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

LEAD SEASON SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSORS