Smashing Pumpkins released their third studio album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness in October 1995. It became the most successful album of their career, topping the Billboard 200 Albums chart and going to No. 1 in multiple countries. The ambitious double album features some of the band’s most memorable songs including “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” ”1979,” and Tonight, Tonight.” To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Billy Corgan is working with the Lyric Opera of Chicago to reimagine the classic album as an opera.
Corgan, special guests, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra and Chorus will transform the album into a new sonic and visual experience later this year. Titled A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness, the limited event will run for seven nights between November 21 and 30. Corgan and James Lowe have created new arrangements of the album’s classic songs. Additionally, Lowe will conduct the opera.
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Tickets go on sale to the general public on April 11 via the Lyric Opera website. Lyric subscribers can purchase tickets now.
Billy Corgan on Reimagining the Classic Smashing Pumpkins Album
Smashing Pumpkins founder and vocalist Billy Corgan spoke about the new project in a press release. “It is thrilling to collaborate with Lyric head John Magnum, my musical partner James Loew, and all of the artists at Lyric in reimagining this very special and historic album, and to discover how Lyric’s full operatic treatment is helping me experience my own compositions in powerful new ways,” he shared. “Opera and rock both tell stories of heightened emotions, and I am excited for both fans of my music and traditional opera fans to hear some truly inspired work,” he added. “For the balance here is to honor both traditions in a magisterial way.”
Magnum, general director, president, and CEO of Lyric Opera of Chicago also spoke about the show. “Next season is filled with a tremendous range of lavish and powerful opera productions that we are excited to share with our audiences,” he shared. “I’m just as excited about the special performances like A Night of Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness that open the aperture and expand the definition of opera and what an American opera company can be. The season clearly illustrates how this company continues to push the art form forward and create new work that can only happen in Chicago,” he added.
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