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Houston Grand Opera is bringing the Houston community a full season of music with fundamental classics, a national and international debut, and the first opera in Richard Wagner’s acclaimed ring cycle, Das Rheingold.
The season opens with Giuseppe Verdi’s sweeping and exotic epic, Aida, starring Russian opera star Liudmyla Monastyrska. This is Houston Grand Opera Managing Director, Perryn Leech.
“It’s a perfect season opener because it’s grand opera on a huge scale, but also wonderfully wonderful composition that allows this beautiful music to flow out in the smaller scenes. So, it’s a very intimate opera of the largest scale possible. The key is getting a balance to a season.”
The Houston Grand Opera season runs from October18, 2013 through May 10, 2014. Patrons, Jesse Weir and Roberto Ayala, talk about what they are most looking forward to this season.
“I think we all have to say that it is going to be the ring cycle starting with Das Rheingold- that’s what we’re really looking forward to.”
“(It will be) the first ring cycle at Houston Grand Opera.”
HGO also helps to bring music to a variety of ethnic communities in Houston in their native tongues. Workshops, lectures, student performances, vocal training programs, and opera camps are tools used to make classical music and opera accessible to everyone. In addition to outreach and education, Houston Grand’s Nexus Initiative brings new opera-goers discounted tickets.
“We have a discount ticket program that allows anyone to come to the opera for $12.50. That’s the same price as going to the movies. Come and try it for $12.50, What’s the worst that can happen?”
Houston Grand Opera’s Aida is on stage now at The Wortham Theater Center.