Houston Grand Opera News

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.

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.

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!

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.

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, opening tonight, February 17, at 3:00pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street.

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, opening Sunday, February 17, at 3:00pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street.

For the first time in the orchestra's history, Mercury will feature Grammy Award-winning soprano, Ana Maria Martinez, in its upcoming Valentine's Day program tonight, February 14 & 15.

The Champion Sisters today announced the release of Beauty Way, a new single from their third album, Unfit To Be Tied, along with the single's video. Mark Andes, in collaboration with Eliza Gilkyson, wrote the song.

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, currently in previews for an opening on February 17 at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld has photos of the cast and creative team in rehearsal below!

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, currently in previews for an opening on February 17 at The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 West 42nd Street. Watch behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast below!

As Houston Grand Opera began rehearsing SHOW BOAT, the Houston theatre community started to focus a lot of attention on the production. Utilizing social media, friends and followers of the artists got inside looks into the impressive amounts of dedicated labor, passion, and sheer hard work that went into getting SHOW BOAT to float and sail on stage. Yet, 140 characters on Twitter, a Facebook status update, and a photo on Instagram can only say so much. Luckily, I was able to converse with Houston area native, Charles Swan, about his career, being a swing for SHOW BOAT, and how he juggles being a professional performer and a teacher.