Haymarket Opera treats Chicago to compelling Baroque brotherly love

Charpentier's David et Jonathas

Scott Brunscheen and Kaitlin Foley

By No’a L. bat Miri, 22 June 2026

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“a gripping realism that the era was not known for”

Reviewed at Gannon Concert Hall, Chicago on 21 June 2026

Charpentier, David et Jonathas

Haymarket Opera

Jory Vinikour, Conductor

Chase Henry Hopkins, Director

Haymarket Opera Orchestra

Scott Brunscheen, David

Kaitlin Foley, Jonathas

David Govertsen, Saul

Patrick Kilbride, Joabel

Leo Radosavljevic, Achis, Ghost of Samuel

Justin Berkowitz, La Pythonisse (Witch of Endor)

Hannah De Priest, Soprano

Kimberly McCord, Soprano

Michael St Peter, Tenor

Geoffrey Agpalo, Tenor

Evan Bravos, Baritone

French Baroque Magic at the Haymarket Opera

Kristina Powers, 24th February

Orpheus and Euridice – A timeless Greek myth forever ingrained into the classical music repertoire. Since the very beginnings of operatic history, this heartbreaking and beautiful tale has endured numerous adaptions.

*****

A Blast from the Past

Kristina Powers, 10th September

“Who were these people? How did they think? What would it be like to experience life in their time and gain full insight into their musical minds?” These are some of the main questions I ask when doing research to aid my understanding of historically informed performance in 17th and 18th-century Baroque music.

*****

Lessons from Europe in a fun-filled Fledermaus

David Smythe, 13th May

Eisenstein is a Tory Minister out of his depth on a European mission. Mischief and fun galore in RCS’s well sung Die Fledermaus, a fitting tribute to Timothy Dean as he stands down as Head of Opera.

****1

The ghost of Maria Callas: Greek National Opera’s Medea at Epidaurus

Anna Bogdanova, 20th June

To rebuild Maria Callas’s 1961 Medea is to invite the cruellest comparisons in opera. For most of a single night at Epidaurus, Greek National Opera withstands it, but then comes the final act...

****1

Three Peters for the price of one: Lortzing's Zar und Zimmermann

Elena Luporini, 20th June

Martin G Berger's new production of Zar und Zimmermann eases the Deutsche Oper Berlin into the summer break, with mixed results.

***11

Grange Park Opera's Ring cycle opens with an excellent Rheingold

Dominic Lowe, 20th June

Launching that most ambitious of endeavours, a Ring cycle, Grange Park Opera's production of Das Rheingold proves a real achievement, led by the superb Alberich of David Stout.

****1

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No’a L. bat Miri

No'a L. bat Miri is a multilingual writer and educator. Her main interests include sacred and ritual music in secular settings, contemporary American opera and political music. She attends performances globally, with an emphasis on Finland, Japan and the United States. Outside of consuming classical, she is hard at work on her first libretto, actively participates in the scent art community, and can't really say “no” to a walk along the beach or hunting for berries. No'a holds an MFA and is currently pursuing rabbinical studies.

David and Jonathan: Haymarket Opera treats Chicago to compelling Baroque brotherly love