Even with star Alice Coote out with a fever, Handel’s four-hour-long 1735 marathon was still worth seeing.
Author Archives: Deanna Isaacs
Posted inNews & Politics
Preservation Chicago’s seven most endangered historic buildings, plus two
Jackson Park and Thompson Center are holdovers from 2018.
Posted inArts & Culture
Lyric’s La Traviata is a triumph of true love—and Verdi’s music—even without its leading lady
It’s the date-night opera that made Julia Roberts cry in Pretty Woman.
Posted inArts & Culture
In one big weekend, Chicago Opera Theater shows off an opera in progress and a brand-new production
The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing is revelatory; The Scarlet Ibis is not.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
The lawsuit to prevent building the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park lives to fight another day in court
But Judge John Robert Blakey wants it resolved. Soon.
Posted inNews & Politics
Mayoral Arts Forum report: What Chicago Cultural Plan?
The arts community hears from (some of) the candidates.
Posted inArts & Culture
Cecil McDonald’s extraordinary photos of ordinary life
“In the Company of Black” is now on view at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Remembering industrial designer Charles Harrison
A tribute to the designer of the View-Master, the Dial-O-Matic, and the plastic garbage can—and the first black executive at Sears.
Posted inArts & Culture
Not even an injured knee can stop Nina Stemme’s powerful performance as Elektra
The soprano makes an impressive Lyric debut.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
The Obama Center will have its (Valentine’s) day in court
Will the presidential library be allowed in Jackson Park?
Posted inArts & Culture
Opera News: Lyric’s Ring Cycle season and COT’s all-female executive suite
Lyric Opera announces its next season, and Chicago Opera Theater’s put the women in charge.
Posted inNews & Politics
Governor Pritzker, the MLA, and the wealth gap
Very different solutions to the same problem all come down to the size of the pockets involved.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
A Devil’s Dictionary reconsidered at this year’s MLA convention
A 20-year-old academic takedown gets an update.
Posted inBlogs
It’s still Christmas at the Chicago Botanic Garden
The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Wonderland Express is open through January 6.
Posted inColumns & Opinion
Tired of solicitations from big nonprofits? We have just the solution for you!
With the Executive Pay Test, it’s easier than ever to decide which group deserves your hard-earned cash!