Opera Edwardsville’s Signature Holiday Concert
Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 7:30 PM | The Wildey Theatre
Opera Edwardsville’s signature December concert welcomes back two of the most celebrated artists in classical music: Grammy Award-winning soprano Christine Brewer and Grammy Award-winning pianist Craig Terry. This beloved holiday tradition at the historic Wildey Theatre promises an unforgettable evening of festive cheer, world-class artistry, and joyful community spirit.
Christine Brewer, a native of Lebanon, Illinois, is a local hero of the arts, a steadfast champion of music education in our region, and serves as Opera Edwardsville’s Artistic Advisor. Her radiant voice has filled the great halls of the world—from the Metropolitan Opera to London’s Royal Opera House— she’s been praised by The New York Times for her “glorious, heart-stopping voice” and by BBC Music as “one of the great sopranos of our time.”
Brewer is joined by the extraordinary Craig Terry, Music Director of the Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, whose collaborations span a dazzling range of today’s leading vocalists including Joyce DiDonato and Patricia Racette, the new Artistic Director of Opera Theater of St. Louis. A versatile and dynamic pianist, Craig brings both elegance and flair to every performance.
The evening will feature state-of-the-art amplification by Chicago’s Aphorism Studios, led by renowned audio engineer Dan Nichols, named Person of the Year in Classical Music by the Chicago Tribune for his pioneering digital collaborations.
To cap off the night, all ticket holders are invited to a champagne toast hosted by OE’s 2024 season sponsors and donors—raising a glass to music, community, and the magic of the holidays.
Before the show, make your evening merry and bright with dinner and drinks at OE’s official restaurant partner, Cleveland Heath, located just steps from the theatre at 106 N Main St. (Reservations highly recommended)
2025 lead season sponsorship comes from Stifel, the City of Edwardsville, and an anonymous family foundation. Presenting sponsorship comes from Lewis Rice, Marian Smithson, The Schmidt and Barton Family Fund, and the Rotary Club of Edwardsville. Patron sponsorship comes from Carrollton Bank, with additional support from the Bank of Madison County, Counseling Clinic, Edwardsville Bank, Paton Dental, the SIYAO Southern Illinois Young Artist Organization, and Tessitura Music. Special thanks to Cleveland Heath, Creative Options Graphic Design, Inc., Edwardsville Public Library, First Presbyterian Church of Edwardsville, Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau, Market Basket, the SIUE School of Music, Scott Evers Photography, and Urban Collective Hotel.
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