Night 3 - Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell

Schedule

Sun Oct 26 2025 at 07:30 pm to 09:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

International Museum of Surgical Science | Chicago, IL

Advertisement
A surreal new opera of shifting vignettes, lush chamber music, and dreamlike characters, brought to life by Chicago’s motley orchestra.
About this Event

Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell
October 26, 2025
7:30-9:00pm

Doors at 7:00pm

Tickets:

EARLYBIRD

$25 GA

PRESALE

$25 Student - use code STUDENT at checkout

(Valid Student ID will be requested at the door)

$25 IMSS Members Presale - use code IMSSMEMBER at checkout

(Valid IMSS Membership card will be requested at door)

$15 GA Presale

DOOR

$30 Student & IMSS Members (With valid ID & Membership Card) at Door

$35 GA at Door


“A Silver Gilded Hand-mirror or Whispered Shell” is a new opera by composer, co-directed by playwright .

Told through a series of surreal vignettes, the work takes shape as an exquisite corpse—where each fragment adds to a strange, dreamlike whole. At its core are two enigmatic figures: Dr. Giunetti (Justin D’Acci) and The Green Lady (Vim Grace Hile), joined by a shifting ensemble of characters who emerge and dissolve between them.

The libretto was crafted to accompany seven chamber pieces Asplund began at Mills College in 2020. Once composed for string quartet, this iteration reimagines the music for a motley orchestra of Chicago-based musicians, blending diverse traditions and instruments. Among them: a hand-built Rebec by Alex Yelamos, performed by Andrew Seller.

Join us for an evening where past and present, the familiar and the uncanny, converge in an operatic experiment unlike any other.


Writer and Director - Lula Asplund 

Lula Asplund is an experimental composer and Chicago-based sound artist. Her work invokes voice as object and atmosphere—dislocated, refracted, tactile. Using spectral play, vocal manipulation, and fragmented sound poetry, she enters the nonlinear logic of dream and memory. Asplund has a BFA from Mills College and has performed at Center for New Music and Audio Technologies, The Lab SF, CalArts, Elastic Arts, Bohemian National Cemetery, and Experimental Sound Studio. 


Co-director - Allegra Harvard

Allegra Harvard (b.1999) is a Chicago-based artist, playwright, director, and curator. Her recent curatorial project was Unda.m.93 with collaborator Parker Davis. Her artwork has been shown at EXPO Chicago, House of Earth, Printed Matter, Weatherproof, and the late SULK CHICAGO. Her recent productions include Credentis, which premiered in January 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago—the manuscript published by Grunts Rare Books x Veilance August 2025—and Pani & Anu alongside Fort Knox at Schoolhouse Chicago 2025. Her upcoming co-direction will be in collaboration with Lula Asplund’s new opera, A Silver Gilded Hand-Mirror or Whispered Shell, to be premiered on October 23rd, 2025, at The International Museum of Surgical Science.



Costuming - Ben Zumbrun & Caroline Chipala

Production Manager - Lizaveta Cecilia Ivanova

Movement Advisor - Justin D’acci

Choir

Morgan Peterson

Riley McPherson

Hannah Bernhardt

Dora Hewitt

Havadine Stone

Orchestra

Amy Lang

Andrew Seller

Lee Johnson

Don Lyons

Gerrit Hatcher

Peyton Rhodes

Whitney Johnson

Esther Espino

Ensemble

Vim Grace

Justin D’acci

Dorothy Carlos

Justin D’acci

Parker Davis

Andrew or maybe levi

Jocelyn Gray

Mary Amelia

Levi Dayan

Christa Baclia-an

Vik Tomic

Sarah Cassidy

Movement Ensemble

Christa Baclia-an

Sarah Cassidy

Vik Tomic


Advertisement

Where is it happening?

International Museum of Surgical Science, 1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, United States

Event Location & Nearby Stays:

Tickets

USD 28.52 to USD 33.85

International Museum of Surgical Science

Host or Publisher International Museum of Surgical Science

It's more fun with friends. Share with friends

Discover More Events in Chicago

Freddie Jackson at City Winery - Chicago
Sun, 26 Oct at 07:00 pm Freddie Jackson at City Winery - Chicago

City Winery - Chicago

Sun, 26 Oct at 07:00 pm Herbie Hancock in Chicago

Chicago Symphony Center

CONCERTS MUSIC
Sun, 26 Oct at 07:00 pm Freddie Jackson in Chicago

City Winery Chicago

ENTERTAINMENT CONCERTS
Like Moths To Flames, Kingdom Of Giants, Acres, HEAVENSGATE in Chicago
Sun, 26 Oct at 07:00 pm Like Moths To Flames, Kingdom Of Giants, Acres, HEAVENSGATE in Chicago

Bottom Lounge Chicago

CONCERTS MUSIC
My Morning Jacket, BALTHVS in Chicago
Sun, 26 Oct at 08:00 pm My Morning Jacket, BALTHVS in Chicago

The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)

CONCERTS MUSIC
Sun, 26 Oct at 08:00 pm My Morning Jacket in Chicago

The Salt Shed

CONCERTS MUSIC
My Morning Jacket in Chicago
Sun, 26 Oct at 08:00 pm My Morning Jacket in Chicago

The Salt Shed

CONCERTS MUSIC
The Scruffy Horror Photo Show!
Sun, 26 Oct at 08:00 pm The Scruffy Horror Photo Show!

The Newport Theater

ART THEATRE
Meet and Create! - Paint and Sip
Sat, 10 Jul at 06:30 pm Meet and Create! - Paint and Sip

1438 E 52nd St

SIP-AND-PAINT MUSIC
Sunday Celebration - Kind, Inclusive, Affirmative, Extraordinary (Hybrid )
Sun, 07 Nov at 10:30 am Sunday Celebration - Kind, Inclusive, Affirmative, Extraordinary (Hybrid )

Oak Park Church of Religious Sci

MEDITATION HEALTH-WELLNESS
Bubbles and Beats
Thu, 23 Feb at 06:00 pm Bubbles and Beats

The Bar at Hotel Zachary

PARTIES MUSIC
Ladies Night \/ Poetry & Open Mic
Thu, 23 Feb at 07:00 pm Ladies Night / Poetry & Open Mic

BAR22

OPEN-MIC ART
DCASE Presents: Open House @ Chicago Cultural Center
Thu, 15 Jun at 04:00 pm DCASE Presents: Open House @ Chicago Cultural Center

Chicago Cultural Center

ENTERTAINMENT EXHIBITIONS
Social Club Fridays
Fri, 06 Oct at 10:00 pm Social Club Fridays

Era Social Club

RENAISSANCE-FESTIVALS
DSTRKT DISKO
Thu, 30 Nov at 09:00 pm DSTRKT DISKO

DSTRKT Bar & Grill

PARTIES ENTERTAINMENT
Make Some Noise Open Mic
Mon, 15 Jan at 07:00 pm Make Some Noise Open Mic

Maria's Packaged Goods and Community Bar

OPEN-MIC ART
Fresher Fridays @  The Park Lounge (aka The Park Supper Club)
Fri, 19 Jan at 05:00 pm Fresher Fridays @ The Park Lounge (aka The Park Supper Club)

The Park Supper Club

PARTIES MUSIC
"Learn By Listening" Two-Day Workshop
Sat, 02 Mar at 01:30 pm "Learn By Listening" Two-Day Workshop

1579 N Milwaukee Ave #344

WORKSHOPS MUSIC
Chicago, IL - Music Bingo at Punch Bowl Social
Sun, 07 Jul at 02:00 pm Chicago, IL - Music Bingo at Punch Bowl Social

Punch Bowl Social Chicago

Karaoke @ The Juke Joynt
Fri, 18 Oct at 07:30 pm Karaoke @ The Juke Joynt

Juke Joynt

KARAOKE MUSIC

What's Happening Next in Chicago?

Discover Chicago Events