The "other" opera company in town, Chicago Opera Theater doesn't get all the big names, but it offers an alternative to the more traditional Lyric by focusing on often-neglected works (to make them accessible to a wider audience, English supertitles are used during performances). It also helps that tickets are less expensive and more plentiful than the Lyric Opera's. The company performs three operas each spring (Mar-May), which usually run the gamut from classical tragedies by Handel to 20th-century satirical works. No matter what the bill, the talent and production values are top-notch. On certain evenings during the season, ticket holders are invited to a pre-performance lecture and Q&A session with the director, conductor, or other members of the artistic staff.

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Chicago 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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