Houston Grand Opera News

Zachary James has debuted CALL OUT, simultaneous visual and audio albums of works composed by women, now released on streaming music platforms. James is joined on the album by pianist Charity Wicks, cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, theorboist Brandon Acker, steel guitarist Kevin Skrla, guitarist Frederick Poholek, and vocalist Megan Nielson.

This holiday week the Virtual Opera Tour’s Magic Opera Flying Carpet is making its first stop at Opera San Jose for their magnificent online performance of Three Decembers. It costs $40 to watch on demand.The price is a bit steep, but the story is affecting, the music is fabulous and the performances are riveting. 

Pittsburgh Opera is proud to announce the promotion of long-time Artistic Administrator Robert Boldin to the role of Director of Artistic Operations. In a related move, Pittsburgh Opera is now seeking qualified applicants for the position of Manager of Artistic Administration. Detailed information about the position can be found at pittsburghopera.org/jobs.  

RED BULL THEATER today announced that its 2020-21 offerings will continue next month with a benefit reading of The African Company Presents Richard III by Carlyle Brown, directed by Carl Cofield, featuring Clifton Duncan, Edward Gero, Dion Johnstone, Paul Niebanck, Antoinette Robinson, Charlayne Woodard, and more to be announced.

Houston Grand Opera presents the January installment of Live from The Cullen on January 8. Viewers will be transported to the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater for a performance by talented mezzo soprano Sasha Cooke.

Houston Grand Opera presents the January installment of Live from The Cullen on January 8. Viewers will be transported to the Wortham Theater Center’s Cullen Theater for a performance by talented mezzo soprano Sasha Cooke.

Eager to bid adieu, farewell, and even good riddance to 2020, Opera San José has announced it will present The Parting Glass, an online celebration for music-lovers on New Year's Eve.

San Francisco Opera Center Director and Merola Opera Program Artistic Director Sheri Greenawald, whose December 2020 retirement was announced in March, received the San Francisco Opera Medal at a special Zoom event organized by San Francisco Opera and Merola Opera Program. The Opera Medal, the Company's highest honor, was awarded to Greenawald for her extraordinary service and leadership with the Company. 

While performing arts organizations around the world are dusting off existing productions of the usual chestnuts during the month of December, Opera San José is taking a more audacious approach with its holiday programming. They are presenting a new, fully-staged production of Jake Heggie’s immensely moving chamber opera, Three Decembers, featuring world-renowned mezzo-soprano Susan Graham in the central role, alongside celebrated Opera San José Resident Artists soprano Maya Kherani and baritone Efraín Solís. Based on the unpublished play Some Christmas Letters by Tony-winning playwright Terrance McNally, Three Decembers follows the story of a famous actress, Madeline Mitchell, and her two adult children, Beatrice and Charlie over three decades (1986, 1996, and 2006). With a witty and touching libretto by Gene Scheer and a soaring musical score by Jake Heggie, Three Decembers is a 90-minute fullhearted American opera about family – the ones we are born into and those we create. The world-class digital production is offered via on-demand streaming through December 31, 2020. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit operasj.org or call (408) 437-4450. BroadwayWorld speaks with charismatic baritone Efraín Solís, who plays son Charlie.

Governor Brian P. Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp today announced the recipients of the ninth annual Governor's Awards for the Arts and Humanities. The awards were presented in partnership with the Georgia Council for the Arts and Georgia Humanities.

After a year-long, international search, the Canadian Opera Company has named Perryn Leech its next General Director. Leech officially begins his position on March 1, 2021, with current COC General Director Alexander Neef continuing as company leader throughout the transition period.

Ring in the holiday season with Houston Grand Opera! On Friday, December 18, HGO Digital will release the HGO Studio Holiday Celebration. Tune in as current HGO Studio Artists will perform repertoire ranging from Handel to traditional carols and contemporary favorites. The 2020–21 HGO Studio features 11 artists: six first-year artists and five returning artists.

Houston Grand Opera Board Chairman Allyn Risley announced today that Managing Director Perryn Leech is leaving the organization effective December 31, 2020. He will continue to serve as a consultant during the leadership transition. Leech has been with HGO for nearly 14 years and has been managing director for 9 years.

On Thursday, December 10, Houston Grand Opera will release The Making of The Snowy Day: An Opera for All on HGO Digital.

The OBIE-winning HERE will present the world premiere of Only You Will Recognize The Signal, a serial space opera featuring music by Kamala Sankaram, libretto by Rob Handel, and direction by Kristin Marting.

After carefully weighing options, in accordance with recommendations from global health leaders, Houston Grand Opera has made the difficult decision to cancel the remaining mainstage productions for the 2020–21 season. The company now plans to resume live, in-person performance in the fall of 2021.

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves will join Juilliard's Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts as distinguished visiting faculty beginning this month. Recognized worldwide as one of today's most exciting vocal artists, Graves continues to garner acclaim for her work on the world's opera and concert stages.

Available to season ticket holders from November 13–December 4, 2020 , Recorded on the McCaw Hall stage

This season, Pittsburgh Festival Opera will be presenting a Special Mezzo-Soprano Edition in a digital-only format in response to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.

On Friday, November 27, Houston Grand Opera will present a double billing of Bon Appétit! and The Impresario.