Houston Grand Opera News

The Canadian Opera Company regrets to announce that Mexican tenor David Lomelí, who was scheduled to perform the role of Rodolfo in the upcoming production of Puccini's La Bohème, has had to withdraw for health reasons. Lomelí was scheduled to sing eight of the production's 12 performances. In his place, the COC has cast two of the most exciting young tenors in the opera world today: Dimitri Pittas (October 3, 6, 9, 12) and Michael Fabiano (October 16, 19, 27, 30). They share the role of Rodolfo with the previously announced Italian-American tenor Eric Margiore (October 18, 22, 25, 29).

The Dallas Opera, in partnership with the Meadows Museum at Southern Methodist University, is delighted to introduce the first in a series of new programs hosted by Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny and designed to present informed personal perspectives on the arts.

Katherine Rohrer, newly appointed School of Music assistant professor of voice, will present her Ohio State debut recital Monday, September 23, at 8 pm in Weigel Hall Auditorium, 1866 College Rd. The performance will couple traditional repertoire with lesser-known works, including song cycles by Robert Schumann and Louis Aubert. Selections will highlight the passion of love with ultimate personal loss.

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.

Ruth Page Center for the Arts with The Chicago Dancemakers Forum (CDF) present Victor Alexander's Line Of Sighs Thursday, Sept. 5 - Sunday, Sept 8 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Included in Dance Magazine's prestigious '25 to Watch in 2013' list, Alexander's performance marks the culmination of his year-long choreographic work with the Dancemakers Forum Lab Artists Program.

The Collegiate Chorale announces its first concert of the season, Mefistofele, by Arrigo Boito on November 6, 2013 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, NYC. Tickets will be available for sale on September 16 at www.carnegiehall.org or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Single tickets for this concert start at $15. The Collegiate Chorale will hold its Annual Fall Gala immediately following the concert. (For more information or tickets to the Gala, please contact Mariane Lemieux at mlemieux@collegiatechorale.org or 646-435-9052.)

Arguably the greatest opera of the 20th century, Benjamin Britten's Peter Grimes, comes to the Canadian Opera Company this fall for seven performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 5, 8, 11, 17, 20, 23, 26, 2013. Recognized worldwide as the finest dramatic tenor before the public today, Canadian Ben Heppner returns to the COC in one of his favourite roles as the title character in Britten's gripping opera about an alienated fisherman and the seaside village he struggles to inhabit. Peter Grimes is sung in English with English SURTITLES.

The Canadian Opera Company launches its 2013/2014 season with a new production of one of the world's greatest love stories, La Bohème. Puccini's masterpiece of youthful flirtation, passionate love and heartbreaking tragedy returns to the COC for 12 performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 2013. Check out the behind the scenes video below, featuring a look at costumes and wigs.

The Canadian Opera Company launches its 2013/2014 season with a new production of one of the world's greatest love stories, La Bohème. Puccini's masterpiece of youthful flirtation, passionate love and heartbreaking tragedy returns to the COC for 12 performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 2013.

The Canadian Opera Company launches its 2013/2014 season with a new production of one of the world's greatest love stories, La Boheme. Puccini's masterpiece of youthful flirtation, passionate love and heartbreaking tragedy returns to the COC for 12 performances at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts on October 3, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 25, 27, 29, 30, 2013.

Lyric Opera of Kansas City opens its 56th season with a Company premiere and new production of Vincenzo Bellini's The Capulets and the Montagues September 21, 25, 27 and 29, 2013 at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces its Inaugural Season beginning with performances by the Martha Graham Dance Company, which open the 500-seat Goldsmith Theater on November 8 and 9, 2013, followed by the play Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo, adapted by Edward P. Dowdall and directed by Mark Brokaw, from November 26 to December 22, 2013. The romantic tale Parfumerie inspired the films The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and Nora Ephron's You've Got Mail, as well as the Broadway musical She Loves Me. As a special program, an exhibition on perfume entitled Timeless Scents: 1370-2013, a history of iconic fragrances through the ages is being created especially for The Wallis by Chandler Burr, former New York Times scent critic.

Ruth Page Center for the Arts with The Chicago Dancemakers Forum (CDF) present Victor Alexander's Line Of Sighs Thursday, Sept. 5 - Sunday, Sept 8 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Included in Dance Magazine's prestigious "25 to Watch in 2013" list, Alexander's performance marks the culmination of his year-long choreographic work with the Dancemakers Forum Lab Artists Program. The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, Sept, 5 - Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. Tickets to Line of Sighs are $20 or $15 for students/seniors. Saturday, Sept. 7 performance and post-performance reception tickets to benefit the American Cancer Society are $50. To purchase tickets visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/435654 and for more information visit www.ruthpage.org or call 312.337.6543.

The Glimmerglass Festival, Central New York's opera and musical theater company, has announced its 2014 season.

Single tickets go on sale to the general public today, Aug. 1, for Lyric Opera of Chicago's 59th season.

Music Director Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) announce the appointment of Miles Maner as the CSO's new contrabassoon/bassoon, effective July 29, 2013. Maner joins the CSO having served as associate principal bassoon/contrabassoon of the Kansas City Symphony since 2010. He also serves as principal bassoon at the Breckenridge Music Festival in Colorado, a post he has held since 2010.

Maine State Music Theatre is thrilled to present a one night only concert starring Suzanne Nance and Friends tonight, July 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Theater for a New Audience has announced its 2013-2014 inaugural season, featuring A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, directed by Julie Taymor, KING LEAR, featuring Michael Pennington, and THE KILLER, starring Michael Shannon. Details below!

In the video below, Broadway legend Harold Prince chats about the importance of set design. Check out what he had to say below!

Beth Morrison Projects (BMP) and HERE have announced programming for the second annual PROTOTYPE: Opera/Theatre/Now festival, running January 8-18, 2014.