toomey, soprano
Emily Fons, mezzo-soprano
Limmie Pulliam, tenor
Michael Kelly, baritone
With featured student spotlight performance:
Benjamin Moore, baritone
With accompaniment by:
Joseph Welch, pianist and OE Artist-in-Residence
With emcee:
Chase Hopkins, OE Founder & Artistic Director
Ticket Information
Tickets on sale now
Tickets will be sold through the Wildey Theatre box office and can be purchased online, by phone, or in person. To reach the Wildey box office, visit them online or call (618) 307-1750. The theatre is located at 252 N. Main Street, Edwardsville, IL 62025.
Ticket instructions
Confirmation and electronic tickets will be emailed to you by the Wildey box office from ovationtix.com. You may print your tickets at home, display them on your phone, or collect them from "will call" at the event. For questions about your tickets, contact the Wildey box office at (618) 307-1750.
Complimentary sponsor & donor tickets
In recognition of their generous support, season donors and sponsors are invited to attend our annual December concert with complimentary tickets based on their level of giving. An RSVP is required. For donors who can no longer make use of tickets they have requested, please contact the Wildey box office to release your tickets back for sale by calling (618) 307-1750.
Opera Edwardsville returns to the Historic Wildey!
This year, OE returns with its signature holiday program to the historic Wildey Theatre! To commemorate the performance, Opera Edwardsville commissioned prominent local artist Cynthia Hamilton to create a painting of the historic theater to be featured on OE's 2024 season poster.
This calls for a toast!
A champagne toast will be hosted for all by OE’s 2024 season sponsors and donors, immediately following the performance. All ticket holders are welcome to meet-and-greet the artists and raise a glass in the third floor event space attached to the Wildey Theatre.
Meet the Artists
ANN TOOMEY
Soprano
EMILY FONS
Mezzo-Soprano
KAREN KANAKIS
Soprano
BENJAMIN MOORE
Baritone Student Spotlight
LIMMIE PULLIAM
Tenor
MICHAEL KELLY
Baritone
JOSEPH WELCH
Piano
CHASE HOPKINS
Emcee
Musical Program
O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam | Joseph Welch
Roméo et Juliette by Charles Gounod
“Ô nuit divine!” | Limmie Pulliam & Karen Kanakis
Béatrice et Bénédict by Hector Berlioz
“Nuit paisible et sereine!” | Ann Toomey & Emily Fons
Hänsel und Gretel by Engelbert Humperdinck
“Abendsegen” | Karen Kanakis & Emily Fons
Otello by Giuseppe Verdi
“Già nella notte densa” | Ann Toomey & Limmie Pulliam
Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas
“Doute de la Lumière” | Michael Kelly & Karen Kanakis
Intermission
Have yourself a merry little Christmas | Emily Fons & Michel Kelly
Let it snow! | Karen Kanakis
Silent Night | Chase Hopkins
Holly Jolly Christmas | Ann Toomey
I’ll be home for Christmas | Limmie Pulliam
Blue Christmas & Love you didn’t do right by me | Emily Fons
Winter Wonderland | Michael Kelly
Student spotlight
The Christmas song | Benjamin Moore
Here comes Santa Claus | Ensemble
O Holy Night by Adolphe Adam | Ensemble
Artist-meet-and-greet & Champagne reception
Wildey Theatre, Third floor event room
SPONSORS AND SPECIAL THANKS
Lead season sponsorship comes from Stifel, the City of Edwardsville, and an anonymous donor. Presenting sponsorship comes from Lewis Rice, the Rotary Club of Edwardsville, and the Schmidt and Barton Family Fund. Patron sponsorship comes from Clementine’s Ice Cream, Carrollton Bank and Irwin Chapel. Additional support comes from the Bank of Madison County, Hortica, Miller and Maack General Contractors, Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization, and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to Cleveland Heath, Creative Solutions Graphic Design, Inc., First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Scott Evers Photography, and the Urban Collective Hotel.