RINALDO
DetailsRinaldo by Handel
Wednesday, July 8, 2026 — 7:30 PM
Saturday, July 11, 2026 — 12:00 PM
Ganz Hall
Roosevelt University
430 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
SynopsisDuring the First Crusade in the 11th century, the Christian knight Rinaldo is serving under the leadership of Goffredo in the siege of Jerusalem. Goffredo declares that, if the Christian forces capture the city, Rinaldo may marry his love, Goffredo’s daughter Almirena. However, Argante, the king of Jerusalem, will not be so easily defeated thanks to his lover, Armida. She is not only the Queen of Damascus but also a sorceress who intends to prevent the Christians’ victory by removing Rinaldo from the picture. To achieve this, she magically abducts Almirena from Rinaldo’s arms.
Desperate to regain his love, Rinaldo seeks out magical assistance of his own, but falls into Armida’s trap, effectively deserting Goffredo’s army. However, as in any Baroque opera seria worth its salt, love tends to follow captivity; Argante is weakened by affection for the captive Almirena and Armida swoons at the captive Rinaldo’s defiance and laments his lack of interest. These shifting affections cause a rift between Argante and Armida.
Meanwhile, Goffredo and his brother Eustazio bring the full force of their army to rescue Rinaldo and Almirena, but need a bit of magic assistance to overcome Armida’s powerful monsters and enchantments. The strongest force at Armida’s disposal, however, is revenge; she intends to kill Rinaldo’s true love, Almirena, to punish him for rejecting her, then transfer her efforts toward the whole Christian army. In the final showdown, Rinaldo, Almirena, Goffredo, and the rest of the Christian army must overcome malice and power with virtue and love.
Rinaldo is Handel’s first Italian opera written for the London stage, where he would build an impressive reputation. The exciting variety of special effects and magical scenarios is only matched by the variety in Handel’s blend of Italian, French, and English musical styles.
Cast
Colleen Allard-Smith
Colleen Allard-Smith is a first-year Masters student at the Manhattan School of Music, majoring in Vocal performance, studying with Mary Dunleavy. Her musical journey began as a member of several choral ensembles, where she cultivated her talents and developed a deep love for performance. While at Furman University, she performed with the Furman Singers, Furman Jazz Ensemble, and Sarah Reese Lyric Theatre, and remained determined in her commitment to musical excellence.
Colleen embraces every role, whether as a lead or an ensemble member. She has played roles such as Public Opinion in Orpheus in the Underworld, an Urchin in Little Shop of Horrors, and New Ofglen in The Handmaid’s Tale. During her first year at Manhattan School of Music so far she was part of the ensemble for L'elisir D'amore and played the role of Annio in La Clemenza di Tito. She has also performed in new works such as Songs in Flight by Shawn E. Okpebhalo and Stinney: An American Execution by Frances Pollock, which won The American Prize in Opera Performance (2023). Beyond the stage, she served as the Herring Choral Scholar at First Baptist Church in Greenville and performed as a soloist throughout the Southeast. Her honors include top placements in NATS and Schmidt Vocal Competitions.
Rinaldo
Chenyi Huang
Chenyi Huang, mezzo-soprano, is a Junior student at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Her recent performances include Die Fledermaus, L'Étoile, and Don Giovanni at CIM, with upcoming roles in Suor Angelica and Rusalka. A graduate of the Music School Affiliated to Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, she served as mezzo section head of its choir and is a prize winner in the Hangzhou Youth Art Competition.
Rinaldo
AlmirenaJessica Vargas
Jessica Vargas is a soprano from Brooklyn, New York. She recently earned her Master of Music in Opera from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she studied with Dawn Shicoff. She also holds a Bachelor of Music with a double concentration in Voice Performance and Music Education from Mason Gross, having trained under Nancy Gustafson.
Her performance credits with Opera Theater Rutgers include Les Contes d’Hoffmann (Ensemble), L’Orfeo (Euridice), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Peaseblossom), Escobar (Ensemble), Candide (Paquette), Dark Sisters (Almera), and Carmen (Mercèdes), as well as several opera scenes programs. In concert, Jessica had the privilege to perform as the soprano soloist in Haydn’s Schöpfungsmesse with the Rutgers University Kirkpatrick Choir. Outside of classical performance, Jessica spent a semester as a vocalist in the Latin American Chamber Music Ensemble where she performed repertoire by Roberto Cole and Buena Vista Social Club.
Abigail Williams
GoffredoAbigail Williams (mezzo-soprano) is a recent graduate from Samford University, where she received her Bachelor's of Music in Vocal Performance. Her previous credits include Suor Angelica (La zia principessa cover), Die Fledermaus (ensemble), Suor Angelica (La Zelatrice), Pagliacci (ensemble), and Cavalleria Rusticana (ensemble). She has also performed with opera programs Opera Lucca and Opera Viva!. Abigail is a certified Music Together teacher and was the assistant conductor of the Samford Orchestra. She is excited to be a part of the Chicago Summer Opera program and is extremely grateful for this opportunity!
Joseph Atkinson
Argante
Miryoung Song
ArmidaSoprano Miryoung Song from South Korea earned her Master’s degree in Classical Voice at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, where she studied with Susan Quittmeyer. Her operatic roles include Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore and a Siren in Rinaldo. In addition to opera, she has performed solo recitals and chamber concerts with various collaborative artists, demonstrating her strong interest in both operatic and art song repertoire.
Aurora Gibney-Krashen
Siren
Sherry Xia
Brooklyn Spear
AlmirenaSoprano Brooklyn Spear is an emerging artist whose repertoire spans from light to lyric coloratura roles. Most recently, she appeared as a featured soprano chorus member in the premiere of the new opera Time To Act by Laura Kaminsky, with libretto by Crystal Manich at Pittsburgh Opera. She was also involved in the workshop process for Time To Act. Brooklyn has also recently appeared in several of Carnegie Mellon University Opera’s productions in roles including Morgana in Alcina, The Princess in Transformations, Cunégonde in “Grand Opera Scenes” with the CMU Philharmonic Orchestra, and a soprano chorus member in La clemenza di Tito.
Brooklyn Spear is currently pursuing a BFA in Vocal Performance at Carnegie Mellon University, as well as minoring and pursuing certification in Music Education, with an expected graduation of May 2026. Her operatic training also extends to vocal programs such as La Musica Lirica, a 6-week intensive young artist program where she had the opportunity to sing in two concerts in Italy, as well as perform in the chorus of L’elisir d’amore and cover the role of Adina.
Brooklyn has been recognized for her dedication to her artistry through awards, including the Sylvie Derdeyn Memorial Scholarship in Voice. She is also a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society.
Brooklyn is currently based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing her next artistic endeavors with CMU Opera. In March, she will be performing as Asphodèle in L’étoile, and in April, she will be presenting her undergraduate senior voice recital, including works by Schubert, Fauré, Duparc, Barber, Granados, and Donizetti. This summer, Brooklyn will also be appearing in LAH-SOW’s Philadelphia program as the Sandman and Dewfairy in Hansel und Gretel and Chicago Summer Opera’s program as Almirena in Rinaldo.
Xinyi Ma
Goffredo CoverMy name is Xinyi Ma. I’m 19 years old now and I’m a mezzo-soprano. I've been learning to sing for almost seven years and classical voice for four years. During this time, I had a variety of intriguing encounters that helped me mature. In 2019, I attended the Tchaikovsky Conservatory of Music in Russia to study vocal music, which provided me with a new perspective on classical voice. I was enrolled to Tianjin Juilliard School pre-college's classical voice department in 2022 and continue to study with Mr. Han Yinpei now. During my time at Tianjin Juilliard School, I frequently participated in the school's vocal institute and met many famous singers from home and abroad, including French soprano Norah Amesellem; vocal coach Valentin Lanzrein; Italian opera house art director, Francesco Aliberti; academic dean of Tianjin Juilliard School, Katherine Chu, and soprano Yang Guang, among others. Having participated in numerous performances during the school year, I was invited by Annie, the composer department, to perform in the world premiere of the new piece "The Twin-masted Boat" in February 2024. On August 16, 2024, I delivered my first solo concert, "Songs of Seventeen". It was a significant challenge for me. In April 2025, I performed as Knabe in the opera “Die Zauberflöte” produced by the Tianjin Juilliard School. In the same month, I held my personal concert again, which was also the graduation concert. In 2025, I received offers from these schools which is Manhattan School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory, Montclair State University, Stony Brook University and Michigan State University. And on average, each school has received scholarships of half or more. Finally I chose Montclair State University and studying under Professor Maya Lahyani and Professor Beth Robert. In the autumn semester of 2025, I attended several master classes and some performances, such as the master class given by Isabel Leonard. In January 2026, I performed Knabe in the school-produced Opera “Die Zauberflöte”.
Taylor Fenner
ArmidaOriginally from Brookings, South Dakota, Taylor Fenner, is a soprano based in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area with experience in a variety of styles and repertoires.
A passionate concert work soloist and choral performer, she has had the pleasure of performing with many choral and orchestral ensembles including the Dallas Bach Society, Orpheus Chamber Ensemble, Compline Choir, Osanna Chamber Ensemble, Heri et Hodie, Bach Ensemble of Saint Thomas, and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in performances of Mozart’s Requiem, Bach’s Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Mass in B Minor, Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Messiah, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.
This season on the operatic stage, Taylor will perform Armida (Rinaldo) with Chicago Summer Opera and Königin der Nacht (Die Zauberflöte) with Opera Arlington. She has recently performed Sandman and Dew Fairy (Hansel and Gretel), La Fée (Cendrillon), Yvette/Georgette (La Rondine), Sherry (That Hell-bound Train), the titular role in Alcina in Poland, Micaëla (Carmen), Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro), and Ida (Die Fledermaus) in Berlin.
Taylor received her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Augustana University.
Stella McCabe-Soares
SirenEustazioSherry Xia is currently a student at the University of Iowa. She recently appeared in Cedar Rapids Opera’s Cupid Cabaret and in the University of Iowa’s production of the Hunchback of Notre Dame. She is grateful for the opportunity to perform at Chicago Summer Opera and to collaborate with wonderful musicians! She would like to express her heartfelt thanks to her mentors and all those who have supported and guided her musical journey.
Antonio Serrano
Herald
April Suh
Almirena CoverDelighted to make her debut with Chicago Summer Opera, April Suh is a soprano currently studying at the Eastman School of Music under Professor Nicole Cabell. Originally from Schaumburg, Illinois, April’s musical path led her to the East Coast, where she studied in the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Voice Program with Lorraine Nubar. During her time at Juilliard, April made her Carnegie Hall debut as a chorus member with the Juilliard Orchestra, premiered new works by Pre-College composition majors, and received tuition scholarships through the George & Nora London Foundation. In addition to her love of opera repertoire, April is also involved in Eastman’s Collegium Musicum, a group directed by Paul O’Dette and Christel Thielmann that presents music from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Charles Bohrer
ArganteCharles Shaun Bohrer is a third year studying Voice Performance at Baldwin Wallace University. Recent credits include Aeneas in “Dido and Aeneas” by Henry Purcell, Car Man in “Speed Dating Tonight!” by Michael Ching, and Tiridate, King of Armenia in “Radamisto” by George Frideric Handel. He made his Young Artist debut with Finger Lakes Opera in 2025 portraying Ophémon in “The Anonymous Lover” by Joseph Bologne and singing in the chorus of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto”. He is thrilled to join Chicago Summer Opera this season and would like to take a moment to thank the artistic team for this terrific opportunity. Instagram: @baritone.bohrer
Madeline Depinet
Armida CoverMADELINE DEPINET hails from Bowling Green, OH. She has performed with Toledo Opera, Bowling Green State University Opera, the Austrian American Mozart Academy, and Knoxville Opera. Past performances include Virtu (BGSU’s The Coronation of Poppea), Papagena (BGUS’s Magic Flute), Mademoiselle Silberklang (AAMA Der Schauspieldirektor), Cameriere 1 (UTOT Alemia al ballo), The Vixen (UTOT The Cunning Little Vixen), Chorus (Toledo Opera South Pacific), Chorus (Toledo Opera Roméo et Juliette), and Chorus (Knoxville Opera Carmen). Previous studies include receiving her BM in Choral Music Education from Bowling Green State University. She is currently studying with Reneé Tatum at the University of Tennessee; working towards her masters in Vocal Performance and a certificate in Vocal Pedagogy.
Demi Wang
Siren CoverMy name is Demi Wang, and I am a dedicated vocalist and musician passionate about developing my artistry and expressive performance. I study voice through the Certificate of Merit program and actively perform in chamber music concerts that support humanitarian causes. Through my training, I focus on musical expression, storytelling, and connecting emotionally with audiences. I am currently pursuing advanced musical studies through dual-enrollment college coursework while continuing my vocal development. I aspire to pursue a career in music and use performance as a way to inspire and connect with others. I am excited to continue growing as an artist through opportunities like Chicago Summer Opera.
Leah Smith
Eustazio CoverLeah Alexandra Smith is a Mezzo Soprano hailing from Hartsville, South Carolina. She currently studies vocal performance at the College of Charleston School of the Arts with Harold Meers and Sandy DeAthos-Meers, and will receive her B.A. in music in the Spring of 2027. Some recent roles of hers include Hänsel in Humperdinck's Hänsel und Gretel and Orfeo in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. She plans to continue her studies in performance and vocal pedagogy after graduating and is very grateful for the support her teachers and family provide for her in her musical journey.
Max Kramer
MageMax Kramer, baritone, is a singer of many genres from Dayton, OH. Recent productions include Gianni Schicchi (Gianni Schicchi) with Capital University, Amahl and the Night Visitors (King Melchior) with Music On Site Inc., The Crucible (Thomas Putnam) and Falstaff (Robin/Chorus) with Harrower Summer Opera and Songs for a New World (Man 2) at Capital University. Max placed 2nd in the 2025 Ohio NATS Upper-Level Musical Theatre Competition and 4th in the 2025 Ohio NATS Upper-Level Classical Competition, as well as receiving an honorable mention in the 2025 Mirabell Schloss Competition in Salzburg, Austria.
Stella is a soprano based in nyc who is about to graduate from Hunter college in December. She loves to sing and is very excited to participate in Chicago Summer Opera’s production of Rinaldo!
Klaudia Chance
EustazioMezzo-Soprano Klaudia Chance is originally from Houston, Texas, but now resides in San Marcos, Texas, where she just graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Studies. She is currently a voice student of Dr. Christoper Besch, whom she began working with during her undergrad at Texas State. Klaudia joined her first choir in 4th grade and has been singing in choirs ever since. During her time at Texas State University, she was a member of the choral ensembles Aurora Voce and University Singers. With Texas State University Opera, she has performed the roles of Curio in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, La Tasse Chinoise in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, and chorus in Die Fledermaus. Klaudia was a 2024 OPERA San Antonio/Classical Music Institute Studio Artist, and a Semi-Finalist in the 2025 South Texas NATS competition. She has also performed works such as St. Matthew’s Passion with Bach Society Houston, and is a Choral Scholar at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in San Marcos. Klaudia is eternally grateful for the opportunity to grow as an artist that Chicago Summer Opera has given her, and is excited to be apart of the Summer 2026 program!
Jack Delman
HeraldJack Delman is a tenor and rising junior studying Music Education and Vocal Performance at Ithaca College, where he studies with acclaimed bass-baritone Marc Webster. Jack’s performing journey began in high school, being featured in theatre productions such as The Addams Family (Fester) and being involved in countless other ensembles. In college, Jack has been involved in Ithaca’s productions of Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ L’amant anonyme and Handel’s Acis and Galatea. Last summer, Jack made his international opera debut in Arezzo, Italy, performing as Don Perizonio in Cimarosa’s opera farsa L’impresario in angustie as apart of the 2025 Opera Seme Festival. This summer, Jack is so excited to be covering the role of Peter Quint in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and performing the role of Herald in Handel’s Rinaldo with Chicago Summer Opera!
Ethan Miller
Mage
Ethan Miller, baritone, is a Missouri native who recently earned his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from California State University, Northridge. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Missouri–Columbia and currently studies under Dr. Hugo Vera, having previously studied with Christina Ray.
Mr. Miller recently made his acting debut in the feature film Plump Jack as a Constable, with the film’s first official showing forthcoming. On the operatic stage, he has appeared in a range of dramatic and character-driven roles, including Lord Rochefort in Anna Bolena, Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro, Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief, and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
His additional credits and cover roles further reflect a growing dramatic baritone repertoire and include Don Carlos in The Stone Guest, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, Figaro & Le Conte in Le nozze di Figaro, Masetto in Don Giovanni, and Sam in Blue Monday.