Der Silbersee The Silverlake

Premiered in Germany on February 18, 1933, and promptly banned by the recently elected Nazi party, Der Silbersee (The Silverlake) was composer Kurt Weill’s final theatrical work written before he fled to Paris in March 1933 to escape the rising tide of fascism, eventually immigrating to the United States. A groundbreaking work that stands as both a testament to artistic defiance and a timeless reflection of humanity's struggles and hopes, Der Silbersee is a genre-defying masterpiece that blurs the boundaries between opera, operetta, and musical theater, paving the way for the future of music drama. Written in collaboration with dramatist Georg Kaiser, the narrative tells the poignant story of Severin, a destitute man shot while stealing a pineapple, and Olim, the policeman who wounds him but later nurses him back to health as he seeks redemption. At its heart, this deeply human tale asks a question that resonates deeply today: How can we find reconciliation and hope in a fractured world? Weill’s score —an extraordinary blend of late-Romantic lyricism, sharp modernist edges, and the propulsive energy of popular song — underscores the work’s emotional depth and political urgency, seamlessly shifting between satire, poignancy, and surrealism.

The Chicago Premiere production at COT will be directed by Lawrence Edelson and conducted by James Lowe in his COT debut. The cast will feature tenor Chaz’men Williams-Ali as Severin, and the COT debuts of bass baritone Justin Hopkins as Olim, Ariana Strahl as Fennimore, and tenor Dylan Morrongiello as both The Lottery Agent and Baron Laur. Mezzo soprano Leah Dexter returns to COT as the duplicitous Frau von Luber, and soprano Boya Wei and mezzo soprano Sophia Maekawa are featured as the Shopgirls. With its stunning music, moving story, and enduring message, Der Silbersee is as relevant now it was in 1933 — a mirror to the past, a reflection of our world today, and a beacon of hope for the future.