The Houston Grand Opera has announced that it has received a $2.5 million loan from the Payment Protection Program (PPP). The loan will allow the company to rehire back the 25 employees furloughed during the COVID-19 pandemic and salary reductions originally planned for May 1, will no longer take place. The furloughed employees will be able to return to work {…}
In doing their part to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Houston Grand Opera’s costume department is making and donating fabric face masks to healthcare workers at St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Methodist Hospital, and the Women’s Center. On this endeavor, Perryn Leech, Managing Director of Houston Grand Opera, said “Over the course of the last four weeks, they’ve made 2,200 {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has furloughed 25 employees as it combats the financial challenges caused by the COVID-19 crisis. Per a report from the Houston Chronicle, not only is the company furloughing 25 of its 120 employees, but other staff members are taking a 15 to 20 percent pay cut. The furloughed workers’ last day is expected to be on {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced six new members to its 2020-21 HGO Studio. The new participants of the studio include baritone Blake Denson, tenor Ricardo Garcia, bass Cory McGee, mezz-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce, soprano Raven McMIillon, and pianist Bin Yu Sanford. There will also be five returning artists including mezzo-soprano Lindsay Kate Brown, pianist Alex Munger, bass-baritone Nicholas Newton, bass {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced that Allyn Risley will be the chairman of its board of directors beginning on August 1, 2020. Risley is the Chairman of Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) North America. He has also been the vice president for BG Group Ltd and former general manager of LNG at ConocoPhillips. He was an HGO subscriber since the {…}
(Credit: Lynn Lane) The Houston Grand Opera is set to showcase the 68th world premiere in company history when it opens “Marian’s Song” on March 5 and 6, 2020 at the Cullenter of the Wortham Theater Center. The opera, which is written by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton and composed by Damien Sneed, is based on the life of the legendary opera {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced the winners of the 32nd annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias, which took place in the Cullen Theater of the Wortham Theater Center. The company announced that the first place prize of $10,000 was awarded to the mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce. Meanwhile, second place prize of $5,000 went to the bass {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced the finalists for the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers’ Concert of Arias. The performance, which will take place on Feb. 7, 2020 at the Wortham Theater Center, is set to feature sopranos Tatiana Carlos, Murella Parton, and Rachel Shaughnessy; mezzo-sopranos Sun-Ly Pierce and Isabel Signoret; tenor Angel Romero; bass-baritone Laureano Quant; and bass {…}
(Credit / Source: Jamie Barton Official Website / Paul Schirnhofer) Full disclaimer – it has been quite a while since a weekend of opera has been packed with so many incredible opportunities around the continent. To whittle it down to five was a tall order and only almost impossible. So for this addition, we will not only include our top {…}
On Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, the Houston Grand Opera will present “Giving Voice,” a concert presented by tenor Lawrence Brownlee. The performance will be live streamed via YouTube and is set to feature J’Nai Bridges, Nicole Heaston, Reginald Smith Jr., and Russell Thomas. Kevin Miller will be at the piano. The concert was developed by Brownlee in association with the {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced that conductor Christophe Rousset has withdrawn from the company’s premiere of “La Favorite” due to personal reasons. In his stead, Houston Grand Opera Artistic and Musical Director Patrick Summers will take over, leading all five performances of the run. The production kicks off on Jan. 24 and runs through Feb. 9, 2020. It will {…}