Houston Grand Opera has announced the 2023-24 Sarah and Ernest Butler HGO Studio Artists. Following an extensive global search, four artists have been selected as first-year Butler Studio artists: mezzo-soprano Ani Kushyan, tenor Michael McDermott, pianist Marco Rizzello, and tenor Demetrious Sampson Jr. Six artists have also been chosen as returning Butler Studio artists. They are: sopranos Meryl Dominguez and {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2023-24 season, which will feature a world premiere. Jamie Barton, Janai Brugger, J‘Nai Bridges, Caitlin Lynch, Nicholas Newton, Michael Mayes, and Joshua Blue star in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s “Intelligence.” Kwamé Ryan conducts the production by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Performance Dates: Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2024 Reginald Smith, Jr. sings the title role of Vedi’s “Falstaff” with Nicole Heaston, Blake {…}
On February 24, 2023, Houston Grand Opera will present their fourth annual Giving Voice concert, in partnership with Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, the Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Prairie View A&M University, and Texas Southern University. The performance will feature acclaimed tenor and series creator Lawrence Brownlee, joined by tenor George Shirley, and soprano Nicole Heaston; as well as HGO Studio {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced that Sarah and Ernest Butler created a new fund within the HGO Endowment for $22 million. Per an official press statement, this is the largest philanthropical investment in the company’s 68-year history. Moreover, the company will rename its training program the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. The announcement was made during {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced the winners of its 2023 Concert of Arias. The first-place winner was mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, who will take home $10,000; she also won the Online Viewers’ Choice Award. In second place is tenor Demetrious Sampson, Jr., who will take home $5,000 and the Audience Choice Award. Another tenor, Michael McDermott, took home third place {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced the finalists for its 2023 Concert of Arias, currently scheduled for Feb. 3, 2023. The finalists include baritone Samuel Kidd, mezzo-soprano Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, soprano Emma Marhefka, tenor Michael McDermott, tenor Demetrious Sampson Jr, bass Gosh Sargsyan, and soprano Gabrielle Turgeon. Audiences will be able to see the event both in person {…}
(Credit: Gillian Riesen) Houston Grand Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Salome.” The company said that Laura Wilde will now sing the title role, replacing Amanda Majeski. Wilde is currently in a production of “Tosca” at Arizona Opera and will reprise the role at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer. She recently made her Met {…}
Houston Grand Opera is set to present Massenet’s “Werther” starting on Jan. 27, 2023. The opera will star Matthew Polenzani in the title role alongside Isabel Leonard, Jasmine Habersham, and Sean Michael Plumb; all four artists will be making their company debuts. Other cast members include Patrick Carfizzi, Ricardo Garcia, Cory McGee, Emily Triegle, and Luke Sutliff. Also making his {…}
This week, the Houston Grand Opera is set to revive Javier Martínez and Leonard Foglia’s “El Milagro del Recuerdo,” celebrating the holiday season. It’s a work that world premiered in 2019 to critical acclaim and sold-out shows. For this revival, the production will see the return of some of the original cast members including Cecilia Duarte. Duarte originated the role {…}
Houston Grand Opera has announced that it will present “Another City,” a new opera by Jeremy Howard Beck and Stephanie Fleischmann. The world premiere is set for March 9 -11, 2023 at the campus of Ecclesia Houston. The work explores the stories of several Houstonians experiencing homelessness. The cast features 12 artists in total. Alex Amsel conducts with Emily N. {…}
THe Houston Grand Opera has announced its 2022 Studio Showcase, which is set for Sept. 17, 2022. The event will feature 11 studio artists, including five who are new members of the company, as they take on excerpts from several major operas. Among the performers are soprano Meryl Dominguez, tenor Ricardo Garcia, baritone Navasard Hakobyan, bass Cory McGee, pianist Michelle {…}