The American Chamber Opera Company was founded in 2011 by Chicago-based artists, Jonathan Cambry, Karrah Cambry, with the goal of making opera accessible to performers and audiences alike.
The American Chamber Opera Company’s mission is to perform full-length opera and oratorio in English, to convey a true sense of the composer’s intent in each piece, while making relative connections with our audiences. Furthermore, the company looks to find young artists with exceptional talent to perform the roles. Many operas now are performed by seasoned singers, who have been performing for decades. Although we have great respect for their talent, we also desire to provide a venue for younger artists to hone their artistry.
Our cast consists of emerging young artists who have the potential for greatness in opera. The company is a passionate and driven ensemble, determined to bring their talents to a wider audience.
Our company tours, performing in various locations, concert-style. We maintain simple and minimal staging to allow the music to be the primary focus.
In our inaugural season, we are performing Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, La Boheme. The story tells of two artists, a painter and a writer, who find love, despite the poverty of lower-class Paris in 1830. The story encompasses the passion, excitement, and jealousy that love can cause. The central story is that of Rodolpho, a poet, and Mimi, a seamstress. They fall hopelessly in love-at-first sight. Rodolpho leaves Mimi while she has fallen ill and their love gains complexity due to feelings of guilt. Mimi succumbs to the disease in one of the most heart-wrenching operatic finales of all time.