Houston Grand Opera News

Orange County, Calif.—Jan. 28, 2015—Pacific Symphony, in partnership with Bowers Museum, presents “A Feast for the Senses,” an enchanting evening of Chinese music, dining and discovery surrounding the Bowers' current special exhibition, “China's Lost Civilization: The Mystery of Sanxingdui.” An upscale and one-of-a-kind experience, guests are treated to a fusion of music and history as Symphony musicians are interwoven between mysterious artifacts, performing music curated by Chinese American composer Huang Ruo and featuring world-renowned pipa player Zhou Yi. The ancient jades, cast bronzes and life-size statues of the exhibition were found in Sanxingdui and date to about 1200 B.C. The “Lost Civilization” has been termed “the ninth wonder of the world” and is claimed by scholars to be one of the greatest archaeological finds ever unearthed. After seeing the museum's collections and enjoying a reception of music and art, guests enter the John. M. Lee Court to hear a performance of music by Huang Ro, as well as taste an authentic Sichuan Province-inspired dinner and dessert presented by Bowers' award-winning restaurant, Tangata. This event is sponsored by The James Irvine Foundation as part of its New California Arts Fund initiative.

Pacific Symphony, in partnership with Bowers Museum, presents 'A Feast for the Senses,' an enchanting evening of Chinese music, dining and discovery surrounding the Bowers' current special exhibition, 'China's Lost Civilization: The Mystery of Sanxingdui.'

San Francisco Opera Center and the Merola Opera Program present the 33rd season of the Schwabacher Debut Recitals, beginning February 8, 2015 with soprano Erin Johnson and pianist Sun Ha Yoon at Temple Emanu-El's Martin Meyer Sanctuary in San Francisco.

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Music Director Marin Alsop and the BSO present Mahler's epic Third Symphony tonight, January 29 at 8 p.m. and Friday, January 30 at 8 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, and Saturday, January 31 at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore.

North Carolina Opera is thrilled to bring a cutting-edge opera experience to Triangle patrons this January with Approaching Ali, a 50-minute contemporary chamber opera. In his operatic debut, Richmond-based composer D.J. Sparr's Approaching Ali stunned and delighted Kennedy Center audiences last year in a performance that the Washington Times called “intensely emotional.”

On January 30, Houston's two major opera houses will begin performances of Mozart's final two completed operas - LA CLEMENZA DI TITO and THE MAGIC FLUTE. Opera in the Heights will open LA CLEMENZA DI TITO for the first time in Houston since 1991, and Houston Grand Opera will open THE MAGIC FLUTE.

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the fiery melodrama Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) conducted by Dmitri Jurowski in a new production by John Caird. It opens on Saturday, January 24 with 10 performances through Saturday, March 14. Performance dates are Jan. 24, 27, Feb. 2, 27, Mar. 3, 14 at 7:30pm; and Jan. 30, Feb. 5, Mar. 8, 11 at 2pm. Check out a first look at the production below!

Brian Jagde, one of the outstanding tenors of his generation with a burgeoning international career, will make his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut performing the role of the painter/revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini's fiery melodrama Tosca tonight, Jan. 24-Feb. 5, Lyric's general director Anthony Freudannounced today. Jagde replaces the previously announced Ukrainian tenor Misha Didyk, who withdrew from the production for personal reasons.

Bayou City Concert Musicals will present the 2015 Kim Hupp Award to veteran Houston Producer/Actress Mitzi Wayne Weiss as part of its fundraising event, Something Wonderful: The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein, at 7:30 p.m., tonight, January 24, 2015, at the Cullen Performance Hall of The University of St. Thomas, 4001 Mt. Vernon.

DALLAS, JANUARY 22, 2014 –The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild are proud to announce historic levels of participation in the first phase of the newly expanded Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, scheduled to take place on the weekend of April 18-19, 2015 in the acoustically acclaimed setting of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) Managing Director Perryn Leech and Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers today announced the appointment of Brian Speck as director of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, the company's renowned young artist program, effective February 1. A trained singer who transitioned into administration, Speck for the past two years has been HGO's company manager, responsible for coordinating all day-to-day rehearsal activities of the company and for supporting its guest artists.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has completed its fundraising campaign by raising an unprecedented $172.9 million, topping its goal of $165 million by December 31, 2014. Inspiring Performance—The Campaign for Houston Grand Opera was the company's first comprehensive fundraising campaign, and the most successful campaign in the history of Houston's performing arts community.

St. Ann's Warehouse welcomes back the National Theatre of Scotland, director John Tiffany and associate director Steven Hoggett for the American Premiere of Let the Right One In, which Jack Thorne adapted for the stage from John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel and screenplay, and which garnered tremendous acclaim on London's West End earlier in 2014.

Mama Drama will play The Duplex on January 23 at 6:30 and February 9 at 6:30. The Duplex is located at 61 Christopher St. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.purplepass.com.

Tonight, January 17, 2015 Houston Ballet's documentary Houston Ballet: Breaking Boundaries will air on KPRC Channel 2 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding'). SERRANO THE MUSICAL will begin previews on Thursday, January 8, 2015 and will open tonight, January 16 at 8pm and run through Sunday, March 29 at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

Toronto – The world premiere of a new Canadian work was one of the many operatic highlights revealed today at the public launch of the Canadian Opera Company's 2015/2016season at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. The COC's 65th season is once again comprised entirely of company productions, four of which are new to Toronto audiences, and features the COC's first mainstage world premiere since 1999, COC premieres of opera rarities and the revival of classic masterpieces.