Day Trip: Bel Canto

Your book club may want to skip its December discussion in favor of a road trip to see the world premiere of Ann Patchett’s bestselling Bel Canto at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Grammy-winner Renee Fleming (last year’s Super Bowl national anthemist) consulted to interpret the love story between an American soprano and a Japanese tycoon during a conflict inspired by the 1996 Peruvian hostage crisis.

Seven shows between Dec. 7 and Jan. 17.
$20 to $269.
20. N. Upper Wacker Dr., 312-556-5600
LyricOpera.org