Houston Grand Opera News

The 2012-2013 season at Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has been filled with stunning performances of astounding operatic talent; however, their current production of Richard Wagner's TRISTAN AND ISOLDE may be the sparkling gem of this fascinating season. Every aspect of the production gels with perfection, making this production remarkable and truly unforgettable.

Douglas Carpenter, baritone, of New York, won the $15,000 First Prize in the finals of the 15th annual Lotte Lenya Competition, held on April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. Maren Weinberger, soprano, of New York, received the Second Prize of $10,000, and two Third Prizes of $7,500 each were awarded to Alison Arnopp, soprano, of County Cork, Ireland, and Lauren Roesner, soprano, of Cincinnati. Founded in 1998 to celebrate the centenary of Lenya's birth, the Lotte Lenya Competition is an international theater singing contest that recognizes talented young singer/actors, ages 19-32, who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of repertoire.

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: tonight, April 20; Wednesday, April 24; Friday, April 26; and Sunday, April 28.

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

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 tonight, April 12, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO)'s 50th World Premiere Opera had its first public performance last night at Asia Society Texas Center. This enchanting chamber opera is a gorgeous and stirring piece that examines the power and necessity of memory for the advancement of the human species. It opens with rollicking thunder and a stunning, breathtaking image that is representative of the destruction of Japan in wake of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. As a woman sings about various terrible and destructive moments from Japan's rich history, the scene shifts to the tea room in Houston's Japanese garden. Here the non-linear opera explores how such tragedies affect Japanese-Americans and immigrants from Japan, deftly playing on the emotions, sympathy, and empathy of the assembled audience. The compelling opera elicited several gasps of sorrow, pain, and understanding from the opening night audience as the beauty of the piece spoke to our hearts, minds, and souls.

Handel and Haydn Society Presents Handel Jephtha, conducted by Artistic Director Harry Christophers, in celebration of the 2015 Bicentennial. The piece premiered in the US by H&H in 1855. Performances are set for Friday, May 3, 2013 at 7:30pm and Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 3pm at Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Mass.

Sparkling with the metaphorical beauty of MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES, these collaborative events offer opportunities to connect with Maria as she travels into the underbelly of Buenos Aires.

Shortly after many children all over Houston had hunted lawns for eggs and other treats that the mythical Easter Bunny delivered this past Sunday, I had a delightful conversation with composer Marty Regan and librettist Kenny Fries for Houston Grand Opera (HGO)'s 50th World Premiere, THE MEMORY STONE. We discussed the new opera, looking into its creation, meaning, and cultural significance. As we talked about THE MEMORY STONE, it became abundantly clear that this particular opera is most deserving of being HGO's magical 50th World Premiere and that it will be one that audiences should not miss.

Fountain Hills Theater has announced the opening of the Film Noir musical, Gunmetal Blues. Created by acclaimed Valley composer, Craig Bohmler, Gunmetal Blues is a hard-boiled detective tale disguised as a lounge act---or the other way around? Direct from the Red Eye Lounge, Buddy Toupee tickles the ivories and serves up plot concoctions like a Chandleresque Greek chorus. The private eye searches for a missing blonde through a double-dealing world of smoky bars, rain-slicked streets and more blondes. This quest lures the audience to an unnamed city of mystery, music and demolished dreams.

The American Theatre Wing has just announced that its annual Gala, to be held Monday, September 16 at The Plaza Hotel (Fifth Avenue at Central Park South), will honor legendary director and producer Harold Prince. Anki Leeds and CeCe Black will serve as Gala co-chairs.

Houston Grand Opera announced a gift in the amount of $1 million from Dr. Ernest C. and Sarah Butler of Austin, Texas. The gift will endow The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair of the HGO Orchestra. Longtime season subscribers to HGO, the Butlers have been extremely generous patrons of the arts and education, primarily in their hometown of Austin. "Sarah and I have seen outstanding opera in Houston for almost thirty years and are very happy to contribute to the musical excellence of Houston Grand Opera. The company has garnered international acclaim for its artistic product and we are proud that our gift will help ensure that the quality of HGO's work will continue," said Dr. Butler.

Sparkling with the metaphorical beauty of MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES, these collaborative events offer opportunities to connect with Maria as she travels into the underbelly of Buenos Aires.

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.