Chad Shelton News

The opening months of 2014 bring into focus the strengths of Houston Grand Opera (HGO), which launches the new year with an extraordinary line-up. This comprises the world premieres of three important new commissions -Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve "must-see opera events of the season" (Opera News), and two works exploring Houston's Vietnamese and Indian communities, courtesy of HGO's award-winning Song of Houston project; the hotly anticipated American premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's long-suppressed Holocaust opera, The Passenger, in the production that took Europe by storm; the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by Catalan's La Fura dels Baus; a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; a revival of Rigoletto; and a restaged production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi. As the Houston Press recently noted, "Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers is thinking bigger than ever."

Houston, December 17, 2013 ­– The opening months of 2014 bring into focus the strengths of Houston Grand Opera (HGO), which launches the new year with an extraordinary line-up. This comprises the world premieres of three important new commissions —Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve “must-see opera events of the season” (Opera News), and two works exploring Houston's Vietnamese and Indian communities, courtesy of HGO's award-winning Song of Houston project; the hotly anticipated American premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's long-suppressed Holocaust opera, The Passenger, in the production that took Europe by storm; the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by Catalan's La Fura dels Baus; a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; a revival of Rigoletto; and a restaged production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi. As the Houston Press recently noted, “Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers is thinking bigger than ever.”

Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2013–14 season includes the launch of the company's first Ring cycle, in a visionary and captivating production by the Catalan company La Fura dels Baus; the hotly anticipated American premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Holocaust opera The Passenger; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, based on the play of the same name by renowned Texas writer Horton Foote and starring iconic mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade; a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; revivals of Aida, Rigoletto, and Die Fledermaus; and, in tribute to the nation's homegrown musical theater tradition, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music designed by fashion star Isaac Mizrahi. Through its HGOco S o n g o f H o u s t o n project—winner of the National MultiCultural Institute's Leading Lights Diversity Award—the company continues to celebrate Houston's cultural diversity with the world premieres of two new commissions exploring the city's Vietnamese and Indian communities as part of the East + West series.

Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) 2013-14 season includes the launch of the company's first Ring cycle, in a visionary and captivating production by the Catalan company La Fura dels Baus; the hotly anticipated American premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's Holocaust opera The Passenger; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, based on the play of the same name by renowned Texas writer Horton Foote and starring iconic mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade; a new HGO production of Carmenfrom Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; revivals of Aida, Rigoletto, and Die Fledermaus; and, in tribute to the nation's homegrown musical theater tradition, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music designed by fashion star Isaac Mizrahi. Through its HGOco Song of Houston project-winner of the National MultiCultural Institute's Leading Lights Diversity Award-the company continues to celebrate Houston's cultural diversity with the world premieres of two new commissions exploring the city's Vietnamese and Indian communities as part of the East + West series.

The final week of the tenth anniversary Deer Valley Music Festival includes three performances with the Utah Symphony in Park City, Utah. The Utah Symphony performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 tonight, August 7. Then, on August 9 opera stars and the Utah Opera chorus serenade audiences under the night sky. The Festival ends with its seventeenth concert of the summer: a rock 'n' roll tribute to the Music of the Rolling Stones with the Utah Symphony on August 10.

The final week of the tenth anniversary Deer Valley Music Festival includes three performances with the Utah Symphony in Park City, Utah. The Utah Symphony performs Beethoven's Symphony No. 1 on August 7. Then, on August 9 opera stars and the Utah Opera chorus serenade audiences under the night sky. The Festival ends with its seventeenth concert of the summer: a rock 'n' roll tribute to the Music of the Rolling Stones with the Utah Symphony on August 10.

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Vice President of Symphony Artistic Planning Toby Tolokan yesterday announced the concert lineup for the organization's Tenth Anniversary Deer Valley Music Festival, featuring Utah Symphony performances with high-profile artists such as actor and banjo player Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers and vocalist Edie Brickell, screen actor and Broadway star Mandy Patinkin, folk rock music duo Indigo Girls and jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents ALOHA, SAY THE PRETTY GIRLS by award-winning playwright Naomi Iizuka. The play will run Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2:00 PM, now through June 16 at the Heartland Studio in Rogers Park (7016 North Glenwood Avenue, Chicago, IL 60626). Tickets can be purchased through www.brownpaperbox.org. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera Vice President of Symphony Artistic Planning Toby Tolokan yesterday announced the concert lineup for the organization's Tenth Anniversary Deer Valley Music Festival, featuring Utah Symphony performances with high-profile artists such as actor and banjo player Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers and vocalist Edie Brickell, screen actor and Broadway star Mandy Patinkin, folk rock music duo Indigo Girls and jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO)-the only opera company with two Grammys, two Emmys, and a Tony - continues to raise the bar for American opera with next season's gripping new line-up.

Carrying on the Houston legacy of holiday seasons past, The Houston Symphony will perform Handel's Messiah tonight, December 21 and the 22nd and 23rd at Jones Hall.

Carrying on the Houston legacy of holiday seasons past, The Houston Symphony will perform Handel's Messiah on December 21, 22 and 23 at Jones Hall.

The Brown Paper Box Co. presents a one-of-a-kind, modern interpretation of Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak's GODSPELL. Using a cast of 10 actor-musicians, this beloved musical brings the Book of Matthew to life at Collaboraction's intimate Studio space in the Flat Iron Arts Building (1579 North Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, Ill) now through October 7th, 2012. Get a first look at the cast onstage in the photos below!

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) today announced that six new artists will join its young artist development program in the 2012-13 season.

The Brown Paper Box Co.'s premiere of writer Aaron Golden's TO TREE must end this Sunday, January 29, 2012.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is pleased to announce the commercial DVD release of its 23rd world premiere, Little Women, by the American composer Mark Adamo on the Naxos label.

Kansas City opera fans have been waiting 10 years for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City to produce the audience favorite, La Traviata. On March 14, 16, 18, 20, & 22, 2009 the Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present Verdi's spellbinding tragedy, La Traviata at the Lyric Theatre in downtown Kansas City. Under the spell of one exquisite party, Violetta is tempted - and eventually swayed - to abandon her life of endless immoral pleasure to join lovesick Alfredo in the love affair of a lifetime despite Violetta's secret terminal disease. Violetta's colored past proves to be a hurdle for Alfredo's father, who persuades her to leave Alfredo for his own good. The pair is only reunited for the final moments of Violetta's life.

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City will present a 51st season of opera evoking emotions from grief to glee. To celebrate the Lyric's 50th birthday and Puccini's 150th birthday, the Lyric will open its season with the opera that started it all in Kansas City in September of 1958, Puccini's La boh?me. Opera aficionados will be thrilled to hear that the Lyric will produce the Kansas City premiere of Handel's Julius Caesar in November, the first baroque opera ever to be performed at the Lyric. March will bring Verdi's spellbinding tragedy La traviata to the Lyric stage and audiences young and old alike will enjoy everyone's favorite posing pirates in Gilbert & Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance in May. All four full-length operas will be presented in their original language with English text projected above the stage.