Handel's run-around romantic comedy XERXES is at Houston Grand Opera from April 30 to May 14, 2010 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/Xerxes One of Handels most popular operas, Xerxes is a feast for the ears, and the eyes in this classic eighteenth-century production. A mad entanglement of love stories, the opera follows the tyrannical and flamboyant Xerxes (Susan Graham) in his quest for Romilda (Laura Claycomb), who is beloved by his very own brother Arsamene, sung by David Daniels. Contralto Sonia Prina, soprano Heidi Stober and baritone Philip Cutlip round out the all-star cast. The award-winning production is set in an English pleasure garden—the perfect place for an elaborate lovers chase!

Tchaikovsky's madness-inducing THE QUEEN OF SPADES is at Houston Grand Opera from April 16 to May 1, 2010 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/QueenofSpades One mans obsession with a lucky card trick turns the fates of three in Tchaikovskys vibrant melodrama. Russian tenor Vladimir Galouzine returns to HGO as the tormented Hermann, internationally renowned soprano Tatiana Monogarova makes her HGO debut as his beloved Lisa, and Vasily Ladyuk is the dashing Prince Yeletsky. Canadian mezzo-soprano Judith Forst is the keeper of the fated secret. This award-winning production is a visual treat with imaginative puppets and mixed-period costumes. Italian maestro Carlo Rizzi conducts.

Britten's haunted opera The TURN OF THE SCREW is at Houston Grand Opera from Jan 29 to Feb 13, 2010 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/TurnOfTheScrew In this operatic thriller two children are pulled toward the world of the dead by the ghosts of their prior governess Miss Jessel and her lover Peter Quint. Internationally acclaimed soprano Amanda Roocroft plays the governess whose obsessive efforts to protect the children may prove more of a threat than the spirits themselves. Powerhouse mezzo-soprano Judith Forst is housekeeper Mrs. Grose, the governesss only ally. Haunting Victorian sets depict the world of the Henry James novel on which the opera is based. Directed by Neil Armfield, this is the third opera in HGOs ongoing Benjamin Britten series.

Puccini's diva drama, TOSCA is at Houston Grand Opera from Jan 22 to Feb 7, 2010 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/Tosca Renowned soprano Patricia Racette makes her role debut as the passionate Floria Tosca in Puccinis timeless drama. Tenor Marcus Haddock is the painter Mario Cavaradossi, whom Tosca adores and Raymond Aceto sings the menacing Baron Scarpia who will stop at nothing to destroy the object of Toscas affections. Created especially for Houston Grand Opera, this new production by John Caird features classic sets and costumes designed by Bunny Christie in the style of nineteenth-century Rome.

Wagner's mythical LOHENGRIN is at Houston Grand Opera from Oct 30 to Nov 15, 2009 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/Lohengrin One secret protects one great love in Wagners mystical romantic opera. Celebrated Wagnerian tenor Simon O'Neill makes his Houston Grand Opera debut as the knight Lohengrin, whose pure love is threatened by common human greed. Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonka sings the misguided Elsa, bewitched into betraying the very one she loves. Soprano Christine Goerke is the sorceress Ortrud and Richard Paul Fink plays her husband Frederick of Telramund, who will stop at nothing to gain the throne. Daniel Slater directs this grand-scale production, conducted by HGO Music Director Patrick Summers.

Donizetti's sweet love story, THE ELIXIR OF LOVE is at Houston Grand Opera from Oct 23 to Nov 7, 2009 www.HoustonGrandOpera.org/ElixirofLove This sparkling folktale is one of Donizettis most popular operas. Lovesick Nemorino falls madly in love with the young landowner Adina knowing well that she is out of his league. Luckily, the scheming Dr. Dulcamara has just the cure to what ails him. Russian soprano Ekaterina Siurina sings the minx Adina and Eric Cutler is Nemorino. Internationally renowned Italian bass-baritone Alessandro Corbelli plays Dr. Dulcamara, and Liam Bonner is the flamboyant Sergeant Belcore. Directed by Annabel Arden, this delightful production takes place in a rustic Italian town square.

January 23 - February 6, 2009 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Purchase Tickets Online at www.HoustonGrandOpera.org The course of true love never did run smooth... The king and queen of the fairies are feuding, two mortal couples break up and make up thanks (or no thanks!) to the juice of a magic flower, and the Duke of Athens is getting ready to wed the Queen of the Amazons—there’s a whole lot going on in the forest just outside Athens! Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, based on Shakespeare's play, opens January 23.

October 30 - November 14, 2008 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Purchase Tickets Online at www.HoustonGrandOpera.org Beatrice and Benedict trade insults for sweet nothings, while Claudio and Hero fall in love, out of love, and back in love again. Berlioz's operatic comedy, based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, opens October 30. Starring Joyce DiDonato and Norman Reinhardt in the title roles.

October 17 - November 1, 2008 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Purchase Tickets Online at www.HoustonGrandOpera.org Betrayal, jealousy and revenge—the perfect partners for an evening of irresistible theater. A powerhouse cast takes charge: Brandon Jovanovich makes his HGO debut as Cavalleria’s caddish Turiddù, with Dolora Zajick in her signature role as the spurned Santuzza. In Pagliacci, Vladimir Galouzine returns to HGO as the titular clown—the wronged husband whose jealousy escalates to insanity—with HGO Studio alums Ana María Martínez and Scott Hendricks as his unfaithful wife and her paramour. Oleg Caetani conducts in his HGO debut.

April 11 - May 3 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Purchase Tickets Online at www.HoustonGrandOpera.org Love and heartbreak meet on the Left Bank of Paris, as four young bohemians test the boundaries of friendship and art. Ana María Martínez ("a lovely singer [and] a beautiful musician." - Newsday) and Garrett Sorenson ("[who] inhabited Alfredo with an attractive, Italianate sound and promising acting...: - Los Angeles Times), who triumphed in last season's Don Giovanni at HGO, take the stage with studio artist Albina Shagimuratova and alumni Joshua Hopkins and Nikolai Didenko. James Robinson's enchanting setting of Puccini's verismo tour-de-force, a co-production of Houston Grand Opera, The New York City Opera, and Glimmerglass Opera, returns to HGO. Performances on May 1 and 3 feature soprano Cynthia Clayton ("a becoming Mimi, by turns shy, sweet and flirtatious...a lovely performance." - The New York Times) and Brian Mulligan ("Brian Mulligan's Marcello was a most likable fellow, with his velvety, evenly and effortlessly produced baritone and nuance-rich phrasing." - Tim Smith, Opera News).

January 18 - February 2, 2008 Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center www.HoustonGrandOpera.org Two lovely young women are held hostage on the Orient Express and endure both the advances of their captors and an elaborate rescue by their fiancés that goes off the rails. Tamara Wilson and Tucker Foundation Award winner Paul Groves join with Andrea Silvestrelli ("there were wild cheers for Silvestrelli" - Chicago Sun Times) and Houston Grand Opera Studio alumni Heidi Stober ("confidence, panache and thrilling technique" - Houston Chronicle) and Nicholas Phan ("a honeyed tenor [with] beautiful phrasing" - Washington Post); William Lacey conducts.

Theofanidis/Lax: The Refuge - WORLD PREMIERE! November 10, 2007 at Wortham Theater Center 2 PM - Sold Out 7:30 PM Purchase Tickets Online at www.HoustonGrandOpera.org Don't miss the world premiere of an exciting new work, which tells stories from Houston's African, Central American, Indian, Mexican, Pakistani, Soviet-era Jewish and Vietnamese immigrant communities...Featuring performers from those communities with the Studio Artists, Orchestra, Chorus and Children's Chorus of Houston Grand Opera, conducted by Patrick Summers.