There have always been operas based on actual events, and this week’s Sunday Opera (9/16 3:00 p.m.) is one of those. “Bel Canto,” with a score by Jimmy Lopez and libretto by Nilo Cruz, uses the novel of the same name by Ann Patchett which, in turn, uses the 1996 – 1997 Japanese Embassy Crisis in Lima, Peru as its source. The plot deals with a terrorist takeover of a party at the Embassy, and the relationships that develop during the four ensuing months.
The cast of the Lyric Opera production includes Danielle de Niese, J’nai Bridges, Jeongcheol Cha, Andrew Stenson, Rafael Davila, and Jacques Imbralilo. The performance is conducted by Sir Andrew Davis. After the opera, join Michael Kownacky for an hour of symphonic music and Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 1 in C minor performed by The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Georg Solti.