Houston Grand Opera News

Opera Columbus has appointed Peggy Kriha Dye as General Manager of the company. As such, Kriha Dye will oversee all artistic and educational programming as well as main stage productions, and produce Opera Columbus' new Opera Cabaret series.

In the crisp, morning hours on December 27, 2012 I got the chance to speak with Lara Teeter, who will be playing Cap'n Andy in the upcoming production of SHOW BOAT at Houston Grand Opera. The celebrated actor had a plethora of interesting and scholarly items to discuss about SHOW BOAT, and the character of Cap'n Andy. We also had a good time discussing his career as an actor, director, choreographer, and teacher.

There is no denying that 2012 was a great year for theatre in Houston. Excellent productions were housed all over the city. And with the way things are shaping up, it appears that 2013 will be another fabulous year for theatre in the city. As I glance at the calendar for 2013, I find that there are many productions that I am already looking forward to. Utilizing the greatest restraint I could muster and considerable effort, I offer to you my top 5 most anticipated shows of 2013 in the order that they open...

The Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston envelopes its guests with festive music by the legendary composers of the Viennese royal court at 9 p.m. tonight, December 31, 2012 at 9 p.m. at Zilka Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The concert program featuring two rising stars of the opera stage - soprano Lauren Snouffer and countertenor John Holiday - will include arias and duets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Christoph Willibald Gluck. The magnificent instrumentalists of Ars Lyrica Houston will perform works by J.H. Schmeltzer, Johann Joseph f*x and Johann Strauss, the "Waltz King."

Joyce DiDonato stars in the Met premiere of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, in a new production by Scottish director David McVicar, opening with a gala performance tonight, New Year's Eve.

Tenor Marcello Giordani has decided to withdraw from the remaining four performances of Berlioz's Les Troyens, permanently retiring the role of Aeneas from his repertory. In his place, American tenor Bryan Hymel will make his Met debut, singing the role on December 26, December 29 matinee, January 1, and January 5 matinee (the date of the global HD transmission).

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Houston in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Tenor Marcello Giordani has decided to withdraw from the remaining four performances of Berlioz's Les Troyens, permanently retiring the role of Aeneas from his repertory. In his place, American tenor Bryan Hymel will make his Met debut, singing the role tonight, December 26, December 29 matinee, January 1, and January 5 matinee (the date of the global HD transmission).

For me, 2012 has been a fantastic year. In February, I found out I had won Broadway Across America - Houston's reviewing contest for the second half of their 2011-12 season. Having always wanted to be a theater reviewer, I was thrilled beyond imagination. Sitting in Sarofim Hall waiting for Carrie Fisher to take the stage in her one-woman show WISHFUL DRINKING, I knew I didn't want this journey to end. On May 16, 2012, I contacted BroadwayWorld, and they gave me the opportunity to cover the impressive and large Houston Theatre Scene. My tenure in Houston has not been terribly long, but as 2012 draws to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to review some of my favorite experiences that writing for BroadwayWorld has afforded me.

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.

The Opera Orchestra of New York presents an opera-in-concert performance of Umberto Giordano's verismo opera, Andrea Chénier conducted by Music Director Alberto Veronesi at Avery Fisher Hall on Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 4:00 pm. Tenor Roberto Alagna sings the title role of Andrea Chénier, one of opera's most dramatic lyric-tenor roles, for the first time, with soprano Kristin Lewis as Maddalena di Coigny, baritone George Petean as Carlo Gérard, with a special appearance by mezzo soprano Rosalind Elias as Madelon.

Joyce DiDonato stars in the Met premiere of Donizetti's Maria Stuarda, in a new production by Scottish director David McVicar, opening with a gala performance on New Year's Eve.

With rehearsals underway this week, Houston Grand Opera welcomes Lara Teeter to the role of Cap'n Andy in the new production of SHOW BOAT opening January 18. Teeter takes on the role after Tommy Tune stepped down because he is on vocal rest.

The New York Choral Society (NYCS) returns to Carnegie Hall under the baton of David Hayes, making his debut as Music Director tonight, December 18th at 8pm for a presentation of two choral works.

Anthony Dean Griffey, a tenor internationally renowned for his portray of the title role of Britten's Peter Grimes, and Emalie Savoy, a 2011 George London Award winner who is one of New York's fastest rising young sopranos, perform the second George London Foundation Recital of the season with pianist Ken Noda on Sunday, January 13, 2013, at 4:30 PM at The Morgan Library & Museum. The George London Foundation Recital Series presents pairs of outstanding opera singers, many of whom were winners of a George London prize early in their careers or are recent George London Award recipients.

Seattle Opera rings in the New Year next month with royalty, a ball, and plenty of giant rats when it stages La Cenerentola, Rossini's effervescent take on the Cinderella story. But you won't find a glass slipper, an evil stepmother, or a fairy godmother in this opera; instead, this uniquely Italian retelling features a prince in disguise, a pompous stepfather, and a wise philosopher. Love, laughter, virtue, and brilliant bel canto vocalism win out at the end of this opera by the composer of The Barber of Seville. La Cenerentola opens on Saturday, January 12, and runs for eight performances through January 26.

The Grammy-nominated early music ensemble Ars Lyrica Houston envelopes its guests with festive music by the legendary composers of the Viennese royal court at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2012 at 9 p.m. at Zilka Hall, Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. The concert program featuring two rising stars of the opera stage - soprano Lauren Snouffer and countertenor John Holiday - will include arias and duets by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Christoph Willibald Gluck. The magnificent instrumentalists of Ars Lyrica Houston will perform works by J.H. Schmeltzer, Johann Joseph f*x and Johann Strauss, the "Waltz King."

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.

Main Street Theater collaborates with MECA Houston (Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts) to present a Mexican Pastorela, La Música del Cielo (Music from Heaven), written and directed by Peter Webster. The production will be presented in Spanish with English surtitles.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, today announced promotions for two senior staff members.