Houston Grand Opera News

The Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center was the scene of a celebration this evening as The Dallas Opera Guild presented a rich variety of homegrown talent competing for top prizes in the 25th Annual 'Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition,' an on-stage showcase for young opera singers with Texas connections.

Houston Grand Opera's 41st World Premiere Opera CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA/TO CROSS THE FACE OF THE MOON premiered in the Brown Theater at the Wortham Center on November 13, 2012. The performance played in front of 2,400 patrons, the largest-ever audience in the Brown Theater. Following that rousing premiere, CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA and its original cast opened the 2011 season at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. The production ran for six performances. Upon arriving in Paris, 80% of the tickets were already sold, and word of mouth lead to complete sell outs for the final three performances. Last night, the gorgeous and stirring CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA opened in the Wortham Center's Brown Theater again, earning thunderous applause and sincere admiration from the audience.

Spring will bring a trio of striking productions to Houston Grand Opera, starting with the return-by-popular-demand of the world's first mariachi opera - Cruzar la Cara de la Luna ('To Cross the Face of the Moon'). Cruzar - an HGO commission that the company premiered to acclaim in 2010, with the Houston Chronicle calling it 'a multicultural winner' - will run today, March 22-24 at the Wortham Theater Center. Next up is HGO's new production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (April 18-May 5), conducted by the company's music and artistic director, Patrick Summers, and starring two of today's greatest Wagnerian singers: soprano Nina Stemme as Isolde and tenor Ben Heppner as Tristan, both in their company debuts.

The Dallas Opera presents Dominick Argento's riveting 1988 opera, THE ASPERN PAPERS, in a brand-new production to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of its TDO world premiere. THE ASPERN PAPERS will open on the evening of Friday, April 12, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

Mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught makes her premiere recital tour to North America this spring.

Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors, with previous stage experience ranging from roles on Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera House, have been named finalists in the 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition. They will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Acclaimed soprano and 2010 Opera News Award winner Patricia Racette, British opera and musical theater conductor James Holmes, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Vice-Chairman Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.

Chicago Opera Theater's Chicago Stage Premiere production of Astor Piazzolla's MARÍA DE BUENOS AIRES evokes Argentina's 'Dirty War', the period between 1976 and 1983 when the country was governed by military juntas which controlled the populace through state-sponsored terrorism. This 'tango operita' is of stunning originality, pulsing to the passion and beat of Astor Piazzolla's revolutionary 'nuevo tango' and Horacio Ferrer's mesmerizing, imaginative poetry. Chicago Opera Theater's production is a collaboration with Chicago's Luna Negra Dance Theater at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, and runs for four performances only: Saturday, April 20; Wednesday, April 24; Friday, April 26; and Sunday, April 28.

I recently got the chance to speak with Vanessa Cerda-Alonzo, who has been performing all over the world as Lupita in the world's first Mariachi Opera, CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA. We talked about her career, her training through Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (M.E.C.A), and CRUZAR LA CARA DE LA LUNA. Also, she freely told me, 'It's very moving, CRUZA LA CARA DE LA LUNA.' Vanessa Cerda-Alonzo also quoted Cecilia Duarte, who sings Renata, exclaiming, 'Bring your tissues because you're going to cry!'

As Houston's leading performing arts presenter, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) is pleased to announce its 2013-2014 season filled with music, dance and family entertainment from the world's best artists and companies.

Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston presents a staged version of G.F. Handel's pastoral masterpiece Acis and Galatea tonight, March 10th at The Hobby Center, with additional performances in Austin, and Bryan, Texas.

The Hartt School has announced that celebrated tenor Robert Brubaker '77 (Bachelor of Music) will be honored with the 2013 Hartt Alumni Award at the annual Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 19. Mr. Brubaker has established himself as a leading tenor in opera companies throughout the United States and Europe, praised for the clarity and power of his voice and the impact of his acting. He has appeared at The Metropolitan Opera, the Salzburg Festival, Opera National de Paris, Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, and other major opera houses around the world. Mr. Brubaker, who will speak at Hartt's graduation ceremony, also will share his experiences and insights with students and other interested members of the University of Hartford community at Hartt's Paranov hour on April 25, from 12:15 PM to 1:05 PM, in Millard Auditorium.

Award-winning author Jane Hamilton adds her unique literary voice to the second program in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's (LACO) three-concert 'Westside Connections' series, which this season pairs novelists and musicians for a fascinating exploration of the relationship between 'Music & Story,' tonight, March 7, 7:30 pm, at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

Maggie Siff plays Beatrice and Jonathan Cake Benedick in Theatre for a New Audience's new production of William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Arin Arbus, opened on February 17 at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs tonight, March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Patrick Summers, Artistic and Music Director for Houston Grand Opera, moves from the conductor's podium to the speaker's podium when he gives three lectures in Rice University's prestigious Campbell Lecture Series on March 18, 19 and 20. His three presentations, collectively titled "Thinking Music: the Conductor as Cultural Leader and Teacher," will endeavor to explain music's role and relevance in modern society. Summers, who is profiled in the April 2013 issue of Opera News (on sale March 8), will also conduct two major productions this spring at Houston Grand Opera: a new production of Wagner's Tristan und Isolde (April 18 - May 5), featuring Nina Stemme in her US role debut as Isolde and Ben Heppner as Tristan, followed by Verdi's Il trovatore (April 26 - May 11).

Award-winning author Jane Hamilton adds her unique literary voice to the second program in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's (LACO) three-concert 'Westside Connections' series, which this season pairs novelists and musicians for a fascinating exploration of the relationship between 'Music & Story,' on Thursday, March 7, 7:30 pm, at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

Bringing together an outstanding, large cast with a world-class artistic team, Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd directs Aaron Sorkin's A Few Good Men. This epic production brings this captivating military courtroom drama to life. A Few Good Men runs March 1 through March 24, 2013, on the Hubbard Stage.

Midway through her engagement at Houston Grand Opera performing Tristan und Isolde this April, acclaimed soprano Nina Stemme joins the Swedish Chamber Orchestra in New York for a single performance on Thursday, April 25 at 7:30 pm at Alice Tully Hall for the final concert of Lincoln Center's 2012-2013 Great Performers season.

On March 1 and 2, Music Director Hans Graf and the Houston Symphony will perform Alban Berg's expressionist opera, Wozzeck, in concert at Jones Hall.

Philadelphia Theatre Company presents PTC@Play, a two-week festival of new work today, February 18-March 3 at PTC's home at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). The festival will feature staged readings of four new plays by both established and emerging playwrights, a new play with music in development starring Tony and Barrymore Award winner Forrest McClendon as African American vaudeville legend Bert Williams, and an evening of short plays, FuturePhilly@Play, by seven emerging playwrights. Each playwright will be in-residence at PTC for their reading, and every reading will conclude with a reception where audiences and artists can meet. All events are free with curtain time at 7:30 PM. A highlight of PTC@Play will be the February 18th announcement of the winner of the Terrence McNally New Play Award, a $10,000 cash prize given annually to recognize a new play that celebrates the transformative power of art.