Single Tickets for Houston Grand Opera’s 2023-24 Season Now on Sale 

HGO’s 2023-24 mainstage season features six operas including a highly anticipated world premiere, Wagner’s final masterpiece, a new staging of a family-friendly classic, and beloved audience favorites Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is now offering single tickets to the 2023-24 season at HGO.org. HGO’s powerhouse mainstage season is comprised of 34 performances across six productions. It will bring a world premiere opera based on a little-known true story of the Civil War, Intelligence; the company’s first presentation of Wagner’s Parsifal since 1992; a new staging of The Sound of Music co-produced by HGO and the Glimmerglass Festival; and popular classic operas Falstaff, Madame Butterfly, and Don Giovanni. “As we approach the opening of a new season, our anticipation grows every day,” says HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor. “We’re going all out for our city this year. Each of these six masterful operas will reveal its own indelible truth, brought to light by the finest artists, musicians, and creatives in the world. Whether you join us for one amazing performance or all six, we cannot wait to welcome you to the theater for an unforgettable experience.”

• For the first time in its history, HGO will open its season with a world premiere: the company-commissioned opera Intelligence, created by acclaimed composer Jake Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer, and director/choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founder of the Urban Bush Women. Shared through a fusion of music, words, and dance and inspired by historic events, Intelligence tells the story of two women—Elizabeth Van Lew, from a prominent Confederate family, and Mary Jane Bowser, born into slavery in the family’s household—who form a secret pro-Union spy ring. As they change the course of history together, Mary Jane uncovers secrets of her own history and identity. The sensational cast will be led by mezzo-soprano and Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio alumna Jamie Barton as Elizabeth and soprano Janai Brugger in her company debut as Mary Jane, with J’Nai Bridgesas the mysterious Lucinda. They will be joined by eight dancers from the Urban Bush Women, with acclaimed conductor Kwamé Ryan also making his company debut at the podium. (Oct. 20 to Nov. 3)
• The other opera from HGO’s fall repertoire is Verdi’s comic masterpiece, Falstaff, which recounts the drunken misdeeds of Shakespeare’s beloved, down-on-his-luck knight, who crosses the wrong women in a harebrained scheme to pay off his debts. The stellar cast features four beloved company favorites: baritone Reginald Smith, Jr. as Falstaff, soprano Nicole Heaston as Alice, baritone Blake Denson as Ford, and soprano Andrea Carroll as Nannetta. Paula Suozzi directs the production, and maestro Patrick Summers conducts. (Oct. 27 to Nov. 10)
• The company will launch its winter repertoire with Wagner’s revered masterpiece, Parsifal, in a colorful production from Tony Award-winning director John Caird. The opera takes audiences on a mystical journey as a group of knights tries to protect the Holy Grail and their wounded king, who can only be healed by the titular protagonist and the Holy Spear. HGO Principal Guest Conductor Eun Sun Kim will lead a cast of extraordinary Wagnerians—including tenor Russell Thomas as Parsifal, soprano Christine Goerke as Kundry, bass Kwangchul Youn as Gurnemanz, and bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as King Amfortas—for this major operatic event. (Jan. 19 to Feb. 4)
• Next, Puccini’s beloved tragedy, Madame Butterfly, returns to HGO, with Jordan Braun directing the revival of Tony Award winner Michael Grandage’s acclaimed production. The opera’s diverse cast will be led by internationally sought-after soprano Ailyn Pérez, who returns to Houston as Cio-Cio-San, opposite tenor Yongzhao Yu as Pinkerton in his role debut, with mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce as Suzuki, bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as Sharpless, bass William Guanbo Su as the Bonze, and tenor Rodell Rosel as Goro. Maestro Patrick Summers conducts. (Jan. 26 to Feb. 11)
• HGO’s spring repertoire opens with Mozart’s sublime tragicomedy, Don Giovanni. Conducted by the world-renowned Dame Jane Glover, the production will be led by superstar Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni as the opera’s titular womanizing antihero opposite sensational soprano Andriana Chuchman in her role debut as Donna Anna. They will be joined by a powerhouse cast that includes bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as Leporello, tenor Kang Wang in his company debut as Don Ottavio, and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke as Donna Elvira. Greg Eldridge directs the revival of Kasper Holten’s innovative production. (Apr. 19 to May 3)
• Closing the season is acclaimed director Francesca Zambello’s vibrant new staging of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music, co-produced by HGO and the Glimmerglass Festival. The world-class HGO Orchestra and Chorus will propel the timeless tale and its outstanding cast, which includes Grammy-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as Maria and baritone Alexander Birch Elliott as the Captain. HGO’s Richard Bado takes the podium to conduct this classic family-friendly production. (Apr. 26 to May 12)

HGO is also planning a host of world-class performances beyond the mainstage. On September 14, 2023, the company will present the annual Butler Studio Showcase, an intimate evening of operatic scenes performed by members of the company’s internationally acclaimed emerging artist training program, the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. On February 2, 2024, the company will present the 36th annual Concert of Arias, the live final round of the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, which brings young singers from around the world to Houston following a rigorous audition process. HGO holds this popular event each year to identify candidates for the Butler Studio program. From February 16 to 18, 2024, the HGO-commissioned chamber opera The Big Swim, created by composer Meilina Tsui and librettist Melisa Tien, will make its world premiere at the Asia Society Texas Center. The new work—which shares the story of the Jade Emperor and the Great Race between the 12 animals that became the symbols of the Lunar New Year calendar—will be presented as part of the Asia Society’s Lunar New Year festivities. On March 8, 2024, HGO will present the fifth annual Giving Voice, its popular celebration of Black artists in opera created by international tenor Lawrence Brownlee, at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Held during Women’s History Month, this year’s event will shine a spotlight on Black women in opera and feature a roster of to-be-announced guest artists. Tickets will be available in early 2024. Expanding access to the operatic art form with all Houstonians remains one of HGO’s first priorities. The company’s popular Opening Nights for Young Professionals (ONYP) series will continue to offer subscriptions starting at $180 for the entire season and include exclusive season extras. In addition to single tickets and full subscriptions, HGO also has announced several options for three-opera subscriptions, including flexible “build your own” three-packs, and will continue to offer special ticket prices for students and groups. To purchase tickets or learn more about the organization, visit HGO.org or call the Houston Grand Opera Box Office at 713-228-6737. [gallery link="file" size="medium" ids="386222,386223,386224,386225,386226"] PHOTOS: Photos from past productions that can be used with coverage of the HGO 2023-24 single-ticket announcement can be found here. All photos are courtesy of Houston Grand Opera.