Houston Grand Opera News

The Texas Opera Alliance has announced the launch of the Teen Opera Club of Texas. In early October, Austin Opera (AO), The Dallas Opera (TDO), Fort Worth Opera (FWO), Houston Grand Opera (HGO), and OPERA San Antonio (OSA) announced the creation of TOA to advance and protect the future of the art form in Texas.

OPERA America has announced the inaugural group of inductees to the Opera Hall of Fame. The Opera Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of outstanding living American artists, administrators, and advocates who have strengthened the art form and the field. It was established in 2020 on the occasion of OPERA America's 50th anniversary, a celebration of the progress of the industry over the past half-century.

Houston Grand Opera's HGOco and League of Women Voters of Houston are partnering to present a special live stream airing of Faye Chiao and Anton Dudley's Katie: Strongest of the Strong.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) returns this Friday, Oct. 23 on HGO Digital with the release of Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera, a hilarious sendup of the little-known Belgian sport of professional finch-calling by composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek.

Opera San José has announced it will present a new fully staged production of Jake Heggie's 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, in a world-class digital production offered via on-demand streaming beginning December 3, 2020.

A $1 million gift to the Seattle Opera will help usher in a more diverse generation of storytellers in opera, with a focus on composers and librettists ages 18–30.

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, mezzo-soprano Gabriela Flores, a member of the Los Angeles Opera Young Artist Program, partners with guitarist Gilberto Amara for a “Living Room Recital” of Mexican songs on the Los Angeles Opera website. San Francisco Opera’s online streaming of of Verdi’s Attila features Ferruccio Furlanetto.

Today on Friday, October 16th at 7pm, a special virtual reading of 'One Empire, Under God' - Anthony J. Piccione's new full-length drama exploring religious extremism & right-wing populism - will be broadcast via Zoom to monthly patrons on Patreon, as well as selected invited guests. Immediately after the reading, there will be a talkback - moderated by co-producer Jay Michaels - featuring the playwright, director & cast.

Houston Grand Opera will present the November installment of Live from The Cullen on November 13. Viewers will be transported to the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater for a performance by tenor Arturo Chacón-Cruz, who has made exciting appearances in renowned theaters and concert halls across the globe.

Sono Luminus announces Fermi's Paradox, a new album from viola da gambist Carolyn Surrick and lutenist Ronn McFarlane, with guest percussionist Jackie Moran, to be released worldwide on November 20, 2020.

Rice University Theatre will present Oscar Wildea??s Victorian satirical comedy of manners, a?oeThe Importance of Being Earnest.a?? The production will be broadcast via livestream on October 9 at 8:00 p.m. to the Universitya??s YouTube channel.

Acclaimed opera and Broadway performer Zachary James will debut CALL OUT, simultaneous visual and audio albums of works composed by women, to be released December, 2020. 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.

Ars Lyrica Houston continues its new Side by Side season with an October 24 virtual performance of an all-Bach program that includes two sacred cantatas and a major chamber work.

San Diego Opera has announced cast changes for its ground-breaking live, drive-in performances of La bohème at the Pechanga Arena San Diego parking lot.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO), Austin Opera (AO), The Dallas Opera (TDO), Fort Worth Opera (FWO), and OPERA San Antonio (OSA) are pleased to announce the creation of the Texas Opera Alliance (TOA), a new partnership of the five companies, designed to advance and protect the future of the art form in Texas.

The Aspen Music Festival and School has announced the appointment of Miah Im as AMFS artist-faculty member for its new Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS Program, joining co-artistic directors Renée Fleming and Patrick Summers. Im is a leading opera pedagogue and professional opera coach, and she returns to Aspen as the new opera program's head coach. She has a deep connection with the AMFS, having attended as a fellowship student; she later served on faculty as an opera coach.

On Friday, October 23, Houston Grand Opera presents Vinkensport, or The Finch Opera, a hilarious sendup of the little-known Belgian sport of professional finch-calling by composer David T. Little and librettist Royce Vavrek.

Opera singer Denyce Graves recently performed as part of a memorial for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

The Metropolitan Opera announced today that the ongoing health crisis has resulted in the cancellation of the entire 2020-21 season, but the company also announced ambitious artistic plans for its 2021-22 season, which will open with the Met premiere of Terence Blanchard's Fire Shut Up in My Bones.

Houston Grand Opera presents this month's Live from The Cullen Recital Series performance. On October 9, viewers will be transported to the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater for a performance by baritone Reginald Smith, Jr., an HGO Studio alum known for his outstanding stage presence and passionate performances. Smith will be accompanied by Richard Bado, director of artistic operations and chorus master at HGO.