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 {…}
Jennifer Davenport has been named the first director of marketing and experience for the Houston Grand Opera. Her tenure kicks off on September 6 of this year. Davenport previously worked with the Houston Texans, an organization for which she also served as Chief Marketing Officer. “Her natural gift of hers and her experience in drawing crowds from across our community {…}
Houston Grand Opera has appointed Maureen Zoltek to the position of Music Director of the HGO Studio. In this new role, which she will take on starting in September, Zoltek will work with HGO Studio Director Brian Speck to support the young artists as well as support the company’s casting committee and work on programming for its recital series. “Our {…}
The Houston Grand Opera has announced that beginning August 1, 2022, Joel Thompson will be the company’s first full-time composer-in-residence. Thompson was previously commissioned for his first opera “The Snowy Day,” which the company world premiered during the 2021 season. In his new role, Thompson will live and work in Houston full time while a member of the company’s artistic {…}
Houston Grand Opera has announced that Jennifer Bowman will be its new Director of Community and Learning. She will assume her position starting on June 6, 2022. “My first foray into the operatic world took place at Houston Grand Opera. It was an experience I will never forget. I am honored to bring my career full circle and return to {…}