Houston Grand Opera News

Ever since it premiered on Broadway in 1973, Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, with a book by Hugh Wheeler, has been a favorite of musical theatre fans. The Michigan Opera Theatre was the first American opera company to present the piece in 1983, and other companies followed suit. It last graced Houston Grand Opera's (HGO) stages in 1999. Now, the musical, with an extraordinary set and gorgeous costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, is thrilling Houston audiences again with HGO's latest production of this American masterpiece.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for Alan Ayckbourn's science fiction comedy Communicating Doors. Eleven plays penned by Alan Ayckbourn have been produced by the Alley, including the American premiere of Henceforward, directed by Ayckbourn, in 1987 and House & Garden in 2002. Alan Ayckbourn has been inducted into the American Theatre's Hall of Fame, received the 2010 Critics' Circle Award for Services to the Arts, became the first British playwright to receive both Olivier and Tony Special Lifetime Achievement Awards and was knighted in 1997 for services to the theatre.

The new year has already brought notable success for Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where the hotly anticipated American premiere of the long-lost Holocaust opera The Passenger-hailed by the Associated Press as 'the latest coup for a company known for producing new works'-took the national and local press by storm, and where the company's Rigoletto revival was pronounced 'glorious' (Theater Jones). These accolades come at an exciting time for the company, which continues this season's extraordinary line-up with the launch of the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by La Fura dels Baus; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve 'must-see opera events of the season' (Opera News); a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; and Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

Houston Grand Opera's highly anticipated production of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC opens this week in the Cullen Theater at the Wortham Theater Center. In addition to Stephen Sondheim's celebrated and lush score, this production proudly features sets, costumes, and original direction by popular American fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi. I recently spoke with HGO alumna Chad Shelton, who is playing Fredrik Egerman, about the production and his career.

South Bend Civic Theatre commemorates the 75th anniversary of the classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" by presenting The Wiz, with music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown. Winner of 7 Tony Awards, this original take of the journey of Dorothy through the Land of Oz will entertain and delight audience members of all ages.

On Monday, March 10, 2014, the League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of six outstanding women: Zoe Caldwell, Judith Dolan, Joanna Sherman, Sondra Gorney, Meiyin Wang and Katherine Kovner. The awards will be presented at the League's 2014 Awards Celebration & Big Mingle Reception to be held at 6:30 pm on Monday, March 10 at The Irene Diamond Stage (The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street) featuring emcee Tamara Tunie.

The Dallas Opera Guild is proud to present the 26th Annual “Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition,” an on-stage showcase for talented young opera singers with Texas connections on Saturday, March 15, 2014 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein announced today that Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award winner, Jason Graae, will bring his new one-man show, 49 ½ Shades of Graae, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only - Thursday, March 20 (8 p.m.) 49 ½ Shades of Graae is an evening with Broadway juvenile turned Hollywood misfit Jason Graae (pronounced Grah, means Grey in Danish) as he explores the many 'shades' of his life and career. From comedy to tragedy all rolled up in a madcap and heartfelt romp, Jason explores his life of sex, drugs and musical comedy, featuring old and new songs alike, by the people who wrote them. 49 ½ Shades of Graae is directed by Heather Lee with Music Direction by John Boswell. Tickets for Jason Graae range in price from $25 - $35 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

The critical response to Houston's American premiere production of The Passenger was overwhelming. Classical Voice America proclaimed the opera “a masterpiece,” and the Chicago Tribune found it an “engrossing, thought-provoking experience” that “deserves [a place] in the regular repertory.” Houston's production impressed the Houston Chronicle as one “that unites commanding performances and vivid, fast-paced staging,” while the Wall Street Journalcommended the way “conductor Patrick Summers shaped the evening with enormous care.” As for the performers, “top to bottom, the cast is excellent,” asserted the Dallas Morning News. Melody Moore “gave Marta's anguish lyricism and strength” (Wall Street Journal), “Michelle Breedt's instrument seemed ideally suited to the role of Liese” (Classical Voice America), and “Kelly Kaduce was mesmerizing” as Katya (Wall Street Journal). The Toronto Star concluded:

North Carolina Opera, under the leadership of General Director Eric Mitchko and Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Timothy Myers, presents Antonín Dvorák's Rusalka in Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh on Sun. Mar. 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $27-$85 and may be purchased online at www.ncopera.org or by phone at 919.792.3850. This production ofRusalka is sung in Czech with English surtitles. Timothy Myers conducts the performance, which is staged by Crystal Manich. This production of Rusalka, with lighting design by Ross Kollman, is “semi-staged” in that the conductor and orchestra appear on stage behind the principal singers and stage action. NCO's previous semi-staged productions include Aida, Il trovatore and Faust.

North Carolina Opera, under the leadership of General Director Eric Mitchko and Artistic Director & Principal Conductor Timothy Myers, presents Antonín Dvorák's Rusalka in Meymandi Concert Hall at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleigh on Sun. Mar. 30 at 3 p.m. Tickets are $27-$85 and may be purchased online at www.ncopera.org or by phone at 919.792.3850. This production of Rusalka is sung in Czech with English surtitles. Timothy Myers conducts the performance, which is staged by Crystal Manich. This production of Rusalka, with lighting design by Ross Kollman, is “semi-staged” in that the conductor and orchestra appear on stage behind the principal singers and stage action. NCO's previous semi-staged productions include Aida, Il trovatore and Faust.

Washington National Opera (WNO) continues its 2013-2014 season with the east coast premiere of the new American opera Moby-Dick, today, February 22 to March 8 in the Kennedy Center Opera House.

The March broadcasts of The New York Philharmonic This Week - the weekly radio series of concerts and recordings by the New York Philharmonic, hosted by Alec Baldwin - begin with Music Director Alan Gilbert leading the Philharmonic in the World Premiere of The Marie-Josee Kravis Composer-in-Residence Christopher Rouse's Prospero's Rooms; Bernstein's Serenade (after Plato's "Symposium"), with Joshua Bell as soloist; and Ives's Symphony No. 4 with representatives of the New York Choral Consortium. The following week Alan Gilbert and Assistant Conductor Case Scaglione will lead the Philharmonic in a performance of Stravinsky's Ragtime for 11 Instruments; Shostakovich's Tahiti Trot; Copland's Clarinet Concerto featuring Associate Principal Clarinet Marc Nuccio; and Wynton Marsalis's Swing Symphony (Symphony No. 3) featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.

Alley Theatre presents the world premiere of a new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, Fool. In Rebeck's new comedy, two kings get together and place a wager on their fools - a jester competition, and the funniest one gets to keep his head. Two evil minions have a lot to say about this, but not as much as the kitchen wench. And what's the queen been up to all night? A dramatical comical farcical tragical play about power, love and laughter, set in a medieval kitchen. Adult Language, Adult Situations, Beheadings.

Perhaps the most controversial opera of the 20th century makes its Southern California debut when Long Beach Opera (LBO) stages John Adams' The Death of Klinghoffer on March 16 and March 22 at the Terrace Theater in downtown Long Beach. This powerful and unsettling work chronicles the 1985 hijacking of the Mediterranean cruise ship Achille Lauro by Palestinian terrorists and the murder of disabled Jewish-American passenger, Leon Klinghoffer. LBO's production is a partner presentation of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 'Minimalist Jukebox' Festival.

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) Philharmonia Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chorale and Cincinnati Children's Choir proudly present a stirring rendition of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams' El Ni'o at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 2, in UC's Corbett Auditorium. CCM welcomes guest artists Michael Maniaci, Eric Jurenas and Steven Rickards for this performance. Director of Choral Studies Earl Rivers conducts.

The new year has already brought notable success for Houston Grand Opera (HGO), where the hotly anticipated American premiere of the long-lost Holocaust opera The Passenger-hailed by the Associated Press as 'the latest coup for a company known for producing new works'-took the national and local press by storm, and where the company's Rigoletto revival was pronounced 'glorious' (Theater Jones). These accolades come at an exciting time for the company, which continues this season's extraordinary line-up with the launch of the first American presentation of a visionary and groundbreaking treatment of Das Rheingold by La Fura dels Baus; the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's A Coffin in Egypt, named one of the twelve 'must-see opera events of the season' (Opera News); a new HGO production of Carmen from Broadway sensation Rob Ashford; and Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, which boasts designs by fashion icon Isaac Mizrahi.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (Steven Blier, Artistic Director • Michael Barrett, Associate Artistic Director) concludes its 2013-14 Mainstage series at Merkin Concert Hall, Kaufman Music Center with WARSAW SERENADE.

River Oaks Chamber Orchestra continues its 2013 – 2014 ROCO Chamber Series on Sunday, March 9 at 4 p.m. with a concert titled Rhythms of Paris and New Orleans at Gremillion &Co. Fine Art Annex located at 2504 Nottingham in the Rice Village area. The concert features chamber music by Sergei Prokofiev and Dave Anderson, selected for their ability to transport listeners to the cities the composers hail from.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City continues its 56th season with Giacomo Puccini's La bohème March 15 , 17, 19, 21 and 23, 2014 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.