Houston Grand Opera News

Casting has been announced for Cameron Mackintosh's spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for its highly anticipated return to the Fox Cities at Fox Cities P.A.C. next month. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM is performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.

Director Olivier Tambosi's production of Manon Lescaut, composer Giacomo Puccini's first triumph, returns to San Francisco Opera for six performances on the War Memorial Opera House stage, from November 8 through the 26th.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) and KINETIC present a free one-night concert inspired by the solo exhibition, Nathalie Miebach: The Water Line, featuring work by the contemporary basket weaver and sculptor that focuses on the major hurricanes of 2017: Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Fascinated by two narratives generated by every disaster--one based on science, encompassing temperature, wind and pressure gradients, and one based on human experience--Miebach translates information from these storms into graphic music scores, large-scale woven installations, and sculptures. As part of the artist's Weather Score Project, The Water Line Concert will feature two new compositions, inspired by Hurricane Harvey, by Houston composers Shane Monds and Kyle Rivera, as well as existing compositions by Matthew Jackfert and Harrison Ponce, based on other hurricanes. Miebach will be present to speak about her work in the exhibition and her collaborations with various composers.

HGO's popular Studio Recital series returns with artists of the 2019-20 Houston Grand Opera Studio performing an intimate program of diverse works on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 at Rienzi, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The up-and-coming singers and pianist, among the most talented in the world of opera, have designed a program consisting of three groups of mixed repertoire that create a loose narrative around stages of life a?" before, during, and after times of personal/interpersonal upheaval.

HGO's popular Studio Recital series returns with artists of the 2019-20 Houston Grand Opera Studio performing an intimate program of diverse works on Dec. 6 and Dec. 8 at Rienzi, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The up-and-coming singers and pianist, among the most talented in the world of opera, have designed a program consisting of three groups of mixed repertoire that create a loose narrative around stages of life a?" before, during, and after times of personal/interpersonal upheaval. They will explore how struggles lead to a greater understanding of the world, one's relationships, and the individual's place in society.

On Wednesday, December 4, at 8:00 pm, let yourself be enchanted by the mesmerizing artistry of world-renowned tenor Michael Fabiano and participate in the launch of a new initiative at Merkin Hall. Classical Vocal Arts (CVA) International inaugurates its series with 'A Passion for Song,' a Benefit Program that includes works by Duparc, Liszt, Barber, Tchaikovsky, and selections from the American Songbook. Michael will be joined by members of the ArtSmart program and will be accompanied by pianist Kamal Khan.

The Atlanta Opera opens its 2019-20 Mainstage season with Rossini's bubbly take on the Cinderella fairy tale, La Cenerentola.

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents celebrated American tenor Paul Appleby in Schumann's Dichterliebe for Voice and Piano, Op. 48 (1840) with pianist Ken Noda on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 7:30pm at Alice Tully Hall. Part of a concert titled 1891: Brahms's Clarinet Quintet, the program also includes Schubert's Fantasie in F minor for Piano, Four Hands, D. 940, Op. 103 (1828) and Brahms's Quintet in B minor for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola, and Cello, Op. 115 (1891) performed by pianist and Artistic Director Wu Han, violinists Aaron Boyd and Francisco Fullana, violinist and violist Yura Lee, cellist Keith Robinson, and clarinetist David Shifrin.

After a celebratory 18th season full of awards, nominations and tons of critical-acclaim for the main-stage productions of Queen and Caroline, or Change, Astoria Performing Arts Center (APAC) kicks off their 2019-20 season with Tony award-winner actress Cady Huffman in the New York premiere of Marguerite, a new solo musical with book and lyrics by Anton Dudley, music by Michael Cooper and direction by APAC Artistic Director Dev Bondarin.

The Metropolitan Opera presents the company premiere of Philip Glass's modern masterpiece Akhnaten on November 8, 2019, with performances continuing through December 7.

Tom Wopat begins a series of Wednesday night concerts at the intimate Beach Cafe on October 23

Director Olivier Tambosi's production of Manon Lescaut, composer Giacomo Puccini's first triumph, returns to San Francisco Opera for six performances on the War Memorial Opera House stage, from November 8 through the 26th. +

The whimsical tale of The Magic Flute comes to life at Washington National Opera (WNO) at the Kennedy Center Opera House from November 2a?"23, 2019. Performed in English with projected surtitles, this production of The Magic Flute features design by famed children's author/illustrator Maurice Sendak. This light-hearted and comical opera is a delight for newcomers and opera fans alike.

Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, an operatic fable about the power of music, returns to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time since 2011 for seven performances beginning October 20, 2019.

Baritone Michael Mayes steps in to sing the title role in Verdi's Rigoletto at Houston Grand Opera. He performs the opening night performance on 18, and two additional performances on October 20 and 26. The Boston Musical Intelligencer lauded his debut in the role in 2014 with Boston Lyric Opera: 'His baritone, powerful yet fully controlled, shifted seamlessly in color between expressions of terror, pleading, and angry vengeance.' He returns to the role later this season with Nashville Opera.

Jonathan Miller's hilarious and much loved production of the Gilbert and Sullivan classic returns to the London Coliseum, almost 35 years after its premiere.

Theatre production company Parity Productions, a producer of new work that ensures they fill at least 50% of the creative positions (playwrights, directors, and designers) on their productions with women and/or trans and gender nonconforming (TGNC) artists, has launched an auction on Paddle8 and their annual Silent Auction Buy Now Prices on The Parity Store.

The 58th season of American Symphony Orchestra's Vanguard series at Carnegie Hall will open on October 31 with Music Director Leon Botstein leading the ASO in a performance of Edward Elgar's great choral work, The Kingdom, the second of Elgar's incomplete trilogy of oratorios.

From October 28, Mozart's exciting opera Don Giovanni will enchant audiences in movie theaters around the US. This wonderful fast-moving tragi-comedy about a master seducer features enchantingly complex characters, gripping drama and glorious melodies, from Don Giovanni's exuberant 'Champagne Aria' to Don Ottavio's tender expression of love 'Dalla sua pace'.

San Francisco Opera announces a cast change for Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), opening on October 11. American soprano Nicole Heaston will make her Company debut in the role of Countess Almaviva, replacing Irish soprano Jennifer Davis who has withdrawn due to illness. Ms. Davis, who was due to make her American opera debut with this role, expects to make a full recovery but a lingering virus and persistent cough have prevented her from participating fully in rehearsals and therefore she has determined it best to withdraw from the production and recuperate at home.