Posted on · All of us who go to the opera, regardless of whether we're casual opera-goers or inveterate opera lovers, originally had to start from scratch in our opera-going experience. Every one of us at some point in our lives had to buy that first ticket, or let someone else take us to the opera for the first time, unsure and unknowledgeable about what we were about to experience.
Posted on · Ask any actor and they'll tell you: Comedy is much, much harder to do than drama. And yet, come awards time, even brilliantly done comedy rarely is rewarded. It's common knowledge that comedy films and the comedic performances in them have little chance at scoring an Academy Award.
Posted on · Eric Skelly explores the ways that opera companies have worked to circumvent the language barrier, as well as the history and technology behind one of their more useful tools, the surtitle.
Posted on · Opera is the ultimate example of the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. Music, drama, poetry, dance, the visual arts . . . each is a rich, rewarding and fully engaging arts discipline on its own. Given the breadth of source material available, Eric Skelly discovers that many famous operas are based on fables and fairy tales.
Posted on · Past and present Houston Grand Opera Studio artists tell Eric J. Skelly what it's like to be called in on short notice to perform for an ailing colleague.
Posted on · Houston Grand Opera and KUHF-FM will bring "From the Top," NPR's hit radio showcase for America's best young classical musicians hosted by acclaimed concert pianist Christopher O'Riley, to Houston for a live concert recording at Brown Theatre in the Wortham Theatre Center on Friday, March 28 at 7:30 pm.
Posted on · Operas come in many forms and styles, from dramatic to comedic. Eric Skelly explores the operatic style of the "singspiel," and the ways in which it influenced German opera.
Posted on · Going to the opera for the first time can be a daunting experience. Eric Skelly discusses how, with a little help from a fellow lover of opera, one can make their first experience a pleasant one.
Posted on · The Wortham Theater Center celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Eric Skelly recounts his experience working with the Houston Grand Opera during the opening of that storied building.
Posted on · Eric Skelly talks with HGO's new general director and CEO Anthony Freud about the upcoming season and some of the new projects he'll be working on in the coming years.
Posted on · Eric Skelly talks with three members of the Houston Grand Opera Studio who are leaving at the end of this season about their final year in the training program, and about their experiences therein.
Posted on · The Countertenor voice seems to be entering a Golden Age in opera, with countertenors ranking among some of operas biggest marquee names. Eric Skelly explores the voice and repertoire of the countertenor, the countertenor's predecessor, the castrato, and uncovers news about the most famous castrato of them all.