Houston Grand Opera Presents First ELEKTRA In 25 Years

Houston Grand Opera ( HGO ) presents Richard Strauss's chilling one - act drama, Elektra, January 19 - February 2, the first HGO performances in 25 years. The Sir David McVicar production stars internationally acclaimed soprano Christine Goerke, who " owns the title role ... [ as ] one of the most fearless and formidable dramatic sopranos of the day " ( New York Times ).

HGO brings back Rossini's madcap comedy, The Barber of Seville, January 26 - February 10, in the colorful Els Comediants production that charmed audiences here in 2011. Tickets for the H GO Resilience Theater in the George R. Brown Convention Center are available at HGO.org. Parking is available at the Avenida North garage located at 1815 Rusk Stre et, across from Resilience Theater.

A sky bridge connects the parking garage to the GRB, and there is clear signage directing patrons to the theater. More information about parking can be found here. HGO has transformed Exhibit Hall A3 in the convention center into an intimate theater after being displaced from its creative home at the Wortham Theater Center by Hurricane Harvey. Every seat is less than 100 feet from the stage and the productions give a udiences insight into and connection to the theatrical process,

in what HGO is calling " unconventional opera. " Elektra : A gripping drama from the ancient world ( January 19 - February 2, 2018 ) In just one 100 - minute act, Elektra leaves audiences breathless, even after the final blood - soaked scene. The title character lusts for revenge for her father's death just before she descends into madness.

This masterpiece, which follows one of drama's most dysfunctional families, is one of the most thrilling and chil ling works in all of opera. HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, who will conduct HGO's performances, notes that " an audience will never have been this close to the searing drama of this opera, something uniquely possible at the Resilience Theater. "

Soprano Christine Goerke ' s portrayal of Elektra in concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall was a highlight of the 2015 season, her " effortless power, gleaming sound, and dramatic intensity " adding up to an " unforgettable " pe rformance, according to the New York Times. Now, after her triumphant appearances as Brünnhilde in HGO's first Ring cycle ( 2014 - 17 ), the company brings this virtuosic artist back to Houston for the return of Strauss's startling one - act masterwork based on the ancient tragedy by Sophocles, 25 years after the last HGO performances.

The stellar cast also includes 2016 Richard Tucker Award - winning soprano Tamara Wilson in her role debut as Elektra's sister, Chrysothemis. An HGO Studio alumna, Ms. Wilson last appeared here as Leonora in Il trovatore in 2013. In 2015 she portrayed Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, where the New York Times noted that her " passion surpasses s tereotype. " The sisters ' murderous mother, Klytaemnestra, will be sung by mezzo - soprano Michaela Martens, making her house and role debuts. In the Metropolitan Opera's 2014 mounting of John Adams's The Death of Klinghoffer, Martens, as Marilyn Klinghoffer, was " the singer who most tore at the heart " ( New Yorker ).

Baritone and HGO Studio alumnus Greer Grimsley will sing Orest, Elektra's brother. Last heard at HGO in 2002 as the High Priest in Samson and Delilah, Grimsley portrayed the title role in Seattle Op era's The Flying Dutchman ( 2016 ), where the Seattle Times noted his " commanding stage presence and resonant voice. " Klytaemnestra's lover, Aegisth, will be taken by HGO Studio alumnus Chad Shelton, who sang Mao Tse - tung in last season's Nixon in China. Patrick Summers conducts and Nick Sandys directs this revival of David McVicar's haunting 2012 production.

The Barber of Seville : Figaro, Figaro, Figaro ! ( January 26 - February 10, 2018 ) Opera's famous barber is back in Rossini's zany comedy. Generations ha ve been enchanted as this scheming barber helps playboy Count Almaviva win the hand of the vivacious young Rosina, who is kept a virtual prisoner in the home of her crotchety guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Rossini's score is punctuated with infectious melodies, in cluding some of opera's most familiar arias, while the stage is set for laugh - out - loud comedy.

A brilliant cast performs in the colorful Els Comediants production that the Houston Chronicle termed " inventive, playful, [ and ] unpredictable " when it debuted here in 2011. Acclaimed bass Eric Owens, an HGO Studio alumnus who was named Musical America ' s 2017 Vocalist of the Year, will make a long - anticipated return to HGO as the wily Don Basilio. H e last appeared here as Ramfis in Aida in 1999. San Antonio native David Portillo, one of Opera News ' s 2015 Rising Stars, returns to HGO to play Count Almaviva after bringing his " clean, pure tenor " ( Houston Chronicle ) to the role of Tamino in The Magic Fl ute in 2015.

Baritone Lucas Meachem will make his HGO debut as Figaro, the role in which he gave a " charismatic " ( San Francisco Classical Voice ) performance at San Francisco Opera in 2015. Rosina will be sung by HGO Studio alumna Sofia Selowsky, who gave me morable HGO performances during the 2015 - 16 season as The Fox in The Little Prince and Eliza in the world premiere of David Hanlon's After the Storm. Peixin Chen, the HGO Studio alumnus who " stole the show " with his " deep - dish voice " ( Houston Press ) as Dr. Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, will portray that character in Rossini's opera.

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