Even Valet parking worked flawlessly, even though HGO had to compete with the World Series, literally next door.
Even the Green room was reproduced, as was the dinner service for those in the Patrons' Circle. And yet, HGO found a new venue, built an entire (provisional) theater, re-ticketed all members of the audience, completed rehearsal with the original cast and delivered a spectacular performance of La Traviata. A week after the hurricane, it was all but certain that the 201702018 opera season was not going to happen. Hurricane Harvey devastated the Wortham Theater, the home of HGO and the Houston Ballet. However, what HGO has pulled off this time is simply spectacular. In truth, some of those are outstanding, some others, forgettable. It is one of the opera companies that takes risks and every year it commissions at least one new opera. The Houston Grand Opera is clearly among the top three opera companies in North America: it is creative, adventurous, recruits great talent and educates the next generation of singers and musicians (as well as members of the public).
While pleasant enough, it didn't have a single memorable tune or one aria that added a dramatic exclamation point.
The flashbacks and multigenerational presentation is confusing enough, but could be interpreted as creative. We found the production very confusing, with a number of side stories that added unnecessary complexity to the opera. I must say, I learned a lot more about daPonte than I ever did before, although I learned most of it the next day, after I re-read the Opera Cues. In therms of The Phoenix, we are always delighted when HGO introduces a new opera and we went with great expectations. This was probably the weakest performance of Don Giovanni over the past several decades. Since his performance was underwhelming, others, such as Leporello and Dona Anna filled the void and took over the star role. More to the point, Don Giovanni appeared hesitant, doubtful and a bit of a wimp. The sets were monotonous and the wandering ghosts in most scenes were confusing and annoying. The new production of Don Giovanni brought wonderful voices, but a less than attractive stage to the performance.
If you want to be entertained by great music and learn about the history of Houston and Texas, there are a series of programs highlighting the history of the city, including the “Song of Houston.” Some luxury vacation packages will include tickets to the Houston Opera.The last two productions of this season were somewhat less than a smashing success. They sponsor teachers’ workshops, a children’s chorus, student matinees, voice studios for promising young singers, and even an opera summer camp. HGO also has extensive community outreach, presenting shortened versions of traditional and new repertoire at local schools and community centers that reach more than 50,000 children and families throughout the metropolitan area each year. The company has also performed internationally-from Paris and Berlin to Cairo and Japan. The company tours around the world in such prestigious venues as the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC, the Lincoln Center in New York City, and many other cities in the United States.
Some Houston Opera events are not in Houston at all. This was dubbed a “Plazacast,” and occurred in the Ray Fish Plaza, which is a lovely outdoor events venue that hosts concerts and is, like Rockefeller Center in New York City, turned into an ice rink during the Christmas holidays. In 1995, the Houston Grand Opera became the first to simultaneously broadcast a live event, which was broadcast on a giant screen outside the theater. Nonetheless, single Houston Grand Opera tickets are amazingly reasonable. The company has also won a Grand Prix du Disque, the premier French award for musical recordings. The Houston Opera has won a Tony Award (for excellence in theater) for its adaptation of Porgy and Bess, two Grammys (for outstanding achievements in the music industry), and two Emmys (for televised productions).
The Houston Grand Opera has enormous stature in the world of professional fine arts performances, a testament to the city’s wealthy neighborhoods and towns and the dedication of its citizens to the creation of a world class entertainment reputation.