Cavalleria
rusticana & Pagliacci - Mascagni & Leoncavallo
October 17, 24, 26m, 29, Nov 1, 2008
photo by Robert Kusel
Betrayal, jealousy and revenge—the perfect partners for an evening of irresistible theater. A powerhouse cast takes charge: Brandon Jovanovich makes his HGO debut as Cavalleria’s caddish Turiddù, with Dolora Zajick in her signature role as the spurned Santuzza. In Pagliacci, Vladimir Galouzine returns to HGO as the titular clown—the wronged husband whose jealousy escalates to insanity—with HGO Studio alums Ana María Martínez and Scott Hendricks as his unfaithful wife and her paramour. Oleg Caetani conducts in his HGO debut.
Beatrice
and Benedict - Berlioz
Oct 30, Nov 2m, 8, 12, 14, 2008
photo by Opera Australia
In Berlioz’s light-hearted opera—based on Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing— two stubborn people use verbal jousting to mask their true feelings for each other. HGO Studio alums Joyce DiDonato and Norman Reinhardt are the recalcitrant lovers in HGO’s first-ever staging of this comical and poignant work. Michael Hofstetter conducts the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus in his HGO debut.
A
Midsummer Night's Dream - Britten
Jan 23, 25m, 31, Feb 4, 6, 2009
design by Dale Ferguson
The king and queen of the fairies are feuding, two mortal couples break up and make up thanks (or no thanks!) to the juice of a magic flower, and the Duke of Athens is getting ready to wed the Queen of the Amazons—there’s a whole lot going on in the forest just outside Athens! Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, based on Shakespeare’s play, is performed by a superb ensemble cast led by Houston favorite Laura Claycomb and Welsh countertenor Iestyn Davies in his company debut; Patrick Summers conducts.
Chorus!
- Various Composers
Jan 30, Feb 1m, 7, 11, 13, 2009
design by Johan Engels
This fully costumed and staged production, on the scale of the grandest of grand operas, stars the world-renowned Houston Grand Opera Chorus. With the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra under the baton of Music Director Patrick Summers, Chorus! is an unforgettable evening of music and spectacle. See and hear some of opera’s most heart-stopping choruses (from Verdi’s Nabucco and Il trovatore, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Bizet’s Carmen and more) performed alongside selections from operetta, oratorio and musical theater.
Rigoletto
- Verdi
April 17, 19m, 24, 26m, May 2, 2009
photo by
Houston Grand Opera
A bitter court jester pits himself against his master in a hopeless effort to protect his daughter’s virtue. Three shining young artists—Studio alums Scott Hendricks and Albina Shagimuratova, along with Eric Cutler—make their role debuts as the hunchback Rigoletto, his adored daughter Gilda and the lecherous, remorseless Duke of Mantua. Patrick Summers conducts Verdi’s distinguished tragedy.
Brief
Encounter - Previn
May 1, 3m, 5, 7, 9, 2009
photo by Lilian Birnbaum/ DG
Houston Grand Opera presents the world premiere of André Previn’s Brief Encounter, based on David Lean’s classic film adaptation of Still Life, a play by Noël Coward. An honest and compassionate look at emotional infidelity, Brief Encounter stars Elizabeth Futral and Nathan Gunn as Laura and Alec, the couple torn between love and honor, and Kim Josephson as Laura’s bewildered husband; Patrick Summers conducts.