Smashing Pumpkins' Corgan Launches Opera Based on Mellon Collie

Billy Corgan, frontman of The Smashing Pumpkins, is set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's iconic album 'Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness' with a unique opera collaboration at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The series of performances, scheduled for November 21-30, 2025, will feature newly commissioned arrangements and orchestrations, blending elements of rock and opera. Corgan expressed excitement about honoring both musical traditions and delivering a powerful emotional experience for audiences. This collaboration aims to expand the definition of opera and attract new audiences to the art form. The performances will include contributions from the Lyric Opera Orchestra and Chorus, with costumes designed by Corgan's wife, Chloe Mendel. Tickets for this groundbreaking event will go on sale to the public on April 11.