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PATRICK SUMMERS PERRYN LEECH Artistic & Music Director Managing Director MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS CHAIR ADVERTISE IN

OPERACUES

Opera Cues is published by Grand Association; all rights reserved. Opera Cues is produced by ’s Communications Department, Kurnick, director.

Director of Publications Laura Chandler

Art Direction / Production Pattima Singhalaka

Contributors Brittany Duncan Perryn Leech Elizabeth Lyons Richard Taruskin

For information on all Houston Grand Opera productions and events, or for a complimentary season brochure, please call the Customer Care Center at Readers of Houston Grand Opera’s 713-228-OPERA (6737). Houston Grand Opera is a member of OPERA America, Opera Cues magazine are the Inc., and the Theater District Association, Inc. most desirable prospects for an FIND HGO ONLINE: advertiser’s message. HGO.org facebook.com / houstongrandopera twitter.com / hougrandopera instagram.com/houstongrandopera

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For more information on advertising in Opera Cues, call Matt Ross at 713-956-0908.

FALL 2015 2 HGO.org

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THE PROGRAM DEPARTMENTS

34 Puccini: Tosca 6 A message from Who’s Who: Tosca Patrick Summers and 39 Perryn Leech 46 Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin 18 In Memoriam 51 Who’s Who: Eugene Onegin 62 HGOco 64 HGO Studio FEATURES 66 Spotlights

22 MAKING FRIENDS 67 Special Events FOR OPERA Impresarios Circle HGO’s Student 71 Performance series HGO Donors sows the seeds 75 for lifelong opera Calendar enjoyment. 84 24 SEARING, SOARING 85 Upcoming OPERA Puccini’s Tosca is 87 Your HGO a run by any measure. 88 Out of Character: Liudmyla Monastyrska 29 A NOVEL IDEA Discover the secrets of Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky’s brilliant take on Pushkin’s novel-in-verse. 56 UNSUNG HEROES Richard Bado: an HGO treasure. 58 VETERANS IN SONG Houston veterans tell their stories through HGOco’s Veterans Songbook.

Cover designed by Pattima Singhalaka. Photo this page by Felix Sanchez.

FALL 2015 4 HGO.org

A Message from the Artistic & Music Director and the Managing Director

Welcome to the Wortham Theater Center as we begin the 2015–16 season! The legendary singer once said, “An opera begins long before the curtain goes up and ends long after it has come down.” She was speaking about her own preparation as a singer, but her words are equally true for everyone who works to bring opera to the stage. An opera can be many years in the planning and involve the labor of hundreds of people. Aside from the artists who conduct, direct, design, choreograph, and perform, our success also depends upon the people who maintain production schedules, prepare performance progams, sell tickets, pay the bills, and raise the money with which to pay those bills. So if you feel excitement in the air, you are probably sensing the combined anticipation not Patrick Summers only of the audience but of our entire ! Opening a new season is the payoff for all our preparation, and we are delighted to bring you Puccini’s Tosca and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin this fall. Our production of Tosca by heightens the elements that audiences have always loved best about this opera—its high drama, exquisite music, and rapidly moving plot—and we welcome Ukrainian Liudmyla Monastyrska in her first U.S. performances in the title role. The international cast also includes Russian Alexey Dolgov as her lover, Cavaradossi, and Polish in his HGO debut as the depraved chief of police, Baron Scarpia. In two performances, one of which is High School Night on November 5, the remarkable Kelly Kaduce, , and Weston Hurt will take those three central roles, respectively, with HGO’s Bradley Moore at the podium.

Perryn Leech Based on Pushkin’s novel-in-verse of the same name, Eugene Onegin seemed like an unlikely subject for an opera, even to Tchaikovsky himself when the idea was first suggested to him. The plot is episodic, but, oh, that music! This production allows the ravishing score to take center stage. The title character is one of the great antiheroes of opera, and we are delighted to have HGO Studio alumnus Scott Hendricks back with us as Eugene Onegin along with Katie Van Kooten as Tatyana and fellow Studio alum Norman Reinhardt as his friend Lensky. Current HGO Studio artist Megan Samarin sings Tatyana’s flirtatious sister, Olga. Guest conductor leads the handsome new-to-Houston production by Robert Carsen, staged here by Paula Suozzi in her HGO debut. Immediately ahead, we hope you won’t want to miss our holiday opera, The Little Prince. This HGO commission, which premiered in 2003 and was repeated in 2004, is among our most successful, and its sweetly poignant story is perfect holiday fare for families. Thank you for joining us—we hope you enjoy the performance.

Patrick Summers Perryn Leech Artistic and Music Director Managing Director Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

FALL 2015 6 HGO.org

Board of Directors 2015–16

John Mendelsohn, M.D., Martha Carnes, Robert C. Hunter * Mark R. Spradling, General Counsel and Secretary; Chairman of the Board Development Committee Vice Chair W. Lasher III Audit Committee Vice Chair Lynn Wyatt, Janet Langford Carrig, Perryn Leech Vice Chairman of the Board Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Harlan C. Stai Richard A. Lydecker Jr., Inc., Chairman Patrick Summers Beth Madison, Finance Committee Chair Senior Chairman of the Board Zane Carruth Ignacio Torras Frances Marzio, Glen A. Rosenbaum, Anna Catalano, Studio and Training Committee John G. Turner, Chairman Emeritus Marketing and Communications Chair Studio and Training Committee Committee Vice Chair Vice Chair Members at Large Brucie Moore Albert Chao Margaret Alkek Williams Richard E. Agee Sara Morgan Donna P. Josey Chapman , Robin Angly, Terrylin G. Neale, Honorary Director Development Committee Vice Chair N. A. (Neil) Chapman Houston Grand Opera Endowment, John S. Arnoldy, Mrs. Bobbie-Vee Cooney Inc., Senior Chairman , Honorary Director Development Committee Chair Albert O. Cornelison Jr. * Franci Neely Marcia Backus James W. Crownover Ward Pennebaker, * Senior Board Marketing and Communications Philip A. Bahr Dan Domeracki Committee Chair Michelle Beale David B. Duthu, Cynthia Petrello, Astley Blair, Governance Committee Chair HGOco Committee Chair Audit Committee Chair Larry Faulkner Gloria M. Portela Pat Breen Benjamin Fink David Powell, Mrs. Robert J. Bruni, Dr. Ellen R. Gritz, Finance Committee Vice Chair Special Events Committee Chair Studio and Training Committee Jack A. Roth, M.D. Vice Chair

Houston Grand Opera Association Chairs

1955 – 58 1973 – 74 1987 – 89 2004 – 07 Elva Lobit Gray C. Wakefield John M. Seidl John S. Arnoldy 1958 – 60 1974 – 75 1989 – 91 2007 – 09 Stanley W. Shipnes Charles T. Bauer James L. Ketelsen Robert L. Cavnar 1960 – 62 1975 – 77 1991 – 93 2009 William W. Bland Maurice J. Aresty Constantine S. Nicandros Gloria M. Portela 1962 – 64 1977 – 79 1993 – 95 2009 – 2011 Thomas D. Anderson Searcy Bracewell J. Landis Martin Glen A. Rosenbaum 1964 – 66 1979 – 81 1995 – 97 2011 – 2013 Marshall F. Wells Robert Cizik Robert C. McNair Beth Madison 1966 – 68 1981 – 83 1997 – 99 2013 – present John H. Heinzerling Terrylin G. Neale Dennis R. Carlyle, M.D. John Mendelsohn, M.D. Susan H. Carlyle, M.D. 1968 – 70 1983 – 84 Lloyd P. Fadrique Barry Munitz 1999 – 2001 Archie W. Dunham 1970 – 71 1984 – 85 Ben F. Love Jenard M. Gross 2001 – 03 Harry C. Pinson 1971 – 73 1985 – 87 Joe H. Foy Dr. Thomas D. Barrow 2003 – 04 James T. Hackett

FALL 2015 8 HGO.org Trustees

Samuel Abraham Mary Davenport Joan B. Johnson T. Ray Purser Mrs. Anthony G. Aiuvalasit ‡ Danny David Carey Gary Reese Thomas Ajamie Joshua Davidson Marianne Kah Todd Reppert Edward H. Andrews III Darrin Davis Stephen M. Kaufman Jill Risley Hon. Mary E. Bacon Sasha Davis John Keville Jean B. Rowley ‡ Denise Bush Bahr June Deadrick Yolanda Knull Thomas Rushing C. Mark Baker Tracy Dieterich Claudia Kreisle Jill A. Schaar Dr. Saúl Balagura Gislar R. Donnenberg Carolyn Piro Landen Andrew C. Schirrmeister III Jonathan Baliff Timothy Donovan Michele LaNoue Nan Schissler ‡ Dr. Barbara Lee David Dorenfeld The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee Helen Shaffer Martin D. Beirne Connie Dyer Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Jennifer Sickler Katherine Berry Brad Eastman Mike Lemanski Denmon Sigler Linda Bertman Warren A. Ellsworth IV, M.D. David LePori Hinda Simon Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar Mark Evans Carolyn J. Levy Janet Sims Dr. Michael Bloome Richard E. Evans Jose Alberto Lima Kristina Hornberger Somerville Adrienne Bond Dr. Mauro Ferrari Claire Liu C. Richard Stasney, M.D. Nana Booker Carol Sue Finkelstein ‡ Lisa Long Rhonda Sweeney Margaret Anne Boulware Richard Flowers Heide Loos Ann Thompson Tony Bradfield Jackie Ford Gabriel Loperena Becca Cason Thrash Walter Bratic Patricia B. Freeman Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Dr. John F. Thrash Dr. Janet M. Bruner Scott Gaille Andrea Maher Betty Tutor Melinda Brunger Lori B. Glawe Michael Malbin Sheila Tweed Ralph Burch Sandra S. Godfrey Michele Malloy Birgitt van Wijk Kiana Caleb John S. Griffin Roman O. Martinez Charles Vethan Gwyneth Campbell William Griffin Ginger Maughs Alfredo Vilas Mrs. Marjorie H. Capshaw Lynn Guggolz R. Davis Maxey Bob Wakefield Sylvia J. Carroll ‡ Claudio Gutierrez Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan ‡ Michael A. Weill Thierry Caruso Larry Hanson Robert C. McNair Austin A. Werner Joseph Carvelli A. John Harper III Ginger C. Menown Beth Williams Hon. Theresa Chang Brenda Harvey-Traylor Miss Catherine Jane Merchant ‡ Kristine Williams Alain Chepda Nancy Haywood Jerry Metcalf Margarida Williamson Mathilda Cochran Michael Heckman Mark Metts Elsa Wolf ‡ Estela Cockrell Karl Hennessee Christopher B. Miller Dr. L. Fabian Worthing III William E. Colburn Robert C. Hewell ‡ Alexandra Mitch R. Alan York Christa M. Cooper Jackson D. Hicks Frank Neukomm David P. Young Christian Corts Todd Hoffman Charlene Nickson ‡ Life Trustee Efraín Z. Corzo Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Beverly Ogilvie Cassandra Covacevich Eileen Hricik ‡ John B. Onstott Catherine Crath Lee M. Huber Maria Papadopolous Mary D’Andrea Richard Husseini Marion Roose Pullin ‡

9 Founders Council for Artistic Excellence Established 2006

Houston Grand Opera is deeply appreciative of its Founders Council donors. Their extraordinary support over a three-year period helps secure the future while ensuring the highest standard of artistic excellence. For information, please contact Greg Robertson, Chief Advancement Officer, at 713-546-0274.

Margaret Alkek Williams Mr. and Mrs. Richard Agee Vinson & Elkins LLP The Wortham Foundation, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bahr Lynn Wyatt  Mr. and Mrs. David B. Duthu  Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Andrew and Brucie Moore Baker Botts LLP Beth Madison Franci Neely Bracewell & Giuliani LLP The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Bristow Group, Inc. Medistar Corporation  Mathilda and Michael Cochran The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Mr. and Mrs. J. Scott Arnoldy Amanda and Morris Gelb Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Memorial Endowed Donor Advised Fund at the Zane and Brady Carruth Community Foundation of Abilene Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini ConocoPhillips  Alfred W. Lasher III Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Robin Angly and Miles Smith M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm Albert and Anne Chao/Ting Tsung and Booker • Lowe Gallery Halliburton Wei Fong Chao Foundation Anne and Dr. John Mendelsohn Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker Schlumberger Ms. Gloria M. Portela and Mr. Richard E. Evans  Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Jill and Allyn Risley Frances Marzio Janice Barrow Rhonda and Donald Sweeney John P. McGovern Foundation Houston Methodist Ignacio and Isabel Torras  Nabors Industries Winston & Strawn L.L.P. PwC Glen A. Rosenbaum

The Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is a program designed to provide fiscal stability to Houston Grand Opera’s Annual Fund through three-year commitments, with a minimum of $10,000 pledged annually. We gratefully acknowledge these members.

Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura Dr. Peter Chang and Mrs. William H. Guggolz Jr. Mr. R. Davis Maxey and Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Barnes Hon. Theresa Chang Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Ms. Ann Marie Johnson Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Mr. William E. Colburn Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Haywood Terrylin G. Neale Alex and Astley Blair Mr. Efraín Z. Corzo and Mr. and Mrs. George M. Hricik Elizabeth Phillips Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Mr. Andrew Bowen Robert and Kitty Hunter Mrs. Helen A. Shaffer Nancy and Walt Bratic Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Davidson Ms. Marianne Kah John C. and Sheila R. Tweed Melinda and Bill Brunger Ms. Anna M. Dean Ann and Stephen Kaufman Ms. Birgitt van Wijk Marjorie H. Capshaw Gislar and Victoria Donnenberg Ms. Michele LaNoue and Mr. Georgios Varsamis Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Carnes Ms. Patricia B. Freeman and Mr. Gerald Seidl Mr. Joseph Waiter and Ms. Janet Langford Carrig Mr. Bruce Patterson Caroline and Perryn Leech Ms. Irene Bourke Anna and Joel Catalano Monica and Colin Fulton Ms. Carolyn J. Levy Mr. William V. Walker S. Scott and Gina Gaille Mr. and Mrs. David S. Wolff

FALL 2015 10 HGO.org SM

IAH

© 2014 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. All rights reserved. Inc. Airlines, © 2014 United Proud to be the Official Airline of Houston Grand Opera.

Job Number 4UA022 Headline IAH-friendly Publication HGO 2014 English Event Language 8.375 x 10.875 Vertical/Portrait [email protected] Client United Trim Horizontal/Landscape Art Director DC Bleed 8.625 x 11.125 16858 Royal Crest CMYK RGB B&W SPOT (PMS) Houston Texas 77058 Copywriter UA Safety/Live 7.875 x 10.275 281-480-3660 Traffic BG Ad Style SMILE Full page bleed 1/23/2014 Photo by GTG/Carole Parodi Photo by GTG/Carole

THE PRODUCTION FUNDERS:

Photo by Felix Sanchez THE OF HGO

Judy and Richard Agee Sharon and Lanny Martin Robin Angly and Miles Smith Will L. McLendon Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bahr Laura and Brad McWilliams Janice Barrow Medistar Corporation BBVA Compass The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Breen Andrew and Brucie Moore The Brown Foundation, Inc. National Endowment for the Arts Carol Franc Buck Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Anne and Albert Chao Susan and Fayez Sarofim ConocoPhillips Schlumberger Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney Dian and Harlan Stai

Scenes from Eugene Onegin and Tosca The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Halliburton Vinson & Elkins LLP Excellence on stage: Houston Grand Opera is Houston First Corporation Margaret Alkek Williams internationally acclaimed for it. Ensuring the Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc. The Wortham Foundation, Inc. exceptional quality of our productions and Houston Methodist Lynn Wyatt The Humphreys Foundation the creativity of our artistic forces — singers, Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker conductors, directors, designers — is our Beth Madison highest priority. The art we make on stage is the foundation for everything we do.

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE PRODUCTION FUNDERS, PLEASE CONTACT GREG ROBERTSON AT 713-546-0274.

FALL 2015 12 HGO.org THISTHIS ISIS THETHE HOUSEHOUSE INNOVATIONINNOVATION BUILT.BUILT. Welcome to the Powerhouse.

MOORES OPERA CENTER HOUSTON RECITAL DEBUT HOUSTON RECITAL MOORES 2015–2016 SCHOOL SEASON www.music.uh.edu/opera OF MUSIC’S Oct. 23–26 MADISON By 2015 ARTIST SERIES presents Jan. 28–31 By 2016 Così Fan Tutte Jan. 29–Feb. 1 By W.A. Mozart 2016 April Moores Tickets go on sale Anna Karenina Apr. 8–11 26 November 1st By David Carlson 2016 2016 uh.edu/music Houston Grand Opera Gratefully acknowledges the following supporters

TOSCA EUGENE ONEGIN

GUARANTOR PREMIER GUARANTOR Margaret Alkek Williams The General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch GRAND UNDERWRITER Opera Fund ConocoPhillips UNDERWRITERS Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Breen Capgemini Consulting

WEEKNIGHT SERIES IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY SCHLUMBERGER. MOSTLY FRIDAY SERIES IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY SUSAN AND FAYEZ SAROFIM.

HGO’s 2015 Honors Roy H. Cullen

HGO’s 2015–16 season and unwavering commitment Opening Night Performance helped our city grow into a and Dinner are dedicated global leader in arts, culture, to the memory of Roy H. medicine, and education. Roy Cullen (1929–2014). A proud was a passionate supporter of the Houstonian, Roy was the oldest arts in Houston, and Houston child of Roy Gustav Cullen and Grand Opera is but one of Katherine Thompson Cullen. many cultural institutions that Roy was a tireless advocate for benefited from his generosity. Houston and his passion, vision,

FALL 2015 14 HGO.org

HOUSTON 2014 –2017

DAS RHEINGOLD SIEGFRIED APRIL 11–26, 2014 APRIL 16–MAY 1, 2016

DIE WALKÜRE GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG APRIL 18–MAY 3, 2015 APRIL 22–MAY 7, 2017

FALL 2015 16 HGO.org FEATURES

RING LEADERS

PREMIER GUARANTORS GRAND UNDERWRITERS Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer The Brown Foundation, Inc. Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc. Houston First Corporation Medistar Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini Muffy and Mike McLanahan GRAND GUARANTORS Norton Rose Fulbright Robin Angly and Miles Smith The Vaughn Foundation Mrs. Janice Barrow William V. Walker BBVA Compass Carol Franc Buck Foundation UNDERWRITERS Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm William E. Colburn Frances Marzio GUARANTORS Chuck and Michelle Ritter Chevron The Stedman West Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Michael Cochran Nancy and Sid Williams Houston Saengerbund Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker Beth Madison Sharon and J. Landis Martin Will L. McLendon Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Elizabeth Phillips Donald and Rhonda Sweeney John and Sheila Tweed Birgitt van Wijk

For information on providing leadership support for the Ring, please contact Greg Robertson at 713-546-0274.

17 In Memoriam TIM TULL

He worked diligently to make the lives arranger. We think especially at this time of his colleagues run smoothly, always of Tim’s family: his mother, sister, and doing more than was required, and no niece, and particularly his beloved wife, amount of work seemed to daunt him. He Joan, HGO’s longtime harpist. Their long was one of the quiet army of people who journey of grief will hopefully be softened make live performances happen but are by the great outpouring of love with which content behind the scenes. he is being remembered. He always acknowledged the work of In addition to his many musical talents, others and was humble about his own he was an excellent photographer. truly extraordinary work ethic. His sixth- From the grid at the top of the Brown floor office was an open door behind Theater, he took the moving photo seen Photo by Patrick Summers which there was always a smile. He above of the Houston Grand Opera treated everyone with equal kindness. He Orchestra performing Lohengrin. It is keenly analyzed situations but was never one of an endless number of joyous judgmental, nor did anyone ever hear ways to remember him: soaring very guest artist of Houston Grand him utter an unkind or harsh word about above an ensemble he had worked so Opera, every member of our chorus anyone or anything. He was supportive, tirelessly to support, all of whom were and orchestra, every employee E meticulous, and thorough, and even in the working on music he particularly loved. in every department, every librarian at most stressful situations he never lost a Tim had a deep sense of community, our colleague organizations around the sense of perspective and humor. He was and he was one of the most beloved world, every composer and publisher the most even-tempered and respectful members of ours. He was the essence who has worked with the company for person imaginable, and everyone who of goodness and decency, and was decades—all encountered Tim Tull, the knew him is a better person for it. the most inspiring model of personal company’s longtime librarian. Countless integrity we shall ever see. Peace to numbers of them, in expressing their His late father, Fisher Tull, was a our dear and irreplaceable friend. shock and sadness at his tragic passing renowned Texan composer, arranger, and on September 19, have also movingly music educator, and Tim took enormous —Patrick Summers acknowledged the profound effect pride in his legacy, feeling that his own his life had on them. Tim was a true work as a musician and librarian was a gentleman: warm, gentle, unassuming, way he could honor his dad each day. and effortlessly kind. Tim was a fantastic percussionist and

FALL 2015 18 HGO.org for the million nearly youth Since texas $375 1932 of commitment to the total Show organizations, bring and civic community, funds to cultural, and universities, prizes, grants to judging contest auction money, awards, school art calf scramble and prizes, show premiums livestock andhorse auction money, junior market combined with Scholarships, $24 millionin2014! more than

Learn moreatLearn agriculture education entertainment western heritage and you Livestock Show

and Rodeo all possible! rodeohouston.com We're the Houston and universities, Texas colleges nearly nearly with awards worth scholarships! college onShow are attending 2,100 students more than year,Just this more than currently attending arerecipients Scholarship madeit $40 million! 100 TM , Dear Opera Patron: Welcome to Houston Grand Opera’s season- opening production of Puccini’s gripping drama Tosca. ConocoPhillips is honored to serve as Grand Underwriter for these performances of this classic Italian masterpiece. As the world’s largest independent exploration and production company, we pride ourselves on being a responsible corporate citizen by supporting the communities in which we operate. As such, ConocoPhillips has been a proud partner of HGO for more than 30 years. We believe that a great city deserves great art. We are thrilled to support HGO’s world-class main-stage opera productions as well as innovative HGOco arts education programs and community collaborations that engage Houstonians of all ages in the power of storytelling through music. Thank you for your support of HGO, and for joining us for Tosca. We hope you enjoy the performance! Sincerely, Janet Langford Carrig Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary ConocoPhillips

FALL 2015 20 HGO.org Dear Opera Patron: On behalf of Schlumberger, welcome to Houston Grand Opera for the fall performances of Puccini’s unforgettable Tosca and Tchaikovsky’s elegant drama Eugene Onegin. We are proud to be a series supporter of HGO’s 2015–16 season, and the lavish music and drama of these fall operas are truly thrilling. Schlumberger is the world’s leading supplier of technology, integrated project management, and information solutions to the oil and gas industry. Employing over 115,000 people in more than 85 countries, Schlumberger exemplifies global citizenship through the diversity and integrity of our workforce. Since 1996, Schlumberger has been a lead supporter of HGO. As underwriters of both the NEXUS Initiative for affordability and the Schlumberger Weeknight Series, we are proud to invest in our city’s cultural resources, like HGO, and we believe that everyone in Houston should be able to experience the power of opera, regardless of age or financial means. We hope you enjoy the performance. Thank you for your support of HGO and we look forward to seeing you at the Wortham this season! Sincerely, Dan Domeracki Vice President, Government and Industry Relations Schlumberger Ltd.

21 Photos by Michael Duke and Lynn Lane BRIANA, age 17: “When I walked into the Wortham Theater Center for a feeling washed over me that told me HGO’S this is a place of happiness and I belong here, with this STUDENT audience…I absolutely fell in PERFORMANCE love with opera thanks to High SERIES School Night.”

BY ELIZABETH LYONS HGO DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

ach year, over 6,000 students Endowment to ensure that Houston’s For HGO, a student who attends the patiently take the escalators and students will always have the opportunity Student Performance Series is an essential ascend into the lobby of the to experience the magic of opera. Nan part of the HGO family. A young person EWortham Theater Center. They file into Schissler, a lifetime trustee and longtime who attends a main-stage opera may seats, waiting for the house lights to dim member of the HGO family, shares: “I grow up to become a NEXUS subscriber and for the voices of the next generation have fond memories of chaperoning as a college student, and later an HGO of opera’s stars to fill the auditorium. HGO’s Student Performances…so Patron. For HGO, every student who many of Houston’s youth might never walks through the theater doors has taken experience opera without this series. The his or her first steps toward discovering a STEPHANIE, age 17: “I am the Schissler Foundation is very proud to lifelong passion for opera. only person in my whole family support a tradition that introduces young who has gotten to see an actual people to an art form that truly engages STUDENT PERFORMANCE all of the senses.” opera. It was the best!” SERIES SPONSORS On November 5, 2015, High School Night participants will enjoy a full-length We are grateful to the following For many of these students, Houston performance of Puccini’s gripping drama sponsors who make Student Grand Opera’s Student Performance Tosca. The tale of the doomed Performances possible. Series is their first experience of live Floria Tosca is one of the world’s most ExxonMobil opera. The Student Performance Series famous operas and the grand drama is a is a key component of the NEXUS perfect introduction to this art form for Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Initiative, HGO’s groundbreaking high school students. While the story of program that removes the price barrier political intrigue and crime is a focus of Wells Fargo to experiencing great art. This year, the opera, the love triangle at the center of Schissler Foundation Endowed the series brings students in grades Tosca will keep students buzzing! Fund for Educational Programs 4–8 and 9–12 to the Wortham Theater In December of 2015, students in Lawrence E. Carlton M.D. Endowed Fund in memory of Center for four performances during grades 4-8 will attend Rachel Portman Rubalee Hankamer Ball the fall and the holiday season. and Nicholas Wright’s The Little Prince, The Brown Foundation, Inc. HGO is committed to nurturing based on the beloved children’s story by artistic expression in youth and providing Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This HGO Schlumberger access to world-class opera. For that commission, which premiered at HGO The Wortham Foundation, Inc. reason, tickets to the Student Performance in 2003 and quickly returned in 2004, is a Nabors Industries Series are offered at a heavily discounted heartwarming tale of the transformational Shell Oil Company rate, from $10 to $28—and a number power of friendship. Due to the BBVA Compass of students attend for free based on a overwhelming popularity of The Little Anchorage Foundation of Texas school’s economic need. Prince, HGO will offer three student M.D. Anderson Foundation Last year, The Schissler Foundation matinees on December 8, 9, and 15, 2015. MD Anderson Cancer Center established a fund within the HGO

23 Art by Pattima Singhalaka SONGS FOR THE STARS

I offered gifts to the Madonna IN And sang to the moon and stars, Which became more beautiful because of it. HEAVEN —from “Vissi d’arte,” Act II, Tosca BY PATRICK SUMMERS HGO ARTISTIC AND MUSIC DIRECTOR

iacomo Puccini’s searing Tosca premiere, but it has also suffered, along holds a place in the with its composer, from sitting directly repertoire, not solely because it at the historic cultural shift just before isG both a perennial favorite of opera fans the two world wars severed creative lines as well as being a perfect “first” opera. that had existed for centuries. Nothing, Tosca is the most purely Italian of the it was thought, that can be understood Italian operas, with its Roman setting, with such facility on first hearing as Tosca its mixture of the worlds of politics can possibly be simultaneously great— a and religion, its intrigue, jealousy, and critical credo for much of the 20th century, overt passions. Puccini’s score soars somewhat less so now. Puccini is now passionately, tunefully, and memorably; recognized as the theatrical master he it does not have a single unrequired note. was. If Puccini’s operas don’t achieve the It stretches the boundaries of a type of profound psychological depths of Wagner melodrama audiences love about our art or Mozart, it should also be remembered form, so much so that when a 21st-century Puccini didn’t aspire to that. It feels composer brings me a scenario for a churlish to hold a man to a fixed standard new opera and says his or her idea is in a world where aesthetics so freely particularly “operatic,” I can almost tell float; surely it is more reasonable to judge without reading it that it will share certain someone by how fully they realize their plot points with Tosca: murder (Tosca has own vision, and by that standard Puccini two), suicide (also two), torture, doomed is one of the greatest composers. He knew love, and other high-calorie events. exactly what he was doing and how to do Tosca is an easy opera to love, as it, and he hit it out of the park more often it has been by the public since its 1900 than most.

25 Clockwise from left: Plácido Domingo and Éva Marton in Tosca at HGO, 1984; Victorien Sardou, the French playwright of La Tosca; Giacomo Puccini.

And what a home run Tosca is! It Sant’Andrea della Valle to see the fictional in the world, figured prominently in has the most loathsome of villains, yet Attavanti Chapel. I once witnessed a set the denouement of Dan Brown’s hit he’s alluring. It has the most ardent of of American tourists absolutely insisting novel and subsequent film Angels and lovers, plus he’s a freedom fighter willing that the first chapel to the right had Demons. In June 1795, a munitions to die for his beliefs. And above all, been mislabeled by the church officials. magazine in the Castel Sant’Angelo it has the magnificent title character, Visitors also flock to the scene of Tosca’s exploded, cracking the famous vault ennobled by her chosen profession (she final act, the Castel Sant’Angelo, the of the Sistine Chapel, damage one is a celebrated opera singer, of course!) second-century mausoleum of Emperor can still see if it is pointed out. and by her deep faith. Yes, Tosca might Hadrian. It has only been known as Puccini’s opera is based on the traffic in some symbols that can appear the “Angel” since the 18th century, French playwright Victorien Sardou’s simplistic now, but they were daring and its famous Passetto di Borgo, the (1831–1908) La Tosca, written as a when the opera was composed: Tosca most well-known secret passageway vehicle for the most famous stage actress as the suffering and generous religious figure vs. Cavaradossi the revolutionary atheist, with Scarpia as the power broker between church and state. And yes, Tosca contains some questionable dramaturgy: how does a complicated papal get spontaneously arranged in about 10 minutes at the end of Act I? Executions by firing squad were not carried out at dawn, as we see in Tosca’s third act, nor were they performed atop the Castel Sant’Angelo. How do Scarpia’s minions get to the outskirts of the Roman walls and back to the Farnese Palace, to report on Angelotti’s suicide in such a short time? Tosca has become so real to its fans that operatically inclined tourists to Rome regularly visit the beautiful

FALL 2015 26 HGO.org SONGS FOR THE STARS IN HEAVEN

of the day, . Sardou an abundance of great singers perform Tosca has been a treasured part of authored more than 100 plays and it. Th e character is a composite of several the repertoire throughout HGO’s history, achieved popularity on a level diffi cult real women, the soprano Giuseppina appearing in nine of our 61 seasons—in to imagine from the vantage point of Grassini, perhaps more renowned at 1957, 1965, 1971, 1978, 1984, 1991, 1996, his obscurity now. His specialty was the the time as Napoleon’s mistress than as 2003, and 2010. In 1965, the title role grand historical epic, fi lled with multiple a singer, as well as Angelica was sung here by the great Australian characters, sprawling action, and lots of Catalani and Teresa Bertinotti. In Sardou’s soprano Marie Collier, who earlier that words, qualities George Bernard Shaw play, she is a religiously pious woman, year had won great acclaim for taking delightfully called “Sardoodledum.” and Puccini absorbed this perfectly, over the Covent Garden performances Sardou’s play has fi ve acts and two dozen providing her with beautifully devoted left vacant by Maria Callas’s cancellations. characters, and his clever combination entrance music that later returns as the Éva Marton sang Tosca in two seasons at of fi ction and fact has given the events of main theme of “Vissi d’arte,” Tosca’s Act HGO, in 1984 (with Plácido Domingo Tosca the feel of history, even though its II , the most famous music in the as her Cavaradossi) and in 1991. Th e action is imaginary. Napoleon’s defeat of opera. Tosca is also described in the play wonderfully intense Marton was the an Austrian invader, Michael von Melas in in a way that well expresses the public’s unfortunate victim of the early days of the Battle of Marengo (Marengo is now a sentiment about opera itself: “You will supertitles, before nuances and subtleties suburb of ), is briefl y referenced in make tears fall in us, which is also a way were fi nessed. In the opera’s fi rst act, both play and opera. of praying.” Tosca’s fi nal word in the Tosca coquettishly demands that the Th ough Bernhardt was nearly the opera is “God,” as she defi antly vows to painter Cavaradossi paint the Madonna’s only stage actress ever to play Tosca, meet Scarpia before the only judge in eyes black to match her own: “ma falle the operatic Tosca quickly became whom she believes; Tosca martyrs herself gli occhi neri,” meaning literally, “make one of the plum roles of the soprano rather than submit to the fi ring squad her eyes black.” Sadly, the supertitle in repertoire, and each generation has had she would have undoubtedly faced. those early years said, “give her black

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27 SONGS FOR THE STARS IN HEAVEN

eyes,” causing unwelcome laughter that, musical West Side Story is entirely built on to put it mildly, Ms. Marton did not fail tritones—think of the melody of “Maria.” to acknowledge. Most recently, for John Curiously, the aria “Vissi d’arte” has Caird’s new production, long been the most contentious moment brought her febrile intensity to the title in the opera. Puccini ultimately felt it role, and now, Liudmyla Monastyrska, stopped the action and should be cut, aft er such a glorious just two seasons but it proved so immediately popular ago, sings this iconic role for the fi rst time that removing it became unthinkable. in the . A famous later interpreter of the role, Few composers were better at Maria Callas, agreed with Puccini, and opening operas than Puccini: each of his oft en lobbied for its excision, fully aware operas has an attention-grabbing, scene- that it was a losing battle. But time is a setting feeling, and he gets immediately great dramaturg; it is clear now that the to the action. To fully experience the opera needs it because it fully explains impact of the fi rst two measures of Tosca her religious and artistic devotion, one must hear it live—it does not feel the establishing her as a woman who stands production I conducted at the Shanghai same in a recording: fi ve slow and massive for the most beautiful and lasting qualities Opera House—the fi rst Tosca produced in chords, the bass line of which outlines in life. Asia—in 1988, as part of a then-ongoing the tritone, the “diabolis in musica” (the Like anyone in an operatic career exchange program between San Francisco devil in music), an interval avoided by of any length, we all have our private Opera and the Shanghai Conservatory earlier composers but used to tremendous Toscas. Th e lore of the opera stretches and Shanghai Opera. Th ese were still eff ect by the late . Leonard far back into my life and career, but the very lean years in China, just over a Bernstein and ’s famous it will always be indelibly linked to a decade following the Cultural Revolution, and Shanghai was far from the sleek and vertiginous modern metropolis it is today. Th e experience—which included holding nearly 30 orchestral rehearsals, Patrick Summers with Zhou Wang, the soprano rehearsing two casts who sang in a INTERNATIONALENERGY DEVELOPMENT who sang Tosca in mixture of Mandarin, Cantonese, and Mandarin in the 1988 Italian, and coping with the formidable As economic progress marches forward, the Shanghai performance. natural resources in our backyards are being It was the first time she communication issues—was only a depleted, forcing companies to search for HQHUJ\LQIDUÁXQJFRUQHUVRIWKHZRUOG6FRWW had sung after being Gaille has traversed the nations of Africa, South small part of the story. Ultimately, the America and Asia in the quest for global energy. silenced by the cultural He is now teaching the next generation of energy experience of presenting such a famous leaders at ’s Graduate School revolution for a decade. of Business how to navigate these challenging environs. International Energy Development is opera to a public that truly didn’t know based on his teachings and seeks to convey a deeper understanding of where our energy it was a phenomenon that sits joyously future lies and what it takes to succeed around the globe. on my shoulder every time I rehearse or conduct it. Each of the climactic moments INTERNATIONAL of the work—the passionate intensity of Scott Gaille is an attorney and executive whose career has ranged from giving oral argument before the United States Court of the fi rst duet, the fervor of the Te Deum, Appeals to acquiring petroleum concessions around the world. He has travelled to more than one hundred nations searching Scarpia’s murder, and particularly Tosca’s for international petroleum on behalf of Occidental Petroleum suicide—was met with audible gasps or Corporation and other companies. Scott holds a Doctor of Law ENERGY with High Honors from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors from the University of Texas at Austin, even screaming, like in a horror movie. where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. He is Founder and Managing DEVELOPMENT Director of The Gaille Group and teaches at Rice University’s Th is was not an audience waiting to see Graduate School of Business. SCOTT GAILLE if a production most precisely hit the

ISBN 978-1466439474 targets of the past; they were riveted and thrilled simply by the newness of it all. Th e Chinese Tosca experience has 9 781466 439474 SCOTT GAILLE undeniably aff ected the way I view the work, and it stands as a reminder of our duties as performers to shape words into Based on Mr. Gaille’s course at Rice University’s phrases, phrases into sentences, sentences Graduate School of Business, “the book on into acts, and to make it as fresh for every how energy companies grow by acquiring audience as it was for Puccini in 1900 and international concessions.” the Shanghai public in 1988. - BISNOW Magazine

FALL 2015 28 HGO.org Concert of Thursday, February 4, 2016 Honoring: Pat and Daniel Breen Chairs: Cynthia and Anthony Petrello

6 p.m. – Champagne Reception 7 p.m. – Vocal Competition Post-performance Celebration Dinner in the Grand Foyer Wortham Theater Center

Attire: Black Tie

For tickets or information visit HGO.org/SpecialEvents or call Clare Greene at 713-546-0277

Official Airline of Houston Grand Opera

Seven o’clock in the evening Wortham Theater Center

For tickets or information visit HGO.org/SpecialEvents or call Clare Greene at 713-546-0277

Official Airline of Houston Grand Opera

29 Tchaikovsky’s Anti-Opera

BY RICHARD TARUSKIN Art by Pattima Singhalaka Portraits of Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin (by Vasily Tropinin) and Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky

According to Tchaikovsky it was not ere’s an old joke from a long a letter; she is rebuffed and humiliated; an opera. He called it “lyric scenes after defunct literary magazine called five years later the two encounter one Pushkin,” and made no effort to have Counterpoints: another again and fop is smitten; by now those scenes jell into a coherent plot that H country girl has become a society matron A German novel is a book in which two would be intelligible to audiences who who will not abandon her husband for people want each other in the first chapter did not already know the novel. Instead, her old love. Or even shorter: she loves but do not get each other until the last he and his friend Konstantin Shilovsky him, he loves her not; then he loves her, chapter. A French novel is a book in tried, in fashioning a , to preserve she still loves but renounces. There is also which two people get each other in the a maximum of Pushkin’s lithe and lovely a sub-plot, just as unsatisfying, involving first chapter and from then on to the last verses, which all Russian composers found fop’s friend, a would-be poet, and country chapter don’t want each other anymore. irresistible, Pushkin being the most-set girl’s vacuous sister, over whom the two A Russian novel, finally, is one in which poet in the language by a wide margin. young men duel needlessly and the friend two people neither want each other nor Nor did Tchaikovsky intend his work is meaninglessly slain. get each other, and about this 1,450 for big opera houses. Its first performance In the 19th century this very very melancholy pages are written. was given by what we would now call un-romantic novel, first published an opera workshop at the I won’t try to guess what German or serially between 1825 and 1832, was Conservatory. Thereafter, the composer French novels the jokester had in mind, never popular. It was esteemed by literary expected the work to live primarily as and the part about the 1,450 pages is a connoisseurs for its literary virtues, a vocal score from which amateurs at standard jibe at Russian novels (“large and by aristocrats for its life lessons, all home might derive enjoyment around loose baggy monsters,” in the fastidious about the triumph of social conventions the piano. Its public success, beginning judgment of Henry James), but the part over spontaneity. When a friend of in 1881 with a production by the Bolshoi about melancholy amorous mismatch Tchaikovsky’s, the contralto Yelizaveta Theater in Moscow, and another at the could only refer to Pushkin’s Eugene Lavrovskaya, offhandedly suggested Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg in Onegin, a shortish novel cast in limber, during a social call that he make an opera 1885, took him quite by surprise. For the witty verse and so the very opposite of out of it, he thought her out of her mind. St. Petersburg production Tchaikovsky loose or baggy, but the one in which, But then, curious, he procured (with augmented the score, at the request of the preeminently, hero and heroine never difficulty, we learn from one of his letters) theater’s director, with some extra dancing connect. It is read and loved for its a copy of the novel, was captivated by the in Act III. But it remained a small work by language, not its story line, which can be verses and by two of the characters (the operatic standards, the very antithesis of summed up in one breath: A country girl country girl and the poetaster), and as we “grand opera.” falls in love with a young fop from the know, he succeeded in turning it into— city; she pours out her feelings to him in well, what?

31 A scene from Eugene Onegin, courtesy of Grand Théâtre de Genève, photo by Carole Parodi.

And even though Tchaikovsky did of genius, lies in the perfect matching of to cast the music in a style that matched manage to make the work a bit more Tchaikovsky’s very calculated musical the literary prototype exactly, and in so appealing to romantic temperaments idiom to the scale and character of his doing enhanced it in a way that literary like his own—thanks to which, in part, literary source—a novel. Eugene Onegin is connoisseurs, who so often condescend the novel itself became popular by the the earliest Russian opera to be based on to Tchaikovsky, often fail to recognize. end of the century and is now perhaps a novel. The first such operas were only To put it as succinctly as possible, the most revered classic in all of Russian about 100 years old when it was written, Tchaikovsky “sings” his opera in an literature—it is still a sort of anti-opera. and they were still relative rarities. And idiom intensely redolent of the domestic, It contains no love . There are that is because novels themselves were at theatrical, and ballroom music of its two scenes for country girl and fop (or first a notoriously small-scaled genre, one time and place—its, not his—and thus to give them their actual names, for that explored contemporary society and situates it, just as Pushkin situates the Tatyana and Onegin), in Act I (where the small-scaled people we can recognize literary prototype, in the years 1819–25. he rebuffs her) and Act III (where she from our daily lives. It was, in other And just as Pushkin’s characters achieve rebuffs him). Once he is on stage, she words, a realistic genre, and realism and their “reality” by virtue of a multitude does not even sing in the first of these; are always at war. That is of precisely manipulated codes, so in the second, they both sing, but one of the themes of realistic novels, in Tchaikovsky’s express themselves through almost never simultaneously. Poetaster fact. They are all about disillusionment. a finely calibrated filter of musical genres (Lensky) and sister (Olga) also have Tatyana is a budding Mme. Bovary, who and conventions. their moment on stage, but there again, luckily learns her painful lessons before Chief among these genres is only one of them (he) sings. The great marrying and hence escapes the fate of what the Russians called the bytovoy lyric moment in the opera is the scene in Flaubert’s suicidal heroine. Her fate is that romans—the domestic or household Act I in which Tatyana, alone on stage, of resignation: not at all a tragic fate. It is romance, a song set to a sentimental lyric writes her impulsive letter. It is one of the the fate of all who successfully negotiate poem in a deliberately Italianate but still great operatic arias, but it is no arching, the social world. (Lensky’s is the tragic recognizably Russian musical style, meant soaring, magnificent effusion. It is, rather, fate, but he is not a tragic hero: although for amateur performance at the parlor a string of four little songs, in keeping Tchaikovsky gave him a touching aria to piano. Tchaikovsky thought of his lyric with the restrained scale of the whole. sing right before he meets his end, his scenes as romances writ large, and that is And yet it lives, and, so long as there scale is too small to inspire catharsis—we why he imagined it would find its eventual are opera houses and audiences to fill feel only pity, not terror.) place not at the opera house but at the them, will never die. Its secret, insofar as The stroke of genius that made a same parlor piano. The opera’s secret we can discover the secret of any work classic of Tchaikovsky’s anti-opera was is perhaps most pithily revealed if we

FALL 2015 32 HGO.org TCHAIKOVSKY’S ANTI-OPERA

compare the very fi rst musical number in of the genre, set to a lyric by Pushkin in fact, goes deeper and deeper into the Act I—the duet for Tatyana and her sister, called “Th e Singer.” (Amazingly enough, structure of the music over the course sung off stage to a harp accompaniment— this not particularly well-concealed of the scene, governing not only the with Tatyana’s climactic letter scene later interpolation was spotted only a couple melodies but also the harmonies and even in the same act. Th e opening number of years ago by Emily Frey, a professor what musicians call the tonality—the represents an actual song sung in the of Russian music and literature at the movement from key to key that shapes the course of the action. In the letter scene, University of Georgia—and a former music over its elapsing time. the music, like most operatic music, is doctoral pupil of the proud author of Th anks to that, Eugene Onegin has unfolding, still harp-heavy, in Tatyana’s this note.) Th e quoted phrase uses a little a specifi c coloration—what Verdi would head or some other metaphorical space. melodic turn that describes the interval have called a tinta—that is its alone, not But the musical idioms for both are of a sixth (in Russian, sekst)—so prevalent only among Tchaikovsky’s works, but identical—both imitate the idiom of the in domestic romances that Russian in all of opera. Tchaikovsky’s anti-opera domestic romance—thus that idiom musicologists have invented the word was the fi rst Russian work to fi nd a place becomes the mediator of Tatyana’s inner sekstovost’ (“sixthiness”) to defi ne their in the standard international operatic and outer worlds and the source of her style. Th e same interval governs Tatyana’s repertory. It’s been there since before the initial “romantic” confusion of the two, leitmotif (fi rst heard in the orchestral 20th century began; and even now, in the before she learns her realistic lessons. prelude, then in the off stage duet, and 21st, when Russian operas are no longer Just to keep it real, so to speak, thereaft er pretty much whenever Tatyana the rarities that once they were, it still has Tchaikovsky began his opera with a sings), and provides the building block pride of place—and deserves it. reminiscence, in the off stage duet, of from which all four romances that an actual bytovoy romans by Alexander together make up the Letter Scene are Alyabyev (1787–1851), one of the masters constructed. Th e characteristic interval,

33 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA PRESENTS TOSCA

An Opera in Three Acts Music by Giacomo Puccini Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Sung in Italian with projected English translation

CAST (IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE) Angelotti Dmitry Belosselskiy Federico De Michelis *† (Nov. 5, 14) Beth Madison Fellow Sacristan Kyle Albertson * Mario Cavaradossi Alexey Dolgov Chad Shelton ‡ (Nov. 5, 14) Floria Tosca Liudmyla Monastyrska Kelly Kaduce (Nov. 5, 14) Baron Scarpia Andrzej Dobber * Weston Hurt * (Nov. 5, 14) Spoletta David Cangelosi * Sciarrone Ben Edquist *† Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Endowed Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene Endowed Fellow A Young Shepherd Jacqueline Hickman A Jailer Saïd Henry Pressley *

A co-production of Houston Grand Opera and . Houston Methodist is the official health care provider for Houston Grand Opera. United Airlines is the official airline of Houston Grand Opera. Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers is the preferred jeweler of Houston Grand Opera. The activities of Houston Grand Opera are supported in part by funds provided by the City of Houston and Theater District Improvement, Inc., and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

* Houston Grand Opera debut † Houston Grand Opera Studio artist ‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist

FALL 2015 34 HGO.org OCT. OCT. OCT. NOV. NOV. NOV. NOV. 23 25m 31 3 5 6 14 High School Night

CREATIVE TEAM Conductor Patrick Summers Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Bradley Moore (Nov. 5, 14) Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair Director John Caird Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2012–13 Set and Costume Designer Bunny Christie Lighting Designer Duane Schuler Fight Director Leraldo Anzaldúa Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair Children’s Chorus Director Karen Reeves T Musical Preparation Peter Pasztor ‡ O Emily Senturia ‡ S Christopher Turbessi ‡ C Geoffrey Loff *† A Lynn Guggolz/Ms. Marianne Kah Fellow Stage Manager Annie Wheeler Assistant Director Omer Ben Seadia Supertitles by Scott F. Heumann, adapted by Paul Hopper

PRODUCTION CREDITS

Supertitles cued by Joseph Roberts Scenery constructed by Ravenswood Studio, Inc., Chicago, . Front cloths painted by CTS, Cardiff, U.K. Statues constructed by Roger Cresswell, U.K. Crates built by Cre8 A Scene, Houston. Costumes constructed by Houston Grand Opera Costume Department. Performing artists, stage directors, and choreographers are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union for opera professionals in the United States. Scenic, costume, and lighting designers and assistant designers are represented by United Scenic Artists, I.A.T.S.E., Local USA-829. Orchestral musicians are represented by The Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local #65-699, American Federation of Musicians. Stage crew personnel provided by I.A.T.S.E., Local #51. Wardrobe personnel provided by Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #896. This production is being recorded for archival purposes.

35 SYNOPSIS TOSCA

THE PERFORMANCE LASTS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 35 MINUTES INCLUDING TWO INTERMISSIONS.

June 1800. has long been under her jealousy is again aroused by his INTERMISSION the domination of the Hapsburg dynasty. absence. Scarpia preys on her suspicions Napoleon Bonaparte, however, has by showing her the marchesa’s fan. ACT III emerged as a threat to the status quo When she leaves, Scarpia orders his The Roof of the Castel Sant’Angelo and Rome is in chaos, without a clear agent Spoletta to follow her. As the The distant song of a passing young ruler. Baron Scarpia, the chief of police, congregation assembles for the Te Deum, shepherd and church bells signal the has become the highest authority. Loyal Scarpia plans to eliminate Cavaradossi approaching dawn. Cavaradossi is to the king and queen of Naples, Scarpia and possess Tosca for himself. brought into the castle yard to prepare for seeks to eliminate any remaining trace INTERMISSION his death and his thoughts turn to Tosca. of Napoleon’s attempts to establish a He is attempting to write a final letter to secular Roman Republic. ACT II her when she appears. She shows him ACT I Baron Scarpia’s apartment at the the warrant of safe passage, explains the Palazzo Farnese mock execution, and describes how she The Church of Sant’Andrea della Valle killed Scarpia. Tosca and Cavaradossi Scarpia relishes his plan to execute Cesare Angelotti, a Republican, has just dream of their future happiness the traitors and seduce Tosca. When escaped from the Castel Sant’Angelo together. As the soldiers assemble Cavaradossi is brought for questioning, where he had been imprisoned by for the execution, Tosca instructs the painter denies any knowledge Scarpia. Angelotti’s sister, the Marchesa Cavaradossi to feign his death and of Angelotti’s location. At Scarpia’s Attavanti, has hidden a disguise for him remain motionless until she can confirm request, Tosca arrives from the victory in the church, where the painter Mario it is safe to leave. After the soldiers celebrations. Cavaradossi is then taken Cavaradossi is working on a of depart, she discovers she has been into an adjoining room and tortured. His Mary Magdalene with the begrudging betrayed: Cavaradossi is dead. Spoletta agonized cries force Tosca to divulge help of the Sacristan. Cavaradossi takes and his men try to arrest Tosca for the Angelotti’s hiding place—the well in as his inspiration both the marchesa, murder of Scarpia, but she is too quick the garden of Cavaradossi’s villa. The whom he has recently seen at prayer, and for them. Vowing to confront Scarpia tortures cease; Tosca and Cavaradossi his beloved Floria Tosca, a prominent before God, she takes her own life. are briefly reunited before Scarpia orders opera singer. Cavaradossi recognizes Spoletta to Angelotti’s hiding place. As —John Caird, Director Angelotti and promises to help him Cavaradossi denounces Tosca for her escape, but is surprised by a visit from betrayal, news arrives that Napoleon Tosca. Angelotti hides while Cavaradossi has actually defeated the Austrians at HGO PERFORMANCE HISTORY attempts a quick conversation with Marengo. Cavaradossi predicts greater Puccini’s Tosca has been regularly Tosca. She is instantly suspicious and greater victory for the Republicans, performed at HGO throughout the of Cavaradossi’s cautious behavior and Scarpia orders him taken away for company’s history. The first staging was and jealous of the woman she sees execution. When Tosca pleads for mercy, during HGO’s second season (1956–57); represented in his painting. Cavaradossi Scarpia makes his price clear: she can it was later staged during seasons assuages her fears and they make plans buy Cavaradossi’s life by giving herself 1965–66, 1971–72, 1977–78, 1983–84, to spend the evening together. No sooner to Scarpia. She agrees. Since Scarpia 1990–91, 1996–97, 2003–04, 2009–10, has Tosca gone than a cannon shot has ordered Cavaradossi’s death, a mock and at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 2010. signals that Angelotti’s escape has been execution must be arranged, and Scarpia discovered. Cavaradossi and Angelotti seems to give this order to Spoletta. depart immediately for Cavaradossi’s villa. Tosca makes one further request: a At HGO performances, the excellent natural The Sacristan returns with news of warrant of safe passage so that she and acoustics of the theaters in the Wortham Napoleon’s defeat by the Austrians. Cavaradossi can leave the country. This Theater Center are relied upon to convey Arrangements have been made for done, Scarpia advances to embrace her, sound from the stage and pit. Electronic an immediate Festival Te Deum and a and she stabs him to death. sound enhancement is used only with spoken concert at the Palazzo Farnese featuring dialogue (as in ), in musicals Floria Tosca. Baron Scarpia, who has (as in A Little Night Music), in sound effects come in search of Angelotti, interrupts the (thunder), and at the composer’s direction preparations. Scarpia and his spies find (as in and The Little Prince). an empty basket of food and a woman’s Visible microphones are positioned to record fan bearing the Attavanti family crest. performances for archival purposes. When Tosca returns to see Cavaradossi,

FALL 2015 36 HGO.org HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA

PATRICK SUMMERS, ARTISTIC AND MUSIC DIRECTOR —Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

VIOLIN TIMPANI Denise Tarrant *, Concertmaster Barrett Sills *, Principal Jim Vassallo *, Principal Nancy Nelson *, Principal The Sarah and Ernest Butler Louis-Marie Fardet †, Randal Adams * Concertmaster Chair Assistant Principal Logan Kavanaugh PERCUSSION Jonathan Godfrey *, Assistant Erika Johnson *, Richard Brown *, Principal Concertmaster Acting Assistant Principal Christina Carroll Wendy Smith-Butler * Thomas Hultén *, Principal Craig Hauschildt Erica Robinson *, Steven Wiggs * Mark Holley * Principal Second Violin Max Dyer BANDA Carrie Kauk *, Steve Estes BASS TROMBONE Richard Brown *, Percussion Assistant Principal Second Violin Tim Thompson Patrick Harvey, Organ DOUBLE BASS Karen Slotter, Percussion Miriam Belyatsky * Dennis Whittaker *, Principal CIMBASSO Hae-a Lee * Erik Gronfor *, Assistant Principal Mark Barton *, Principal ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL Sarah Ludwig * Carla Clark * MANAGER Chavdar Parashkevov * Hunter Cappicioni HARP Richard Brown * Anabel Ramirez * Joan Eidman *, Principal Mary Reed * * HGO Orchestra core musician Linda Sanders * † HGO Orchestra core musician Seth Allyn Morris *, Principal CELESTA Oleg Sulyga * on leave this production Christina Medawar * Patrick Harvey Sylvia VerMeulen * Melissa Suhr Melissa Williams * Stephanie Bork T Andres Gonzalez Elizabeth Priestly Siffert *, Principal O Kana Kimura Xiaodi Liu S Maria Lin C Mila Neal ENGLISH HORN Rachel Shepard A Spring Hill Trung Trinh Hannah Watson BAYLOR UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC Sean Krissman *, Principal VIOLA Eric Chi * Eliseo Rene Salazar *, Principal Lorento Golofeev *, Assistant Vocal Studies BASS CLARINET Principal Molly Mayfield Committed to Excellence Mary Fulgham * Gayle Garcia-Shepard * Erika Lawson * 2015-2016 Suzanne LeFevre * Amanda Swain *, Principal Elizabeth Golofeev Conrad Cornelison * DATES Dawson White Friday, December 4 CONTRABASSOON Nathan Koch Friday, January 15 Saturday, January 16 Saturday, January 30 Sarah Cranston *, Principal Kimberly Penrod Minson * Friday, February 26 Kevin McIntyre Saturday, February 27 Gavin Reed

For more information or to request an audition, visit baylor.edu/music

37 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA CHORUS

RICHARD BADO, CHORUS MASTER—The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair EMILY SENTURIA, ASSISTANT CHORUS MASTER

Christopher Abide Jon Janacek Ofelia Adame James R. Jennings Geordie Alexander Joy Jonstone Debra Alons Joe Key Sarah Bannon Kirsten Koerner Megan Berti Wesley Landry G. Leslie Biffle Keenan Manceaux Eileen Buerkert Kathleen Manley Christopher Childress Heath Martin Patrick Contreras Katherine McDaniel Sybil Elizabeth Crawford Jeff Monette Stacia Morgan Dunn Jammieca Mott Ashly Evans Gary V. Navy Ami Figg Laura Elizabeth Patterson Donald Figg Cristino Perez Nancy L. Hall Patrick Perez Sarah Jane Hardin Juan T. Polanco Frankie Hickman Saïd Henry Pressley Sasha Holloway John Weinel Stephen Hudson Jennifer Wright

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA CHILDREN’S CHORUS

KAREN REEVES, DIRECTOR

Sonya Azencott Sneha Kumar Amelie Bonilla Johana Lenington Katie Butler Victoria Martinez Bridget Gray Sasha Verzosa Mintz Sophia Jolie Groen Matilda Smolij Emilia Haymon Parker Vance Alice Heather David Wunder Jacqueline Hickman Thomas Hickman

SUPERNUMERARIES

Brandon Barber Michael Mora Troy E. Faldyn Al Perez Christopher Lee Gibson William Sanders Bill Giffen Jonathan Teverbaugh Dave Harris Matthew Williams Brian Hues

FALL 2015 38 HGO.org WHO’S WHO

PATRICK SUMMERS enjoys partnerships with , Alice Coote, Eric (United States) Cutler, Eric Owens, and clarinetist Julian Bliss. He has performed Margaret Alkek Williams Chair live on A Prairie Home Companion with Renée Fleming and Conductor Yo-Yo Ma, and with Joshua Bell on CBS Sunday Morning News Patrick Summers was named artistic and and Late Night with Conan O’Brien. He has performed as music director of HGO in 2011 after having keyboard soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, the served as the company’s music director Buffalo Philharmonic, the San Francisco Ballet, and the Los since 1998. He has conducted more than 60 operas at HGO Angeles Philharmonic, among others. He will conduct HGO’s and has been responsible for many important artistic advances, performances of The Little Prince in December. including the development of the HGO Orchestra. His repertoire spans the operatic canon; some highlights of his work at HGO JOHN CAIRD () include collaborating on the world premieres of André Previn’s Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2012–13 Brief Encounter, Christopher Theofanidis’s The Refuge, Jake Director Heggie’s The End of the Affair and Three Decembers, Carlisle John Caird’s previous work at HGO Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree, and ’s Resurrection; leading includes directing and La the American premiere of Weinberg’s Holocaust opera The bohème (2012), this production of Tosca Passenger, both at HGO and on tour to the Lincoln Festival; and (2010), and the world premiere of André nurturing the careers of such artists as Christine Goerke, Ailyn Previn’s Brief Encounter (2009), for which he also wrote the Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, libretto. The Tony Award–winning director (for the original Tamara Wilson, Albina Shagimuratova, , Broadway productions of Nicholas Nickleby and Les Misérables) Norman Reinhardt, , and Dimitri Pittas. Maestro was born in Canada and began his career as an actor, stage Summers conducts regularly at the and is manager, and stage technician in various repertory and West principal guest conductor for . His work End theaters. In 1977, he began a long tenure with the Royal T with San Francisco Opera includes collaborating with André Shakespeare Company, as Trevor Nunn’s assistant director on O Previn on the 1998 world premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire As You Like It, and later became resident director and then S and several of the performances, and conducting associate director. He has also directed for ’s National C ’s Moby-Dick, which was recorded and telecast on Theatre and Almeida Theatre; ’s New National Theatre, A PBS’s . He began the 2015–16 season by Galaxy Theatre, Theatre Crié, and Nissay Theater (he received conducting Sweeney Todd for San Francisco Opera. At HGO the 2007 Kikuta Kazuo Theatre Award for Special Achievement this season, he will also conduct the world premiere of Carlisle in Japanese Theatre); and Stockholm’s Dramaten. In opera, his Floyd’s Prince of Players and Siegfried in our continuation of production of the five-act French version Don Carlos has been Wagner’s Ring cycle. seen at (WNO) as well as HGO; his Aida has been seen at WNO in both Cardiff and Birmingham; his La BRADLEY MOORE bohème has been seen at and San (United States) Francisco Opera; and this production of Tosca has also been Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair seen at and Lyric Opera of Chicago. Last Conductor (Nov. 5, 14) year, he directed a new production of at the Lyric Opera Conductor, coach, and pianist Bradley of Chicago. Most recently, Caird’s production of the new play Moore is HGO’s head of music staff and McQueen opened at London’s St. James Theater in May and music director for the HGO Studio. Last recently transferred to the Haymarket, West End. The musical season at HGO, he conducted performances of The Magic Daddy Long Legs, for which Caird wrote the libretto, began an Flute and served as the pianist for the 2015 Eleanor McCollum open-ended run Off-Broadway in September. Competition Concert of Arias. He conducted Madame Butterfly at the Castleton Festival at the invitation of and is BUNNY CHRISTIE the founding music director of the Fire Island Opera Festival. (United Kingdom) He conducted at and has Set and Costume Designer worked as assistant conductor, backstage conductor, and coach Bunny Christie’s designs were seen at the Metropolitan Opera, the , Opéra National previously at HGO in the 2009 world de , Canadian Opera Company, and Los Angeles Opera, premiere of André Previn’s Brief Encounter among others. As a recital partner, Moore appears this season and in Tosca in 2010. Her extensive work with Jamie Barton at the Kennedy Center and other venues, and for the National Theatre in London includes Curious Incident joins Barton and Angela Meade in recital at the U.S. Supreme of the Dog in the Night-Time, which transferred to the West Court. He has collaborated with Renée Fleming and Susan End and Broadway and for which she earned Olivier and Tony Graham at and on several national tours, and Awards for Best Set Design. She has also won Olivier Awards for The White Guard and A Streetcar Named Desire, and an Evening 39 WHO’S WHO

Standard Award for Baby Doll, all at the National. Other theater films Alpha and Starship Troopers: Invasion in Tokyo, work includes the all-women Julius Caesar and Henry IV at ; and has been motion capture fight director and talent for the Donmar Warehouse, with both shows transferring to St. the video games The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Anne’s Warehouse in . She recently designed Made in Bay, Just Cause, and Knights of the Temple: The Infernal Crusade Dagenham at The Adelphi Theatre with Rupert Goold, and has in Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden. Anzaldúa earned a master’s designed People, Places, and Things and Husbands and Sons, both degree in acting from the University of Houston. of which opened at the National Theatre this fall. Her work in opera also includes Medea for the . Film RICHARD BADO (United States) work includes Swan Song, directed by and The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus starring John Gielgud, which was nominated for an Academy Master Chair Chorus Master Award for Best Short Film. Richard Bado has served as HGO’s chorus DUANE SCHULER (United States) master since 1988 and was concurrently Lighting Designer the company’s head of music staff from Duane Schuler’s work encompasses opera, 1991 to 2005. The HGO Studio alumnus (1984–85) conducted ballet, and theater. For HGO, he has lit at the Cairo Opera House in (1989) and numerous productions since 1973, most Robert Wilson’s production of Four Saints in Three Acts on recently Così fan tutte, , tour at the Edinburgh Festival (1996). He received HGO’s , auf Naxos, Tosca, and Silver Rose Award in 2013, in honor of his 25th anniversary as and . His lighting designs for chorus master. He has conducted for , Opéra National the Metropolitan Opera include the world premieres of John de Paris, Opera, the Aspen Music Festival, Harbison’s The Great Gatsby and ’s The First Emperor, , the Russian National Orchestra, the Florida as well as 24 other productions. He has designed more than Philharmonic, the Montreal Symphony, Wolf Trap Opera, 140 productions at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, including last and Houston Ballet. An accomplished pianist, Bado recently season’s Don Giovanni and its upcoming premiere of Jimmy appeared in an Australian recital tour with Renée Fleming. He López’s Bel Canto. Theater credits include House and Garden, has also played for , Frederica von Stade, Susan Last Dance, and A Picasso (Manhattan Theatre Club); The Royal Graham, Denyce Graves, , Ramón Vargas, Family (Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles); and The Importance Samuel Ramey, Jamie Barton, Ryan McKinny, and Nathan of Being Earnest on Broadway. Upcoming productions include Gunn. Bado holds music degrees from the Eastman School (Los Angeles Opera), (Seattle of Music, where he received the 2000 Alumni Achievement Opera), Beatrice and Benedict (Glyndebourne), and Award, and West University, and also studied advanced (Metropolitan Opera). Schuler is a founding partner of Schuler choral conducting with Robert Shaw. He is the director of the Shook, the theater planning and architectural lighting design opera studies program at Rice University’s Shepherd School firm responsible for designs and renovations for Seattle’s Marion of Music. He will conduct HGO’s Carousel this spring. Oliver McCaw Hall, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. KAREN REEVES (United States) Children’s Chorus Director LERALDO ANZALDÚA Karen Reeves has prepared the Houston (United States) Grand Opera Children’s Chorus and child Fight Director soloists since 1991, for such operas as Leraldo Anzaldúa is a Houston-based , , La bohème, Dead Man actor, director, and fight director. He is a Walking, Tosca, A Midsummer Night’s certified teacher of stage combat with the Dream, and Hansel and Gretel. In December, she will also Society of American Fight Directors and direct the Children’s Chorus for The Little Prince, as she did has served as fight director at HGO on such recent productions for the opera’s world premiere at HGO in 2003 and its revival as Otello, Carmen, , Aida, Show Boat, and the American in 2004. She was a member of the Houston Grand Opera premiere of The Passenger.Other Houston companies with Chorus for 13 seasons, and during the 1999–2000 season, which he has worked include the Alley Theatre, Stages Repertory she became the founding director of the High School Voice Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Classical Theatre Company, and Studio, HGO’s year-long intensive program for high school Catastrophic Theatre. He has done voice-over work for the video seniors preparing for further vocal music study. She received game Starship Troopers: Mobile Infantry and in anime as Ken/G-1 her bachelor of music degree from Southwestern University in Gatchaman, Zed in Kiba, Takashi in High School of the Dead and her master of music degree from Rice University. She , Noda in Angel Beats, and more than 100 others. taught on the voice faculty at Houston Baptist University, and He has also done voice-over work with ADVision Studios/Sentai for more than 20 years she taught in the voice department of Filmworks. Internationally, he has worked on the Sony Pictures Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

FALL 2015 40 HGO.org as an artist consultant. She has served as a grant evaluator (Abigaille) with Nicola Luisotti; at La Scala, she sang Abigaille, for the Texas Commission on the Arts music and opera Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana, and Aida—the role with which advisory panel. She is the administrator for the opera program she made her Metropolitan Opera and Hollywood Bowl debuts. of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. She appeared in (Odabella) at Deutsche Oper , the Verdi at Rome’s Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia LIUDMYLA MONASTYRSKA () and with the Cleveland Orchestra, and Verdi’s La forza del Soprano—Tosca destino (Leonora) with in . She has also Liudmyla Monastyrska returns to HGO appeared in a new production of with the Staatsoper aft er making her house debut in the title Berlin and in the Salzburg Festival’s Cavalleria rusticana. role of the season-opening production of Other engagements this season include Cavalleria rusticana at Aida in 2013. Th e dramatic soprano made the Metropolitan Opera; her house debut at the State her stage debut in Kiev in Eugene Onegin in Opera as Aida; at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; 1996 and her European debut in 2010 at and Aida at Opéra National de Paris. Monastyrska can be seen as Tosca—a role that is introducing her to many opera houses on DVDs of Macbeth and Nabucco—both with the Royal Opera, worldwide. Th ese are her fi rst U.S. performances of Tosca, aft er Covent Garden (Opus Arte). which she will sing the role at the Metropolitan Opera. At the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, she has sung in new productions of Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) with and Nabucco

T O S C A

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41 WHO’S WHO

KELLY KADUCE (United States) CHAD SHELTON (United States) Soprano—Tosca (Nov. 5, 14) Tenor—Cavaradossi (Nov. 5, 14) Kelly Kaduce made her HGO debut Chad Shelton, an alumnus of the HGO as Katya in the American premiere of Studio (1997–2000), has appeared regularly The Passenger and returned last season at HGO in such roles as Froh in Das to sing Helmwige in Die Walküre. She Rheingold, Fredrik Egerman in A Little also sang Micaela in Carmen in HGO’s Night Music, Alfredo in La traviata, Don 2014 concert performance at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell José in performances of Carmen, and Tamino in . Pavilion in The Woodlands. Last summer, she sang Cio-Cio He also originated the roles of Nico in ’s , San in Madame Butterfly with the Minnesota Orchestra and her Ulises in Daniel Catán’s Salsipuedes, and Laurie in Adamo’s Little engagements this season include singing Mimì in La bohème Women. This season, he makes his Metropolitan Opera debut with Boston Lyric Opera and creating the role of Wendy in Paul as Rodrigo in Otello, joins the Met for its production of , Moravec’s The Shining with Minnesota Opera. Last season, she and sings Alfredo with Pensacola Opera. Recent engagements made her debuts with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Katya in The include Jack in Gerald Barry’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Passenger and with Canadian Opera Company as Cio-Cio San, the title roles in and , Giasone in Cherubini’s and returned to Florida Grand Opera in the same role. Previous Medea, Don José, Lechmere in Owen Wingrave, Lysander in A performances also include Blanche in Dialogues of the Carmelites Midsummer Night’s Dream, Guido Bardi in A Florentine Tragedy, with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis; the title role of Manon Lescaut and Tamino (Opéra National de Lorraine); Erik in The Flying with Minnesota Opera; Rosalinde in with Lyric Dutchman (Boston Lyric Opera); Prince in The Love of Three Opera of City; Liù in for her debut with Utah Oranges and Tamino (Grand Théâtre de Genève); Idomeneo with Opera; Cio-Cio San with West Australian Opera, Minnesota Théâtre de Caen and Grand Théâtre de Luxembourg; Alfredo Opera, and ; Anne Sorenson in Kevin Puts’s Silent and Ferrando in Così fan tutte (Japan); Tom Rakewell in The Night with Opera Philadelphia; Nedda in Pagliacci for Opera Rake’s Progress (São Paulo); and Chairman Mao in Nixon in Theatre of Saint Louis, Arizona Opera Company, Cincinnati China (San Diego Opera). He returns to HGO later this season to Opera, , and Florida Grand Opera; the title role create the role of Charles II in ’s Prince of Players. in Rusalka with L’Opéra de Montréal and Opera Colorado; and ANDRZEJ DOBBER () many others. Baritone—Baron Scarpia ALEXEY DOLGOV () Now making his HGO debut, and giving Tenor—Cavaradossi his first U.S. performances as Baron Siberian tenor Alexey Dolgov most recently Scarpia, Andrzej Dobber has performed at returned to HGO as Pinkerton in last the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Opéra season’s Madame Butterfly. Other HGO National de Paris, Teatro Comunale di roles include Tenor/Bacchus in Ariadne Bologna, Netherlands Opera, , Staatsoper auf Naxos, Cavaradossi in Tosca (2010), Berlin, , , and Rodolfo in performances of La bohème. He has worked with State Opera, Gran Teatro del , and Glyndebourne Festival such conductors as Plácido Domingo, Daniel Harding, Semyon Opera. He has been especially acclaimed for his performances Bychkov, , Kirill Karabits, Gianandrea Noseda, in Verdi’s Macbeth, , Rigoletto, La traviata, Un Alexander Shelley, Philippe Auguin, Patrick Summers, Leopold ballo in maschera, , and Aida but his repertoire also Hager, and Dmitri Jurowski. This season and beyond, he will includes such roles as the title characters of Borodin’s make his debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu as Cassio in Otello and Szymanowski’s . This season, he will also perform (a role he will reprise at the Metropolitan Opera), make his role the title role of Rigoletto in , Giorgio Germont in La debut as Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles at New , traviata in Hamburg, and Scarpia and the title role in Macbeth at make company debuts at the and at , the Semperoper Dresden. Recent engagements include his debut return to the Met and The Opera, and continue as a as Doge Foscari in in Hamburg, the title role in principal soloist at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow. He has also Simon Boccanegra at the Opéra de Lyon, Rigoletto at the performed leading roles with Bavarian State Opera; Washington Opera, Jack Rance in at the Staatsoper National Opera; Deutsche Oper Berlin; Opera di ; Opéra Hamburg, the title role in The Flying Dutchman at Opéra de de Nice; Saito Kinen Festival; Baden-Baden Festival; Théâtre Marseille, Amonasro in Aida at La Scala and the Zurich Opera. des Champs-Élysées, Paris; Royal Opera, Covent Garden; In concert, Dobber has collaborated with many eminent Opera Lucerne; Athens Megaron; Opéra de Montréal; Deutsche conductors of our day including , Sir Colin Staatsoper Berlin; Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg; Davis, Helmuth Rilling, and . Los Angeles Opera; Teatro Municipale , Salerno; and Teatro Comunale, Trieste.

FALL 2015 42 HGO.org WESTON HURT (United States) Baritone—Scarpia (Nov. 5, 14) Baritone Weston Hurt is singing his fi rst Scarpia for his HGO debut. Th is season, he also makes his debut at the New Orleans Opera as Germont in La traviata and returns to both the as Talbot in Mary Stuart and the Boston Youth Symphony as Iago in Otello. He appears regularly with many North American opera companies including the Seattle Opera, , Portland Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Atlanta Opera, Michigan Opera Th eater, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Canadian Opera Company. He was also a regular at the before its closure in 2013. His many roles included the title roles in Rigoletto and Nabucco, Renato in , Ford in ,Sharpless in Madame Butterfl y, Germont in La traviata, Enrico in , Frank in Die tote Stadt, and Peter in Hansel and Gretel. Also a prolifi c concert singer and recitalist, Hurt has performed in recitals sponsored by the Marilyn Horne Foundation and has also performed in concert internationally, including a South American tour of the Brahms Ein deutsches Requiem. He has recently performed with T the Nashville Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, and the Oratorio O Society of New York at Carnegie Hall. S DMITRY BELOSSELSKIY (Russia) C Bass—Angelotti A Dmitry Belosselskiy made his HGO debut singing Sparafucile in Rigoletto; he sings Prince Gremin in HGO’s performances of Eugene Onegin. His 2015–16 engagements include opening La Scala’s season alongside in Giovanna d’Arco, VATICAN PILASTER WITH ROMAN MOTIF performing Ivan Khovansky in Khovanshchina at Vienna State G. VOLPATO (AFTER RAPHAEL), 1772 Opera, Zaccaria in Nabucco with Lyric Opera of Chicago, his role debut as Walter in Luisa Miller with Teatro Real in Madrid, Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra at La Scala, and the Verdi Requiem with Chorégies d’Orange. Beyond this season, he will also return THE to the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, Teatro Real Madrid, Teatro Comunale in Bologna, and Arena di Verona and will make his ANTIQUARIUM house debut at Opéra National de Paris. He remains a principal guest artist at the State Academic Bolshoi Th eatre of Russia in Moscow where, this season, he will perform the title role of and Filippo II in Don Carlo. He has also performed HOUSTON’S FINEST SELECTION OF ANTIQUE PRINTS AND MAPS at the Salzburg Festival; Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin; Vienna State Opera; Maggio Musicale, ; Zurich Opera; Teatro dell’Opera di Roma; Th eater an der Wien; Washington National EXQUISITE CUSTOM FRAMING Opera, Canadian Opera Company; Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía; and Bavarian State Opera.

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43 WHO’S WHO

FEDERICO DE MICHELIS (Argentina) DAVID CANGELOSI Beth Madison Fellow (United States) Bass-baritone—Angelotti (Nov. 5, 14) Tenor—Spoletta Born in , Federico De David Cangelosi makes his HGO Michelis won third prize in the 2015 debut as Spoletta and also appears Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert as Monsieur Triquet in HGO’s of Arias. He was a member of the Opera concurrent production of Eugene Studio of Teatro Argentino de La Plata, where he performed Onegin. In 2004 he made his Metropolitan Opera debut Antonio in Il viaggio a Reims, El Hombre Mayor in Ciudad as Mime in Das Rheingold, conducted by , Ausente, Johann in , Narrator from I due timidi, and has returned in multiple principal roles over the Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Plutone in Il ballo dell’ingrate, past 12 years. Upcoming highlights include a multi-year and Tempo from Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria. Since 2012, he performance/recording project of Wagner’s Ring with the has been training at the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Hong Kong Philharmonic and reprising his signature role Sofia in Madrid, Spain, studying with Ryland Davies, Tom of Mime in the Ring with Washington National Opera. Krause, and Manuel Cid and performing in some of the most Recent performances include his role debut as the Witch important concert halls in Spain. His repertoire includes Don in Hansel and Gretel with Opera Fairbanks, Salome with Magnifico in , Tom and Sam in A Masked Boston Symphony Orchestra, The Cunning Little Vixen Ball, and Dr. Grenvil in La traviata. During summer 2014 he with Cleveland Orchestra, and a concert with Saito-Kinen made his debut with the Symphony Orchestra Festival in Matsumoto, Japan. Career highlights include conducted by Paul Weigold. He made his debut at Teatro recordings with EMI Classics and appearances at Paris Real, Madrid, this past summer, singing Guccio in Woody Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, San Francisco Allen’s staging of . He is performing the role Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Washington National of Zaretsky in HGO’s concurrent staging of Eugene Onegin; Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, Chicago Symphony, other roles this season include the King in The Little Prince, , and Venice Film Festival. Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, and Thomas Betterton Cangelosi also continues his close, multi-decade association in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players. with Lyric Opera of Chicago.

KYLE ALBERTSON BEN EDQUIST (United States) (United States) Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Bass-baritone—Sacristan Owen Memorial Endowed Fund at the Kyle Albertson is making his HGO main- Community Foundation of Abilene Endowed stage debut after singing Mr. Rodriguez Fellow in HGOco’s Past the Checkpoints (2014). Baritone—Sciarrone His repertoire includes Leporello in Don Native Texan Ben Edquist is making Giovanni, Lescaut in Manon Lescaut, Henry Kissinger in Nixon his HGO main-stage debut after singing Sir Walter Raleigh/ in China, Olin Blitch in Susannah, Méphistophélès in , Astronaut in HGOco’s world premiere of O Columbia in Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro, and the Four Villains in The September at the Revention Music Center. He participated in Tales of Hoffmann. This season’s engagements include singing HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy in 2013 and was a finalist the Sergeant of Police in at Atlanta in the 2015 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Opera, and Bartolo in The Barber of Seville and Lyndon B. He recently received his master of music degree from Rice Johnson in the workshop of David T. Little’s new opera JFK University. Notable operatic roles include Sid in Albert Herring, with Fort Worth Opera. Recent seasons included engagements Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Charlie in Jake Heggie’s Three with the Metropolitan Opera as Masetto in Don Giovanni and Decembers, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. With Light Opera in productions of The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Oklahoma and Brazosport Center Stages, his past roles include Dialogues of the Carmelites, The Merry Widow, and Manon; Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Roy in The Light in the Piazza, the Verdi Requiem with the Handel Society of Dartmouth; a Barnaby Tucker in Hello, Dolly!, and Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dallas Opera debut as Zuniga in Carmen; Papageno in Boston Dolls. Edquist was a Young Artist with the Glimmerglass Festival Youth Symphony’s concert performance of The Magic Flute at the past two summers, performing Jigger Craigin in Carousel Symphony Hall; his first Sweeney Todd with Syracuse Opera; and Papageno in The Magic Flute. He sings the Captain in HGO’s Rucker Lattimore in Cold Sassy Tree with Sugar Creek Opera concurrent performances of Eugene Onegin; later this season, he Festival; and the Prison Warden in , Hobson will sing performances of the in The Little Prince, Edward in Peter Grimes, and the Duke in Roméo et Juliette with Des Kynaston in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Moines Metro Opera. Players, and Jigger Craigin in Carousel.

FALL 2015 44 HGO.org SAÏD HENRY PRESSLEY (United States) Bass-baritone—Jailer New York native Saïd Henry Pressley is making his HGO main-stage debut. For HGOco, he has appeared in the world premiere of Th e Pastry Prince and as the King and Stepsister Isabella in Cinderella in Spain. He recently received his master’s degree from Th e Juilliard School. He has appeared as Presto in Les mamelles de Tirésias, Simone/Maestro Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, Wu Tianshi in the American premiere of Peter Maxwell Davies’s Kommilitonen! with Juilliard Opera; and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Sebastian in the world premiere recording of Lee Hoiby’s Th e Tempest (Albany Records), Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, and Sarastro in Th e Magic Flute with Purchase Opera. His concert work includes several recitals in both Paul Hall and Alice Tully Hall, as well as a master class with renowned American bass Samuel Ramey. Pressley received fi rst prize in the Tony and Sally Amato Opera competition (2010) and second prize in the Harlem Opera Th eater Competition (2013), and was a semi-fi nalist in Dallas Opera Guild’s Annual Vocal Competition (2014). T JACQUELINE HICKMAN (United States) O Treble—A Young Shepherd S Jacqueline Hickman made her HGO debut C in a solo role in 2013 as Young Kim in A Show Boat. She has also performed with the HGO Children’s Chorus in Th e Magic Flute, Otello, and Carmen, and was a child soloist in La bohème. She has also performed in the children’s chorus for Wozzeck with the Houston Symphony as well as small roles with the Shepherd School of Music opera program at Rice University and at Masquerade Th eatre. She has previously been featured as a vocalist in master classes with renowned child voice pedagogue Robert Edwin and Broadway casting director Dave Clemmons. Jacqueline has just begun studies at Lanier Middle School in Houston and is active as a Girl Scout Cadette and Mariner.

45 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA PRESENTS EUGENE ONEGIN

Lyric Scenes in Three Acts Based on the novel by Music by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Libretto by Composer and Konstantin Shilovsky Sung in Russian with projected English translation

CAST (IN ORDER OF VOCAL APPEARANCE) Tatyana Katie Van Kooten Olga Megan Samarin † Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Fellow Larina Cynthia Clayton Filipyevna Larissa Diadkova Lensky Norman Reinhardt ‡ Eugene Onegin Scott Hendricks ‡ Captain Ben Edquist † Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Endowed Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene Endowed Fellow Triquet David Cangelosi Zaretsky Federico De Michelis † Beth Madison Fellow Prince Gremin Dmitry Belosselskiy

A Canadian Opera Company production. This production of Eugene Onegin was originally created for the Metropolitan Opera. Houston Methodist is the official health care provider for Houston Grand Opera. United Airlines is the official airline of Houston Grand Opera. Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers is the preferred jeweler of Houston Grand Opera. The activities of Houston Grand Opera are supported in part by funds provided by the City of Houston and Theater District Improvement, Inc., and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

* Houston Grand Opera debut † Houston Grand Opera Studio artist ‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist

FALL 2015 46 HGO.org OCT. NOV. NOV. NOV. NOV. 30 1m 7 10 13

CREATIVE TEAM Conductor Michael Hofstetter Production Robert Carsen Revival Director Paula Suozzi * Set and Costume Designer Michael Levine Lighting Designer Christine Binder Choreographer Serge Bennathan * Costume Design Assistant Victoria Wallace * E Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ U The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair G Musical Preparation Patrick Harvey ‡ Mr. and Mrs. James A. Elkins Endowed Chair E Emily Senturia ‡ N Kirill Kuzmin * † E Joan Hacken Bitar, M.D./Bill and Melinda Brunger Fellow Sahar Nouri † O Audrey Jones Beck Endowed Fund/John M. O’Quinn Foundation N Endowed Fund Fellow E Stage Manager Kristen E. Burke G Assistant Director Katrina Bachus I Supertitles by Scott F. Heumann, adapted by Paul Hopper N

PRODUCTION CREDITS Supertitles cued by Geoffrey Loff † Lynn Guggolz/Ms. Marianne Kah Fellow Performing artists, stage directors, and choreographers are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, the union for opera professionals in the United States. Scenic, costume, and lighting designers and assistant designers are represented by United Scenic Artists, I.A.T.S.E., Local USA-829. Orchestral musicians are represented by The Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local #65-699, American Federation of Musicians. Stage crew personnel provided by I.A.T.S.E., Local #51. Wardrobe personnel provided by Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #896. This production is being recorded for archival purposes.

47 SYNOPSIS EUGENE ONEGIN

THE PERFORMANCE LASTS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 50 MINUTES, INCLUDING ONE INTERMISSION.

Russia, the mid-19th century ACT II suggesting he is merely attracted to the glamor of a love affair with the wife of ACT I It is Tatyana’s name day and her mother a prince. Finally, Tatyana yields to her has arranged a dance in her honor. Young and innocent Tatyana sings a love for Onegin and sinks into his arms. Onegin is there and bored to death. To dreamy duet with her lively sister, Olga, Regardless of her feelings for Onegin, liven things up, he decides to irritate while their mother, Larina, chats with however, Tatyana refuses to forsake her his friend Lensky by flirting with Olga. Tatyana’s nurse, Filipyevna. Peasants husband. Once again, she summons her When Olga noticeably flirts back, the return from the fields and present Larina courage and tells Onegin she cannot be hotheaded Lensky challenges Onegin with sunflowers. The older ladies notice with him. She makes the choice to remain to a duel the following morning. that Tatyana looks pale, but she replies with her husband and rushes from the she is only absorbed in her book, with Lensky is the first to arrive. Onegin room. Onegin is left alone. its story of lovers’ troubles. Her mother arrives late. Both men would prefer tells her not to take her love stories too to resume their friendship, but things seriously, warning her that there are no have gone too far—the formalities of HGO PERFORMANCE HISTORY real heroes in everyday life. Olga’s fiancé, the duel must be observed. The two HGO last staged Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Lensky, arrives with his good friend measure off three paces, turn, and fire. Onegin during the 2001–02 season, with Onegin. Tatyana wants to disappear, Onegin fires first and Lensky is killed. Bo Skovhus as Onegin and Zvetelina but her mother insists the young men ACT III Vassileva as Tatyana, conducted by be entertained. Lensky makes a beeline Robert Spano. Eugene Onegin was also for Olga, leaving Onegin to take Tatyana Years later, Prince and Princess Gremin staged during the 1984–85 season with for a walk. The inexperienced Tatyana are hosting a ball in St. Petersburg. as Onegin and Mirella immediately falls head-over-heels for the Onegin is there, having spent the past Freni as Tatyana. worldly Onegin. That night, she is unable several years wandering the country in to sleep. Summoning all her courage, an attempt to overcome his remorse Tatyana composes a letter to Onegin, and atone for the death of his friend. At HGO performances, the excellent natural vowing her complete commitment to The hosts enter and Onegin instantly acoustics of the theaters in the Wortham him and pouring her heart out on the recognizes the princess as Tatyana. Theater Center are relied upon to convey page. As dawn arrives, she signs and Prince Gremin tells Onegin about the joy sound from the stage and pit. Electronic seals the letter. Later, Tatyana enters in a Tatyana has brought to his life and praises sound enhancement is used only with spoken state of agitation. She has seen Onegin her as the noblest thing he has found in dialogue (as in The Merry Widow), in musicals approaching and is afraid of his response. this immoral world. Tatyana recognizes (as in A Little Night Music), in sound effects Her worst fears are realized when Onegin Onegin and tries to avoid him by feigning (thunder), and at the composer’s direction admonishes her, telling her to use more exhaustion and asking to leave the party. (as in Nixon in China and The Little Prince). self-restraint in the future. Love and At last, Onegin realizes that Tatyana is Visible microphones are positioned to record marriage are not for him, he continues; his one true love. It is his turn to write a performances for archival purposes. he can love her only as a sister. letter. Onegin arrives to talk with Tatyana, falls at her feet, and begs her to come INTERMISSION away with him. She tries to be distant,

FALL 2015 48 HGO.org HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA

PATRICK SUMMERS, ARTISTIC AND MUSIC DIRECTOR—Margaret Alkek Williams Chair

VIOLIN CELLO FRENCH HORN Denise Tarrant *, Concertmaster Barrett Sills *, Principal Sarah Cranston *, Principal The Sarah and Ernest Butler Louis-Marie Fardet †, Assistant Principal Kimberly Penrod Minson * Concertmaster Chair Erika Johnson *, Acting Assistant Principal Kevin McIntyre Jonathan Godfrey *, Assistant Concertmaster Wendy Smith-Butler * Gavin Reed Steven Wiggs * Erica Robinson *, Principal Second Violin Kevin Downs TRUMPET Carrie Kauk *, Assistant Principal Second Violin Steve Estes Jim Vassallo *, Principal Randal Adams * Miriam Belyatsky * DOUBLE BASS Hae-a Lee * Dennis Whittaker *, Principal TROMBONE Sarah Ludwig * Erik Gronfor *, Assistant Principal Thomas Hultén *, Principal Chavdar Parashkevov * Carla Clark * Mark Holley * Anabel Ramirez * Hunter Cappicioni Mary Reed * BASS TROMBONE Linda Sanders * FLUTE Tim Thompson Oleg Sulyga * Seth Allyn Morris *, Principal Sylvia VerMeulen * Christina Medawar * Melissa Williams * E Mark Barton †, Principal Aloysia Friedmann PICCOLO U Andres Gonzalez Melissa Suhr HARP G Kana Kimura Joan Eidman *, Principal E Maria Lin OBOE N Mila Neal Elizabeth Priestly Siffert *, Principal E Sylvia Ouellette TIMPANI Alison Chung Rachel Shepard Nancy Nelson *, Principal Hannah Watson O CLARINET PERCUSSION N VIOLA Sean Krissman †, Principal Richard Brown †, Principal E Eric Chi *, Acting Principal Eliseo Rene Salazar *, Principal G James P. Johnson Lorento Golofeev *, Assistant Principal ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER I Mary Fulgham * Richard Brown N Gayle Garcia-Shepard * BASSOON * HGO Orchestra core musician Erika C. Lawson * Amanda Swain *, Principal Conrad Cornelison * † HGO Orchestra core musician Suzanne LeFevre * on leave this production Elizabeth Golofeev Dawson White

SPECIAL CREDITS

Blazek & Vetterling LLP—Houston, Auditors C. Richard Stasney, M.D., Consulting Physician and Otolaryngologist Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Immigration and Visa Attorneys Vinson & Elkins LLP, Attorneys of Record Shweiki Media, Printer, Opera Cues The Wortham Theater Center is equipped with an FM assistive listening system, generously provided by the Houston First Corporation.

49 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA CHORUS

RICHARD BADO, CHORUS MASTER—The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair EMILY SENTURIA, ASSISTANT CHORUS MASTER

Christopher Abide Ashly Evans Sarah Lysiak Ofelia Adame Ami Figg Keenan Manceaux Geordie Alexander Donald Figg Heath Martin Debra Alons Julia Fox Antonio Martinez Dennis Arrowsmith Brian M. Gibbs Neal Martinez Megan Berti Megan Gryga Byron J. Mayes Brennan Blankenship Nancy L. Hall Katherine McDaniel Jessica Blau Sarah Jane Hardin Natasha Monette Laurelle Brown Douglas E. Henshaw Jeff Monette Zachary Bryant Frankie Hickman Stacia Morgan Eileen Buerkert Austin Hoeltzel Mollie Harmon Osborne Cristina Carlucci Sasha Holloway Patrick Perez Christopher Childress Jon Janacek Cristino Perez Patrick Contreras James R. Jennings Saïd Henry Pressley Sybil Elizabeth Crawford Joy Jonstone Michael J. Sawyer Jamie Dahman Joe Key Christina Scanlan Ann Scott Davis Maria Annette Khoobyar Paul Joseph Serna Robert Dee Kirsten Koerner John Weinel Ashley Duplechien Wesley Landry Jennifer Wright Lazaro Estrada Britany Lovett

DANCERS SUPERNUMERARIES

Kevin Fitzgerald Ferguson Taylor Alan Andrew Runk Kelsey Kincaid Aaron Alford Dustin A. Salinas Sarah Yarbrough Matt Harris Andersen Judith Irvington Scholtes Mario A. Zambrano Doug Atkins Taelon J. Stonecipher Kaleb Babb Caleb Walker Brandon Balque John Watkins Marcy Bannor Rodney S. White Marty Blair Alex Boyd CHILDREN Domonique Champion Stefan Kauk Cameron William Davis Alexandria McGhee Jeff Dorman Morgan McGhee Luke Fedell Ella Minson Brock Hatton Micah Mitchell Ian Hill Bergen Nielson Brandon Hobratschk Daniel Wunder Calvin Hudson Matthew Johnson

FALL 2015 50 HGO.org WHO’S WHO

MICHAEL HOFSTETTER () PAULA SUOZZI (United States) Conductor Revival Director Michael Hofstetter made his HGO Paula Suozzi is making her HGO debut. debut in 2008 conducting Beatrice and She directs plays, operas, and musical Benedict and returned in 2011 for Fidelio. theater, and recent credits include Elizabeth As chief conductor of the Ludwigsburg Rex (Illinois Shakespeare Festival), Eugene Festspiele from 2005 to 2012, Hofstetter Onegin (Grand Theater, ), The won international acclaim through premiere performances of Flying Dutchman (Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee), little-known and rediscovered works of Salieri, Gluck, Cimarosa, Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg (Metropolitan Opera), and and Hasse and a world premiere of an E. T. A. Hoffmann work. The Marriage of Figaro (Lyric Opera of Chicago). Upcoming The press hailed his achievements of the performances of projects include Love Stories (a program of three one-act plays by Verdi and Wagner with period instruments. With the Stuttgart Brecht, Shaw, and Parker for Milwaukee Chamber Theater), the Chamber Orchestra, he served from 2006 to 2013 as chief Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Finals Concert, conductor, creating world premiere performances of works by and a staged reading of the musical 1776 with Milwaukee , Fazil Say, and Helmut Oehring. He has conducted Opera Theater. Suozzi earned her bachelor in fine arts degree at the Salzburg Festival; the Handel Festival at Karlsruhe; the in directing from The Catholic University of America in state operas of , Berlin, Stuttgart, and Hamburg; Welsh Washington, D.C., and has worked as both an assistant director National Opera in Cardiff; English National Opera; Gran and stage director at San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Teatre de Liceu; and Canadian Opera Company, among others. Chicago, and the Metropolitan Opera. Immediately following her E Recordings under his baton have been produced by Orfeo, first production with the Skylight Music Theater in Milwaukee, U Oehms Classics, Sony, and Deutsche Grammophon. Opernwelt she was asked to become the associate artistic director and G magazine nominated the acknowledged baroque specialist a she remained there for eight seasons. As artistic director of E number of times as Conductor of the Year, most recently for his Milwaukee Shakespeare, she brought national recognition to that N 2011 production of Hasse’s Didone Abbandonata and in 2013 for company. She has taught and coached singers at Westminster E his achievements as general music director at Giessen. Future Choir College, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, Lyric Opera engagements include the Styriarte Festival Graz and concerts of Chicago, and the Metropolitan Opera. with L’Orchestre National d’Île de in Paris. O MICHAEL LEVINE (Canada) N ROBERT CARSEN (Canada) Set and Costume Designer E Production HGO audiences saw Michael Levine’s G Robert Carsen directed his production of work in in 1992 and 1999, in a I Boito’s Mefistofele at HGO in 1992 and it production that has also been seen at the N was seen again in 1999. He trained as an Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco actor in Toronto and the United Kingdom Opera. He works internationally in theater, and works worldwide as a director. opera, and dance. Opera credits include The Queen of Spades and Opera productions include Dialogues of the Carmelites (Royal Wozzeck (Zurich Opera); The Magic Flute (Aix-en-Provence); Opera, Covent Garden; La Scala; Madrid; Netherlands; Vienna; Parsifal, , and Eugene Onegin (Metropolitan Canadian Opera Company; ; Antwerp; Chicago, Nice), Opera); The Rape of Lucretia (Glyndebourne); Elektra (Opéra Les fêtes vénetiennes and Platée (Opéra Comique), A Midsummer National de Paris); The Magic Flute, A Midsummer Night’s Night’s Dream and Rigoletto (Aix-en-Provence), The Magic Dream, and Doctor Ox’s Experiment (English National Opera); Flute (Baden-Baden, ), CO2 and Don Giovanni The Magic Flute (, Baden-Baden, Paris); The Tales of (La Scala), Falstaff (Royal Opera, Covent Garden; La Scala; Hoffmann, Don Giovanni, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream (La Metropolitan Opera; Netherlands), The Turn of the Screw (also Scala); The Flying Dutchman (Royal Opera, Covent Garden); designer, ), The Queen of Spades (Zurich), Rusalka (); Candide (Théâtre du Châtelet, co-production a Janáček cycle (Opéra National du Rhin), L’amour des trois with La Scala and ENO); La bohème (, Dusseldorf); oranges (Berlin), (Munich), The Coronation of The Coronation of Poppea (Glyndebourne, Vienna); Elektra Poppea and (Glyndebourne), Iphigénie en Tauride (San (Japan, Florence); , Rusalka, , and Francisco; Royal Opera, Covent Garden; Madrid), La traviata Nabucco (Paris); Das Rheingold (also director, Canadian Opera for the reopening of La Fenice in 2004, Wagner’s Ring (Cologne, Company); and Jérusalem (Vienna); and Venice, Shanghai, ), and numerous productions for many others. Levine’s work has been honored with a Gemini the Paris Opera. Theater work includes Mother Courage (Milan) Award, Paris Critics Prize, The Edinburgh Festival Drama and and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (New York). Musical Music Award, two Dora Awards, and a Toronto Arts Award. He theater includes Lloyd Webber’s The Beautiful Game (West End) is a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. and Sunset Boulevard (U.K. tour), as well as productions of Singin’ in the Rain, Candide, and My Fair Lady.

51 WHO’S WHO

CHRISTINE BINDER (United States) Lighting Designer Christine Binder previously designed Laureate society lighting at HGO for La traviata in 2003. Her opera designs include work at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Th eatre, San Diego Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Florida Grand Opera. Her theater designs include work with the Goodman Th eatre, Lookingglass Th eatre Company, Victory Gardens Th eatre, Writer’s Th eatre, Chicago Shakespeare Th eater, Th e Court Th eatre, Northlight, Steppenwolf Th eatre Company, Indiana Repertory Th eatre, Actor’s Th eatre of Louisville, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Recent designs include Lookingglass Alice at the Arsht Center in Miami and the Performing Arts Center in Denver; Eugene Onegin at Grand Th éâtre de Genève; and Swan Lake for the Joff rey Ballet. Upcoming work includes the League of Resident Th eatres Tour of the Broadway production of Disgraced (to the Goodman Th eatre, Berkeley Repertory Th eatre, Seattle Repertory Th eatre, and the Mark Taper Forum), Th e Heir Apparent for Chicago Shakespeare Th eatre, Th addeus and Slocum for Lookingglass Th eatre, and Cinderella for the Joff rey Ballet. She has received nominations for Jeff Awards (for excellence in Chicago theater) for her work with Th e Court, Lookingglass, and Northlight theaters and has received two Jeff Citations for her work with Redmoon Th eatre.

SERGE BENNATHAN (France) Choreographer Serge Bennathan is making his HGO debut. He was the artistic director of Toronto’s Dancemakers from 1990 to 2006; Your LegacY counts! 12 works he created for that company received Dora Mavor Moore nominations, Who will enjoy world-class opera because and both Sable/Sand and Th e Satie Project received the award for of your generosity? Outstanding New Choreography. Also known for his extensive work with opera companies and directors, Bennathan directed his fi rst main-stage opera, Rossini’s , at Canadian Opera By including HGO in your will or as a beneficiary Company (COC) in 2005, and he was later invited back to of your retirement plan or insurance policy, you direct Renard for the COC Ensemble Studio. Bennathan is now become a partner with HGO in perpetuating based in Vancouver, where he created Les Productions Figlio, a the art form we love, sustaining its vibrant good company whose projects encompass dance, theater, music, multi- health for future generations. As a member of the media, visual art, and literary works. Bennathan has created Laureate Society, your legacy gift helps ensure choreography for LADMMI (Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne opera forever in Houston. de Montréal Inc.), Ballet BC, DanseEncorps, and independent dancers Sarah Roche and Lise McMillan. Th e creation Elles, winner of the 2012 Rio Tinto Alcan Award, premiered in February 2012 at Th e Cultch. Th is year, M. Auburtin, a new For more information, please contact full-length work for Les Productions Figlio, was part of the Richard Buffett at 713.546.0216 or Chutzpah Festival and the work Sable Island, for Mocean Dance [email protected]. in Halifax, premiered. Bennathan recently fi nished writing a Also visit HGO.org/LaureateSociety. libretto for Th e Flight, an opera with composer Gareth Williams for Les Productions Figlio. Bennathan received the Canada Arts Council’s 2014 Jacqueline Lemieux Award.

FALL 2015 52 HGO.org VICTORIA WALLACE (Canada) KATIE VAN KOOTEN (United States) Costume Designer Assistant Soprano—Tatyana Victoria Wallace began assisting Michael Katie Van Kooten has been seen at HGO as Levine on the Canadian Opera Company Mimì in La bohème and Elizabeth I in Mary production of Bluebeard’s Castle and Stuart (2012); Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes Erwartung directed by Robert Lepage. She (2010); and Helena in A Midsummer has continued this relationship for over a Night’s Dream (2009). This season, she decade during which she worked on this production of Eugene performs in Strauss’s Four Last Songs and Mahler’s Symphony Onegin, originally created for the Metropolitan Opera, as well No. 4 with the Minnesota Orchestra, and Beethoven’s Ninth as various productions at the Vienna State Opera and Opera Symphony with the Sioux City Symphony. Recent engagements Lyon. She was associate costume designer on Canadian Opera include her debut with the Atlanta Opera as the Countess in Company’s Ring cycle. Wallace’s costume designs have been seen The Marriage of Figaro, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with in theaters across Canada, most recently in Oedipus Rex for the both the Baltimore Symphony (Nicholas McGegan) and the Stratford Festival; The Play’s the Thing, Tartuffe, and Endgame for Elgin Symphony Orchestra, and the Marschallin in excerpts Soulpepper Theatre; and Peace in Our Time by John Murrell at from alongside Heidi Grant Murphy with the Shaw Festival. the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. Other recent notable concert performances include the soprano soloist in A Sea Symphony RICHARD BADO (United States) by Vaughan Williams with the Sioux City Symphony and The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with both the Chorus Master E Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra led by Ignat Solzhenitsyn and For information about Richard Bado, please see p. 40. U the Charlotte Symphony with Christopher Warren-Green. In G SCOTT HENDRICKS (United States) addition, Van Kooten performed in a pops concert with the E Baritone—Eugene Onegin Baltimore Symphony and returned to her hometown to perform N HGO Studio alumnus Scott Hendricks with the Bellingham Music Festival alongside Frederica von E appears regularly at HGO, most recently Stade and Heidi Grant Murphy. Other highlights include Vitellia as Amonasro in Aida (2013), Rodrigue in and Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann at O in Don Carlos (2012), Enrico in Lucia di Frankfurt Opera, the Marschallin with Minnesota Opera, Mimì N Lammermoor (2011), and the title role in and Countess Almaviva with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Liù E Rigoletto (2009). In HGO world premieres, he also originated in Turandot with New Orleans Opera. G the roles of Chucho in Catán’s Salsipuedes and Prince Dmitry NORMAN REINHARDT I Nekhlyudov in Tod Machover’s Resurrection. Engagements (United States) N this season include Amonasro (Cologne Opera), III in Tenor—Lensky Die Hamletmaschine (Zurich Opera), and creating the role of Norman Reinhardt’s roles at HGO Victor Frankenstein in the world premiere of Frankenstein at include Cassio in Otello and Ferrando in La Monnaie. Recent engagements include Renato in Un ballo Così fan tutte (2014), Jaquino in Fidelio in maschera (La Monnaie); Jack Rance in La fanciulla del (2011), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s West (Zurich Opera); Conte di Luna in (Mikhailovsky Dream (2009), Benedict in Beatrice and Benedict (2008), Theatre, St Petersburg); the title role of Macbeth (Netherlands Ernesto in and Lucano in The Coronation of Opera); his Metropolitan Opera debut as Sharpless in Madame Poppea (2006), and many others. Highlights of the 2015–16 Butterfly; his Royal Opera, Covent Garden, debut as Scarpia in season for the HGO Studio alumnus include Tamino in The Tosca; Germont in La traviata (La Monnaie); role debuts as Magic Flute (Teatro Real Madrid), Nemorino in The Elixir of Michele in Il tabarro and the title role of Gianni Schicchi in Love (Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Staatsoper Hamburg), a new production of Puccini’s Il trittico (Cologne Opera); Tony in West Side Story at the Salzburg Whitsun and Summer Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen (Opéra National du Rhin); Festivals with Cecilia Bartoli. Recent engagements include Scarpia in Tosca (Opéra National de Paris, Washington National Arturo in Bellini’s La straniera (Theater an der Wien), Verdi’s Opera, and Bavarian State Opera); Sharpless in Madame Requiem in , Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress in Butterfly (Washington National Opera with Plàcido Domingo); and Utah, and Tamino at the Bregenz Festival in a new and an internationally critically acclaimed portrayal of the title production by David Pountney. Other roles include Alfredo in role in the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli’s Richard III with La traviata (Opéra National de Lille), Chevalier des Grieux in De Vlaamse Opera, under the direction of Robert Carsen. Manon (Theater Basel), Belmonte in The Abduction from the Seraglio (), Kudryas in Katya Kabanova and Fritz in La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein opposite Anne Sofie von Otter (Theater Basel), Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, First Tenor in Weill’s Die sieben Todsünden (Central City Opera),

53 WHO’S WHO and an acclaimed Essex in Britten’s Gloriana (Prague). From performances of La bohème and Carmen). With Festival Opera 2009 to 2012, Reinhardt held a Fest contract at , of Walnut Creek, California, she has performed the title role where his performances included Tamino, Don Ottavio in of Floyd’s Susannah, Nedda in Pagliacci, and, most recently, Don Giovanni, Ferrando, Count Almaviva in The Barber of Desdemona in Otello. In addition, she has appeared as Violetta Seville, Lensky, Alfredo, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, and Jack in La traviata in Belgium; Cio-Cio-San with Anchorage Opera, O’Brien in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Intermountain Opera, and Fort Worth Opera; and Liù in Turandot with Knoxville Opera. She is an associate professor of MEGAN SAMARIN (United States) voice at the University of Houston Moores School of Music. Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Fellow Mezzo-soprano—Olga LARISSA DIADKOVA (Russia) Megan Samarin, a second-year artist with Mezzo-soprano—Filipyevna the HGO Studio, was a finalist in HGO’s Celebrated Russian mezzo-soprano 2014 Eleanor McCollum Competition Larissa Diadkova returns to HGO where Concert of Arias and is an alumna of she appeared in 1999 as Amneris in HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy. Last season at HGO, she Aida. Her international career has taken sang Johanna in Sweeney Todd and Second Lady in The Magic her to leading opera houses in many of Flute, and this September she performed Lady Columbia in the principal Verdi, Wagner, and Russian mezzo-soprano roles HGOco’s world premiere of Gregory Spears and Royce Vavrek’s O at the Metropolitan Opera; Salzburg Festival; Royal Opera, Columbia. She has performed Marzia in Vivaldi’s Cato in Utica at Covent Garden; La Scala; Paris Opera; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Glimmerglass Opera; La Marchande in Les mamelles de Tirésias and many other houses. She performs frequently on the concert as a Wolf Trap Opera Studio Artist; Madame Larina in Eugene stage and has sung repeatedly with legendary conductors such Onegin, Cherubino in John Davies’s The Three Little Pigs, Cis as Semyon Bychkov, , James Levine, and Seiji in Albert Herring, Third Graduate in Street Scene, and Ethel in Ozawa. Recent engagements have included Countess in The 42nd Street with the Seagle Music Colony Young Artist Program; Queen of Spades and Marfa in Khovanshchina at the Paris Opera, Soeur Mathilde in Dialogues of the Carmelites at the Brevard The Queen of Spades at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Music Center Janiec Opera Company; Hansel in Hansel and Mistress Quickly in Falstaff at the , Gretel with the New York Lyric Opera Theater; and Flower Girl Herodias in Salome in concert in Istanbul, and Filipyevna in in The Marriage of Figaro with Opera on the Avalon. Later this Eugene Onegin at the Metropolitan Opera and Bavarian State season at HGO, she will sing Third Wood Nymph in Rusalka and Opera. Last season she returned to Paris as Ježibaba in Rusalka Lady Meresvale/Mistress Revels in the world premiere of Carlisle and later this season she returns to the in Floyd’s Prince of Players. a new production of The Queen of Spades. She records for BMG/ RCA, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Phillips and EMI Classics. DMITRY BELOSSELSKIY (Russia) She was recently appointed general director of the Primorsky Bass—Prince Gremin Opera and Ballet Theater in Vladivostok, Russia. For information about Dmitry Belosselskiy, please see p. 43. FEDERICO DE MICHELIS (Argentina) DAVID CANGELOSI (United States) Tenor— Monsieur Triquet Beth Madison Fellow Bass-baritone—Zaretsky For information about David Cangelosi, please see p. 44. For information about Federico De Michelis, please see p. 44. CYNTHIA CLAYTON (United States) BEN EDQUIST (United States) Soprano—Madame Larina Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Cynthia Clayton’s roles with HGO include Endowed Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene Endowed the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd (2015), Fellow as well as performances of Cio-Cio-San Baritone—Captain in Madame Butterfly and of the title role For information about Ben Edquist, please see p. 44. in Tosca (2010), and Mimì in La bohème (2008). She recently won accolades in the title role of with , where she previously performed the title role of Tosca, Mimì in La bohème, and the title role in Jenůfa. She has also sung with New York City Opera (both Mimì and Musetta in La bohème, Cio-Cio-San, the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro); Dallas Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City (Donna Anna in Don Giovanni); Central City Opera (Penelope in the North American premiere of Britten’s Gloriana); and with San Diego Opera (Mary Willis in Carlisle Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree, as well as Musetta and Micaela in ’s first

FALL 2015 54 HGO.org Visit the Opera Boutique Great gifts for music lovers, family members, and friends!

Find an array of gifts before each performance and at intermission during TOSCA and EUGENE ONEGIN and beautiful jewelry, such as these pieces (left and right) in the Alice Bailey Trunk Show, October 30 – November 1.

Choose gifts for music lovers to fit all budgets. • Novel stocking stuffers for a song • Unique HGO-branded items • Custom-made jewelry by Alla Stefansky • Chic casual and evening bags • Festive jackets, scarves, and shawls Photo Fay Fox • Interesting books with music themes for children and adults • An outstanding collection of CDs and DVDs, such as the “When I was a member of the HGO Studio, the superb 14-CD Staatsoper Dresden recording of . Guild was so helpful. It’s like having a circle of friends as soon as you come to Houston.” Visit the Alice Bailey Jewelry trunk show October 30 – –Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano, Houston Grand Opera Studio alum November 1 and meet this innovative artist. Her handcrafted, unique wearable art integrates precious and semi-precious stones, crystal, and lamp glass. You are sure to find unusual gifts for yourself or a fortunate friend!

The HGO Guild Opera Boutique, open in the Grand Foyer 90 minutes before each performance and at intermission, can make your holiday shopping easier — and profit from this Stargazing... volunteer-run store goes to support HGO programs.

Look for more information on these upcoming events in Guild eNews! up close Sign up to receive our newsletter on our website hgoguild.org. Opera Night Live, a free opera education event provided by the Guild, January 7, 2016

Volunteer with the HGO Guild. Carnival on the Bayou, the Guild’s spring fundraiser at the Houston Join the Guild at hgoguild.org. Racquet Club, April 2, 2016 Having been with Houston Grand Opera for 32 years and having held many different positions during his tenure, Richard Bado is certainly striped deeply with the company DNA. He is the perfect example of how a career at a major opera company can be built, evolve, and continue to greatly benefit both sides.

BY PERRYN LEECH HGO MANAGING DIRECTOR

UNSUNG HEROES: RICHARD BADO

MUSIC MAN Photo by Christian Steiner

FALL 2015 56 HGO.org UNSUNG HEROES

Richard Bado with Renée Fleming (1991) and with Carlisle Floyd at a rehearsal for Susannah in Aspen (2000)

Perryn Leech: You are hugely respected and work for two of the most esteemed organizations in Houston—HGO and Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Was everything you’ve accomplished at this point in your life in even your most remote dreams as a child? Richard Bado: Not at all! I grew up in Pittsburgh as the middle of three sons and my brothers were very sports oriented. Christ Superstar, Fiddler on Was this when you realized there was Pittsburgh is a sports-obsessed city and the Roof, Oliver!, and most of all the potential for a career in teaching, both brothers played everything they Rodgers and Hammerstein classics. although not in a traditional classroom could. I was different, though, and from In high school, I joined the band setting? an early age I had my own obsessions with and everything at this time in my life I actually found my senior recital program music and gymnastics. came very naturally—I really didn’t at home the other day and in the notes I Music isn’t surprising, but gymnastics? have to work hard at it. My plan had written, “I want to work for an opera was all mapped out to go to college, I loved gymnastics and was encouraged company.” As I had my summers free, I major in music, and then become a by my mom and dad to pursue it. My worked at The Chautauqua Institution school teacher like my parents. parents were both public school teachers Music School as a pianist. I had an and urged my siblings and me to be open How were you going to make that immediate connection with one of the and try different things. I remember happen? other young students—Renée Fleming. We spent all our time together and then specifically in second grade going to the I didn’t know exactly. I got a full decided we would both apply to graduate school Christmas concert and telling scholarship to University. school at Eastman School of Music. them I wanted to do “that.” The “that” was Although it wasn’t one of the “major” Renée and I were both accepted and after conducting the chorus. music colleges, it was a great opportunity, graduation we decided we should be At what age did you start playing music? so I grabbed it. It was there that I first roommates in New York City. experienced opera. I had my first piano lesson when I was six. They were doing a program of That must have been a great experience By the age of 12, I had to decide between various scenes and I remember hearing for you both. music and gymnastics as we couldn’t a scene from Così fan tutte. I thought In order to afford school and living afford for me to do both. I chose music! I it was just like a musical but the music expenses, we both had jobs on the side. was very much into the arts at school and was better! I met the head of the opera I was working as a word processor and directed my first show, The Troubles of a department, who is still a huge influence Renée was working as a secretary in a Snowman, in fifth grade. in my life and a mentor for me today. law firm. It was during this time that Did you carry straight on into opera? I started to play for rehearsals as well Renée met HGO’s current director of I didn’t really experience opera until as learn how to coach and help singers artistic administration, Diane Zola. While I went to college. In fact, the genre I prepare operatic roles. I would play for pursuing our education at Eastman, loved the most was musicals. I loved anyone I could and often would play for Renée and I both applied for the HGO seven or eight hours a day. Studio. We were only auditioned by then- 57 eventually summoned to meet with David Photo by Greg Barrett Photo by Greg Gockley. I had no idea what was coming when he said he wanted to offer me the position of chorus master. It was an easy decision to stay and I accepted. Within a couple of years, another opportunity arose and I was offered the position of HGO’s head of music staff. The focus of the job was to provide an overview of everything the Music Department would need to achieve a higher artistic standard. Patrick Summers was appointed as music director in 1998 and that was the best thing that could possibly have happened for the music staff and musical quality of the performances. There had been a great deal of unevenness up to that point— some brilliant Above: Bado leads an HGO for Il trovatore (2012) to performances but also others that were Chorus rehearsal, 2006. accept the Silver Rose from disappointing. Patrick started to raise the Maestro Summers. The Below: Bado took the artistic quality right away. award honored his 25 years stage during curtain call as HGO chorus master. I was also much more involved with the Studio [the HGO head of music is also music director of the Studio]. I was delighted when Diane Zola joined General Director , and artistic relationships is very important HGO as Studio director in 2000. We neither of us was accepted… to me and I also knew he was the perfect were able to form a really close working Thank goodness you didn’t give up choice to help me get into the best shape. relationship. easily! I was ecstatic when I got the job and I know your friendship with Diane joined the company. Playing rehearsals for Not at all! I re-auditioned in December of is very important for you and the HGO Chorus was very rewarding for 1983 for David, Carlisle Floyd, and Jean together you created a formidable me and I enjoyed it very much, which was Mallandaine. There was an illness in the partnership. How did the position convenient because the other music staff at Rice University come up? music staff and I was offered a three- didn’t really like it! month contract to cover that period. And I was very much enjoying my position at I am still here! So that explains the path to your current HGO. I was really fond of and believed I position. I joined the staff full-time the was skilled at the training and mentoring following year and started to get Not quite—I had some other outside side of the Studio. When Robert Yekovich exposure to main-stage rehearsals. opportunities arise in 1988. I was My first shows were Fidelio starring Hildegard Behrens (a production by Francesca Zambello, which was her Houston directing debut) and Tosca with Plácido Domingo and Éva Marton. Fidelio was significant as it was the first time HGO used supertitles and I was the one who called them from the booth. How did your position in the music staff develop? John DeMain was music director of the company at the time. I told him I wanted to audition when a position became TullPhoto by Tim available. My former teacher from West Virginia University helped me prepare for the audition. Maintaining long-term

FALL 2015 58 HGO.org UNSUNG HEROES

presents the was appointed as the new dean of the of Shepherd School of Music, I was asked if I Character Cloth would be interested in joining the faculty to design and create the school’s opera program. It was Bob’s vision to design the best program and then resource it—he had recruited Stephen King [the Studio’s director of vocal instruction] a few months earlier. It was an opportunity too good for me to miss! However, I wanted to continue my relationship with HGO and was delighted I was able to retain my position as chorus master. It certainly makes it busy at times to balance both but I love HGO and especially my work with the Chorus. I think the program at Rice is building a very solid reputation and we are recruiting some fantastic students to the course, which is also helping the HGO Studio recruitment efforts. Was it a surprise to you when Sarah and Ernest Butler approached HGO and wanted to underwrite your position? It was a surprise but also a wonderful    honor. They have seen opera all over the world and their endorsement of the standard of work that we achieve here has great meaning. It is always nice to see them at the performances and to know that I have their support. It is getting increasingly rarer for people to have such long connections with one company. I know that you’ve had offers for employment from all over the world. What makes your tie to HGO so strong? HGO is my company. I have been lucky to have some flexibility to undertake other projects as well—on occasion I still play for my old roommate Renée, for instance! At HGO, every production is special. We are always looking for emerging talent and new people to continue to grow the Studio. I am also very proud of the Chorus. I value the personal and working relationships I’ve developed over the years at HGO, and that has always been an overriding factor for me. I feel lucky to collaborate on such great work and love the teaching part of my life as well, so it really isn’t a difficult decision to stay.

59 VETERANS RAISE THEIR VOICES

BY BRITTANY DUNCAN HGOco PROGRAMS DIRECTOR

FALL 2015 60 HGO.org GOco’s Veterans Songbook stories that form the basis for new songs, HEAR THE VETERANS initiative continues to give creating a literal songbook that represents voice to Houston’s veterans the range of the veteran experience. SONGBOOK! Hcommunity—the second-largest in the Th eVeterans Songbook project Two public performances this fall will launched last fall with a workshop nation—this season through the power offer Houstonians the opportunity to hear of shared stories and songs. Now in its series held in partnership with exciting new songs based on true stories second year, this program connects with organizations including U.S.VETS, of Houston veterans. local veterans’ service organizations MECA (Multicultural Education and to off er a unique opportunity for self- Counseling through the Arts), and the expression to Houston-area veterans of all Knoxville, Tennessee–based Carpetbag SUN. | OCT. 25 | 1:15 p.m. ages and backgrounds. Veterans Songbook Th eatre. Th e workshops have received Brown Alcove, Wortham Theater Center workshops bring together veterans, positive feedback from veterans and (free to opera ticketholders) storytellers, and musical artists to share veterans’ service providers alike, who cite Ticketholders for the October 25 the healing eff ects of sharing stories with matinee performance of Tosca are others in a safe space and the power of invited to join HGOco artists in the hearing their stories turned into song. Brown Alcove (adjoining the Grand Th is fall’s workshops will be held Foyer) at 1:15 p.m. for an informal concert of some of the latest songs in collaboration with U.S. VETS, Grace Top and bottom: Singers in the Veterans Songbook. Alisa Magallón and Aft er Fire, and the Michael E. DeBakey Samuel Schultz, with VA Medical Center, and will be facilitated composer Mark Buller by artists from WITS (Writers in the SUN. | NOV. 8 | 7:30 p.m. at the piano, perform Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas selections from the Schools), local storytellers, and Houston- Avenue (free to the public) Veterans Songbook in based composers. the Wortham Center’s Please join us during the week Grand Foyer. For more information about the program, of Veterans Day for a full-length Center: HGOco staff and program of songs from the Veterans artists with program please visit HGO.org/veterans_songbook— participants and other and if you know a veteran or veterans’ service Songbook, with many of the veterans at the U.S. VETS organization that would like to get involved, Houston-based composers and the holiday party. please contact HGOco Programs Director veterans whose stories inspired the Photos by Lynn Lane. Brittany Duncan at 713-546-0211. works in attendance. This concert is offered free to the public and is presented as part of “The End of War: Veterans Perspectives,” a weekend symposium at Christ Church Cathedral. A reception will follow the performance.

61 HGOco COMPANY, COMMUNITY, COLLABORATION

HGOco is HGO’s broad initiative for connecting the company with the community in which we live. Among HGOco’s many projects, the touring group Opera to Go! performs family-friendly works in schools, churches, and community venues. Each year, HGOco also offers student performances (for school groups only) of a popular opera.

IMMERSED IN THE RING creates educational video games. Creative activities This fall marks the start including poetry, photography, of HGOco’s third year of writing, and gaming provide collaboration with Cristo Rey myriad ways for students to

Photo by Eric Kayne Jesuit Preparatory School engage with the themes of in a unique program linked the opera. A visit to Houston to HGO’s presentation of Grand Opera to experience Wagner’s Ring cycle. Students this year’s production of in Cristo Rey’s freshman, Siegfried will cap off the sophomore, and now junior students’ year-long immersion classes each explore a in the Ring. central theme of one of the Ring operas throughout the school year with the help of This program is generously Mezzo-soprano Teresa Procter writers from WITS (Writers in underwritten by the Kinder and soprano Julia Fox, along with percussionist Lindsey Hohn, perform the Schools) and Histrionix Foundation. “Power,” with music by composer Learning Company, which David Hanlon and text by a Cristo Rey participant in the Ring project. Photos by Lynn Lane

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O COLUMBIA TAKES OFF of Houston project, the the NASA Johnson Space work—which celebrates Center in Clear Lake On September 23 and the American spirit leading up to the world 24, audiences flocked of exploration—was premiere. The NASA to Revention Music developed in collaboration connection continued Center, just across the 2 with members of at the performances, street from the Wortham, the Houston space where attendees explored 1. Ben Edquist and Pureum Jo for HGO’s 57th world exploration community. exhibitions brought in perform in a preview concert premiere: O Columbia, The O Columbia artists by NASA especially for at the NASA–Johnson Space a chamber opera by Center. and creators had the the event as well as composer Gregory 2. & 3. Scenes from O opportunity to present a space-themed artwork Columbia starring HGO Studio Spears and librettist special preview concert by children around artists Megan Samarin, Pureum Royce Vavrek. Presented for NASA employees and the world, courtesy of Jo, and Ben Edquist, Revention as part of HGOco’s Song Music Center. community members at SciArtExchange.

FALL 2015 62 HGO.org Alex Scheuermann, Students from Wesley Landry, and Citizen Schools Eric Delagrange meet the cast of perform in The The Velveteen Velveteen Rabbit Rabbit after a at Miller Outdoor performance at Theatre. Miller Outdoor Theatre. Photo by Briana Mitchell Photo by Lynn Lane Photo by Lynn

LOVE MAKES YOU REAL PARTNERS IN LEARNING Opera to Go! keeps hopping area schools and community This fall, HGOco renews learning day, rich with new along with a revival of The centers through December 18. its partnership with Citizen opportunities. HGOco is Velveteen Rabbit. Adapted A run of free performances Schools to develop a thrilled to collaborate on from the beloved book by at Miller Outdoor Theatre in 10-week program called a program that will bring Margery Williams, this opera September was a highlight The Opera Adventure for these students to opera by Mary Carol Warwick and early in the tour, reaching over middle school students performances and at the same Kate Pogue tells the story of 12,000 students and families. that showcases the various time introduce artists from the the enduring bond between facets of creating opera. production side of opera into For more information please a child and his favorite toy. Citizen Schools partners the classroom. visit HGO.org/operatogo. The Velveteen Rabbit tours to with public middle schools in low-income communities This program is generously to provide an expanded underwritten by Hess. HGOco Funders

GUARANTORS UNDERWRITERS Albert and Ethel Herzstein The Brown Foundation, Inc. Judy and Richard Agee Charitable Foundation THE NEXUS INITIATIVE City of Houston through the Andrews Kurth LLP Hess Corporation Miller Advisory Board Baker Botts LLP Kinder Morgan Foundation HGOco programs, including ConocoPhillips Ruth and Ted Bauer Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation Student Performances and HGO’s Houston Livestock Show and Family Foundation LyondellBasell performances at Miller Outdoor Rodeo Cameron Marsha L. Montemayor Theatre, are supported through the Kinder Foundation The Cockrell Family Fund C. Howard Pieper Foundation NEXUS Initiative, which is made The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation ExxonMobil The Powell Foundation possible by: Bill and Sara Morgan Houston Grand Opera Guild Mr. and Mrs. Irving Pozmantier Lead Supporters Franci Neely Marathon Oil Corporation Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rasmussen Occidental Petroleum Corporation Phillips 66 Mr. and Mrs. David Rose Anchorage Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Wells Fargo Sharon Ruhly The Brown Foundation, Inc. Shell Oil Company Schissler Foundation Endowed The Wortham Foundation, Inc. SUPPORTERS Fund for Educational Programs Nabors Industries Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Abraham GRAND UNDERWRITERS Strake Foundation Shell Oil Company Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Ms. Adrienne Bond Dr. Roger F. Trandell BBVA Compass Anchorage Foundation of Texas Donna and Robert Bruni Will E. and Natoma Pyle Harvey MD Anderson Cancer Center Bank of America Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Charitable Trust M.D. Anderson Foundation H-E-B Endowment Fund 1 Anonymous Schlumberger Lynne Murray Sr. Educational CenterPoint Energy The activities of Houston Grand Foundation James J. Drach Endowment Fund Opera are supported in part by George and Mary Josephine funds provided by the City of Hamman Foundation Houston and by a grant from the Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Texas Commission on the Arts. 63 Houston Grand Opera Studio Photos by Lynn Lane

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An evening of scenes, 1. Pureum Jo, Federico De Michelis, D’Ana Lombard, and Megan Samarin in 2. Ben Edquist and Sofia Selowsky in Pelleas and Melisande 3. Chris Bozeka, Mane Galoyan, and Ben Edquist in The Marriage of Figaro 4. Mane Galoyan and Sofia Selowsky in Hansel and Gretel 5 5. All Studio singers in the 4 finale, from La rondine.

he HGO Studio’s season started As you read this issue of Opera Cues, On November 12 (7:30 p.m.) and 15 with a bang! On September 10 and you’re probably sitting in the Brown (5 p.m.), you can see the Studio artists T12, Studio artists performed in their Theater, waiting for a performance of perform in an up-close-and-personal annual Studio Showcase. This event is Tosca or Eugene Onegin to begin. You’ll setting in the first of our series of Recitals an exciting kick-off for the year and gives see HGO Studio artists in both of these at . Mane Galoyan, Megan our subscribers and friends a chance to productions. In fact, you may not realize Samarin, and Chris Bozeka are working hear the artists just a few weeks after just how frequently Studio artists appear on a program with pianist Kirill Kuzmin their arrival in Houston. Studio Showcase on our stage—you’ll find them in the cast that you’ll be sure to enjoy. It’s a very truly lives up to its name; every year, new, of every HGO production this season. small venue, so get your tickets before world-class talent arrives at HGO, and Since Studio artists typically spend two they sell out. We hope to see you there! we love to show them off! Following right to three years training at HGO before —Brian Speck on the heels of the Showcase program launching their professional careers, you Director, HGO Studio were three spectacular performances by have a unique opportunity to follow their HGO Studio artists Pureum Jo, Megan development. You’ll see many of these Samarin, and Ben Edquist in HGOco’s same singers return to HGO in major world premiere of O Columbia. See page roles. They are opera’s future, and it’s 62 for a photo of them in action. exciting to watch them grow.

FALL 2015 64 HGO.org HGO Studio Faculty & Staff

Brian Speck, Director Larry Rachleff, Edward Berkeley, Additional support for Houston Grand Bradley Moore, Music Director Conducting Instructor Guest Acting Instructor Opera Studio is provided by the Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair Sponsored by Joan Hacken Bitar, M.D. James J. Drach Endowed Chair following funds within the Houston Jeremy Johnson, Studio Tara Faircloth, Drama Coach Pierre Vallet, Guest Coach Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.: Administrator Sponsored by Anonymous Evans Family Endowed Chair The Gordon and Mary Cain Adam Noble, Movement Instructor Gerardo Felisatti, Guest Coach Foundation Endowment Fund Carlisle Floyd, Artistic Advisor Melissa Marse, Piano Instructor Laura Lee Blanton Studio Award Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund Stephen King, Brian Connelly, Piano Instructor through the Scurlock Foundation Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Endowment Fund Director of Vocal Instruction Christa Gaug, German Instructor The HGO Studio is grateful for the in- William Randolph Hearst Endowed The Evans Family/Jill and Allyn Risley Sponsored by John G. Turner and kind support of McGladrey, LLP. Chair Jerry G. Fischer Scholarship Fund Patrick Summers, Enrica Vagliani Gray, The Young Artists Vocal Academy Charlotte Howe Memorial Conducting Instructor and Coach Italian Instructor (YAVA) is generously underwritten Scholarship Fund Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Sponsored by Marsha L. Montemayor by Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wakefield Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Fund Marian and Speros Martel Patrick Harvey, Resident Coach Jonathan Ludwig, and the HGO Guild. Additional Foundation Endowment Fund Mr. and Mrs. James A. Elkins Endowed Russian Instructor support for YAVA is provided by Mr. Patrick Carfizzi, Dr. David and Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Chair Julie Muller, English Instructor Mrs. Norine Gill, and Gwyneth Fund Peter Pasztor, Resident Coach Nicole Uhlig, French Instructor Emily Senturia, Resident Coach Campbell. Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil- Sponsored by Jennifer Sickler Quaker State Company) Fund Christopher Turbessi, Hotel accommodations for YAVA Gregory Keller, Showcase Director Mary C. Gayler Snook Endowment generously provided by the Resident Coach Fund Lancaster Hotel. Tenneco, Inc. Endowment Fund HGO Studio Artists 2015–16

Chris Bozeka, tenor Pureum Jo, soprano Sahar Nouri, pianist/coach Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Joseph Matulevich and Ms. Sasha Audrey Jones Beck Endowed Fund/ Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow Davis/Nancy and Ted Haywood Fellow John M. O’Quinn Foundation Endowed Fund Fellow Federico De Michelis, bass-baritone Kirill Kuzmin, pianist/coach Beth Madison Fellow Joan Hacken Bitar, M.D./ Megan Samarin, mezzo-soprano Bill and Melinda Brunger Fellow Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Fellow Ben Edquist, baritone Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Geoffrey Loff, pianist/coach Sofia Selowsky, mezzo-soprano Tone Owen Memorial Endowed Fund at Lynn Guggolz/Ms. Marianne Kah Fellow Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Fellow the Community Foundation of Abilene D’Ana Lombard, soprano Yongzhao Yu, tenor Endowed Fellow Lynne Murray Sr. Educational Foundation Albert and Anne Chao/ Mane Galoyan, soprano Fellow Carolyn J. Levy Fellow Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Bahr/ Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Fellow

THE SAVE DATES Don’t miss these RECITALS AT RIENZI CONCERT OF ARIAS rapidly approaching Th. NOV. 12 | Sun. NOV. 15, 2015 FEB. 4, 2016 opportunities to hear Fri. MAR. 18 | Sun. MAR. 20, 2016 Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center HGO Studio artists! Th. MAY 5 | Sun. MAY 8, 2016 Purchase tickets to the Concert of Arias—the final round of the Eleanor events listed here by Recitals are held at Rienzi, the decorative arts McCollum Competition for Young Singers—is calling Customer Care wing of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, at the single most important fundraiser for the at 713-228-OPERA 1406 Kirby Dr. Thursday or Friday recitals begin HGO Studio. The evening begins with a 6 p.m. (6737) or online at at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday recitals are held at 5 p.m. champagne reception, followed by the competition HGO.org, unless Come 45 minutes before the recital begins for a at 7 p.m. Celebration Dinner to follow in the Grand otherwise noted. walk-through tour of Rienzi and a wine reception. Foyer. For information, contact Scott Ipsen at Tickets, which include valet parking and the 713-546-0242 or [email protected]. reception, are available through HGO.org or 713-228-OPERA (6737).

65 Institutional Spotlight

VETHAN LAW FIRM, P.C. HGO is delighted to welcome Th e Vethan Law Firm is honored to call Houston its Law Firm, P.C., as one of our newest home and is a strong supporter of the arts. corporate supporters. Mr. Charles M. R. Vethan is the Vethan Law Firm, P.C., with offi ces managing partner of Th e Vethan Law in Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas, Firm, P.C., and represents the company as is focused on business, trademark, and an HGO trustee. Charles is board certifi ed copyright matters. Th e fi rm provides in commercial and consumer law by comprehensive legal representation for the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. its clients by forming strategic, ongoing He has been lead counsel in complex business relationships. Vethan Law Firm, litigation matters involving Shell Oil P.C., has an unwavering commitment to Company, Ralph Parsons Engineering, its clients’ success and growth, with an Union Oil of California, and others. Charles M. R. Vethan ability to provide quick responses in an Charles has been recognized by Texas ever-changing business climate. Lawyer as having Top Texas verdicts in Th e Vethan Law Firm, P.C., is proud 2010 and 2014. Charles is licensed to to be a supporter of HGO’s 2015–16 practice in both Texas and California. To season production of Rodgers and learn more about Charles and Th e Vethan Hammerstein’s Carousel and supported Law Firm, P.C., visit vethanlaw.com HGOco’s East + West series. Th e Vethan

Board Spotlight

ANNA CATALANO Houston Grand Opera is delighted to Edelman Berland, and a member of the welcome Anna Catalano as a member boards for Mead Johnson Nutrition, the of the HGO Board of Directors and Willis Group, Chemtura Corporation, vice chair of the board’s Marketing and Kraton Performance Polymers. and Communications Committee. Th e She is also a member of the national board of directors is a crucial part of board of directors of the Alzheimer’s our company—our board members are Association. With over 30 years of passionate about opera and with their corporate experience, Anna is an expert incredible leadership, they ensure HGO’s on marketing and strategic branding and artistic growth and success. international business development, and Anna and her husband, Joel, are is an outspoken champion of women in longtime members of the HGO family business. and began attending performances in the Anna is a graduate of the University 2005–06 season shortly aft er moving to of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and Houston. Anna has been an opera fan participates regularly as a speaker on the since the age of eight, when she attended topics of leadership, board governance, a production of Verdi’s La traviata at the and the advancement of women in Lyric Opera of Kansas City. business. She and Joel have been married A former group vice president for over 30 years and have two children, a of marketing for British Petroleum, son, David, and a daughter, Carson. Anna currently serves as an advisor for

FALL 2015 66 HGO.org Photo by Priscilla Dickson

MS. ROBIN ANGLY AND MR. MILES SMITH CHAIRMEN

Houston Grand Opera, along with Ms. Robin Angly and Mr. Miles Smith, chairmen, sincerely thank all of the individuals and companies who supported the 2015 Opera Ball. VIVA ESPAÑA On April 11, the Grand Foyer of the Wortham Theater Center was transformed into an elegant Spanish setting for the annual Houston Grand Opera Ball. Hosted by Robin Angly and Miles Smith, the event raised $1.3 million for HGO programs. Richard Flowers and the Events Company provided sumptuous décor featuring thousands of red roses, while City Kitchen served up the perfect Spanish- themed menu. Guests were also treated to two surprise flamenco performances by Juan Siddi Flamenco.

Kevin Black, Margaret Alkek Williams, and Tony Bradfield A performer from Juan Siddi Flamenco

Paul and Kristina Somerville Mark Sullivan and Diane Lokey Farb Jim and Molly Crownover Priscilla Dickson, Wilson Parish, and Jacob Power Photos by Priscilla Dickson, Wilson

The crowd at the Encore After Party Zane and Brady Carruth

FALL 2015 68 HGO.org Beau Miller, Lynn Wyatt, and Patrick Summers Harlan and Dian Stai with Perryn Leech

Tony and Cynthia Petrello Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney Alex Blair and Connie Kwan-Wong

Brucie and Andrew Moore Dave and Hayden McGuiness Denise and Philip Bahr

Elizabeth and Richard Husseini Tracy and Valerie Dieterich with Mary and Mark D’Andrea

69 Thank you to all of the Opera Ball Supporters!

The Events Company Norton Rose Fulbright Fayez Sarofim & Co. Mr. Joe Pacetti-de’Medici Ms. Opera Robin BallAngly and Chairmen Mr. Miles Smith Dr. Elizabeth A. Grimm and Dr. Jack A. Roth Mr. and Mrs. Murry Penner/M Penner Houston Methodist, Official Health Care Mr. and Mrs. Gary Reese Provider for Houston Grand Opera Mr. and Mrs. James L. Robertson Mr. Auction Rudy Avelar Chairmen KPMG LLP Ms. Gwen Simms Mr. Hector Villarreal Gina and Mark Metts Tootsies Nordstrom, Inc Ms. Corey Tu and Mr. Andrew Davis PwC Ms. Barbara Van Postman Mr. Glen A. Rosenbaum Ms. Birgitt van Wijk Dr.Wine and Mrs. Auction Mark D’Andrea Chairmen Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor/ Wortham Insurance & Risk Management Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Dieterich Mr. and Mrs. John B. Onstott, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler Geo. H. Lewis & Sons

United Airlines, Official Airline of Ms. Maryam Afshari Barcelona Houston Grand Opera Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams Joan and Stanford Alexander Ms. Robin Angly and Mr. Miles Smith Dr. Genevera Allen Mr. and Mrs. Gerald A. Cooney Ms. Irene Bourke and Mr. Joseph Waiter Mr. and Mrs. Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl Dian Graves Owen Foundation/ Mr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Breen Drs. Julie and Stephen Chen Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai Zane and Brady Carruth Mr. and Mrs. David Cockrell Mrs. Diane Lokey Farb Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mr. Darrin Davis and Mr. Alfred W. Lasher III Barbara and Gerald D. Hines Mr. Mario Gudmundsson Ms. Beth Madison Mrs. Frances Marzio Mr. and Mrs. Tracy L. Dieterich Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Moore Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Mr. and Mrs. Steve Dolman Mr. and Mrs. John L. Nau III Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Ms. Jerry Ann Woodfin-Costa and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Engel Mr. Victor Costa Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Garvey Mr.Valencia and Mrs. John Scott Arnoldy Lynn Wyatt Ms. Cristi Gore and Mr. Robert Hunziker Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Bahr Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Bruni Mr. T.R. Simon Hoang Mr. and Mrs. Albert Chao/ Burberry Fabienne Iten and Rene Largo Westlake Chemical Corporation Mr. David Chambers and Mr. Alex Steffler Mr. John F. Kells and Mr. Christian Miranda Donna Josey Chapman and Max Chapman Mary and Mark D’Andrea Ms. Angela Lane Chevron Ms. June Deadrick/CenterPoint Energy Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Loperena H-E-B Ms. Anna M. Dean Mr. and Mrs. Mark Manela Ms. Donna Kaplan and Dr. Thomas S. DeNapoli and Dr. and Mrs. William Mitch Mr. Richard A. Lydecker Mr. Mark Walker Mr. and Mrs. William V. Morgan Mrs. Kathrine G. McGovern Dior Mr. and Mrs. Justin Morton Petrello Family Foundation Mr. and Mrs. David Dorenfeld Mr. and Mrs. Jose Obregon Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers Ernst & Young LLP Mr. and Mrs. Edoardo Padeletti Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Mr. Martin Fein and Dr. Kelli Cohen Fein Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peters Ms. Lisa Swalm Frantz and Mr. James Stein Mr. and Mrs. William Rovere, Jr. Frost Bank Ms. Tiffany Sanders Ms. Janet Gurtiwitch and Mr. Ron Franklin Seville Ms. Liz Stanley Baker Botts L.L.P. Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Drs. Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah BB&T Anna and Hal Holliday Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Wildenstein Bristow Group Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Huebsch Ms. Heather Womble Capgemini Consulting/ Mrs. Connie Kwan-Wong Drs. Raj and Sri Yalamanchili Mr. Christopher B. Miller Gary Mercer City Kitchen Catering Ms. Marsha L. Montemayor ConocoPhillips Sid Moorhead

FALL 2015 70 HGO.org The Impresarios Circle is Houston Grand Opera’s premier donor recognition society. These vanguard supporters who provide annual support of at least $100,000 are instrumental to HGO’s success. For information, please contact Greg Robertson, chief advancement officer, at 713-546-0274.

Robin Angly, Chairman

JUDY AND RICHARD AGEE BBVA COMPASS HGO subscribers since 2000–01, Judy and Dick HGO is privileged to partner with BBVA are ardent believers in the power of storytelling Compass, a U.S. subsidiary of BBVA, a Spain- through words and music. They partnered with based global financial services group founded in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Inner- 1857. BBVA Compass, committed to financial City Catholic Schools to bring HGOco programs education, diversity, and the arts, is a lead to economically disadvantaged students. Judy and corporate sponsor of HGO’s Ring cycle and Dick, the founder and chairman of Wapiti Energy LLC and Bayou Well also supports the NEXUS Initiative, HGO’s Holdings Company LLC, are members of HGO’s Founders Council. affordability program. David Powell, BBVA Compass’s co-head of the Beyond their generous support of general operations and HGOco, they U.S. corporate and investment banking business and head of global also support Concert of Arias and HGO’s main-stage productions, clients and investment banking, serves on the HGO Board of Directors. including last season’s Otello and Madame Butterfly. THE BROWN FOUNDATION, INC. ROBIN ANGLY AND MILES SMITH The Brown Foundation, Inc., established in 1951 by Herman and HGO subscribers Robin and Miles joined Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown, has the Founders Council in 2010. The company been a treasured partner of HGO since 1984. Based in Houston, the is honored to have Robin on the HGO Foundation distributes funds principally for education, community Board of Directors, and as a member service, and the arts, especially the visual and performing arts. HGO is of HGO’s Laureate Society. The couple tremendously grateful for The Brown Foundation’s leadership support, is very familiar with the view from the which has been critical to the company’s unprecedented growth and HGO stage as well—both are former singers in the HGO Chorus. success in recent years. Robin and Miles have been donors to HGO special events and the Young Artists Vocal Academy, and HGO’s Ring cycle. ANNE AND ALBERT CHAO Anne and Albert have been subscribers and DENISE AND PHILIP BAHR supporters of HGO for the past two decades. Denise and Philip have supported the Opera While serving as president and CEO of Westlake since 1996, underwriting special events and Chemical Corporation, Albert finds time for main-stage productions. They have a special love numerous cultural causes. He is a member of the for the HGO Studio, where opera’s rising stars HGO Board of Directors and was the co-chair have benefited from their support since 2000. of Inspiring Performance—The Campaign for Houston Grand Opera. Denise, currently an HGO trustee, is a former Over the years, the Chaos have sponsored HGO special events, the member of the HGO Board of Directors, and the Opera has been HGO Studio, HGOco’s Song of Houston, and main-stage productions. privileged to have Philip’s participation on the board since 1998. The The couple has also supported the HGO Endowment through their Opera was honored to have the couple chair the 2010 Opera Ball. family foundation, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation.

JANICE BARROW CONOCOPHILLIPS Jan’s relationship with HGO extends back For over thirty years, ConocoPhillips has to the early 1980s, when she and her late supported various programs at HGO, from husband, Dr. Thomas Barrow, first became special events to main-stage productions, subscribers. Jan is a member of HGO’s including the 2015–16 season-opening Laureate Society and the Founders Council, production, Puccini’s Tosca. In 2009, the contributing to HGO’s main stage and special company gave a major multiyear grant to events. She is also supports the HGO Studio, having underwritten establish ConocoPhillips New Initiatives, a several rising opera stars over the past 20 years. Jan’s late husband, far-reaching program that allows HGOco to Tom, former chairman of the HGO Board of Directors, was develop new and innovative education and community collaboration instrumental in the concept and construction of the Wortham programs. Janet L. Carrig, ConocoPhillips’s senior vice president, legal, Center. A lifelong lover of music, Jan is past president of the Houston general counsel, and corporate secretary, serves on the HGO Board of Symphony and has a special affinity for Puccini and Wagner. Directors and also as chairman of the HGO Endowment Board.

71 BOBBIE-VEE AND GERALD COONEY HOUSTON METHODIST Bobbie-Vee and Jerry have been HGO This year, Houston Grand Opera celebrates 10 subscribers since 1979, and have generously seasons of partnering with Houston Methodist, supported HGO productions of the most the official health care provider for HGO, and beloved classics of the Italian repertory, the Center for Performing Arts (CPAM). The including Aida, La bohème, Tosca, and Madame only center of its kind in the country, CPAM comprises a specialized Butterfly. The Cooneys also supported HGO’s group of more than 100 physicians working collaboratively to address innovative commission Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (2010, 2013), the the specific demands placed on performing artists. In addition to world’s first mariachi opera. They have been active supporters of all the first-rate medical care CPAM provides HGO artists, Houston HGO special events for many years, from the Opening Night Dinner, Methodist also generously supports HGO special events and main-stage which Bobbie-Vee chaired in 2004, to Concert of Arias, which the productions such as Aida (2013–14), The Magic Flute (2014–15), and couple chaired together in 2014. HGO is honored to have Bobbie-Vee this season’s The Marriage of Figaro. HGO is fortunate to have Dr. C. serve on the board of directors. Richard Stasney, founder of CPAM, and Dr. Mauro Ferrari, president and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute, serve as Houston THE CULLEN FOUNDATION Methodist’s corporate trustees. For more than three decades, The Cullen Foundation has been a vital member of the HGO family. Established in 1947, the Foundation has THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION more than a half-century history of giving generously to education, Based in Liberty, Texas, the Humphreys Foundation has been health care, and the arts in Texas, primarily in the Greater Houston area. a major underwriter of HGO’s main-stage season since 1980. The Opera is very grateful for the Foundation’s longstanding leadership Geraldine Davis Humphreys (d. 1961), a member of the pioneer support of HGO’s main-stage season. Hardin family of Liberty, Texas, bequeathed her estate to the Humphreys Foundation, which was formally established in 1959. THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS The Foundation provides support for performing arts in Texas and The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts has been a lead underwriter of college scholarship funding for students in the arts. Linda Bertman, HGO’s main-stage season for nearly 30 years. The Trust was established Louis Paine, and Robert Wall serve as trustees of the Humphreys from assets of The Cullen Foundation to specifically benefit Texas Foundation. In recent years, the Foundation’s generous support performing arts institutions, particularly those within the Greater has helped make possible unforgettable main-stage productions Houston area. In recent years, The Cullen Trust has provided lead such as last season’s Così fan tutte and 2014’s Rigoletto. support for memorable productions of Carmen, A Christmas Carol, and the 2015–16 production of The Little Prince. NANCY AND RICHARD KINDER Nancy and Rich became HGO subscribers MARIANNE AND DAVID DUTHU during the 2000–01 season. Rich is Marianne and David have been HGO co-founder, chairman, and CEO of subscribers since 1991 and members of the Kinder Morgan, and Nancy is a focused Founders Council for Artistic Excellence philanthropist whose work has positively since 2009, and David is a member of the impacted communities throughout HGO Board of Directors. The couple chaired Houston and beyond. Rich and Nancy established the Kinder Concert of Arias in 2011, an event they have Foundation in 1997 to provide impactful gifts to projects dedicated generously supported for many years, and were the event’s honorees to urban green space, education, and quality-of-life issues in the in 2013. David, an engineer, is the founder of Texas Energy Engineers, Greater Houston area. HGO is indebted to the Kinders for their Inc./CCRD Partners Consulting Engineers. Marianne is retired from visionary support in areas including general operations, main-stage Vopak North America, a chemical storage company. When not working productions, special events, and especially HGOco, the Opera’s or attending opera, they love to collect art and to restore rare vehicles. innovative education and community collaboration initiative.

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ENDOWMENT, INC. DONNA KAPLAN AND RICHARD LYDECKER Established and incorporated in 1982, the Houston Grand Opera Richard Lydecker has been an HGO subscriber Endowment (HGOE) is a vital financial management tool that and supporter for more than three decades. He ensures HGO has a reliable, regular source of income. Today, the is a member of the HGO Board of Directors Endowment contains over 50 named funds, both unrestricted and and Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. restricted, and annually distributes 5 percent of the Endowment’s Richard has great passion for opera, especially average market value to HGO, making it the largest single annual Wagner, and he and Donna are underwriters for funder of the Opera. HGOE leadership includes Chairman HGO’s Ring cycle. He is also a special events sponsor, supporting Opera Janet L. Carrig, Senior Chairman Terrylin Neale, and several Ball and Concert of Arias. members of the HGO Board of Directors. This season, HGO is thrilled to have HGOE as the premier guarantor of Siegfried.

FALL 2015 72 HGO.org BETH MADISON MILLER THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD Th is season marks Beth’s 21st as an HGO Th e Miller Th eatre Advisory Board (MTAB), subscriber. HGO has had the honor of her appointed by Houston’s mayor and confi rmed by support since 2004. Past chair of the HGO the City Council, acts as a steward of public and Board of Directors, she currently serves on private funds to provide professional-caliber the Executive, Finance, and HGO Studio performances free to the public at the Miller Committees, and is an active member of HGO’s Outdoor Th eatre for the cultural enrichment of Founders Council. Beth generously supports the HGO Studio, special Houston’s diverse communities and visitors to events and, last season, Die Walküre. Beth has been inducted into the the city. HGO’s partnership with MTAB extends Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame and serves on the University of back nearly six decades, making great opera Houston System Board of Regents. accessible to thousands of Houstonians each year through live main-stage and Opera to Go! JANICE AND ROBERT MCNAIR performances at Miller Th eatre. June Deadrick (left ) is an HGO trustee Janice and Bob McNair, longtime HGO representing the Miller Th eatre Advisory Board subscribers, are well known for their incredible philanthropy and for bringing the NFL back BRUCIE AND ANDREW MOORE to Houston. Bob is chairman and CEO of Th e Brucie and Andy have been a treasured part McNair Group, a fi nancial and real estate fi rm, of the Opera family for more than 20 years. and owner of the . Th e Robert Subscribers since the 1998–99 season, Brucie and Janice McNair Foundation provides leadership support to Houston- and Andy are members of HGO’s Founders area organizations supporting educational opportunities for youth. Council for Artistic Excellence. Brucie has Th e McNair Foundation is the lead supporter of HGO’s Holiday Opera served on the HGO Board of Directors since Series. Bob is a former chair of the HGO Board of Directors (1995–97). 2013. She is also a lifetime member of the board of governors of Leadership Corpus Christi, a board member of the Corpus Christi M.D. ANDERSON FOUNDATION Symphony Orchestra, principal underwriter for the Corpus Christi Area Th e M.D. Anderson Foundation has provided general operating Youth Orchestra, and board president of Harbor Playhouse. Andy was support to HGO for more than 30 years. Th e Foundation was the 2012 winner of HGO’s Singing with the Houston Idols and regularly established in 1936 by Monroe Dunaway Anderson, whose company, performs in musical theater productions. Anderson, Clayton and Co., was the world’s largest cotton merchant. While the Foundation started the Texas Medical Center and was SARA AND BILL MORGAN instrumental in bringing to it one of the premier cancer centers Sara and Bill have been supporting HGO since in the world, the Foundation’s trustees also looked to improve the 2002. Sara is a co-founder of the Houston wellness of communities through the arts. HGO is privileged to have Center for Contemporary Craft , where such a longstanding and committed partner as the M.D. Anderson she currently serves on the board. Bill is a Foundation in enhancing the quality of life for all Houstonians. co-founder of the Kinder Morgan companies and the retired vice chairman and president MEDISTAR of Kinder Morgan, Inc., and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP. Th e Medistar is a full-service real estate development Morgans support HGO’s special events and main-stage productions, company that specializes in the design, including HGO’s new holiday opera series, with It’s a Wonderful Life in development, fi nancing, and construction of the 2016–17 season. HGO is thrilled to have Sara serve on its board of hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, cancer directors, and as a member and past chair of the HGOco Committee. centers, integrated medical plazas, medical offi ce buildings, and other medical facilities for FRANCI NEELY the health care industry. Th e company is led by Franci is among the opera’s strongest friends and founder Monzer Hourani, an internationally advocates, having been a subscriber since the renowned engineer whose innovations of many 1983–84 season and one of the fi rst members building techniques and concepts have had a great impact on the U.S. of the Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. construction industry. Medistar joined the HGO family as a Grand Franci is a member of the HGO Board of Guarantor of Wagner’s Ring cycle (2014–17). Directors, and serves on the Special Events and Governance Committees. She was the inaugural chair of the HGOco THE ANDREW W. THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION Committee and generously supports HGOco initiatives as a guarantor. MELLON HGO is honored to partner with Th e Andrew FOUNDATION W. Mellon Foundation, based in New York City. Th e Mellon Foundation’s opera program supports a small number of companies demonstrating a longstanding commitment to artistic innovation by developing and presenting ambitious new works or those rarely heard. Upcoming Mellon Foundation–supported projects include the world premiere of Prince of Players by legendary American composer Carlisle Floyd, as well as HGOco’s Song of Houston initiative. 73 OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION JOHN G. TURNER & JERRY G. FISCHER HGO is privileged to count Occidental John and Jerry, based in Baton Rouge, Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) among its Louisiana, travel around the world to newest corporate supporters. Oxy is an experience the best that opera has to offer. HGO international oil and gas exploration and subscribers and donors for over a decade, the production company with operations in the couple’s leadership support of Wagner’s Ring United States, Middle East, and Latin America. cycle (2014–17) was the largest gift ever made to HGO is grateful for Oxy’s leadership support HGO for a single production. John, a shareholder at Turner Industries of HGOco, the Opera’s innovative education Group, is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and is also chair of and community collaboration initiative that the HGO Studio Committee. Jerry is a board member of Baton Rouge brings performances to over 100,000 students, Symphony Orchestra. In recent years John and Jerry have supported families, and teachers each season. HGO is thrilled to have Marcia HGO main-stage productions and special events. They are members of Backus, a long-term HGO supporter and senior vice president and the Founders Council for Artistic Excellence, and John is a member of general counsel at Oxy, serve on the HGO Board of Directors. HGO’s Laureate Society.

CYNTHIA AND ANTHONY PETRELLO Cynthia and Tony are deeply committed to VINSON & ELKINS LLP improving the lives of Houstonians through HGO has been privileged to have the support their support of health care and the arts. Tony is of international law firm Vinson & Elkins for the chief executive officer of Nabors Industries, nearly three decades. V&E is deeply committed the world’s largest land-based drilling to empowering the communities in which it contractor. Cynthia, a community leader, serves. It has enriched the cultural vibrancy of currently serves on the HGO Board of Directors and Special Events Houston by supporting HGO through in-kind Committee, and chairs the HGOco Committee. HGO is grateful for legal services and contributions to special events and main-stage the Petrellos’ support of HGOco and the main stage, underwriting this productions, including this season’s Rusalka. The Opera is honored to season’s Prince of Players. The Petrellos also support HGOco programs have two V&E partners serve on its board of directors: from left, Mark for children, including the Student Performance Series and Opera to Go! R. Spradling and Glen A. Rosenbaum.

SCHLUMBERGER MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS Schlumberger, Ltd., is a leading corporate Margaret, a longtime singer, possesses a deep contributor to HGO, supporting the main affinity for all music, and especially opera, stage and a wide range of special projects over supporting HGO for over 30 years. Currently, nearly 20 years. Schlumberger’s leadership Margaret continues her parents’ legacy as gift was integral to launching HGO’s ongoing chairman of their foundation, where her affordability program, the NEXUS Initiative, in son Charles A. Williams serves as president. 2007—since then, NEXUS has made great opera HGO is humbled by Margaret’s incredible generosity and dedication accessible to more than 200,000 people. HGO to the company, both as an individual donor and through her family’s is honored to count Schlumberger among its most dedicated corporate foundation. She has endowed the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, held supporters. Dan Domeracki, vice president of government and industry by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, and is a member relations, serves on the HGO Board of Directors. of HGO’s Laureate Society. A valued member of the HGO Board of Directors, Margaret was the honoree of the 2009 Opera Ball and DIAN AND HARLAN STAI chairman of the 2014 Ball. Harlan, a member of the HGO Board of Directors, and Dian are charter members THE WORTHAM FOUNDATION, INC. of HGO’s Founders Council for Artistic In the 1980s, the Wortham Foundation Excellence, and their leadership support contributed $20 million to lead the capital includes main-stage productions, the campaign for the Wortham Theater Center, HGO Studio, the HGO Endowment, guided by businessman Gus S. Wortham’s and special events. The Stais have also sponsored HGO Studio early recognition of the vital role of the arts in artists and they host annual recitals featuring HGO Studio artists making Houston an appealing place to live and at Mansefeldt, their renowned Fredericksburg ranch. HGO work. During their lifetimes, Gus and his wife, Lyndall, were dedicated was privileged to recognize Dian and Harlan as the honorees to improving the lives of Houstonians. The Foundation continues of Opening Night 2008 and the 2014 Concert of Arias. to support the Opera through the Wortham Foundation Permanent Endowment and generous annual operating support.

FALL 2015 74 HGO.org Patrons Society

Members of Houston Grand Opera’s Patrons Society support the opera­ at a level of $4,000 or more, thereby making possible the incredible work of HGO. Members of the Society are entitled to many benefits at the opera, including complimentary valet parking, Masterson Green Room privileges during performance intermissions, personalized ticket service, two tickets to all open dress rehearsals, Opera Guild membership, a discount on Opera Guild Boutique­ purchases, and more. HGO gratefully recognizes our Patrons Society members. For information on joining the Patrons Society, please call Jennifer Wijangco at 713-546-0704. Helen Shaffer, Chairman PLATINUM CIRCLE—$50,000 OR MORE SILVER CIRCLE—$15,000 OR MORE Mr. Ugo DiPortanova Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Dr. and Mrs. William F. Donovan Zane and Brady Carruth Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Barnes Mr. and Mrs. David Dorenfeld Donna Josey Chapman and Max Chapman Joan Hacken Bitar, MD Connie and Byron Dyer Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Alex and Astley Blair Ms. Patricia B. Freeman and Mr. Bruce Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Hevrdejs Bill and Melinda Brunger S. Scott and Gina Gaille Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Dr. and Mrs. William T. Butler Dr. Wm. David George Frances Marzio The Robert and Jane Cizik Foundation Larry and Kathleen Hanson Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Gislar and Victoria Donnenberg Mrs. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Sandy and Lee Godfrey Lee M. Huber Glen A. Rosenbaum Mrs. William H. Guggolz, Jr. Robert and Kitty Hunter Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Haywood Joan Blaffer Johnson Mr. Fayez Sarofim Ms. Marianne Kah Ms. Carey C. Jordan Ms. Anne Schlumberger Claire Liu and Joseph Greenberg Ann and Stephen Kaufman John and Becca Cason Thrash Mr. Joseph Matulevich and Ms. Sasha Davis Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Lynn Wyatt Will L. McLendon Jeff and Gail Kodosky Radoff Family Ms. Michele LaNoue and Mr. Gerald Seidl GOLDEN CIRCLE—$25,000 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Perryn and Caroline Leech Mr. Thomas R. Ajamie Hinda Simon Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Meg Boulware and Hartley Hampton Mr. Georgios Varsamis Dr. Mike Lemanski Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Breen Mr. William V. Walker Rochelle and Max Levit Anna and Joel Catalano Mr. and Mrs. David S. Wolff Ms. Lisa Long Dr. and Mrs. Michael Cochran Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Loos Amanda and Morris Gelb BRONZE CIRCLE—$10,000 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Mr. Edward H. Andrews III Michele Malloy Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini The Honorable Mary E. Bacon Mr. and Mrs. Roman O. Martinez Ms. Carolyn J. Levy Kathryn and David Berg Ginger Maughs and Byron Rusk M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Mr. R. Davis Maxey and Ms. AnnMarie Johnson Booker • Lowe Gallery Ms. Adrienne Bond Ginger and Hugh Menown Kathrine G. McGovern Walt and Nancy Bratic Dr. and Mrs. William E. Mitch Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Bruni Terrylin G. Neale Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Dr. Janet and Mr. Charles Bruner Mrs. Maria Papadopoulos Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Mr. Ralph Burch Susan and Ward Pennebaker Beverly and Staman Ogilvie Mrs. Mary H. Cain Mr. and Mrs. Smith Ray Ms. Elizabeth Phillips Ms. Gwyneth Campbell and Margaret and Todd Reppert Gloria M. Portela and Richard E. Evans Mr. Joseph L. Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritter Jill and Allyn Risley Marjorie H. Capshaw Mrs. Henry K. Roos Dr. and Mrs. C. Richard Stasney Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Carnes Kelly and David Rose Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Sweeney Janet Langford Carrig Mrs. Craig M. Rowley Mrs. John Ben Taub Mr. and Mrs. Thierry Caruso Mrs. Helen A. Shaffer Ignacio and Isabel Torras Dr. Peter Chang and Hon. Theresa Chang Ms. Jennifer Sickler Phoebe and Bobby Tudor Neil and Elizabeth Chapman Ms. Alice Simkins John C. and Sheila R. Tweed Alain and Maryline Chepda Ms. Janet Sims Birgitt van Wijk Mr. William E. Colburn Mrs. Marguerite Swartz Mr. and Mrs. James M. Vaughn Jr. Julie and Bert Cornelison Mr. Robert L. Turner Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Vilas/Novum Energy Mr. Efraín Z. Corzo and Mr. Andrew Bowen Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor Mr. and Mrs. Randy Crath Joseph Waiter and Irene Bourke Dr. and Mrs. Mark D’Andrea Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wakefield Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Davenport III Mrs. Andrew Wilkomirski Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Davidson Margarida and Penn Williamson Ms. Anna M. Dean Dr. Fabian Worthing

75 Patrons Society

Mr. R. Alan York Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglas McMurrey Jr. Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Mr. and Mrs. David P. Young Dr. Alice R. McPherson Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Clarke Nina and Michael Zilkha Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Misamore Dr. Nancy I. Cook 2 Anonymous Marsha L. Montemayor Mr. Robert L. Cook and Mrs. Giovanna Imperia Glenna and Joe F. Moore Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cooper ARTIST CIRCLE—$5,000 OR MORE Drs. John and Karen Oldham Dr. and Mrs. Dorian Coppenhaver Dr. and Mrs. Glenn B. Anderson Ms. Claire O’Malley Ms. Joyce Cramer Bill Arning and Mark McCray Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Dr. Sharon S. Crandell Mr. Paul R. Aruffo and Dr. Eva Salmeron Mr. and Mrs. Irving Pozmantier Mr. and Mrs. Markley Crosswell III Paul and Maida Asofsky Lou and Joan Pucher Ronada R. Davis, DDS and Eric S. Johnson Mr. and Mrs. William C. Baker Ms. Judith Raines Mr. Morgan de Marigny Mr. Karl-Heinz Becker and Dr. Gudrun H. Becker Mr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Robertson Dr. and Mrs. Roupen Dekmezian Mr. and Mrs. Philip Belanger Drs. Alejandro and Lynn Rosas Dr. and Mrs. Richard Denne Dr. James A. Belli and Dr. Patricia Eifel Dr. and Mrs. C. Dan Sauls Mr. John Ellis Drewer Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schreiber Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dubrowski Drs. Henry and Louise Bethea Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Shen Carolyn and David G. Edgar Dr. Kenneth Bloom and Dr. Sheila Swartzman Kristina and Paul Somerville Mrs. Jane H. Egner Mr. Chester Brooke and Dr. Nancy Poindexter Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Spradling Mrs. James A. Elkins III Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Mrs. Robert Springob and Mr. and Mrs. John D. Ellis Ms. Kiana K. Caleb and Mr. Troy L. Sullivan Laredo Construction, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth G. Engerrand Jess and Patricia Carnes Mr. and Mrs. John T. Stough Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Eubank Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Mrs. P. H. G. Thompson Diane Lokey Farb Mrs. John R. Castano Mrs. Ann Gordon Trammell Mr. and Mrs. Jerry E. Finger Louise Chapman Mr. and Mrs. M. C. “Bill” Walker III Charles and Susan Fitts Sharon Curran-Wescott and Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Weiner Carol Lay Fletcher Earle “Skip” Wescott Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Williams Richard Flowers Mrs. Leslie Barry Davidson and Beth Williams Wanda and Roger Fowler Mr. W. Robins Brice Nancy and Sid Williams Mr. Ronald Franklin Isabel and Danny David Drs. Jorge and Gunilla Zeballos Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Galfione Ms. Linnet Frazier Deily Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler Dr. Christopher R. Garrett Anna and Brad Eastman 3 Anonymous Dr. Alice Gates and Dr. Wayne Wilner Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Lucy Gebhart Mr. Scott Ensell PATRONS CIRCLE—$4,000 OR MORE Mrs. Geraldine C. Gill Parrish N. Erwin Jr. Dr. Paul Abell and Ms. Amy Sisson Nancy Glass, M.D. and John Belmont, M.D. Mary Ann and Larry Faulkner Jacquelyn Abbott Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Glenn Gerard and Christine Gaynor Mr. and Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Mr. and Mrs. Bert H. Golding Dr. Layne O. Gentry Chris and Michelle Angelides Mary Frances Gonzalez Ms. Josette M George Dr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Appel Mr. and Mrs. John Graf Dr. and Mrs. David P. Gill Dr. and Mrs. Roy Aruffo Adelma S. Graham Marion and Gary Glober Ms. Catherine Baen and Mr. Matt Hennessey Ms. M. A. Graiff Leonard A. Goldstein and Helen B. Wils Ms. Thu Nhi Barrus Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Grieves Dr. and Mrs. David Y. Graham Mr. William Bartlett Mr. and Mrs. Fred Griffin Joyce Z. Greenberg Dr. Barbara Lee Bass and William F. Guest Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Mr. Richard S. Marshall Ms. Janet Gurwitch Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Mr. Harless Benthul Mr. and Mrs. Dewuse Guyton Ms. Zahava Haenosh Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer Don and Joanie Haley Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Bickel Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Halsey Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr. Drs. Gloria and E. Wiley Biles Mr. Frank Harmon III and Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mrs. Thomas W. Blake The Honorable Melinda Harmon Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon Dr. Linda L. Hart Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Mr. and Mrs. Doug Haynes Dr. Ken Hyde Thomas and Sally Bolam Hugh Helferty and Sarita Karve Mrs. Olive Jenney Mr. Jeffery Bosworth and Mr. Timothy Bammel Mrs. J. W. Hershey The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr. Mr. Al Brende and Mrs. Ann Bayless Kay and Michael W. Hilliard Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kidd Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burleson Deborah and Michael Hirsch Sara and Gabriel Loperena Mr. Patrick Carfizzi Mr. Edward L. Hoffman Mrs. Marilyn Lummis Mr. and Mrs. Juan M. Carreon Alan and Ellen Holzberg Wynn and Shawna McCloskey Ms. Nada Chandler Mr. and Mrs. John H. Homier Gillian and Michael McCord Mr. Robert N. Chanon Dr. and Mrs. Gabriel N. Hortobagyi Mr. William H. McDugald Mr. Bob Chapman Mr. and Mrs. George M. Hricik

FALL 2015 76 HGO.org Mr. Mark E. Jacobs Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Rose YOUNG PATRONS—$2,000 OR MORE Mrs. Colleen A. Jennings Mr. Nico Roussel Ms. Maryam Afshari Mr. and Mrs. James K. Jennings Jr. Sharon Ruhly Dr. Genevera Allen Barbara Hoffman Johnson Miss Judy C. Sauer Mr. and Mrs. Bryan W. Bagley Sultana Kaldis Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. Liam Bonner Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Kauffman Wolfgang Schmidt and Angelika Schmidt-Lange Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl Mr. and Mrs. George B. Kelly Ms. Sue Schwartz Mr. Matthew Brown Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Rice Kelly John Serpe and Tracy Maddox Ms. Kiana K. Caleb and Mr. Troy L. Sullivan Mr. Anthony K. Trey and Adrienne Shepherd Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Mr. John Keville Mr. and Mrs. Mark Shidler Mr. Anthony Chapman Thomas Kimbrough and Elizabeth Scribner Ms. Denmon Sigler and Mr. Peter Chok Julie and Stephen Chen Mr. and Mrs. Sam Koster Gwen Simms Mrs. Bailey Dalton-Binion and Mr. Greg Binion Mr. and Mrs. Randall B. Lake Mrs. Arnold M. Singer Mr. and Mrs. Tracy L. Dieterich Lily Kobayashi Landress Mr. Calvin Slater Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Mr. and Mrs. J. Mark Landrum Mr. Dennis C. Smith Tina and Sam Governale Ms. Angela Lane Mr. Steven Spears Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Mr. Richard Leibman Mr. and Mrs. Howard Speight Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Dr. and Mrs. Ernst Leiss Mr. and Mrs. Aaron J. Stai Ms. Emily Handley Robert and Joyce Levine Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stamatedes Mr. Michael Harberg Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Liesner Richard P. Steele and Mary McKerall Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Mr. and Mrs. H. Arthur Littell CDR and Mrs. James B. Sterling III Ms. Melissa Huntermark Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp and Mr. Tucker Coughlen Mr. Jeffrey Stocks Mr. Robert Hunziker Joan H. Lyons Dr. and Mrs. Paul Subrt Mr. David Krohn Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach Dr. Laura E. Sulak and Dr. Richard W. Brown Connie Kwan-Wong Mr. Neal S. Manne and Ms. Nancy D. McGregor Mr. and Mrs. John M. Sullivan Mr. Andy Lee Ms. Diane M. Marcinek Dr. and Mrs. Demetrio Tagaropulos Mr. and Mrs. Robert Little Renee Margolin Neil and Sara and Gabriel Loperena Gary and Shannon Margolis Ms. Susan Thompson Mr. Daniel MacLeod Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Dr. Barbara Tilley Mr. Anthony Makridis Mr. and Mrs. J. Mathalone Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tobias Mr. Brian McCulloch Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mazow Dr. Knox Todd and Ms. Courtenay Carmody Ms. Charyn McGinnis Mrs. Mollie E. McBride Dr. and Mrs. Karl Tornyos Ms. Kelser McMiller Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Trainer Jr. Mr. Justin Mitchell and Ms. Katherine Butler Mr. and Mrs. D. Patrick McCelvey Dr. Elizabeth Travis and Mr. Jerry Hyde Mr. Arturo Muñoz Holguin and Ms. Jessica Roper Mrs. Sarah McCollum Jay and Charlotte Tribble Mr. and Mrs. Edoardo Padeletti Mimi Reed McGehee James M. Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Pancherz Mrs. Theresa L. Meyer Mr. and Mrs. Eliot P. Tucker Ashley Parks Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Miller Mr. Paul Turner and Mr. David Rast Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peters Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Ms. Janet Upole and Mr. Kirk Hickey Mr. Nico Roussel Mr. Sid Moorhead Ms. Barbara Van Postman Ms. Tiffany Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran Marietta Voglis Kenneth and Deborah Scianna Mr. Wiley L. Mossy Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Julian Vulliez Mr. Clint Sosa Mr. and Mrs. David Murphy Mr. Raymond Wallace Mr. and Mrs. Aaron J. Stai Linda C. Murray Ms. Fabene Welch Mr. Jacob Stein Erik B. Nelson and Terry R. Brandhorst Ms. Bryony Jane Welsh Drs. Vivek and Ishwaria Subbiah Mrs. Bobbie Newman Thao and Jeff Westenhaver Dr. Pavlina Suchanova Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Whitehead Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Tinis Susan and Edward Osterberg Ms. Pippa Wiley Mr. and Mrs. Hector Torres Robert and Rheta Page Dr. Courtney Williams Gerard and Kim Trevino Suzanne Page-Pryde and Arthur Pryde Ms. Catherine Wintz Mr. Bryan Wagner and Dr. Josey Wagner Capt. and Mrs. Kim Parker Ms. Debra Witges Mr. Jeffrey Watters Mr. and Mrs. W. Wayne Patterson Mr. Sam T. Yates III Mr. and Mrs. Jason Williams Ms. Emilee Peters Drs. Edward Yeh and Hui-Ming Chang Ms. Heather Womble Mr. and Mrs. Scott V. Pignolet Mr. and Mrs. Marc S. Young Mr. Andrew Wooley Dr. David Reininger and Ms. Laura Lee Jones Mr. Stephen A. Zeff Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright Ms. Gwen Richard John L. Zipprich II Drs. Raj and Sri Yalamanchili Mr. Robert Richter Jr. 2 Anonymous Mr. and Ms. Walter Ritchie Mr. and Mrs. James L. Robertson Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose

77 Patrons Society

NATIONAL PATRONS—$2,000 OR MORE Mr. Charles Hendrix, Rancho Mirage, CA Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Quirk, San Antonio, TX Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins, San Antonio, TX Sarah Lou Hill, Baton Rouge, LA Ms. Chere Reneau, San Antonio, TX Ms. Joan Allison, Corpus Christi, TX Dr. Victor S. Ho and Mrs. Arielle Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Rex, Huntsville, TX Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ardoin, Lafayette, LA Beaumont, TX Ms. Wanda A. Reynolds, Austin, TX Mr. and Mrs. John Barbe, Sunrise Beach, TX Michael and Evelyn Hyatt, Franklin, TN Mr. Bill Richmond and Mr. Dennis Courtney, Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher, Edward and Patricia Hymson, San Francisco, CA Corpus Christi, TX Bogota, Colombia Sammie and William Jakle, Santa Fe, NM Ms. Ellen Rienstra, Beaumont, TX Dr. Dennis Berthold and Dr. Pamela Matthews, Mr. Spencer Jeffries, Chicago, IL Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritter, Kansas City, MO College Station, TX The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr., James and Nathanael Rosenheim, Bryan, TX Evan Black and Susan Ross Black, Vail, CO DeRidder, LA Mr. and Mrs. Michael Samarin, Murrieta, CA Mr. Richard E. Boner and Ms. Susan Pryor, Mr. Kyle Kerr, Irving, TX Dr. Barry E. Schwarz, Dallas, TX Austin, TX Thomas Kimbrough and Elizabeth Scribner, Robert and Nancy Shivers, San Antonio, TX Linda Brahaney, Midland, TX Galveston, TX Ms. Alice Simkins, San Antonio, TX Mr. Stephen R. Brenner, Tacoma, WA Jeff and Gail Kodosky, Austin, TX Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Fredericksburg, TX Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Bruni, San Antonio, TX Dr. Paul Kwak, Boston, MA Eleanor and Philip Straub, Metairie, LA Dr. Bernd U. Budelmann, Galveston, TX Dr. and Mrs. Morton Leonard Jr., Galveston, TX Kenneth Bloom and Sheila Swartzman, Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler, Austin, TX Mrs. Sharon G. Ley and Mr. Robert F. Lietzow, San Antonio, TX Louise Chapman, Corpus Christi, TX Austin, TX Dr. and Mrs. Clark D. Terrell, Boerne, TX Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Cloudman III, Boulder, CO Ms. Viki L. List, Bryn Mawr, PA Mr. and Mrs. William F. Threlfall, Ridgway, CO Ms. Eleanor Connan, Miccosukee Cpo, FL Cathleen C. and Jerome M. Loving, Bryan, TX Dr. David N. Tobey and Dr. Michelle Berger, Mr. and Mrs. Markley Crosswell III, Dr. and Mrs. Herbert E. Madalin, Austin, TX San Antonio, TX Corpus Christi, TX Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Day, Horseshoe Bay, TX Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin, Denver, CO Baton Rouge, LA Dr. Thomas S. DeNapoli and Mr. Mark Walker, Mrs. Walter W. McAllister Jr., San Antonio, TX Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Vastola Jr., Dallas, TX San Antonio, TX Ms. Taddy McAllister, San Antonio, TX Ms. Rons Voogt, Huntsville, TX Mr. James M. Duerr and Dr. Pamela Hall, Kathryn Miller, New York, NY Dr. Karan Watson, College Station, TX San Antonio, TX Mr. James R. Moffitt, Albuquerque, NM Margaret and Alan Weinblatt, San Antonio, TX Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Easterby, Boerne, TX Mr. and Mrs. John R. Monk Jr., Lufkin, TX Valerie and David Woodcock, College Station, TX Michael Freeburger and Matilda Perkins, Marsha L. Montemayor, Houston, TX The Honorable Eugenia Wright and Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Brucie and Andrew Moore, Goliad, TX Dr. Francis Wright, San Antonio, TX Dr. Wm. David George, Austin, TX Mr. John P. Muth, Wimberley, TX Mrs. Ruth Wright, Dallas, TX Mr. Raymond Goldstein and Ms. Jane T. Welch, Mr. Barry Narlines, Baltimore, MD 2 Anonymous San Antonio, TX Ms. Claudia Nelson and Ms. Anne Morey, Mr. Edward H. Green, Beaumont, TX College Station, TX Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr., Austin, TX Dr. James F. Nelson, San Antonio, TX

Houston Grand Opera Donors

Houston Grand Opera appreciates all individuals who contribute to the company’s success. Support in any amount is received most gratefully. Our donors share a dedication to supporting the arts in our community, and the generosity of these individuals makes it possible for HGO to sustain world-class opera in the Houston area. For information on becoming a Houston Grand Opera donor, please call Jennifer Wijangco at 713-546-0704.

ASSOCIATE PATRONS—$2,000 OR MORE Ms. Sybil Crawford Nancy and Rob Martin Ms. Cynthia Akagi and Mr. Tom Akagi Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Dauber Ms. Danita Maseles Mrs. Nancy C. Allen Mrs. Ronald P. Fischer Kay and Larry Medford Dr. John P. Anderson Drs. Daniel and Jean Freeman Jr. Jerry and Sharyn Metcalf Grace and Mark Baker Mrs. Wendy Germani Ms. Celia Morgan Mrs. Deborah S. Bautch Mr. William E. Gipson Martin L. and Susan Nusynowitz Mr. and Mrs. James Becker Dr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr. Dr. Angela Rechichi-Apollo Drs. Robert S. and Nancy Benjamin Mrs. Ann G. Hightower Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Rinehart Jr. Mrs. John E. Bixby Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Mr. Daniel Rowe Mr. Jeffrey W. Carr Ms. Nancy J. Kerby Dr. Kathleen Sazama Dr. and Mrs. Gary L. Clark Elisabeth and George Laigle Mr. Nick Shumway and Mr. Robert Mayott Ms. Judy Clark Dr. Helen W. Lane Mrs. Brigitte Steele Mr. and Mrs. James M. Clepper Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Lynn Barbara and Neil Stovall

FALL 2015 78 HGO.org Dr. and Mrs. Mark Stuart Ms. Sonia Garcia Mary Ellen and Donald Podoloff Dr. and Mrs. Peter K. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Gayle Jr. Susie and Jim Pokorski Mrs. Paloma Urbano Mr. Enrico R. Giannetti Mr. Nigel Prior Dean Walker Mrs. Gwynn F. Gorsuch Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rasmussen 2 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. John S. Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. David Hammock Mr. William K. Rice CONTRIBUTING FELLOWS— Mr. and Mrs. Frank Heard Ms. Jean P. Ross $1,000 OR MORE Sheila and Isaac Heimbinder Mansel and Brenda Rubenstein Dr. Robert E. Anderson Dr. and Mrs. William C. Heird Mr. and Mrs. Terrell F. Sanders Jose A. Araujo Mr. and Mrs. Rex D. Hemme Raymond Sawaya M.D. Paul and Nancy Balmert Dr. Ralph J. Herring Ms. Jill Schaar and Mr. George Caflisch Drs. Nathaniel and Marcia Barnes Dr. Janice L. Hewitt Mr. and Mrs. W. Russell Scheirman Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bast, Jr. Mr. Stanley A. Hoffberger Ms. Sally Schott Dr. and Mrs. Hagop Bedikian Dr. Holly Holmes Christopher B. Schulze, M.D. Mr. Douglas Bishea Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hughes Dr. Philip Scott and Dr. Susan Gardner Mr. William M. Bomar Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hutton Mr. Marcelo Selowsky Jim and Susan Boone Dr. Daniel Jackson Mr. Victor E. Serrato Mr. and Mrs. Howard K. Bostock Charlotte Jones Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard Mr. Bob F. Boydston Lynda and Frank Kelly Mr. Herbert Simons Mr. Alexander Brewer Mr. and Mrs. Michael Klaveness Jan Simpson Mr. James Brugman Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kolb Mr. Joseph Sims and Ms. Janis Doty Mr. Michael Burke Mr. and Mrs. Paul Landen Ms. Gwen Sitton Mrs. Anne H. Bushman Mrs. John E. Langwith Jr. Dr. David W. Sloan Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Butcher Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Langenstein Norma Smith Ms. Susan Byerley Mrs. Stephanie D. Larsen Hon. Ruby K. Sondock Dr. and Mrs. Raul Caffesse Mr. and Mrs. John Lattin Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Spross Ms. Toni Capra Mr. Pierre Le Baud Drs. Adaani E. Frost and Wadi N. Suki Dorothy E. F. Caram, Ed.D. Ms. Rachel Le and Mr. Lam Nguy Ms. Lori Summa Mr. Jerry Conry Mr. Lee Lennard Mr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Crook Mr. Joseph Levitan and Mr. Nicolo Messana Robert L. Treasure, M.D. Ms. Kathleen R. Cross Jose and Marcia Lima Mr. and Mrs. John A. Unger Mr. and Mrs. Warren Dean Mr. James C. Lindsey Mr. Jerre van den Bent Mike and Gayle DeGeurin Mr. George Loudder and Dr. Martha Loudder Dr. and Mrs. Lieven J. Van Riet Peggy DeMarsh Mrs. Marta Lujan-Gough Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Vaughan Mr. Tom Donecker Dr. Brian Malechuk and Mr. Kevin Melgaard Mr. and Mrs. Alton L. Warren Dr. and Mrs. Giulio Draetta Mrs. Kristi Shipnes Martin Mr. Jesse Weir and Mr. Roberto Ayala Miss Kellie Elder Mr. and Mrs. Mark Mazziotti Ms. Linda M. Wells Mike Ezzell Jim and Linda McCartney J. M. Weltzien Ms. Ann L. Faget Dr. Mary Fae McKay Drs. Angel and Anita Werch Dr. Harold Farber and Mrs. Dana Camp-Farber Wanda Meyer LaVerne and Philip Wiles Ms. Ursula Felmet Mr. Douglas D. Miller Mr. and Mrs. Bert B. Williams Carol Sue Finkelstein Dr. Richard Moiel and Mrs. Katherine Poeppel Mr. Lawrence Williams Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fowler Mr. Ralph S. O’Connor Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Woodell II Mr. Meredith G. Fox Ms. Martha P. Palmer Drs. William and Huda Yahya Zoghbi Mr. John E. Frantz Pamela J. and James D. Penny 4 Anonymous Dr. Robert A. Furse Mrs. Ulrike Peto

79 Corporate, Foundation, and Government Partners

Houston Grand Opera salutes our corporate, foundation, and government partners whose commitment and generous support assist HGO in its mission to contribute to the cultural enrichment of the city of Houston and the nation by producing and performing world-class opera. They help ensure the diverse, innovative, and balanced program of performances, events, and community and education projects for which the company is known worldwide. For information on becoming a Corporate or Foundation donor to Houston Grand Opera, please call Kelly Finn at 713-546-0265. Martha Carnes, Chairman, HGO Corporate Council

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Neil Chapman, ExxonMobil Chemical Company J. Douglas McMurrey Jr., CORPORATE COUNCIL Christian Corts, BB&T (Retired) Kinder Morgan Joshua Davidson, Baker Botts L.L.P. Ginger C. Menown, KPMG LLP Martha Z. Carnes, PwC Daniel D. Domeracki, Schlumberger Jerry L. Metcalf, Thompson & Knight LLP Thomas R. Ajamie, Ajamie LLP Mark Evans, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Mark Metts, Sidley Austin LLP J. Scott Arnoldy, Triten Corporation Mauro Ferrari, Houston Methodist Christopher B. Miller, Capgemini Consulting Marcia Backus, Occidental Petroleum Jackie Ford, Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Charlene Nickson, ACC Realty LLC Corporation Pease LLP John Onstott, Geo. H. Lewis & Sons C. Mark Baker, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP S. Scott Gaille, ZaZa Energy Corporation Ward Pennebaker, Pennebaker Jonathan Baliff, Bristow Group, Inc. Lori Glawe, Marathon Oil Corporation Gloria M. Portela, Seyfarth Shaw LLP Barbara Lee Bass, M.D., F.A.C.S., William Griffin, Bank of America/U.S. Trust Gary Reese, Northern Trust Methodist Institute for Technology, Michael Heckman, Houston First Corporation Glen Rosenbaum, Vinson & Elkins LLP Innovation and Education (MITIE) Karl Hennessee, Halliburton Thomas V. Rushing, Bank of America Katherine Berry, Northern Trust Jackson Hicks, Jackson and Company Merrill Lynch Astley Blair, Marine Well Containment Company Todd Hoffman, PwC Jill A. Schaar, Locke Lord LLP Meg Boulware, Boulware & Valoir Richard Husseini, Baker Botts L.L.P. Jennifer Sickler, Thompson & Knight LLP Tony Bradfield, Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers John Keville, Winston & Strawn LLP Denmon Sigler, Winston & Strawn LLP Walt Bratic, OverMont Consulting LLC Michele M. LaNoue, Headworks Inc. Mark R. Spradling, Vinson & Elkins LLP Melinda Brunger, Andrews Kurth LLP Jerry Lasco, Lasco Enterprises Ignacio Torras, Tricon Energy Ralph Burch, ConocoPhillips Doug Lawler, Chesapeake Energy Corporation Alfredo Vilas, Novum Energy Janet Langford Carrig, ConocoPhillips Dr. Mike Lemanski, Shell Oil Company Austin Werner, Bank of Texas Thierry Caruso, Ernst & Young LLP David LePori, Frost Bank David Young, Union Pacific Albert Chao, Westlake Chemical Corporation Jose Alberto Lima, Shell Oil Company

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS Houston First Corporation Norton Rose Fulbright † Nabors Industries Novum Energy Services, LLC Grand Guarantor — $250,000 or more PwC † Phillips 66 Medistar Corporation Saks Fifth Avenue * Underwriters — $25,000 or more Sidley Austin LLP Guarantors — $100,000 or more Ajamie LLP Vethan Law Firm P.C. BBVA Compass † * Bank of Texas Wells Fargo † Chevron † BB&T Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, LLP ConocoPhillips † Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P. Westlake Chemical Corporation H-E-B Booker • Lowe Gallery Winston & Strawn LLP Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo TM Boulware & Valoir Houston Methodist * Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Supporters — $10,000 or more Occidental Petroleum Corporation Bristow Group, Inc. Andrews Kurth LLP Schlumberger † Cameron AT&T † Shell Oil Company † Capgemini Consulting Cadence Bank Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers * City Kitchen Catering * Ernst & Young LLP United Airlines * ExxonMobil † The Events Company * Vinson & Elkins LLP †* Frost Bank Fort Bend Music Company * George H. Lewis & Sons Hess Grand Underwriters — $50,000 or more HCC Insurance Holdings Locke Lord LLP † Anadarko Petroleum Corporation † Jackson and Company †* LyondellBasell Baker Botts L.L.P. † KPMG LLP † Nordstrom Bank of America Marathon Oil Corporation Thompson & Knight LLP Fayez Sarofim & Co. † MD Anderson Cancer Center Winstead PC Halliburton † Northern Trust †

FALL 2015 80 HGO.org Member — $1,000 or more FOUNDATIONS AND Underwriters — $25,000 or more The Powell Foundation † William E. and Natoma Harvey Pyle Boardwalk Pipeline Partners The Clayton Fund GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Charitable Trust † Burberry Houston Saengerbund Premier Guarantor — William A. and Madeline Welder CenterPoint Energy John P. McGovern Foundation † $1,000,000 or more Smith Foundation Linscomb & Williams Stedman West Foundation † Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Sterling-Turner Foundation † Members — $1,000 or more IN-KIND Inc.† Texas Commission on the Arts † The Arts Federation The Vaughn Foundation CONTRIBUTORS Principal Guarantors — Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation, TO OPERATIONS AND $500,000 or more Sponsors — $10,000 or more Inc. George and Mary Josephine SPECIAL EVENTS Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Cockrell Family Fund Foundation † Mary H. Cain Foundation Hamman Foundation Underwriters — $25,000 or more The Brown Foundation, Inc. † Albert and Ethel Herzstein The Leon Jaworski Foundation † The Nathan J. Klein Fund Abrahams Oriental Rugs and City of Houston † Charitable Foundation Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation † Home Furnishings The General and Houston Arts Alliance OPERA America City Kitchen Catering Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Opera Fund † Ralph H. and Ruth J. McCullough Strake Foundation Jackson and Company The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Landry’s Inc. Foundation † Nightingale Code Foundation * Contribution includes in- kind support Nini Jewels Alkek and Williams Foundation C. Howard Pieper Foundation † Ten or more years of consecutive Nordstrom The Wortham Foundation, Inc. † support Saks Fifth Avenue Grand Guarantors— Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers $250,000 or more The Events Company Tony’s Catering Anne and Albert Chao, Wattle Creek Winery Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Sponsors — $15,000 or more The Cullen Trust for the Performing Bulgari Arts † Lavandula Design The Robert and Janice McNair The Lancaster Hotel Foundation LUCHO/Hector Villarreal Guarantors — $100,000 or more Sakowitz Furs Serravalle in Chianti M.D. Anderson Foundation † Tootsies City of Houston through Miller Theatre Advisory Board † Co-Sponsors — $7,500 or more The Cullen Foundation † Abercombie & Kent Houston Endowment Inc. † Elegant Events and Catering The Humphreys Foundation † by Michael Kinder Foundation Frosch Travel Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai and Gremillion & Co. Fine Art Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Endowed Donor Advised Fund Benefactors — $5,000 or more at the Community Foundation of Bradford Portraits Abilene Christian Dior Grand Underwriters — Elaine Turner $50,000 or more Events Fleming’s Anchorage Foundation of Texas J. Pacetti Precious Jewels Carol Franc Buck Foundation Masterson Design/ Houston Grand Opera Guild † Mariquita Masterson Lynne Murray Sr. Educational MPenner Foundation † Past Era Antique Jewelry National Endowment for the Arts Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Santa Fe Opera The Lowell New York Members — $3,000 or more Houston Cinema Arts Society The Wright Pawn & Jewelry Co. Wrights Creek Outfitter

81 Laureate Society Let There be Opera, ALWAYS

The Laureate Society comprises individuals who have helped ensure the future of Houston Grand Opera by remembering the Opera in their wills, retirement plans, trusts, or other types of estate plans. The Laureate Society does not require a minimum amount to become a member. Planned estate gifts to the Houston Grand Opera Endowment can be used to support general or specific Opera programs. Houston Grand Opera is deeply grateful to these individuals. Their generosity and foresight enable the Opera to maintain its growth and stability, thus enriching the lives of future generations. Michelle Beale, Chairman

LAUREATE SOCIETY MEMBERS Ms. Gloria M. Portela and Dr. and Dr. Raymond Lutz Dr. Carlos Vallbona Mr. Richard E. Evans Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Birgitt van Wijk Ms. Gerry Aitken Ann L. Faget Ms. Sandra L. Magers Marietta Voglis Mrs. Marion Alexay Mrs. Jean L. Fauntleroy Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Ms. Rons Voogt Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams Ms. Carol Sue Finkelstein Ms. Michele Malloy Dean B. Walker Mrs. Judy Amonett Ms. Carol L. Fletcher Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Mr. Gordon D. Watson Ms. Michelle Beale and Mr. Carlisle Floyd Nancy Wynne Mattison Mr. Jesse Weir Mr. Richard H. Anderson Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Mr. Geoffrey Westergaard Ms. Robin Angly and Mr. Miles Smith Dr. Donna Fox Mrs. Cynthia Tally McDonald Ms. Roxanne Cargill and Peter Weston Ms. Mary Lee Archer Dr. Alice Gates Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Ms. Jane L. Williams Dr. and Mrs. Willard Aronson Dr. Layne O. Gentry Dr. Will L. McLendon Helen Wils Roberto Ayala Mr. Michael B. George Mr. Allen D. McReynolds David and Mary Wolff Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Baker Dr. Wm. David George Maryellen McSweeney Miss Daisy Wong Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Dr. and Mrs. Rollin O. Glaser Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Dr. L. Fabian Worthing III Daniel B. Barnum Mr. David Gockley Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Lynn Wyatt Mrs. Thomas D. Barrow Mr. Jon K. Gossett Ms. Suzanne Mimnaugh R. Alan York Bill A. Bartlett Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gott Mr. Juan R. Morales Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre Dr. and Mrs. Barry Beller Adelma Graham Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran Dr. and Mrs. Efrain Zavala Dr. Patricia Eifel and Dr. James A. Belli Mr. and Mrs. Donald Graubart Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Mr. John L. Zipprich II Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer Dr. Nichols Grimes Ms. Terrylin G. Neale 16 Anonymous Mrs. Eileen Birge Dr. Ellen R. Gritz Bobbie Newman Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE Mario Gudmunsson and Darrin Davis Mrs. Tassie Nicandros Susan Ross Black WHO INCLUDED HGO IN THEIR Lynn Guggolz Ms. B. Lynn Mathre and Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome ESTATE PLANS: Mr. Jas A. Gundry Mr. Stewart O’Dell Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Mrs. Jack W. Harris Mr. and Mrs. Staman Ogilvie Dr. Thomas D. Barrow Mr. Andrew Bowen Linda Lloyd Hart Mrs. James W. O’Keefe Ms. Evelyn M. Bedard Lynda Bowman Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Mrs. Susan Osterberg Ronald Borschow Stephen R. Brenner Nancy Ferguson-Haywood Mrs. Joan D. Osterweil Mr. Thomas Capshaw Ms. Zu Dell Broadwater Miguel and Teresita Hernandez Thelma and Richard Percoco Dr. Lawrence E. Carlton Catherine Brock Dr. Ralph Herring Mrs. Sara M. Peterson Frank R. Eyler Mr. and Mrs. Ira B. Brown Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Christine E. George Mr. Richard Buffett Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pokorski Jack W. Harris Ralph C. Byle Mr. Edward L. Hoffman Mr. Arthur B. Pryde and Mark Lensky Mrs. Marjorie H. Capshaw Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth and Mrs. Suzanne Page-Pryde Mary R. Lewis Jess and Patricia Carnes Dr. Ken Hyde Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Reynolds Mrs. Margaret Love Janet Langford Carrig Alan and Ellen Holzberg Mr. Bill Richmond and Ms. Marsha Malev Mrs. Sylvia J. Carroll Ms. Kathleen Moore and Mr. Dennis Courtney Mr. Constantine Nicandros Mr. Tony Carroll, LCSW, Mr. Steven Homer Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Robinson Dr. Mary Joan Nish and Mr. Bruce Smith, DDS Ms. Ami J. Hooper Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose Mr. James W. O’Keefe Nada Chandler Dr. Marjorie Horning Glen A. Rosenbaum Barbara M. Osborne Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard and Mrs. Jean Rowley Mrs. Mary Ann Phillips Mr. William E. Colburn Mr. Richard H. Howard Mr. John C. Rudder Jr. Mr. Howard Pieper Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Comstock Eileen and George Hricik Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Mr. Craig M. Rowley Mr. Jim O. Connell Ms. Lee M. Huber Mr. and Mrs. Terrell F. Sanders Mrs. Joseph P. Ruddell C.M. and A.A. Cooper Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hunter Mr. Chris Schilling Mr. Eric W. Stein Sr. Mr. Efrain Z. Corzo Dr. Lamar and Mrs. Jane Jackson Hinda Simon John and Fanny Stone Dr. Joan K. Bruchas and Charitable Trust Mr. Herbert D. Simons Dr. Carlos Vallbona Mr. H. P. Cowdin Mr. Brian James Ms. Susan Simpson Miss Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Ms. Catherine Cox Mr. Spencer A. Jeffries Janet Sims Mr. Alan M. Craft Ms. Charlotte Jones Mr. Robert J. Smouse James W. Crownover Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kauffman Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai Ms. Judy Cummings Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kaufman Catherine Stevenson Karl A. Dahm Mr. John S. W. Kellett Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Suter Lida S. Dahm, M.D. For information regarding charitable Steve Kelley and Charles Dennis Rhonda J. Sweeney Ms. Marilyn R. Davis Ms. Virginia Kiser Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Tatar estate gift planning and how it might Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy S. Davis Ann and Sam Koster Mrs. John Ben Taub positively impact you, your loved Ms. Sasha Davis Lynn and Jon Lamkin Dr. and Mrs. Robert Toth Ms. Anna M. Dean ones, and Houston­ Grand Opera, Willy and Inge Lotte Liesner Mr. John G. Turner Ms. Peggy DeMarsh please contact Richard Buffett, Heide and Karl Loos Mr. Paul and Dr. Rhonda Turner Dr. and Mrs. Russell L. Deter II director of major gifts and legacy Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor Connie and Byron Dyer Mrs. Marilyn G. Lummis Jan Upole giving, at 713-546-0216 or visit HGO.org/laureatesociety. FALL 2015 82 HGO.org Houston Grand Opera Endowment

The Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc., is a separate nonprofit organization that invests contributions to earn income for the benefit of Houston Grand Opera Association. The Endowment Board works with Paul Comstock Partners, independent investment counsel, to engage professional investment managers.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Janet Langford Carrig, Chairman William E. Colburn Richard Husseini Janet Carrig, Terrylin G. Neale, Senior Chairman James W. Crownover Stephen M. Kaufman Chairman Robert C. Hunter Yolanda Knull

An endowed fund can be permanently established within the Houston Grand Opera Endowment through a direct contribution or via a planned gift such as a bequest. The fund can be designated for general purposes or specific interests. For a discussion on endowing a fund, please contact Richard Buffett, director of major gifts and legacy giving, at 713-546-0216. HGO acknowledges with deep gratitude the following endowed funds: GENERAL ENDOWMENT FUNDS HELP SUPPORT OUR PRODUCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES Charles T. (Ted) Bauer Memorial Fund Jackson D. Hicks Endowment Fund The Ruddell Endowment Fund The Stanley and Shirley Beyer Endowed Fund General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil — Mary Frances Newton Bowers Endowment Fund Memorial Opera Fund Quaker State Company) Fund Pat and Daniel A. Breen Endowment Fund Elizabeth Rieke and Wayne V. Jones Endowment Fund Dian and Harlan Stai Fund The Brown Foundation Endowment Fund Lensky Family Endowed Fund The John and Fanny Stone Endowment Fund The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Mary R. Lewis Endowed Fund Dorothy Barton Thomas Endowment Fund Endowment Fund Kitty King Powell Endowment Fund John and Sheila Tweed Endowed Fund Douglas E. Colin Endowment Fund Constantine S. Nicandros Endowment Fund Marietta Voglis Endowed Fund Mary Jane Fedder Endowed Fund Barbara M. Osborne Charitable Trust Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Endowment Fund Robert W. George Endowment Fund C. Howard Pieper Endowment Fund The Wortham Foundation Permanent Endowment Fund Frank Greenberg, M.D. Endowment Fund Rowley Family Endowment Fund

PRODUCTION FUNDS HELP CREATE NEW PRODUCTIONS AND REVIVE EXISTING ONES Edward and Frances Bing Fund The Wagner Fund PRODUCTION FUNDS FOR PRINCIPAL ARTISTS The Lynn Wyatt Great Artist Fund ENDOWED CHAIRS AND FELLOWSHIPS HELP ATTRACT AND RETAIN TALENTED ARTISTS Margaret Alkek Williams Chair: Patrick Summers, Artistic and Music Director Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair: Bradley Moore, Head of Music Staff/HGO Studio Music Director The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair: Denise Tarrant The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair: Richard Bado Mr. and Mrs. James A. Elkins Jr. Endowed Chair: Patrick Harvey, Assistant Conductor James A. Elkins Jr. Endowed Visiting Artist Fund Evans Family Endowed Chair: Pierre Vallet, Guest Coach ELECTRONIC MEDIA FUNDS HELP HGO REACH AUDIENCES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, STATE, AND NATION The Ford Foundation Endowment Fund HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO FUNDS HELP TRAIN AND DEVELOP SOME OF THE FINEST OPERA TALENT IN THE WORLD Audrey Jones Beck Endowed Fellowship Fund/ William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund John M. O’Quinn Foundation Endowed Houston Endowment, Inc. Charlotte Howe Memorial Scholarship Fund Fellowship Fund The Gordon and Mary Cain Foundation Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Fund Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil — Endowment Fund Quaker State Company) Fund Marian and Speros Martel Foundation Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund Endowment Fund Mary C. Gayler Snook Endowment Fund Houston Grand Opera Guild Endowment Fund Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Fund Tenneco, Inc. Endowment Fund James J. Drach Endowment Fund Dr. Mary Joan Nish and Patricia Bratsas Weston-Cargill Endowed Fund Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Endowment Fund Endowed Fund

EDUCATION FUNDS HELP HGO TOUCH THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D., Endowment Fund Fondren Foundation Fund for Educational Programs Beth Crispin Endowment Fund David Clark Grant Endowment Fund James J. Drach Endowment Fund The Schissler Family Foundation Endowed Fund for Educational Programs OUTREACH FUNDS HELP HGO REACH A BROAD SECTOR OF THE COMMUNITY Guyla Pircher Harris Project Spring Opera Festival Fund (Shell Lubricants, formerly Pennzoil — Quaker State Company) CONCERT OF ARIAS Eleanor Searle McCollum Endowment Fund CALENDAR For information on all Houston Grand Opera events, call the Customer 2015–16 Care Center at 713-228-OPERA (6737) or 800-626-7372 unless otherwise noted. For information on HGOco events, please call 713-546-0230, email [email protected], or visit HGO.org/HGOco.

OCTOBER 12 & 15 7 • Recital at Rienzi: Artists of the HGO Studio • Opera Night Live, The Marriage of Figaro: 23, 25, 31, NOV. 3, 6, 14 perform in the intimate and elegant salon at the HGO Guild invites you to the Wortham Rienzi, the decorative arts wing of MFAH, Theater Center to enjoy wine and snacks • Performances of Puccini’s Tosca. Wortham at 1406 Kirby Drive. Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. and learn more about the opera from Theater Center’s Brown Theater. Special and Nov. 15 at 5 p.m. a special guest. 7 p.m. Contact event intermission reception for members of Visit HGO.org/Studio. chair Dr. Alice Gates at 713-522-1178 for Opening Nights for Young Professionals information. at the October 23 performance only. 16 23 • Ring 301: HGO Dramaturg Paul Hopper 22, 24, 30, FEB. 3, 5, 7 introduces Siegfried, this season’s • Performances of Mozart’s The Marriage of • Opening Night Dinner: HGO celebrates the installment of HGO’s Ring cycle. 6 p.m. Figaro. Wortham Theater Center’s Brown opening of the 2015–16 season following Free to subscribers. For information, please Theater. Special intermission reception the performance of Tosca. Wortham email [email protected]. for members of Opening Nights for Theater Center, Ray C. Fish Plaza. For Young Professionals at the January 22 more information, contact Scott Ipsen at 25 performance only. 713-546-0242 or [email protected]. • Holiday Tree Lighting at the Wortham 25 Theater Center, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. 24 • Behind the Music: an intimate • Veterans Songbook Showcase: selections conversation about The Marriage of Figaro from HGOco’s Veterans Songbook project immediately following the performance. will be performed in the Brown Alcove DECEMBER Masterson Green Room. Free. before the performance of Tosca, 1:15 p.m. • Behind the Music: an intimate 2 28, 29, 30 conversation about Tosca immediately • Professional Development Workshop: • HGOco and Opera to Go! present world following the performance. Masterson HGOco presents a workshop for educators premiere performances of Mark Buller and Green Room. Free. on The Little Prince. Wortham Theater Charles Anthony Silvestri’s The Puffed-Up Center, 5:30 p.m. . Heinen Theatre at Houston 30, NOV. 1, 7, 10, 13 Community College, central campus, 9:30 • Performances of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene 4, 6, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. daily. The Puffed-Up Onegin. Wortham Theater Center’s Brown • Performances of Rachel Portman and Prima Donna tours from Jan. 25 through Theater. Special intermission reception Nicholas Wright’s The Little Prince. May 20. Book a performance at HGO.org/ for members of Opening Nights for Wortham Theater Center’s Cullen OperaToGo or by calling 713-546-0231. Young Professionals at the October 30 Theater. Special intermission reception performance only. for members of Opening Nights for 29, 31, FEB. 6, 9, 12 Young Professionals at the December 4 • Performances of Dvořák’s Rusalka. performance only. Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater. NOVEMBER Special intermission reception for members 6 of Opening Nights for Young Professionals • Behind the Music: an intimate at the January 29 performance only. 1 conversation about The Little Prince • Behind the Music: an intimate immediately following the performance. 31 conversation about Eugene Onegin • Behind the Music: an intimate immediately following the performance. 8, 9, 15 conversation about Rusalka immediately Masterson Green Room. Free. • Student Matinees: HGOco hosts groups following the performance. Masterson of students in grades 4–8 and their Green Room. Free. 5 chaperones at performances of Rachel • High School Night: HGOco hosts high Portman and Nicholas Wright’s The Little school students and their chaperones at a Prince. School groups only: reserve online FEBRUARY full-length performance of Puccini’s Tosca. at HGO.org/StudentPerformances. School groups only. Wortham Center’s Brown Theater, 7 p.m. Visit HGO.org/ 4 StudentPerformances to reserve. JANUARY • Concert of Arias: the 28th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for 8 Young Singers. Wortham Center’s Cullen • Veterans Songbook Concert: HGOco 3 Theater. Champagne reception at 6 p.m., presents selections from the Song of • HGOco presents the High School Voice competition at 7 p.m. Celebration Dinner to Houston Veterans Songbook project at Studio Winter Recital at the Wortham follow in the Grand Foyer. For information, Christ Church Cathedral, 7:30 p.m. Free. Theater Center, Rehearsal Room 3, 6 p.m. contact Scott Ipsen at 713-546-0242 or Free. [email protected].

FALL 2015 84 HGO.org 15 SEASON SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES AND SINGLE TICKETS FOR HGO’S 2015–16 SEASON ARE NOW AVAILABLE. 16 CALL 713-228-OPERA (6737) OR 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372), OR ORDER ONLINE AT HGO.ORG.

Carlisle Floyd Rachel Portman/Nicholas Wright THE LITTLE PRINCE PRINCE OF PLAYERS

Dec. 4 | 6m | 9± | 11± | 13m ± | 16 | 18 | 19¤ | 20m Non-subscription WORLD PREMIERE The Little Prince The Vain Man/ Conductor Set and Costume Mar. 5 | 11 | 13m Andy Jones * The Snake Bradley Moore Designer Cohle H. Smith * John Kapusta * Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Maria Bjørnson Edward Kynaston Sir Charles Sedley Houston Grand Director The Pilot Alkek Chair Original Lighting Ben Edquist † Joseph Evans Opera Orchestra Michael Gieleta * Houston Grand Emily Senturia ‡ ± Joshua Hopkins ‡ Designer Margaret Hughes Villiers, Duke of and Chorus Set Designer Opera Orchestra Production Ben Edquist † ¤ Rick Fisher Mane Galoyan † Buckingham Shoko Kambara * and Children’s Francesca Zambello Conductor The Fox Children’s Chorus Charles II Scott Quinn ‡ Costume Designer Chorus Revival Director Patrick Summers Sofia Selowsky † Director Chad Shelton ‡ Gregory Gale * Ellen Douglas Margaret Alkek Williams Karen Reeves Chair Lighting Designer Schlaefer Renée Brode Commissioned through a generous gift made by Kathryn and David Berg in memory of Composer Carlisle Floyd is the Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2015–16. Larry Pfeffer. Grand Guarantors—Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Grand Guarantor—The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation. Mr. and Mrs. David B. Duthu. Guarantor—The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts. Guarantor—Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello. Grand Underwriter—The Cullen Foundation. Grand Underwriter—Lynn Wyatt

Mozart Wagner THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO SIEGFRIED

Jan. 22 | 24m | 30 | Feb. 3 | 5 | 7m Apr. 16 | 20 | 23 | 28 | May 1m

Figaro Marcellina Conductor Original Lighting Siegfried Alberich Conductor Costume Designer Adam Plachetka * Catherine Cook Harry Bicket * Designer Christopher Purves Patrick Summers Chu Uroz Susanna Dr. Bartolo Production Paule Constable Wanderer Erda Margaret Alkek Williams Lighting Designer ‡ Peixin Chen ‡ Michael Grandage Movement Director Iain Paterson Meredith Arwady Chair Peter van Praet Production Count Almaviva Revival Director Ben Wright * Brünnhilde Fafner Projection Designer Houston Grand Joshua Hopkins ‡ Ian Rutherford Chorus Master Christine Goerke Andrea Silvestrelli Franc Aleu Opera Orchestra Director Countess Almaviva Set and Costume Richard Bado ‡ Mime Movement Director/ and Chorus Houston Grand Carlus Padrissa Ailyn Pérez Designer The Sarah and Ernest Butler Rodell Rosel Associate Director Chorus Master Chair Opera Orchestra Set Designer Cherubino Esteban Muñoz Roland Olbeter Lauren Snouffer ‡

Grand Underwriter—PwC Premier Guarantors—Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.; Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer. Grand Guarantor—Medistar. Guarantors—Robin Angly and Miles Smith; Mrs. Janice Barrow; BBVA Compass. Grand Underwriters—Carol Franc Buck Foundation; Chevron; Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Dr. Jack A. Roth; Mr. Richard A. Lydecker Jr.; Beth Madison; Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin; Will L. McLendon

Dvořák Rodgers and Hammerstein RUSALKA CAROUSEL

Jan. 29 | 31m | Feb. 6 | 9 | 12 Apr. 22 | 24m | 27 | 29 | 30 | May 6 | 7

Rusalka Ježibaba, a witch Conductor Original Lighting Billy Bigelow Nettie Fowler Conductor/ Set Designer Ana María Jill Grove ‡ Harry Bicket Designer Duncan Rock * * Chorus Master Paolo Ventura * Martínez ‡ Foreign Princess Production Paule Constable Julie Jordan Jigger Craigin Richard Bado ‡ Costume Designer Prince Maida Hundeling * Melly Still * Movement Director Andrea Carroll ‡ Ben Edquist † The Sarah and Ernest Butler Catherine Zuber Brian Jagde * Revival Director Rick Nodine * Carrie Pipperidge Houston Grand Chorus Master Chair Original Lighting Houston Grand Director/ Vodník, Donna Stirrup * Chorus Master Lauren Snouffer ‡ Opera Orchestra Designer Opera Orchestra Choreographer a water sprite Set and Costume Richard Bado ‡ Enoch Snow and Chorus Neil Austin and Chorus Rob Ashford Richard Paul Fink ‡ Designer The Sarah and Ernest Alexander Lewis * Sound Designer Butler Chorus Master Rae Smith * Chair Andrew Harper

Guarantor—Vinson & Elkins LLP Grand Underwriter—Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Grand Underwriter—Edward and Frances Bing Fund

* Houston Grand Opera debut † Houston Grand Opera Studio artist ‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist ¤ Alternate cast/date ± Alternate conductor Houston Grand Opera Management and Staff

PATRICK SUMMERS, Artistic and Music Director * PERRYN LEECH Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Managing Director

GREGORY S. ROBERTSON Chief Advancement Officer MOLLY DILL DAVID FEHELEY DEBORAH HIRSCH JUDITH KURNICK General Manager * Technical and Production Director Senior Director of Development Director of Communications

BRADLEY MOORE BRIAN SPECK DIANE ZOLA Head of Music Staff Director of HGO Studio Director of Artistic Administration * Music Director, HGO Studio Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL DIRECTOR ADVANCEMENT SERVICES TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION Dawn Gillespie, Governance and Ashley Coffey, Development Administrative Philip Alfano, Lighting Associate Business Manager Assistant Katrina Bachus, Assistant Director Bob Lilly, Executive Assistant Robin Lewis, Development Data Manager Kristen E. Burke, Production Stage Manager Alyson Robben, Administrative Assistant M. Jane Orosco, Marketing Data Manager * Michael Clark, Lighting Supervisor Joanna Torok, Director of Advancement Operations Andrew Cloud, Properties Associate * FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Justine Welch, Development Operations Manager Stephanie Corley, Technical Assistant/Driver Maria J. Blake, Systems Manager * Norma Cortez, Head of Costumes * Henry Cantu, Staff Accountant * COMMUNICATIONS Kyle Coyer, Assistant Technical Director/ Luis Franco, Office Services Coordinator * Laura Chandler, Director of Publications * HGOco Technical Director Denise Fruge, Accounts Payable Administrator * Amy Garcia, Creative Services Associate Esmeralda De Leon, Costume Coordinator Matt Gonzales, Database Administrator Christine Lee, Communications Manager Brandon Dismukes, Production Master Carpenter * Debbie Loper, Payroll Administrator * Ashley Seals, Communications Coordinator Meg Edwards, Assistant Stage Manager Tanya Lovetro, Director of Finance Pattima Singhalaka, Art Director Mary Elsey, Assistant Stage Manager Ken Vaughn, Director of Information Systems * THE GENEVIEVE P. DEMME ARCHIVES AND­ Zoltan Fabry, Master Propertyman * Lee Whatley, Director of Business Analytics * RESOURCE CENTER Vince Ferraro, Assistant Master Electrician/ Melissa Williford, Director of Human Resources * Brian Mitchell, Archivist * Lighting Board Programmer DEVELOPMENT HGOco Jennifer Hobart Gummi, Technical/ Rudy Avelar, Director of Patron Services * Dennis Arrowsmith, Touring and Ensembles Production Administrator Richard Buffett, Director of Major Gifts and Manager Ed Hamala, Assistant Carpenter/Head Flyman Legacy Planning Brittany Duncan, Programs Director Eduardo Hawkins, Head Soundman * Kelly Finn, Director of Development, Julie Hurley, HGOco Stage Manager Clair Hummel, Costume Coordinator Institutional Giving Wesley Landry, High School Voice Studio Manager Julie Hurley, Assistant Stage Manager Clare Greene, Associate Director of Jason Lester, High School Voice Studio Director of Nara Lesser, Costume Technician Special Events Vocal Studies Megan, Properties Design Director * Scott Ipsen, Director of Special Events Stacey Michael, Operations Manager Liz Petley, Assistant Stage Manager David Krohn, Associate Director of Development Albert Pike, Master Electrician * Elizabeth Lyons, Development Communications ARTISTIC/MUSIC Mercedes Ramirez, Draper * Manager Richard Bado, Chorus Master * Evelyn Rossow, Assistant Stage Manager Patrick Muhlen-Schulte, Development Officer Richard S. Brown, Orchestra Personnel Manager * Maria Luisa Salinas, Costume Technician Emily Schreiber, Associate Director of Development Jamie Gelfand, Artistic and Rehearsal Coordinator Logan Schoenbaechler, Assistant Technical Director Denise Simon, Special Events Operations Manager Carolyne Hall, Associate Company Manager Omer Ben Seadia, Assistant Director Jennifer Wijangco, Director of Development, Patrick Harvey, Assistant Conductor Dotti Staker, Wig and Makeup Department Head * Individual Giving Paul Hopper, Dramaturg Christopher Staub, Stage Manager/ Sarah Williams, Prospect and Research Manager Daniel James, Music Administrator Assistant Stage Manager Mark C. Lear, Associate Artistic Administrator * MARKETING Paully Lea Tran, Costume Technician Lisa Oswald, Company Manager Kelly Laning, Director of Marketing Myrna Vallejo, Costume Shop Supervisor * Peter Pasztor, Assistant Conductor * Cynthia Lewis, Team Lead * Sean Waldron, Assistant Head of Properties Karen Reeves, Children’s Chorus Director * Raquel Meyer, Marketing Manager Annie Wheeler, Stage Manager/ Kelsey Sapp, Artistic and Rehearsal Coordinator Jacob Millwee, Team Lead Assistant Stage Manager Emily Senturia, Assistant Conductor, Assistant Ralph Sanders, Teleservices Manager Chorus Master * denotes 10 or more years of service Daniel Taylor, Audience Development Manager Christopher Turbessi, Assistant Conductor, Richard Wong, Director of Sales and Services * Musical Supervisor of HGOco HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO Jeremy Johnson, Administrator

FALL 2015 86 HGO.org YOUR HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

ouston Grand Opera offers a EXCHANGING YOUR TICKETS Descriptive services for persons with wealth of services to enhance your vision loss are available with 48-hour Full-season and Opera-to-Order opera experience. advance reservations. Please call H subscribers may exchange their tickets 713-546-0203 for details. Want to brush up on the opera before for a different performance of the same you attend? Need directions to the opera without fee, subject to availability. FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES­ theater? This information and much more Exchanges can be made by phone To pre-order food and beverages at is available on our website where you until 24 hours before the performance the Grand Foyer Café prior to the can also purchase tickets and make a begins; for exchanges within 24 hours performance, call Aramark at donation: of curtain time, please visit the Box 713-250-3650. Pre-order beverages for www.houstongrandopera.org Office in person. Non-subscription intermission at any of the lobby bars single tickets may be exchanged with HGO’s Customer Care Center is another when you arrive at the theater. When you a service fee of $10 per ticket. When great resource. For performance return at intermission, your beverages will exchanged for tickets of greater value, information, to purchase or exchange be waiting for you. tickets, or to make a donation to HGO, the customer will be responsible Full-season subscribers in the ­Founders contact the Customer Care Center at for the difference; no refunds will be Boxes, Premium Orchestra, and Loge 713-228-OPERA (6737) or made. No exchanges are permitted Boxes may dine in the Founders Salon. 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372). after the performance has begun. Reservations are required, and meals You can also e-mail customercare@ LOST OR MISPLACED TICKETS must be ordered in advance. To take houstongrandopera.org. Throughout advantage of this subscriber-only benefit, the season, the Center will be staffed There is no charge for replacing lost Call Elegant Events and Catering by Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 ­tickets. More than 24 hours prior to Michael at 713-533-9318. p.m. (or until curtain time on performance the performance: call the Customer days). The Center will be open on Care Center at 713-228-OPERA (6737) PARKING Saturdays and Sundays only when there or 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372) to Valet parking is a benefit of membership is a performance, from noon until curtain. request replacement tickets. They will for Patrons Circle and National Patron Hours are subject to change. be reprinted and held at the Will Call window for your performance. Within 24 donors; the valet station is located You can purchase tickets and make hours of the performance: go to the Box on Prairie Street. If you would like exchanges in person at the HGO Box Office Manager’s window. The Box Office information about membership at this Office, located in the Wortham Theater Manager will access your account and level, please contact a member of HGO’s Center at 550 Prairie. Hours are Monday reprint your tickets free of charge. Development staff at through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If there 713-546-0704, or e-mail us at is a performance on Saturday or Sunday, PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES donorservices@houstongrand­opera.org. the Box Office will be open from noon The Wortham Theater Center features until curtain. Hours are subject to change. wheelchair access to both theaters with BROWN AND CULLEN ALCOVES a choice of seating locations and ticket prices. An FM assistive listening The Wortham Theater Center’s newly device, generously provided by the renovated alcoves were designed with Houston First Corporation, is available your comfort in mind. Step inside one of for use free of charge at all performances. these golden-hued spaces in the Grand Please call the ­Customer Care Center at Foyer, and you’ll find a calm place to 713-228-OPERA (6737) or reflect on the evening’s performance over 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372) for full dinner or drinks. details.

87 Out of Character: LIUDMYLA MONASTYRSKA Photo by Lynn Lane

Liudmyla Monastyrska in her HGO debut as Aida, 2013.

UKRAINIAN POWERHOUSE

Liudmyla Monastyrska will turn 40 next a star, she received a last-minute call could meet her there. Zavalkovski year, but she already has a full two in 2009 to sing the role for Deutsche agreed to bring her to Moscow. decades of professional life as an opera Oper Berlin. That turned out to be the “When Liudmyla opened her mouth singer under her belt. She has come proverbial big break and brought her to sing, I was blown away,” Zola to HGO once again to open a season to the attention of numerous other recalls. “We had been looking for an for us—this time in the title role of companies, including, indirectly, HGO. Aida for our 2013–14 season, and I Tosca—after a triumphant Aida in 2013. HGO Director of Artistic Administration knew right away we had found her. Monastyrska made her stage debut in Diane Zola says that early in 2010, No other company in the United her native Kiev, Ukraine, as Tatyana in she received telephone calls from two States had hired her yet,” Zola says, Eugene Onegin—when she was only different artists managers telling her noting that although HGO contracted 20, an age that seems impossibly young about the “amazing” soprano they her first, her first U.S. performances for a professional operatic debut in a had heard as Tosca in those Berlin took place to great acclaim at the principal role. The feat is even more performances. Then, Monastyrska’s own Metropolitan Opera late in 2012. impressive when one considers that her manager, David Zavalkovski, contacted Despite her long history with the role parents were not trained musicians and her. “He knew that I’m Ukrainian myself, of Tosca, Monastyrska says the Act II she had only decided to pursue opera and knew that I came to Moscow scene with Scarpia is still difficult for her, as a career in her late teens. But, as frequently,” says Zola. (Zola taught for because of its vocal demands and raw she explains with a delightful laugh that some time at the International Vocal emotional power. Her favorite moments comes from deep inside, “I had very School, and later helped the Bolshoi are the first duet with Cavaradossi and good teachers—and I was not the last begin a young artist training program, the moment near the end of the opera student in the class!” remaining as a consultant until recently.) when she holds her dying lover in her When Zola’s counterpart in Berlin She has a solid history as the doomed arms. At that moment, Tosca is no echoed the praises she’d already heard opera diva Tosca. After numerous opera diva. Says Monastyrska: “She’s a from the artists managers, Zola decided performances in the role at the Ukraine woman in love.” to make it a point to hear Monastyrska National Opera, where she was already sing in Moscow if the soprano —Laura Chandler KEEPING ELITE PERFORMERS IN THE SPOTLIGHT. THAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRACTICING MEDICINE AND LEADING IT.

At Houston Methodist, we’re proud partners in helping artists achieve peak performance, week in and week out. We have decades of experience supporting the total health needs of performers from around the world — which is why the best artists rely on us not just to get them healthy, but to keep them that way. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. houstonmethodist.org A STARZ LIMITED SERIES

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