Houston Grand Opera News

The long overdue London premiere of the Broadway musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, directed by acclaimed West End and RSC director Ian Judge, and designed by three time Olivier Award winner Tim Goodchild, opens for a four week limited season at the Finborough Theatre on Tuesday, 7 June 2011 (Press Night: Thursday, 9 June 2011 at 7.30pm).

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the U.S. premiere of Ingmar Bergman's AUTUMN SONATA, directed by Robert Woodruff, based on a literal translation by Wendy Weckwerth, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 12-May 7, 2011.

HGO Chairman Mr. Glen Rosenbaum today announced that Houston Grand Opera had received a major donation of $4 million from The Alkek and Williams Foundation for the creation of the Margaret Alkek Williams General Director Chair Fund. This endowed Chair recognizes Margaret Alkek Williams, a major philanthropic figure in Houston and a longtime supporter of HGO.

Acclaimed American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny performs Franz Schubert's Winterreise, accompanied by pianist Elizabeth Buccheri, Sunday, April 10 at 3 p.m. at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.

Philadelphia Theatre Company continues its 35th Anniversary Season with the Philadelphia debut of Anna Deavere Smith in her one-woman, award-winning show Let Me Down Easy, running March 18 through April 10, 2011 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

The Lyric Opera of Kansas City closes its 53rd season April 9 through 17 with a new production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, which will be performed in Italian with English subtitles.

Marvel at some of the most spectacular coloratura arias in the repertoire when Houston Grand Opera presents Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, April 29 - May 10, 2011, featuring three glamorous and acclaimed sopranos; Christine Goerke (Prima Donna / Ariadne) Susan Graham (Composer) and Laura Claycomb (Zerbinetta).

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) announced that Norm Lewis, Audra McDonald, and David Alan Grier are joining the A.R.T. to play Porgy, Bess, and Sportin' Life in the A.R.T.'s new production of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess. Performances will begin August 17at the Loeb Drama Center in Cambridge. Further casting will be announced at a later date.

Deutsche Grammophon & Decca Classics, U.S. is proud to present a host of all-new recordings for Spring 2011.

On Saturday, April 2nd at 8:00pm Mercury Baroque will perform A Night in Madrid, a special concert featuring the Spanish-influenced music by Italian-born composer Luigi Boccherini.

Marvel at some of the most spectacular coloratura arias in the repertoire when Houston Grand Opera presents Richard Strauss' Ariadne auf Naxos, April 29 - May 10, 2011, featuring three glamorous and acclaimed sopranos; Christine Goerke (Prima Donna / Ariadne) Susan Graham (Composer) and Laura Claycomb (Zerbinetta).

An up-and-comer on both sides of the Atlantic, Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni will make his Houston Grand Opera debut in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro during an April 15-30 run that marks his debut in the role of Count Almaviva.

Nathan Gunn is one of today's most sought after opera stars whose spectacular voice is matched by movie star good looks.

The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the sale of one-price, single reserved seats for the world premiere of a new song cycle by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer commissioned for the company's much-anticipated annual Spring Gala, UNVEIL.

Gramophone's Artist of the Year Joyce DiDonato returns to the Metropolitan Opera to make her role debut as Isolier in Rossini's Le comte Ory, which opens tonight, Thursday, March 24. Directed by Bartlett Sher, this new production stars Diana Damrau as Countess Adele and Juan Diego Florez as the title character.

Nathan Gunn is one of today's most sought after opera stars whose spectacular voice is matched by movie star good looks.

Houston Grand Opera House Presents Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos Friday April 29, 2011 - Tuesday May 10, 2011 at Brown Theater A feast for the eyes and for the ears, Strauss's elegant and moving meditation on the conventions of the theater pits a comedienne against a prima donna at a high-society dinner party in Vienna.

Veteran actress, singer and comedienne Andrea Wolff will star in "Loose Screws," an original musical comedy beginning on Friday, May 6th (7PM) at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd Street, located in the lower level of the West Bank Cafe on Theatre Row).

Two stars of the stage - Kelli O'Hara and Nathan Gunn -will join the New York Philharmonic for an evening of songs and duets from the Golden Age of Broadway, conducted by Tony Award winner Ted Sperling, Monday, March 21, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. Ms. O'Hara, fresh off her highly successful run as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific at Lincoln Center Theater, returns to the New York Philharmonic following two previous appearances, including her acclaimed starring role as Eliza Doolittle in the Orchestra's 2007 production of My Fair Lady. Baritone Nathan Gunn returns after winning hearts as the swashbuckling Sir Lancelot in the Philharmonic's 2008 Camelot production and his featured role in last season's SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert! The two stage luminaries will perform selections from classic Broadway musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Kurt Weill, and Stephen Sondheim, ranging from Carousel to Follies.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the U.S. premiere of Ingmar Bergman's AUTUMN SONATA, directed by Robert Woodruff, based on a literal translation by Wendy Weckwerth, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) April 12-May 7, 2011.