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OPERAVOLUME 57 NUMBER 01 | SUMMER 2016 CUES

16 | 17 Launching in September 2016 at British International School of The Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Programme.

To learn more about our innovative performing arts curriculum developed by The in collaboration with Nord Anglia Education, our new campus opening in August 2016 in Katy, or to attend an information session visit www.bishouston.org or call 713 290 9025.

Now accepting applications for students from Pre-Kindergarten through High School.

BISH Juilliard School Full Page Ad.indd 2 3/16/16 9:50 PM > SEASON PREVIEW 2016 | 17

PATRICK SUMMERS PERRYN LEECH Artistic & Music Director Managing Director Margaret Alkek Williams Chair A scene from G ö tterd ä mmerung . A scene from Photo by Tato Baeza/Palau de les Arts Photo by Tato Cues is published by Association; all rights reserved. Opera Cues is produced by Houston Grand Opera’s Communications Department, Kurnick, director.

Director of Publications Laura Chandler

Art Direction / Production Pattima Singhalaka

Contributors Kelly Finn Paul Hopper Perryn Leech Brian Speck Jim Townsend

For information on all Houston Grand Opera productions and events, or for a complimentary season brochure, please call the Customer Care Center at 713-228-OPERA (6737). Houston Grand Opera is a member of OPERA America, Inc., and the Theater District Association, Inc.

FIND HGO ONLINE: HGO.org facebook.com / houstongrandopera twitter.com / hougrandopera instagram.com/hougrandopera

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www.linscomb-williams.com 713.840.1000 1400 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1000, Houston, TX 77056 CONTENTS

FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

20 ONE OF A KIND 6 A message from HGO mourns the and passing of Rudy Perryn Leech Avelar—and prepares Cover design by to honor his life. 12 Production Funders Pattima Singhalaka. YOUR GUIDE TO THE This page: A scene 25 14 News & Notes from , 2016–17 SEASON Canadian Opera Context, casting, and Company. Photo by 52 HGO Studio Michael Cooper. more on the entire season’s repertoire! 54 HGOco 40 MAGIC MOMENTS HGOco creates 56 Spotlight musical enchantment all season long. 57 Special Events 44 GUIDING LIGHT 60 Impresarios Circle Composer Laura Kaminsky discusses 64 HGO Donors her HGOco commission Some 76 Calendar Light Emerges. 47 UNSUNG HEROES: 78 Your HGO The unusual journey of Molly Dill. SM © 2016 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. © 2016 United Airlines, Inc. All rights reserved. Proud to be the Official Airline of Houston Grand Opera. from the ARTISTIC & MUSIC DIRECTOR A MESSAGE and the MANAGING DIRECTOR

Welcome back from your summer travels—and into HGO’s rapidly approaching 2016–17 season. Every season is unique in some way, and one important distinction in 2016–17 is that we are presenting three works by distinguished living American composers: It’s a Wonderful Life, Nixon in China, and Some Light Emerges. Th e world premiere of and ’s It’s a Wonderful Life continues our series of holiday in the Cullen Th eater. While just as heartwarming as the fi lm and the short story that inspired it, it is much more than a musical version of the movie and is perfect family entertainment. and ’s Nixon in China returns to our stage this winter Patrick Summers for its 30th anniversary: this HGO commission, which helped inaugurate the Wortham Th eater Center in 1987, is now one of the most frequently performed contemporary operas. Some Light Emerges, a new work commissioned by HGOco by composer Laura Kaminsky and librettists Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, represents our ongoing commitment to collaborate and connect with the entire Houston community. It explores of Houston’s as part of Dominique de Menil’s unique vision and the extraordinary eff ect this secular but spiritual space has had on many. Contemporary works are important to our company identity, but we are equally committed to favorite operas that have stood the test of time. Both of our fall operas fi t that description—Donizetti’s Th e Elixir of Love and Gounod’s —and our spring operas include Wagner’s Götterdämmerung, which brings our fi rst-ever Perryn Leech production of Wagner’s entire Ring cycle to a cataclysmic end, and Mozart’s tenderly comic Th e Abduction from the Seraglio. We also present Verdi’s —a powerful, cathartic work for four soloists, orchestra, and an enormous chorus—which has been called an opera in disguise. It was the perfect piece to program alongside Nixon in China in the winter when Houston hosts Super Bowl LI. For a two-week period, all city-owned buildings, including the Wortham Th eater Center, will be called into service for the events surrounding the big game on February 5. We could not logistically present two fully staged operas in tandem, so we seized this opportunity to showcase our superb HGO Orchestra and Chorus. It is not to be missed! Find out more about everything this season has to off er in this 2016–17 preview issue of Opera Cues, and we look forward to seeing you this fall.

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

6 > SUMMER 2016 that offers epicurean inspired cuisine, enriching programs, luxurious apartment homes, individualized services and signature amenities. This distinctive lifestyle is centered around you and the life you deserve. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2016 | 17

James W. Crownover Janet Langford Carrig Robert C. Hunter * Allyn Risley Development Committee Chairman of the Board Houston Grand Opera Endowment, W. Lasher III Inc., Chairman Vice Chair Lynn Wyatt Perryn Leech Vice Chairman of the Board Zane Carruth Glen A. Rosenbaum Claire Liu Jack A. Roth, M.D. John Mendelsohn, M.D. Anna Catalano Finance Committee Vice Chair Senior Chairman of the Board Marketing and Communications Mark R. Spradling Richard A. Lydecker Jr. Committee Chair General Counsel and Secretary; Beth Madison Finance Committee Chair Chairman Emeritus Albert Chao Audit Committee Vice Chair Frances Marzio Harlan C. Stai MEMBERS AT LARGE Donna P. Josey Chapman Studio and Training Committee Special Events Committee Richard E. Agee Chair Patrick Summers Vice Chair Robin Angly Brucie Moore Ignacio Torras N. A. (Neil) Chapman Development Committee Sara Morgan John G. Turner Vice Chair Mrs. Bobbie-Vee Cooney Terrylin G. Neale Margaret Alkek Williams John S. Arnoldy Albert O. Cornelison Jr. * Houston Grand Opera Endowment Marcia Backus Dan Domeracki Inc., Senior Chairman Honorary Director Philip A. Bahr David B. Duthu Franci Neely Governance Committee Chair Michelle Beale Ward Pennebaker Honorary Director Development Committee Chair Larry Faulkner Cynthia Petrello * Senior Director Astley Blair Benjamin Fink HGOco Committee Vice Chair Audit Committee Chair Dr. Ellen R. Gritz Gloria M. Portela Pat Breen Studio and Training Committee David Powell Vice Chair Finance Committee 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 2009–11 Thomas D. Anderson Searcy Bracewell J. Landis Martin Glen A. Rosenbaum 1964–66 1979–81 1995–97 2011–13 Marshall F. Wells Robert Cizik Robert C. McNair Beth Madison 1966–68 1981–83 1997–99 2013–16 John H. Heinzerling Terrylin G. Neale Dennis R. Carlyle, M.D. John Mendelsohn, M.D. Susan H. Carlyle, M.D. 1968–70 1983–84 2016–present Lloyd P. Fadrique Barry Munitz 1999–2001 James W. Crownover 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

8 > SUMMER 2016 TRUSTEES

Samuel Abraham Catherine Crath Richard Husseini Maria Papadopolous Gary Adams Mary Davenport Joan B. Johnson Marion Roose Pullin ‡ Mrs. Anthony G. Aiuvalasit ‡ Joshua Davidson Carey Jordan Gary Reese Thomas Ajamie Darrin Davis Marianne Kah Todd Reppert Edward H. Andrews III Sasha Davis Stephen M. Kaufman Jill Risley Christos Angelides June Deadrick John Keville David Rowan Hon. Mary E. Bacon Tracy Dieterich Yolanda Knull Jean B. Rowley ‡ Denise Bush Bahr Gislar R. Donnenberg Claudia Kreisle Thomas Rushing C. Mark Baker David Dorenfeld Connie Kwan-Wong Nan Schissler ‡ Saúl Balagura, M.D. Connie Dyer Michele LaNoue Helen Shaffer Jonathan Baliff Brad Eastman The Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee Denmon Sigler Dr. Barbara Lee Bass Barbara Eaves Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Hinda Simon Martin D. Beirne Warren A. Ellsworth IV, M.D. Dr. Mike Lemanski Janet Sims Judith A. Belanger Mark Evans David LePori Kristina Hornberger Somerville Linda Bertman Richard E. Evans Carolyn J. Levy C. Richard Stasney, M.D. Dr. Michael Bloome Dr. Mauro Ferrari Kevin Lipson Ishwaria Subbiah, M.D. Adrienne Bond Carol Sue Finkelstein ‡ Heide Loos Rhonda Sweeney Nana Booker Richard Flowers Gabriel Loperena Becca Cason Thrash Margaret Anne Boulware Patricia B. Freeman Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Dr. John F. Thrash Tony Bradfield Carolyn Galfione Andrea Maher Betty Tutor Walter Bratic Sandra S. Godfrey Michael Malbin Sheila Tweed Janet M. Bruner, M.D. Michaela Greenan Michele Malloy Birgitt van Wijk Melinda Brunger Fred Griffin Ginger Maughs De la Rey Venter Ralph Burch John S. Griffin R. Davis Maxey Alfredo Vilas Gwyneth Campbell William Griffin Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan ‡ Marietta Voglis Mrs. Marjorie H. Capshaw Lynn Guggolz Robert C. McNair Bob Wakefield Sylvia J. Carroll ‡ Claudio Gutierrez Ginger C. Menown Honorable Alastair J M Walton Thierry Caruso A. John Harper III Miss Catherine Jane Merchant ‡ Beth Williams Joseph Carvelli Brenda Harvey-Traylor Jerry Metcalf Margarida Williamson Hon. Theresa Chang Nancy Haywood Mark Metts Elsa Wolf ‡ Anthony Chapman Michael Heckman Christopher B. Miller Mr. R. Alan York Mathilda Cochran Robert C. Hewell ‡ Alexandra Mitch David P. Young Estela Cockrell Jackson D. Hicks Sid Moorhead ‡ Life Trustee William E. Colburn Todd Hoffman Frank Neukomm Christa M. Cooper Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Charlene Nickson Sarah Cooper Hricik ‡ Beverly Ogilvie Efraín Z. Corzo Lee M. Huber John B. Onstott

HGO.org > 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.

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

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

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MyBeautifulBody.com | 713.799.9999 GALLERIA | MEMORIAL THE PRODUCTION FUNDERS: THE HEART OF HGO Photo by Brian Tarr

Judy and Richard Agee Sharon and Lanny Martin Robin Angly and Miles Smith Will L. McLendon Mr. and Mrs. Philip Bahr The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Janice Barrow Medistar Corporation BBVA Compass The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Brown Foundation, Inc. Sara and Bill Morgan Carol Franc Buck Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Anne and Albert Chao Cynthia and Anthony Petrello Louise Chapman C. Howard Pieper Foundation ConocoPhillips Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm Bobbie-Vee and Jerry Cooney Susan and Fayez Sarofim The Cullen Foundation Schlumberger The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Dian and Harlan Stai Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation Texas Commission on the Arts Houston First Corporation Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc. Vinson & Elkins LLP Houston Methodist Margaret Alkek Williams The Humphreys Foundation Dede Wilsey Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker The Wortham Foundation, Inc. Beth Madison Lynn Wyatt Scenes from The Elixir of Love and Faust

Excellence on stage: Houston Grand Opera is internationally acclaimed for it. Ensuring the exceptional quality of our productions and the creativity of our artistic forces — singers, conductors, directors, designers — is our highest priority. The art we make on stage is the foundation for everything we do. Photo by Brett Coomer Photo by Brett

For information about joining The Production Funders, please contact Greg Robertson at 713-546-0274.

12 > SUMMER 2016 THISTHIS ISIS THETHE HOUSEHOUSE INNOVATIONINNOVATION BUILT.BUILT.

Welcome to the Powerhouse.

MOORES SCHOOL OF MUSIC MADISON ARTIST SERIES 2016–2017 OPERA SEASON presents OCT 21–24 THE CRUCIBLE Sept A MASTERCLASS WITH By Robert Ward 14 Lang Lang JAN 26–29 THE INSPECTOR 2016 Moores Opera House Music By John Musto 7:00 p.m. Libretto By Mark Campbell JAN 27–30 THE SECRET MARRIAGE Sept By Domenico Cimarosa Lang Recital 15 Moores Opera House APR 7–10 ROMEO AND JULIET 2016 By Charles Gounod 7:30 p.m. uh.edu/music/opera uh.edu/music NEWS & NOTES 120 HOURS, 120 VOICES The 2016–17 season will be a big one for the HGO Chorus: a chorus of 40 for Elixir, 60 for Faust, and 86 for Götterdämmerung! But what about an HGO Chorus of 120 voices? That’s what our winter performances of the Verdi Requiem will require—the largest chorus ever assembled for an HGO production. Imagine the wave of heart-stopping sound! While a chorus of that size is essential to achieve the high drama of Verdi’s Requiem—HGO Chorus Master Richard Bado promises “goosebumps upon goosebumps”—it also comes with a higher price tag, and that’s where you can help. Expenses will run at $2,500 per Campaign for HGO’s Requiem Chorus, Watch for an email with a link to our chorister, and during a 120-hour online which will be matched by a generous special campaign website, campaign, September 26–30, you can donor for a total of $200,000, doubling 120voices.org, to donate and keep track support this specific need. We hope to the impact of each gift. of the campaign’s progress throughout raise $100,000 through 120 Voices: A the week of September 26–30.

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE For the second year in a row, an alumna of the HGO Studio, the company’s renowned young artist training program, has won the Richard Tucker Award. Soprano Tamara Wilson was in London to attend the Olivier Awards as a nominee for Best Achievement in Opera when she received the news she had won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, often called the Heisman Trophy of Opera.

The Richard Tucker Tamara Wilson Award, which comes with a cash prize of $50,000, is given to a rising American opera singer who is poised for a major international career. HGO Studio alumna won in 2015; previous winners also include Renée Fleming, Stephanie Blythe, HGO Studio alumna Joyce DiDonato, David Daniels, and Lawrence Brownlee. Tammy was an HGO Studio artist from 2005 to 2007. Just months after completing her training, she opened HGO’s 2007–08 season as Amelia in A Masked Ball. She has returned regularly since then, most recently as Leonora in .

14 > SUMMER 2016 Diversify your Assets: Invest in the Arts.

We applaud the artists and patrons who invest in our community.

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HoustonOpera2016.indd 1 7/25/16 12:19 PM NEWS & NOTES RETURN ENGAGEMENT Former President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush honored the cast and creative team of HGO’s spring production of Carousel with their attendance at the April 24 matinee performance. Afterwards, the Bushes good-naturedly met the cast for photos onstage. The Bushes also attended Carousel during his presidency. During HGO’s summer 1990 production of the musical, the July 7 performance was designated the Presidential Performance. It coincided with the 16th annual Economic Summit, hosted in Houston, which brought President Bush together with leaders of Canada, Britain, , West Germany, Former President George H. W. Bush and First , and Japan. Lady Barbara Bush with the cast and conductor of Carousel. Photo by Priscilla Dickson.

IN MEMORIAM

The HGO family was saddened to that the music that he had written learn of the passing of José “Pepe” had such an effect on a group— Martínez on April 23. The longtime many of whom had no idea 90 music director of the famed Mariachi minutes earlier what they were about Vargas de Tecalitlán was knitted to see. Through his son as translator, into the fabric of HGO history when Pepe simply said, ‘Music is a the company commissioned him to language,’ ” summing up the work’s compose and write the lyrics for the powerful impact across cultures. world’s first mariachi opera, Cruzar Cruzar has also been performed at la Cara de la Luna/To Cross the Face San Diego Opera and Opera of the Moon. He teamed up with and was brought back to HGO by Leonard Foglia, who wrote the book, popular demand in 2013. co-wrote the lyrics, and directed. Martínez again teamed up with Cruzar was cheered at its world Foglia for a second mariachi opera, premiere performances in Houston El Pasado Nunca Se Termina/The in 2010, and in 2011, HGO took Past Is Never Finished, seen at HGO it to to open the season for in May 2015. As with Cruzar, it was a Théâtre du Châtelet. “I will never hit, striking a universal chord. “Pepe forget the look on Pepe’s face when had a unique artistic voice and an we opened Cruzar at the Châtelet,” inspiring love for music for his whole recalls HGO Managing Director life,” says HGO Artistic and Music Perryn Leech. “His eyes were wide Director Patrick Summers. “His two open and moist as he came off operas for HGO will linger long in the stage after a six-minute standing memory as moving and immediate ovation from a predominantly French testaments to his deep love of his audience. He was almost overcome Mexican homeland.”

16 > SUMMER 2016 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 HOUSTON 2014 –2017

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

18 > SUMMER 2016 FEATURES

RING LEADERS

PREMIER GUARANTORS Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Mr. John G. Turner and Elizabeth Phillips Mr. Jerry G. Fischer C. Howard Pieper Foundation Houston Grand Opera Donald and Rhonda Sweeney Endowment, Inc. John and Sheila Tweed Medistar Corporation Birgitt van Wijk

GRAND GUARANTORS GRAND UNDERWRITERS Robin Angly and Miles Smith The Brown Foundation, Inc. Mrs. Janice Barrow Houston First Corporation BBVA Compass Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini Carol Franc Buck Foundation Muffy and Mike McLanahan Dr. Jack A. Roth and Norton Rose Fulbright Dr. Elizabeth Grimm The Vaughn Foundation William V. Walker GUARANTORS Louise Chapman UNDERWRITERS Chevron William E. Colburn Mathilda Cochran Frances Marzio Houston Saengerbund Chuck and Michelle Ritter Donna Kaplan and The Stedman West Foundation Richard A. Lydecker Nancy and Sid Williams Beth Madison Sharon and J. Landis Martin Will L. McLendon Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn

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

HGO.org > 19 THE REAL

HGO lost a dear family member on May 28 with the passing of Rudy Avelar, RUDYRUDY our beloved “Prince of Patron Services.” For AVELAR At the car park stand thousands of people, Rudy AVELAR was the face of HGO— when you arrived, standing at the valet stand he always made it wearing his trademark bow special…seeing Rudy tie. A welcome smile from made it feel like now Rudy signaled the start of a the opera is offi cial magical night of opera. and can begin. He had an incredible knack for making everything joyous— just hearing his voice meant something good was in the air.” —Bobbie-Vee Cooney

Left: Rudy and his beloved late mother, Cruz Rudy met his idol, Joan Sutherland, when she came to HGO in —and they became fast friends.

BY JIM TOWNSEND ‘No’ doesn’t exist. ‘Can’t be Development Communications done,’ are words and phrases Manager never uttered by me. ‘Let me see who can help you’ is as bad as it gets. I try to treat everyone with respect and kindness.” —Rudy Avelar

20 > SUMMER 2016 TEXAS ROOTS

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CLIENT: Houston Trust Company FILE NAME: 15HTC118_HGOC_FullPg_Roots_B_GTP TITLE: Texas Roots SPECS: 8.375” x 10.875”, 4C, Non-Bleed MEDIA: Houston Grand Opera - Opera Cues - Full Page DATE: 10/28/15 RUDY AVELAR

Rudy just wouldn’t udy’s HGO career of nearly 40 let people go. If you years began in the box offi ce at Jones Hall in 1977. Aft er working were his friend, you Ras an assistant to , HGO’s were friends for life. then–general director, Rudy created the He kept in touch director of patron services position in with former HGO 1986. With his enthusiasm, generosity, and extraordinary attention to detail, colleagues by hosting Rudy was a natural at meeting the needs the most wonderful of HGO supporters. Christmas parties “Our donors have enough stress in just for them. You their lives without having to worry about their opera tickets,” he once said. had to be former Houston Grand Opera is honored At any HGO party, dinner, or to invite you to the Wortham Th eater HGO to get an performance, Rudy could be found Center on Monday, September 19, at 6:30 invitation!” at the door resolving last-minute p.m., for ¡Viva Rudy!—a celebration of the problems and keeping his Patrons —Laura Chandler life of Rudy Avelar. Th is free event will Circle members happy. He created feature pieces of Rudy’s favorite music a program that other performing performed by some of his most beloved arts companies could only hope to singers, including mezzo-soprano Joyce emulate, and he brought to the task a DiDonato, soprano , and force of personality and an exuberance bass- Patrick Carfi zzi. For Rudy, that could never be duplicated. the Opera was about people connecting over a meaningful and memorable I adored him. Not only did Rudy always have an agenda, but he experience. We can think of no better way was so smooth he could twist your arm and make it feel like a to honor Rudy than to share the art form that brought him so much joy. massage. Whatever he was asking, it was a pleasure to say yes. He loved to pretend that he was a curmudgeon, but he was so To reserve free tickets for ¡Viva Rudy!, kind and generous. Many of my friends said that Rudy always please email [email protected] made us feel like we were the most important people at the by Sept. 12. opera—and it was wonderful.” —Dian Stai Rudy was a Houston treasure...His deep devotion to the comfort of our patrons was delivered with a rare combination of elegance, humanity, and humor. He was one-of-a-kind and the HGO family will miss him profoundly, as we all remember his Top: Lynn Wyatt with life with tremendous Rudy c. 1993. joy and gratitude.” Rudy chaired Opera Ball 2011: My Fair Ladies. —Perryn Leech

22 > SUMMER 2016 With 2016 educational contributions exceeding $25 million, the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM has reached a milestone of committing more than $400 million to Texas youth since 1932.

TM Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Learn more at rodeohouston.com • #RODEOHOUSTON

GrandOperaAd_0616_PS.indd 1 8/17/16 5:32 PM RUDY AVELAR

Rudy loved to give his would call Rudy to ask how opinion...he would look at his summer was or how his me and say, ‘Now that’s what family was doing, and every you should wear when you year he would say, ‘Oh, God, go to the opera.’ He loved Terrilyn, can you believe I’m and appreciated the women still here?’ But he was thrilled in his life, and he loved to to be there year after year. He know how we were doing... put up with a lot of people and how we were dressed. and a lot of demands, but He was very complimentary... he loved the challenge. He unless he didn’t say anything was one of a kind, and I was at all. That’s how you knew just really crazy about him.” you didn’t pass muster! —Terrilyn G. Neale Every year in September, I

Rudy was a unique individual and absent with an illness so Rudy was a wonderful friend. We shared a to be disappointed. On the spot, profound love of opera and of college management contacted Rudy’s football. During the worst time of my cappuccino-domo at home and life, when my wife died suddenly, his received secret instructions over the love and support helped sustain me. I telephone to get it exactly right. In no particularly enjoyed his companionship way was Mr. Avelar just a customer. Rudy’s passion for when we lunched together at Tony’s. Rudy was an institution there, just as sports was well known by all who knew him. He loved an after-meal cappuccino he was to the HGO Patrons whom he Rudy never stopped but only one person could prepare befriended and for whom he enriched taking care of his HGO Patrons—especially it precisely the way he favored. On our opera experience and our lives.” on trips. one occasion this individual was —Richard Lydecker

24 > SUMMER 2016 > Photo by Alastair Muir

JUST THE GO BEHIND THE SCENES OF OUR 2016–17 REPERTOIRE WITH HGO FACTS DRAMATURG PAUL HOPPER.

HGO.org > 25 DONIZETTI The ELIXIR of LOVE

Photo by Brian Tarr

Brown Theater OCT. OCT. OCT. OCT. NOV. Sung in Italian with 21 23 26 29 4 projected English 7 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. translation

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Nemorino Dimitri Pittas Conductor Jane Glover * Adina Nicole Heaston ‡ Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2016–17 Dr. Dulcamara Patrick Carfizzi Director Daniel Slater Belcore Michael Sumuel ‡ Set and Costume Robert Innes Hopkins Giannetta Alicia Gianni ‡ Designer Lighting Designer Simon Mills Choreographer/ Tim Claydon Associate Director Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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

Guarantor: Houston Methodist An Opera North production Grand Underwriters: Margaret Alkek Williams; Lynn Wyatt; ConocoPhillips

26 > SUMMER 2016 ouston Grand Opera opens The Elixir of Love was composed under a magic love potion from the doctor, its 62nd season on a high note a particularly tight deadline of just two hoping it will help him win Adina’s love. Hwith Donizetti’s effervescent weeks. Milan’s Teatro della Canobbiana The elixir turns out to be a bottle of wine, comedy The Elixir of Love. Director needed an emergency replacement when and all end up in their proper places. Daniel Slater’s bright, bubbly production another composer failed to deliver his FUN FACT comes to Houston for the first time, commission on time. Donizetti paired having dazzled audiences of all ages with his trusted librettist Felice Romani American poet Walt Whitman was a with hot air balloon rides and Vespas to adapt an existing libretto by Eugène lifelong opera fan and took particular zipping along the Italian Riviera. A cast Scribe and successfully completed the interest in Italianate works. Whitman of Houston favorites brings new life to work on schedule. When he got word deeply absorbed bel canto melodies and some of Donizetti’s most cherished bel that Rossini wrote was enthralled by the risks taken by the canto tunes, including the celebrated in three weeks, he replied, “Well, what do virtuosic singers. “Oh, sweet music of aria “Una furtiva lagrima.” you expect? He was always so lazy.” Donizetti, how can men hesitate what rank to give you!” he proclaimed. Opera’s BACKGROUND SYNOPSIS influence on Whitman’s poems is palpable Along with Bellini, Hopeless Nemorino laments that he from the titles to the structure—he often epitomized the Italian Romantic spirit lacks the wit and courage to approach replicates the balance of recitative and of the 1830s. When Donizetti began the clever and beautiful Adina, whose aria in his works. When creating Leaves his career in 1818, , head is buried in a copy of Tristan and of Grass, Whitman likely was influenced whose abundantly florid style reigned Isolde. She reads of how Isolde spurned by Italian opera and opera singers above supreme, dominated Italian opera. Tristan’s love until a potion altered their all else. An incredibly prolific composer who fate. The cocksure Captain Belcore worked well under tight deadlines showers Adina with attention, much to and high-pressure commitments, the dismay of Nemorino. Meanwhile, Donizetti composed nearly 70 operas Dr. Dulcamara arrives with all the pomp encompassing both tragedies and and circumstance of the Wizard of Oz, comedies, and more than five hundred visiting the town to sell his phony wares other instrumental and vocal works. to the townspeople. Nemorino buys

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Dimitri Pittas Nicole Heaston Patrick Carfizzi Michael Sumuel

Jane Glover Daniel Slater

The illustrious Jane Glover makes her recently at HGO as Edgardo in Donizetti’s and Alicia Gianni return as the arrogant Houston Grand Opera debut conducting a and Rodolfo in Belcore and Adina’s assistant Giannetta, superlative cast of comedic singing actors. La bohème. HGO Studio alumna Nicole respectively, and Patrick Carfizzi supplies Tenor Dimitri Pittas makes a welcome Heaston lends her warm, nimble soprano his trademark wit and charm for the role return to HGO in one of his signature to the role of Adina, which requires vocal of the quack doctor Dulcamara, one of roles, Nemorino. With a voice that was acrobatics alongside tender, lyrical singing. the most memorable characters in the born for Italian repertoire, Pittas was seen Fellow Studio graduates Michael Sumuel repertoire.

HGO.org > 27 GOUNOD FAUST Photo by Brett Coomer

Brown Theater OCT. OCT. NOV. NOV. NOV. Sung in French with 28 30 5 8 11 projected English 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. translation

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Faust * Conductor Marguerite Ana María Martínez ‡ Production Francesca Zambello Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2010–11 Revival Director Garnett Bruce Méphistophélès Luca Pisaroni Set and Costume Earl Staley Valentin Sol Jin † * Designer Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Original Lighting Designer Ken Billington Fellow Lighting Realizer Michael James Clark Marthe Schwerlein Luretta Bybee * Fight Director Luke Fedell Siébel Megan Mikailovna Samarin † Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ Fellow The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair Wagner Ben Edquist † Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus Endowed Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene Endowed Fellow

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

Premier Guarantor: The General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch A Houston Grand Opera production Memorial Opera Fund

28 > SUMMER 2016 nternationally acclaimed tenor Michael in the work, its influence upon mid-19th child. Méphistophélès interferes and Fabiano makes his HGO debut in century French culture was multifaceted. tensions surge when Faust kills Valentin Ithe title role of the classic tale of a A surge of new plays and paintings based in a duel and Marguerite sees visions of disastrous deal with the devil, returning on Goethe’s work saturated the stages terrors clamoring for her soul in hell. In in Francesca Zambello’s beloved and galleries of France. Michel Carré her madness and despair she kills her production. Faust is French grand opera penned one of these adaptations, and child and is imprisoned, condemned at its most sublime and features a number with the help of Jules Barbier created to death. Faust attempts to liberate of beloved and recognizable arias such the libretto for Gounod’s Faust. The Marguerite but it is too late. as Marguerite’s “Jewel Song” and Faust’s opera centers the drama on Faust and FUN FACT “Salut! Demeure chaste et pure.” Marguerite, altering the heroine’s name from Goethe’s Gretchen. Earl Staley’s sumptuous set designs BACKGROUND employ a technique known as trompe SYNOPSIS The legend of Faust is most often l’oeil, French for “deceive the eye.” associated with Johann Wolfgang von An aged Faust is distressed by his The method uses meticulously realistic Goethe’s two-part tragic German play, inability to answer the riddle of humanity painted curtains to create the illusion despite its roots as early as the 15th in the twilight of his life and scholarly that the depictions exist in three century. During his first stay in Rome, career. He fills his cup with poison but dimensions. Originating as early as composer Charles Gounod became is interrupted by the carefree singing of ancient Greece, the technique creates intimately acquainted with Goethe’s villagers outside. As he curses life and all a forced perspective that allows the Faust. “The work did not leave me; I human aspirations he calls upon Satan to scenery to appear to continue for miles carried it everywhere,” he later recalled. come to his aid. In a flash, the devilishly into the distance. Trompe l’oeil can Hector Berlioz, who also penned an suave Méphistophélès appears with a be seen in Renaissance frescoes, the operatic version of the tale, had a proposition. The devil transforms Faust surreal works of Salvador Dalí, and similar reaction. The springboards for into a handsome young man in exchange even Looney Tunes—Wile E. Coyote this enthusiasm were the first French for his soul in the afterlife. The renewed just can’t seem to catch Roadrunner translations of Goethe’s Part I in the Faust falls for the beautiful and innocent in that painted mural tunnel. 1820s. Given the Shakespearean quality Marguerite, sister of the overprotective and rich synthesis of styles and genres soldier Valentin, and she bears him a

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Michael Fabiano Ana María Martínez Luca Pisaroni

Antonino Fogliani Francesca Zambello Garnett Bruce Earl Staley

American tenor Michael Fabiano makes Ana María Martínez brings her luscious, York, Vienna, and Salzburg. HGO Studio his Houston Grand Opera debut in the title mahogany-hued soprano to the role of artists Sol Jin and Megan Mikailovna role of Faust. The first of four Richard Tucker Marguerite after last year’s triumphant Samarin sing Valentin and Siébel, and Award winners to grace the HGO stage this interpretation of Rusalka. Italian bass- mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee makes her season, Fabiano has brought his critically baritone Luca Pisaroni makes his role HGO debut as Marthe. Antonino Fogliani acclaimed interpretations of opera’s leading debut as Méphistophélès—his debut of (, 2013) returns to conduct the HGO men to the stages of , Deutsche Count Almaviva in HGO’s 2011 production Chorus and Orchestra in Gounod’s rich, Oper , and the . of led to further lyrical score. performances of the role in Chicago, New

HGO.org > 29 JAKE HEGGIE / GENE SCHEER IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE Set design by Robert Brill

DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. World Premiere 2 4 6 8 9 7 p.m. 2:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. Cullen Theater Sung in English with DEC. DEC. DEC. DEC. projected English text 11 13 15 17 2:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m. 7 p.m.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

George Bailey Conductor Patrick Summers Clara Talise Trevigne * Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Mr. Potter/Mr. Gower Robert Orth Director Leonard Foglia Mary Hatch Bailey Andrea Carroll ‡ Set Designer Robert Brill * Harry Bailey Joshua Hopkins ‡ Costume Designer David C. Woolard * Uncle Billy Bailey Lighting Designer Brian Nason Winged Angels, D’Ana Lombard ‡ Projection Designer Elaine J. McCarthy First Class Zoie Reams †* Sound Designer Andrew Harper The Evans Family/John G. Turner Choreographer Keturah Stickann and Jerry G. Fischer Fellow Yongzhao Yu †* Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus Albert and Anne Chao/ Carolyn J. Levy Fellow Federico De Michelis † Beth Madison Fellow

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

Grand Guarantor—The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Based in part on the film It’s a Wonderful Life™ by permission of Guarantors—The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts; Ann and Gordon Getty Paramount Licensing, Inc., and on The Greatest Gift, a story by Philip Foundation; Sara and Bill Morgan; Franci Neely; Cynthia and Anthony Petrello; Van Doren Stern. Co-commissioned and co-produced by Houston The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; Dede Wilsey Grand Opera and . Grand Underwriters—The Cullen Foundation; Tracey D. Conwell Endowed Fund

30 > SUMMER 2016 eginning with an angel on a swing The film was ostensibly a flop when it Hatch and dreaming of traveling the and ending with a sing-along, the premiered in 1946, leaving director Frank world. George’s fate changes when his Bworld premiere of Jake Heggie Capra half a million dollars in debt. The father dies and he must take over the and Gene Scheer’s It’s a Wonderful Life movie didn’t enter the holiday canon family business, fearing that the miserly represents a fun, fresh, family-friendly until the copyright lapsed in 1974: it was Mr. Potter—the richest man in town—will take on the story that inspired Frank available royalty free for the next 20 years, dissolve the company. Capra’s classic 1946 holiday film. finding a new life on broadcast television. George and Mary wed, but as World The tale of the life and struggles of SYNOPSIS War II begins and the Baileys fall on everyman George Bailey has touched hard times, George makes plans to audiences for decades, providing a Clara, Angel Second Class, swings from end his life on Christmas Eve. Clara timely reminder during the holidays that the moon while she counts prayers for intercedes to show him what life human life—no matter how humble—is George Bailey. It is clear that George would look like if he had never lived. a great gift and always worth living. is about to take his own life, and a Enlightened, George realizes that “no Voice is heard assigning Clara to be BACKGROUND one is a failure who has friends.” George’s guardian angel. If she’s able The story of It’s a Wonderful Life comes to save him she’ll be granted her wings FUN FACT from Philip Van Doren Stern’s short story and join the First Class angels. Clara It may be an iconic Christmas movie, but The Greatest Gift. After unsuccessfully tumbles through a heavenly vortex and It’s a Wonderful Life was filmed in the shopping the story to publishers, he finds herself at a wall of doors, each summer of 1946 during a heat wave in decided to share the story as a holiday one providing a glimpse into critical southern California. At one point Frank gift to friends and family, printing 200 moments in George’s life growing Capra had to shut down the production copies of what was essentially a 21-page up in Bedford Falls, . due to dangerously high temperatures, holiday card. One of those copies made She watches as a young George Bailey which explains why characters are visibly it into the hands of producer David saves his brother from drowning in a sweating in key moments of the film. Hempstead, who purchased the movie frozen lake, later dancing with Mary rights for $10,000.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

William Burden Talise Trevigne Robert Orth Andrea Carroll

Jake Heggie Gene Scheer Patrick Summers Leonard Foglia

It’s a Wonderful Life will be the sixth Heggie Affair (2004) as well as Three Decembers, in Houston as the title role in Faust, sings premiere conducted by HGO Artistic and plus ’s A Coffin in Egypt George Bailey, and soprano Andrea Carroll, Music Director Patrick Summers, beginning and the late José “Pepe” Martínez’s Cruzar who delighted audiences last season as with Heggie’s first opera Dead Man Walking la Cara de la Luna. Foglia was also the Carousel’s Julie Jordan, sings his wife, in 2000. Heggie pairs with librettist Gene librettist for the latter two works. Mary Hatch Bailey. The world premiere cast Scheer after their immensely successful includes other Houston favorites Anthony Soprano Talise Trevigne makes her collaborations on Moby-Dick (2010), Dean Griffey as Uncle Billy, Joshua Houston Grand Opera main-stage debut Three Decembers (HGO world premiere Hopkins as Harry Bailey, and Robert Orth as the angel Clara, having previously sung in 2008), and To Hell and Back (2006). as Mr. Potter/ in Heggie and Scheer’s song cycle Pieces Leonard Foglia directs the world premiere Mr. Gower. of 9/11, an HGOco world premiere in 2011. production; he previously directed HGO She also created the role of Pip in Heggie’s world premieres of Heggie’s The End of the Moby-Dick. Tenor William Burden, last seen

HGO.org > 31 JOHN ADAMS/ALICE GOODMAN NIXON IN CHINA Photo by Michael Cooper

Brown Theater JAN. JAN. JAN. JAN. JAN. Sung in English with 20 22 24 26 28 projected English text 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Richard Nixon Scott Hendricks ‡ Conductor Robert Spano Pat Nixon Andriana Chuchman * Director James Robinson Chou En-lai Chen-Ye Yuan ‡ Set Designer Allen Moyer Mao Tse-tung ‡ Costume Designer James Schuette Henry Kissinger Patrick Carfizzi Lighting Designer Paul Palazzo Chiang Ch’ing Tracy Dahl Projection Designer Wendall K. Harrington First Secretary Yelena Dyachek †* Choreographer Seán Curran * Hildebrand Foundation Fellow Associate Choreographer Nora Brickman * Second Secretary Megan Mikailovna Samarin † Sound Designer Brian Mohr * Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ Fellow The Sarah and Ernest Butler Third Secretary Zoie Reams † Chorus Master Chair The Evans Family/John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer Fellow Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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

Guarantor—Vinson & Elkins LLP A Houston Grand Opera production

32 > SUMMER 2016 ohn Adams’s first opera, pleasing harmonies—but it’s the deviance American eyes watch his every move on commissioned by Houston Grand from these rules that illuminates each the evening news. In his first meeting with JOpera in 1987, returns on its unique compositional voice. Minimalists Chairman Mao, Nixon struggles to hold historic 30-year anniversary. Nixon in are as diverse as the Romantics. his ground, but the evening concludes China follows President Richard Nixon’s with a euphoric banquet as the leaders Peter Sellars, director of the original momentous trip in February 1972. As the of both countries raise a glass and toast 1987 production, had the idea for Nixon first U.S. president to visit the People’s peace and fraternity. The following day in China and paired Adams with librettist Republic of China, Nixon sought to Mrs. Nixon is taken on a sightseeing Alice Goodman—the three went on normalize the relationship between the tour concluding with a performance of to collaborate again on The Death of two countries—but the opera is not a revolutionary ballet devised by Mao’s Klinghoffer. At the time of the premiere, merely a retelling of historic events. Nixon wife, Chiang Ch’ing. The Nixons watch it was quite rare to see operatic roles delivers sharply sketched characters and in horror as Madame Mao declares based on living characters, although the a chilling survey of 20th-century power her obedience to her husband’s moral creators each had very different visions struggles by examining a significant code and riots break out. On the of what these real people were actually moment in time when the eyes of the Americans’ last night in Peking, each like. Steinberg expands on this point: world watched history in the making character considers the events they have “The ‘real’ Nixon, who stands behind all on their television screens. Director witnessed, and what they mean. The these, is a polyphonic mélange in himself: James Robinson’s critically acclaimed last thought falls to Chou, who wonders, whose Nixon, which historian’s, which production offers a timely examination of “How much of what we did was good?” witness’s, after all, is the real Nixon?” the role of the media in celebrity politics. Thirty years have passed but Nixon’s FUN FACTS BACKGROUND messages about perception and illusion The music of Nixon in China blends still ring true. “Adams’s music enters the ear easily, the sprawling forms and majestic but it is not simple, certainly not SYNOPSIS orchestration of Wagner and Mahler simple-minded, and never predictable,” with the repetition of Reich and Glass. A hushed chorus sets an atmosphere writes noted American music critic The opera is scored for 51 players but fraught with apprehension and anxiety Michael Steinberg. , a term lacks bassoons, French horns, and as the people of China await the arrival often linked with John Adams, Steve tubas. Adams augments the orchestra of Richard Nixon and his enclave. His Reich, and Phillip Glass, is a moniker with saxophones, pianos, and electronic plane, the Spirit of ’76, is met by Chou that fails to respect the diversity of synthesizer, creating an unfamiliar sonic En-lai and a small group of officials. As the genre. The guiding forces are the cloud in which the action unfolds. the president and his wife disembark, he same—repetition, a steady pulse, and sings of his excitement and unease as

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Scott Hendricks Andriana Chuchman Chen-Ye Yuan Chad Shelton Patrick Carfizzi

Tracy Dahl Robert Spano James Robinson

Maestro Robert Spano returns to conduct first time, alongside soprano Andriana Ch’ing, a role she recorded to critical the HGO Chorus and Orchestra in Adams’s Chuchman in her HGO debut as Pat Nixon. acclaim in 2009. Last seen in Houston demanding score. A champion of new as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Dahl Baritone Chen-Ye Yuan delivers his music, Spano is the music director of both has sung some of the most demanding acclaimed interpretation of Chou En-lai and the Atlanta Symphony and the Aspen coloratura roles on the stages of the tenor Chad Shelton tackles the formidable Music Festival. Scott Hendricks steps Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Chairman Mao. Veteran soprano Tracy into the shoes of Richard Nixon for the and La Scala. Patrick Carfizzi returns Dahl returns to HGO as Mao’s wife, Chiang as the controversial Henry Kissinger.

HGO.org > 33 VERDI REQUIEM

Brown Theater FEB. FEB. FEB. FEB. FEB. Sung in Latin with 10 12 15 17 18 projected English 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. translation

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Soprano soloist * Conductor Patrick Summers Alto soloist Sasha Cooke Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Tenor soloist Alexey Dolgov Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ The Sarah and Ernest Butler Bass soloist Peixin Chen ‡ Chorus Master Chair

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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

Grand Guarantor—Edward and Frances Bing Fund

34 > SUMMER 2016 iuseppe Verdi’s paradigm-shifting anniversary of the death of Manzoni 22 performance for the anniversary of his Requiem comes to Houston May 1874), the road to Verdi’s Requiem death. Verdi offered to cover the cost GGrand Opera for the first time truly began with the death of composer of copying the music (no small feat in the company’s 62-year history. HGO Gioachino Rossini in 1868. Verdi’s disgust in the 19th century) and to conduct joins the ranks of many of the world’s for Italy’s political and military leaders at the piece without collecting a fee. He greatest opera houses that have the time underscored his belief that artists declined any amount of gratitude, presented the piece, often referred to as were the most valuable source of national stating, “It is an impulse, or better, a an opera in disguise. Verdi’s Requiem pride. Four days after Rossini’s death need of the heart that impels me to was first performed in Milan’s Church Verdi contacted his publisher, proposing honor, insofar as I can, this Great Man.” of San Marco on May 22, 1874. Except that a requiem mass be composed by a FACT for this one occasion, Verdi had no group of leading Italian composers and thought of his Requiem remaining in the performed on the one-year anniversary of The Verdi Requiem has a long history church. What he offered the public was Rossini’s death. Verdi was assigned the of providing spiritual balm when words a concert piece, and it was accepted as final movement (“Libera me, Domine”) alone fail. In the 1940s, a group of such just three days after the premiere although countless setbacks prevented Jewish inmates at Terezín concentration with performances at La Scala. The the mass from being performed in its camp learned the piece using a single following month Verdi took the work entirety until 1988. smuggled score. Faced with the horrors to Paris for seven performances at the of their perilous situation, they fought Following the premiere of Aida in 1871, Opéra-Comique and today it is regularly back with art and music and performed Verdi retired from writing for the theater programmed by opera houses across the the Requiem 16 times, most famously but would not, or could not, renounce globe. Contemporary audiences continue on June 23, 1944, before high-ranking composing altogether. Later he was to embrace the secular, cathartic nature officials to support the pretense that famously lured out of retirement to write of this religious music. they were provided a high quality of life and , but at the same at the camp. Reimagining the piece as BACKGROUND time he diligently completed his own a condemnation of their captors, the complete Requiem. Upon hearing of Despite the work’s connection with Italian imprisoned Jews were able to sing what Manzoni’s death, Verdi contacted the poet Allessandro Manzoni (marked by they dared not say. Mayor of Milan, offering to organize a its official title, Requiem Mass for the

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Angela Meade Sasha Cooke Alexey Dolgov Peixin Chen

Patrick Summers Richard Bado

The Houston Grand Opera Orchestra HGO. The voices of 120 singers prepared BBC Proms performance of the piece, a and Chorus take center stage in Verdi’s by Chorus Master Richard Bado, along cornerstone of her repertoire, The Arts Desk masterpiece. Free from the confines of with an HGO Orchestra of 60, will create proclaimed, “Meade’s voice is all gilded operatic convention, Verdi writes some a visceral, core-shaking experience for evanescence and glow.” She is the winner of his most demanding and intricate the audience. HGO Artistic and Music of the 2011 Richard Tucker Award as well choral music in his Requiem. None of his Director Patrick Summers conducts. as the 2012 Artist Award from operas place such heavy responsibilities the Metropolitan Opera. She is joined by International superstar Angela Meade upon the chorus, which will be the largest Houston favorites Sasha Cooke, Alexey makes her highly anticipated HGO debut chorus ever used in a performance at Dolgov, and HGO Studio alumnus as the soprano soloist. After her recent Peixin Chen.

HGO.org > 35 WAGNER GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

Photo by Tato Baeza/Palau de las Arts Reina Sofía

Brown Theater APR. APR. APR. MAY MAY Sung in German with 22 25 29 4 7 projected English 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 6 p.m. 2 p.m. translation

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Siegfried Simon O’Neill Conductor Patrick Summers Brünnhilde Christine Goerke Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Hagen Andrea Silvestrelli Production La Fura dels Baus Gunther Ryan McKinny ‡ Director Carlus Padrissa Waltraute/Second Norn Jamie Barton ‡ Set Designer Roland Olbeter Alberich Christopher Purves Costume Designer Chu Uroz First Norn Meredith Arwady Lighting Designer Peter van Praet Third Norn/Gutrune Heidi Melton * Projection Designer Franc Aleu Woglinde Andrea Carroll ‡ Associate Director Esteban Muñoz Flosshilde Catherine Martin ‡ Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ Wellgunde Renée Tatum The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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

Premier Guarantor—Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer A co-production of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia, and Grand Guarantors—Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.; Medistar Maggio Musicale, Florence Guarantors—Robin Angly and Miles Smith; Mrs. Janice Barrow; BBVA Compass Grand Underwriters—The Brown Foundation, Inc.; Carol Franc Buck Foundation; C. Howard Pieper Foundation; Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Dr. Jack Roth; Houston First; Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker; Beth Madison; Mr. & Mrs. J. Landis Martin; Will L. McLendon; Chevron ouston Grand Opera’s historic give Siegfried a potion that will make and rides her horse into the flames. The first presentation of Richard him forget about Brünnhilde and marry hall crashes down, the Rhine overflows, HWagner’s epic saga Der Ring des Gutrune. Brünnhilde will be forced into and Hagen is dragged beneath the waves Nibelungen comes to its sensational Gunther’s arms and Hagen will collect the by the Rhinemaidens as he tries to steal conclusion with the final installment, all-powerful ring. the ring. As Valhalla burns, the kingdom Götterdämmerung (Twilight of the Gods). of the gods is destroyed. On the mountaintop, Waltraute warns HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Brünnhilde that their father, Wotan, has FUN FACTS Summers conducts the HGO Chorus accepted that the downfall of the gods and Orchestra alongside a venerable The climactic conclusion of the entire is inevitable. To avoid this fate, she cast of international Wagnerian stars. Ring cycle is Brünnhilde’s “Immolation asks Brünnhilde to return the ring to the Watch as the banks of the Rhine overflow Scene.” In nearly sixteen hours of opera Rhinemaidens, but Brünnhilde refuses to and the castle of the gods burns in it may seem unlikely that there could relinquish the symbol of Siegfried’s love. opera’s most spectacular finale. possibly be anything more, anything Brünnhilde hears Siegfried’s horn but is better than what has already been heard. shocked to see a man in Gunther’s form SYNOPSIS Yet, in the finale of Götterdämmerung, appear and tear the ring from her. Three Norns, the daughters of Erda, Wagner delivers a scene of such weave the rope of fate. They recall how it Brünnhilde is dragged to the Gibichung overwhelming intensity that it rattles the was once fastened to the World Ash Tree, Hall, encountering a drugged Siegfried soul. In Brünnhilde’s moment of self- which Wotan destroyed when he used who denies ever knowing her. Broken, sacrifice Wagner weaves together the it to make his spear and establish his she reveals Siegfried’s only weakness as letimotifs of redemption, love, Siegfried, rule over the universe. The rope snaps, Hagen plans his murder. Valhalla, and countless others to sublime breaking the connection between past Siegfried visits the Rhinemaidens but effect. A few years after the cycle and future, and the fate of the gods is does not heed their warning that his premiered at Bayreuth in 1876, Wagner’s sealed. Siegfried emerges from a cave death is imminent if he does not return wife Cosima noted in her diary, “In the with Brünnhilde, placing the ring of power the ring to the Rhine. Hagen restores evening, before supper, [Richard]… on her finger as he departs to pursue his Siegfried’s memory and as he recalls glances through the conclusion of heroic destiny. how he pierced through the fire to win Götterdämmerung, and says that never again will he write anything as At the Gibichung Hall, royal siblings Brünnhilde, Hagen kills him. His body complicated as that.” Gunther and Gutrune meet with their is taken to the Gibichung Hall where half brother (and Alberich’s illegitimate Brünnhilde commands that a funeral pyre son), Hagen. Hagen crafts a plan to be built. She takes the ring from Siegfried

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Simon O’Neill Christine Goerke Andrea Silvestrelli Ryan McKinny Jamie Barton

Patrick Summers Carlus Padrissa

Christine Goerke returns as Brünnhilde HGO studio alumni Jamie Barton and the role of Hagen, and Meredith Arwady, after her triumphant portrayal of Wagner’s Ryan McKinny return as Waltraute/ seen previously in the cycle as Erda, sings heroine in the last two Ring installments. Second Norn and Gunther, respectively, First Norn. All three of HGO’s original New Zealand tenor Simon O’Neill, and soprano Heidi Melton makes her Rhinemaidens (soprano Andrea Carroll singing Siegfried, was seen recently at house debut as Gutrune/Third Norn. and mezzo-sopranos Catherine Martin HGO as Siegmund in Die Walküre and Andrea Silvestrelli (Fafner in previous Ring and Renée Tatum) dip back into the pools the title character in Verdi’s Otello. installments) brings his resonant bass to of the Rhine, bringing the cycle full circle.

HGO.org > 37 MOZART The ABDUCTION from the SERAGLIO Photo by George Hixson

Brown Theater APR. APR. MAY MAY MAY Sung in German with 28 30 6 10 12 projected English 7:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. translation

CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM

Konstanze Albina Shagimuratova ‡ Conductor Thomas Rösner Belmonte Lawrence Brownlee Director James Robinson Osmin Ryan Speedo Green * Set Designer Allen Moyer Blonde Uliana Alexyuk ‡ Costume Designer Anna R. Oliver Pedrillo Chris Bozeka † Lighting Designer Paul Palazzo Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Projection Designer Wendall K. Harrington Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ Pasha Selim Christopher Purves The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair

Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus

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

Grand Underwriter—Margaret Alkek Williams A co-production of Houston Grand Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, , Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Minnesota Opera

38 > SUMMER 2016 ames Robinson’s delightful, Lorenzo Da Ponte. Instead, Abduction Osmin foils their escape and brings them celebrated production of Mozart’s is known for a number of arias that before Pasha Selim. Upon learning that JThe Abduction from the Seraglio push the human voice to the outer limits Belmonte is the son of an old enemy, returns with a new cast of exceptional of possibility. Konstanze’s “Marten the pasha shows magnanimity and frees artists. Transporting the action to the aller arten” (Tortures of every kind) them, declaring that love cannot be won Orient Express in the 1920s, Robinson’s is a notable example that requires by force. production is a cheeky reading of swift coloratura skills and an iron FUN FACT Mozart’s irresistible singspiel. Abduction lung in the vein of the Queen of the pairs acrobatic arias with wisecracks and Night—Mozart wrote Konstanze for James Robinson’s production features sight gags, brilliantly balancing frivolity soprano Caterina Cavalieri and catered a stuffed goat, affectionately known as with solemnity. Spoken dialogue propels his writing to her unique talents. Gladys, in a brief scene that shows the the story forward until the downcast train moving along its journey. The last SYNOPSIS lovers’ story comes to its conclusion. time the production was produced in After being abducted by Turkish pirates, Houston, the HGO staff was disheartened BACKGROUND Konstanze, her servant Blonde, and to learn that Gladys would be moved Mozart’s move to Vienna in 1781 Blonde’s lover, Pedrillo, are being held to the storage warehouse until her coincided with the establishment of a captive by Pasha Selim on his private car next appearance on stage. The staff German opera company, the National aboard the Orient Express en route from adopted Gladys and she now lives in the Singspiel. Joseph II established the Istanbul to Paris. Belmonte, Konstanze’s administrative offices, safe from the harsh company to perform works in German, lover and Pedrillo’s master, comes looking conditions of the warehouse. creating a new German operatic style for her, only to be crossed by Selim’s instead of relying on Italian imports. henchman Osmin. Belmonte eventually The newly created genre was known connects with Pedrillo and they craft a as singspiel, characterized by comedic plan to disguise Belmonte and rescue plots and spoken dialogue. Mozart was their lovers. Pedrillo informs Konstanze of presented with a libretto and could not the escape plan and attempts to remove craft the type of dramatic ensembles Osmin from the equation by getting we see in his later collaborations with him drunk. The lovers are reunited but

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Albina Shagimuratova Lawrence Brownlee Ryan Speedo Green Uliana Alexyuk

Thomas Rösner James Robinson

Viennese conductor Thomas Rösner returns the separated lovers Konstanze and Belmonte. Sonorous American bass Ryan Speedo Green to Houston Grand Opera to conduct an Shagimuratova, an illustrious graduate of the makes a highly anticipated HGO debut as international cast of virtuosic singers. Last HGO Studio, has thrilled Houston audiences Osmin. Ukrainian soprano Uliana Alexyuk seen in Houston for in 2013, with her dazzling interpretations of Lucia di returns to Houston having performed a Rösner enjoys a vibrant career conducting Lammermoor, Violetta in La traviata, the Queen number of roles at Moscow’s Bolshoi Opera at Opernhaus Zürich, Welsh National Opera, of the Night in , and Gilda in and Staatstheater Karlsruhe since her Studio Théâtre de in Brussels, and other . Brownlee returns in one of Mozart’s tenure, and second-year Studio artist Chris European houses. most demanding tenor roles; recent HGO Bozeka sings her lover, Pedrillo. In a bit of appearances include The Italian Girl in Algiers luxury casting, Christopher Purves, our Russian soprano Albina Shagimuratova and and . Alberich in Götterdämmerung, takes the role of American tenor Lawrence Brownlee star as Pasha Selim.

HGO.org > 39 Photo by Hickey-Robertson, Rothko Chapel, Houston, Texas.

PREVIEWPREVIEW THETHE MAGICMAGIC Each season, a staggering 80,000 people come downtown to the Wortham BY KELLY FINN to experience HGO’s magical main-stage season. Did you know that another HGO Director of Development, 120,000 people also experience the magic of HGO outside of the Wortham? Institutional Giving

40 > SUMMER 2016 ntering its ninth season, Houston Grand visual arts community, including our friends Opera’s HGOco initiative continues to from the Rothko Chapel, Th e , redefi ne the way an opera company serves its and Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Don’t miss community—working with everyone in the this unique musical celebration of Houston’s city to share opera that’s meaningful for all social history, rich visual arts, and diversity of Eaudiences and age groups and creating new faith and . works based on who we are. And we’re not Also with strong ties to the visual arts, about to sit still! a song cycle in development titled Th e Houston is the single most culturally Magnifi cent Pretty Boy will be workshopped diverse urban locale in the country, and in September, with two sessions open to the our population is also one of the youngest. public on September 23 and 24 at Th e Menil Houston boasts the second largest veteran Collection. population in the country, and the city has Th e work is inspired by a real-life outsider become a global destination for arts and artist, Henry Ray Clark (1936–2006), a culture. HGOco’s upcoming season celebrates Houston street hustler who was known as all of those communities that make Houston Th e Magnifi cent Pretty Boy. While serving unique through a season of innovative, truly time in Huntsville State Prison, he discovered collaborative projects and performances that his natural talent for visual art through the you won’t want to miss, plus expanded off erings prison arts program. He developed a style that for students and educators. is immediately recognizable, incorporating colorful and intricate geometric patterns; SINGING THE SONG OF HOUSTON his work has been exhibited at Th e Menil HGOco’s Song of Houston program continues Collection, making it an especially appropriate to foster stories, music, and emerging talent. A venue for the workshop sessions, as well as variety of bold new works are in store during the Smithsonian American Art Museum. the 2016–17 season under the banner of Song To develop the song cycle that tells his story, of Houston, an innovative vehicle for telling the HGOco commissioned the Grant Wallace stories of those who call Houston home. Band, a collective of three classically trained Some Light Emerges, a chamber opera composers heavily infl uenced by outsider artists premiering on March 16 and 17, 2017, and the sounds of folk and bluegrass. celebrates the indelible impact of the Rothko Another popular song cycle, Veterans Chapel, a Houston institution. Composed by Songbook, continues this season. Entering its Laura Kaminsky to a libretto by Mark Campbell third year, Veterans Songbook is an ongoing and Kimberly Reed, the opera weaves together series of musical storytelling workshops in the storyline of Dominique de Menil’s vision collaboration with local veterans organizations: and eventual commissioning of the chapel veterans are paired with local composers to from among the stories of fi ve create songs that share their experiences. individual Houstonians who fi nd their own personal meaning from visiting the space. As is the case with all Song of Houston premieres, Some Light Emerges is being developed in close collaboration with Houston’s

As a music teacher, I know how rare it is for elementary schools to have thriving music programs. HGOco is helping to fill that gap for the children in our community who might not otherwise gain valuable exposure to music and arts programs.” —Jamie Abrams Henry Ray Clark

HGO.org > 41 Grant Wallace Band Photo by Joe Tighe

Therapeutic, unifying, and transformative for participants, their friends and families, and audience members, these powerful new songs give voice to the stories of generations of veterans who have served our country. Information on public performances will be posted on our website as details are confirmed. To close out HGOco’s Song of Houston season in May 2017 is Das Barbecü, an over-the-top Texan version of the Ring cycle that we simply could not pass up. A rousing musical theater piece originally commissioned by from composer Scott Warrender to a side-splitting libretto by Jim Luigs, Das Barbecü is a clever take on the Ring myths, set in our great state with no shortage of cowboys, big hair, and rodeos—and, of course, there’s a huge battle among humans, gods, giants, and dwarves for a golden ring. Stay tuned for more details as we lighten up after the devastation of Götterdämmerung

42 > SUMMER 2016 PREVIEW THE MAGIC

with hits like “Makin’ Guacamole” With lead support from the Houston introducing young people to our art and “Rodeo Romeo.” Performance Endowment, we are expanding Opera form by inviting them downtown to the dates and venue will be posted on our to Go!, adding 30 free performances in Wortham to experience a main-stage website at HGO.org/community. venues that may not have regular access to opera. From the thrill of live music to the performing arts. simple joy of riding the escalator up to the ARTS IN THE CLASSROOM Next season the talented Opera Grand Foyer for the first time, students A beloved staple for Houston-area to Go! performers bring back an HGO never forget the first time they came to schoolchildren over the decades, Opera favorite and a celebration of girl power, HGO. This season, students in grades to Go! tours schools, community centers, The Princess and the Pea, and showcase 2–12 and their chaperones will experience hospitals, and other locations bringing a new production that we have a feeling The Elixir of Love with two matinees and 45-minute opera performances to will be a hit around these parts: a Texan one High School Night in November. students, families, and audiences of all version of The Barber of Seville, a funny ages. Kids love opera, and they feed off the bilingual retelling of the Rossini classic in OPERA FOR YOU contagious energy of the talented young which Rosina and Almaviva overcome a HGOco, an integral part of our cast members, who interact with them language barrier, among other obstacles, company, is a laboratory for new ideas and bring to life cherished stories through to be together. Remember, Opera to Go! and talented new creative teams and the magic of live music. is not just for kids. We strongly encourage artists. Each HGOco program is created There is an extremely high demand entire families to bring their friends with Houstonians in mind: Houston, for this program in schools all over and enjoy some of our free community with its diversity of cultures, history, the area and beyond. Not only are performances of Opera to Go! at Miller and music, has no shortage of stories, many school districts facing limited Outdoor Theatre, the Heinen Theatre, and and HGOco is here as a catalyst and a resources, but educators also know how The Deluxe Theater in the Fifth Ward. connector to share them. Why? Because transformative live arts and culture HGOco’s Student Performance when you combine good music and experiences can be for young minds. Series continues a special tradition of a good story, magic happens.

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HGO.org > 43

A N  W E  

Photo by Ben Doyle, Runaway Productions; Rothko Chapel, Houston,Texas. t was only natural, then, that in proposing storyline.” And they did and it totally blew a new, Houston-related chamber opera me away. to HGOco, Kaminsky’s thoughts would Each character they developed, and turn to the famous Rothko Chapel and to all are fi ctional, represents a person living Houston art collector and philanthropist in Houston in diff erent decades from the Dominique de Menil, who conceived ’70s to today, and each one comes to the Composer Laura Kaminsky it. Th e resulting work, Some Light chapel to deal with his or her issues. But clearly recalls the first time Emerges—a collaboration between the unique twist was to add one real-life she saw the work of artist Kaminsky with Mark Campbell and character, who Mark believed needed to Mark Rothko. She was only Kimberly Reed, the same librettist team be central to the opera—Dominique de that worked with her on their successful Menil, the visionary who imagined the three-and-a-half or maybe fi rst opera, As One—will receive its world chapel and then ensured that it was built. four years old and was premiere at HGO in March. Kaminsky Mark and Kim developed a fabulous taking a children’s painting was in Berlin for the European premiere cast of characters, each of whom tells a class at the Museum of of As One when she spoke with HGO’s powerful story, taking us on a journey Laura Chandler in June. from the ’70s to today. In addition, the in New York City. Laura Chandler: Tell me about the chapel itself, in a way, is a character. Of Walking down the corridor opera’s conception. course the space can’t sing, so there’s a lot of music that represents the chapel. to class one day with her Laura Kaminsky: Th e chapel is such an It’s purely instrumental music and it mother, she chanced to look incredibly powerful place and its mission weaves throughout the piece. Dominique is so beautiful—to be a place for people into a room where several de Menil keeps coming back. She has a of all faiths and no faith, a place for Rothko paintings were complex narrative about the space and contemplation and refl ection, a place to the inspiration and struggle with Mark displayed. “I stopped dead be alone with one’s deepest self. I went Rothko to make it, and the issues of in my tracks,” she recalls. to my collaborators, Mark and Kim, and situating it in Houston and having the said, “I’m going to pitch you something And in class, while everyone community embrace it. else was painting trees and general about the chapel, and then if you like it, you have to make it your story.” How does it work out to have two librettists? houses, she was trying to Th ey thought that my general idea to make a Rothko. create an opera that takes place in the Th ere’s a wonderful creative synergy chapel was great, but that my specifi c among the three of us, but whatever ideas about who the characters could be transpires between Mark and Kim when and what stories they needed to tell were they are writing is a mystery to me. But terrible! So, they said, “Okay, we’ll work it clearly works. Th ey bring out more with it and come back with a fully realized from each other than alone. I love their HGO.org > 45 A NEW WORK EMERGES

dialogue. In Some Light Emerges, they trained in a conservatory setting—I was “May I take lessons with you?” thinking assigned each other diff erent characters a psychology major at Oberlin College. I’d study privately in between managing to write. Th en they wove it together So although I was writing music from the some kind of day job. Davidovsky and edited it and they still won’t tell me time I was about 10 or 12, I didn’t have called me up and said, “I’ll get you into who owns which one. I think I’ve got it years of music theory classes. My musical graduate school and you can come and [fi gured out], but they both just wink at language has evolved from listening to a study with me and get your master’s.” me and laugh. I feel like I found a creative wide range of music, and how I listen and What do you think is the most important heart with them. how I hear does not come from study or quality that has added dimension to How would you describe your textbooks—so it’s mine. Which makes your composition? things easier in that I’m not following compositional language? I think it’s listening widely and being open rules, but it’s harder because I don’t always As I write Some Light Emerges, which is to all kinds of music, and really letting it know all the rules. my second opera, I’ve found a desire to seep in. If I like something, it infl uences write singable lines that really stick in So you started out to be a psychologist? me. I love Chick Corea. I’m not a jazz your head and to give each character his Yes, I was a psych major at Oberlin, and pianist, but I love what he does and it sits or her own unique voice. My harmonies I was also studying composition. In my in my head. I love Meredith Monk—she’s are not straight ahead—I would say that last year I was doing a senior honors a dear friend, so I feel both a personal they’re almost like complex jazz chords project in psychology and also writing and professional connection to her work, or Messiaen chords, but they function in my fi rst string quartet for my senior and I love the honesty of her voice. And their own way. recital in the Conservatory, and I kept Chick Corea and Meredith Monk don’t Basically, I have a lyrical voice, yet saying, “I think I don’t really want to seem like they would go together, nor with a pretty complex harmonic sense, fi nish this research project. I really want do Bernstein, Sondheim, Shostakovich, and a strong rhythmic sense that comes to fi nish my string quartet.” I just knew Messiaen, Penderecki, and Rzewski, but from the years I spent living in Ghana I wanted to be a composer—I think I they all touch me and I know that all of and Eastern Europe, studying both West freaked out my family when I told them those sound worlds are in me and have an African drumming and Eastern European I was not going to apply for grad school impact on what I write. folk music. My musical voice comes from in psychology. I sent some scores to Just being in the Rothko Chapel is a a number of things. I wasn’t formally [composer] Mario Davidovsky and said, deeply spiritual experience for many people. What do you, Mark, and Kim want people to come away with after Photo by Matt Gray experiencing Some Light Emerges? Th e idea of a spiritual space, and the power of art to give us room to be our most human selves and to be open to refl ection and to action, I think, is what we’re hoping people will come away with. If you give yourself the time and open yourself, you can fi nd answers. You can fi nd peace. You can deal with diffi culty. You can seek joy. Given your reaction as a young child to seeing that first Rothko painting, visiting the chapel must have been almost overwhelming. When you go in, it’s a little bit cold, almost, and you have to give yourself time to engage with the space before it starts to shimmer and talk. If you go in thinking, “Oh, these are just a bunch of dark paintings in an octagon,” you’re not going to have any kind of experience. But if you From left: Librettists sit there for a while, the light comes in Kimberly Reed and Mark through the oculus and as you look at the Campbell and composer work, it starts to change and move. Th at’s Laura Kaminsky where the imagination takes each of the characters in Some Light Emerges. 46 > SUMMER 2016 Unsung Heroes: An Unusual Journey MOLLY DILL Molly Dill first worked at HGO as far back as 1990 and has worked through a number of jobs before ascending to her current role of general manager. She oversees the Finance and IT Departments; is the principal contact for our landlord, the Houston First Corporation; is responsible for many of the contractual arrangements for the company; and on top of that has for the past year also guided HGOco. So how did she end up in this position with such a

Photo by Patrick Summers wide range of responsibilities?

Perryn Leech: Tell me about where you Mrs. Alban. I realized that these theater Th e new building was only a couple of were born and raised. people were “my people”—it really was a minutes from my family home so I think Molly Dill: I was actually born in lightning-bolt moment. I was performing my parents were happy about that. Vermont and we didn’t move to Houston as well as doing technical work, and I It must be strange for you to see the until I was seven—by then I had a loved it. growth at HSPVA and the planning of younger brother as well. We moved Did that influence your choice of high the new campus downtown. because my father got a job at Rice school? It has changed a lot, but the spirit of the University teaching geology. He later went Absolutely. I told my parents that I school remains. I do remember that very on to work in the energy industry but wanted to go to HSPVA [High School of soon aft er I arrived having the feeling Rice was our reason for coming here. Performing and Visual Arts] and they that this was the school for me—I was Vermont and Texas are quite different— were not exactly against it but it was surrounded by people like me, and I felt how did you like it here? very much “If that’s what you want to at home. We did our shows at the Heinen It was diffi cult. I went to the Awty School, do, then fi ne, but you need to make it Th eatre at HCC so it’s full circle for me which was still being run by Mr. and Mrs. happen.” I had to work on my audition now that HGO has a partnership with Awty, and almost as soon as I arrived, it pieces on my own, although it was them and we use that venue for HGOco began transitioning into a dual language slightly easier to get into the school in performances. As a performer I quickly school. I felt I was very much a misfi t. It those days. HSPVA was based at Houston established my specialty—playing old wasn’t until the eighth grade (and I had Community College then, but we ladies! I realized that acting was a calling a couple of friends who were interested helped move the school into the current and although I really liked it I wanted to in drama) that I met the drama teacher, facility during my fi rst year aft er school. do something that no one else could do.

HGO.org > 47 This page: Molly at Opera Colorado in 1994, when she was an assistant stage manager. Zoli Fabry, master to stage manage a show for him at Main help with music reading. I did meet my propertyman, congratulates Street Th eatre while I was still in school, now-husband, Bruce, who was working Molly after she successfully stepped in on short notice as and that opened the door to work at other in a music store, but then I came back stage manager for Houston theaters during that next year— to Houston to work a whole season with HGO’s , 2006. Stages, Main Street, and Strand Street in HGO. I was then hired as an assistant Opposite page: Molly as Galveston. I also did part-time work at I stage manager at a ninth-grade cheerleader at the Awty School Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!, and by the (LOC), and was able to return to OTSL in end of the year had decided that the summers as well. It was great to have In the stage management office during her freshman theater was my calling. that intensity and amount of work. year at college, 1985 So, back to school? You do like to be busy, don’t you! Yes—I’d researched the It seems that way! I liked being an schools that had specifi c assistant stage manager but I really loved stage management to call shows and left LOC in order to get programs and was accepted more chances to stage manage. Bruce and at Webster University. I decided to move to Maine because I had Webster off ered a four-year an opportunity for more consistent work, bachelor’s degree program in but it was in straight theater. Halfway fi ne arts, and the University’s through that year I got pregnant with my venue is also shared by daughter, Sadie, and when the company Opera Th eatre of Saint manager left I moved into company Louis (OTSL) and the management there. We were in Maine Repertory Th eater of for six years but it was hard because I St. Louis. Th ere was knew there was no possible progression no opera yet for me for me. I had just had my son, Sam, and I at this point, and reached out to Ann Owens at HGO to see I came back and what might be available, as some family worked at Main issues meant that I wanted to get back Street when I wasn’t to Houston. A temporary job came up at school. Eventually in the costume shop so we moved back I did some work at as a family in May 2003 and I was really OTSL as an intern lucky as the perfect job soon came up in while still at school the Technical Department. Th e Rehearsal and really loved it. I was Department was being formed and I lucky enough to work applied and got the position to head it up. with Stephen Wadsworth It allowed me to combine all the skills and there, and we hit it off so I got knowledge that I had gained to that point to observe him in rehearsals on to ensure that nothing was overlooked his next show and really started to and the rehearsal process went smoothly. understand how directors work. While But you soon took on extra still in St. Louis, I also worked with responsibilities outside the Rehearsal It was very mature, to look for a place Francesca Zambello, so I was working Department, didn’t you? where you could be your own person with very good people. Th e relationship and, once in the school, really excel. I did. Greg Weber, who was the technical with Stephen gave me the opportunity and production director, used my I guess so, but also the movie Fame came to come to HGO for the fi rst time, to do experience to help him recruit for the out and that was another “dawning” that a new La clemenza di Tito with him in stage management and assistant director the performing life wasn’t really for me! the Cullen Th eater as part of the Mozart teams among other areas. Although I As I thought about the future, my parents Festival in 1991. missed calling shows, I was happy that were supportive but also were skeptical Local girl makes good, then? my new role was an important part that the theater was really a career. I of holding the department together decided to take a year off aft er high It wasn’t quite that straightforward! I and an opportunity to do good work. school and prove to myself that this was had moved to Chicago by then, as I had When Greg left , we were without a something I really could do for the rest friends there and it is such a great theater full-time replacement for six months of my life. I had worked with a director town, but it was tough to get work there. and it was an incredibly stressful at HSPVA, Jay Julian, and he asked me I was getting some work elsewhere in opera and had studied some piano to and busy time—we had a lot of new 48 > SUMMER 2016 UNSUNG HEROES

clear about how the department was going to move forward. Your knowledge has been absolutely invaluable and I am so grateful you have been able to add other experience as you have moved up to your current role as general manager. Having worked in a lot of diff erent roles and departments has been invaluable for me and allows me to think through things in a detailed and thorough way. I think that’s why we work well together. You are a “big picture” person, and then I make the plan as to how we can accomplish it. I didn’t expect to end up in this role, and I do still sometimes miss the direct contact staff and I had to step into more of a determined not to let anything fail—I of running shows, but HGO is a great leadership role. Th en you arrived! have a passion to make things work and to company and I will always do whatever I I remember having lunch with build better systems to make things easier can to keep the quality and effi ciency of Anthony Freud and Diane Zola and and clearer for other departments. the work we do here as high as possible. talking to them about how I could work You certainly do that, and that is why with you and whether I would still (after a few weeks of trying to fully be needed. I knew my value and was understand each other) I was able to be

Loreen , Old Reserves Buildings, 34” X 46” Violet Samson, Bush Lolly, 32” X 44” Roebourne, Western Australia Roebourne, Western Australia

Be sure to see Booker-Lowe’s exhibition of Australian Aboriginal art at the Pearl Fincher Museum of Fine Arts, Spring, TX, September 24th through December 2016!

Booker • Lowe Gallery aboriginal and contemporary fine art of Australia 4623 Feagan Street Houston, TX 77007 Hours: Open by appointment Tel: 713.880.1541 Email: [email protected] Visit us online at www.bookerlowegallery.com! All images © the artists and Booker-Lowe Gallery.

HGO.org > 49

WELCOME TO THE HGO FAMILY! WELCOME TO THE HGO FAMILY!

BY LAURA CHANDLER

YELENA DYACHEK | SOPRANO SOL JIN | BARITONE Hildebrand Foundation Fellow Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Fellow When she heard her name being called as a Grand Finals winner Sol Jin’s mother was surprised when he won his fi rst singing in the 2016 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, contest at a summer church camp in his native Korea—she didn’t Yelena Dyachek couldn’t believe her ears. “Wait, was that me?” know he had any singing talent. She quickly secured a teacher for she said to herself. Coming on the heels of winning the Ana him, and many more competition wins were to come, recently María Martínez Encouragement Award in HGO’s 2016 Concert including the Audience Choice Award in HGO’s 2016 Eleanor of Arias, it was like a “dream come true,” she said. McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. Just weeks aft er that, “I was brought up with music,” Yelena says, recalling that like fellow incoming Studio artist Yelena Dyachek, he heard his her whole family played instruments and sang at parties. She name being called on the Metropolitan Opera stage as a Grand sang her fi rst solo at the age of three, in church, and attended Finals winner in the National Council Auditions and had a music school. When the family moved from their native Ukraine similar reaction: “Was that my name?” to the , Yelena’s mother found her a voice teacher, He admits to having been “afraid of opera” when he fi rst who began giving her new student classical CDs. Yelena thought started out in the music program at South Korea’s prestigious the recordings were “kind of cool,” but it took a live opera Yonsei University. “I wanted to do art song recitals. In opera, experience, Aida in Sacramento, to completely win her over. you have to be aware of the other singers, and all conductors are Her fi rst connection with HGO came via the Aspen Music diff erent,” he says. But when he actually sang his fi rst role, he Festival and School, where Yelena spent three summers and realized that he enjoyed “becoming someone else”—although he met HGO Director of Artistic Administration Diane Zola, who still fi nds characterization to be the biggest challenge of opera. teaches there. Zola recognized the young soprano’s potential HGO audiences will hear Sol sing the role of Valentin— and encouraged her to “get more serious,” says Yelena. “I heard Marguerite’s brother, a soldier—in Faust in the fall. He says that her. Th e next year, I tried to take away as much as I could from the role is a little high for him, but he is less concerned about everything that I was experiencing.” Yelena also met HGO that than about the characterization of the highly emotional role. Studio Director Brian Speck at Aspen. “I already felt like I was “He has a duty to protect his sister, but he feels she has betrayed connected to the company in some way. It made me feel like this him,” he says. He has at least one thing in common with the is a place I can call home.” character of Valentin: he was a soldier, in Korea, before coming Her roles this season include First Secretary in Nixon to the United States in 2013. He will also cover the role of Chou in China and the leading role of Dominique de Menil in the En-lai in Nixon in China. HGOco world premiere of Some Light Emerges: “I think the Sol will be busy with his work in the Studio, but the coolest thing about HGO is the fact that the company produces wonderful sports stadiums in Houston have not escaped his new works that are related to the community. I like the idea that notice, and he looks forward to catching baseball and basketball Some Light Emerges is inspired by the Rothko Chapel and I am games whenever his schedule permits. really looking forward to it.”

50 > SUMMER 2016 Meet the four young artists Federico De Michelis, who will enter HGO’s Ben Edquist, Mane Galoyan, premier young artist training Megan Mikailovna Samarin, program—the HGO Studio— and Yongzhao Yu, and pianist/ this season. They join returning coaches Kirill Kuzmin and singers Chris Bozeka, Geoffrey Loff.

For opportunities to see the HGO Studio artists perform, please see p. 53.

ZOIE REAMS | MEZZO-SOPRANO PETER WALSH | PIANIST/COACH The Evans Family/John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer Fellow Nancy and Ted Haywood/Stephanie Larsen Fellow Th ere wasn’t a defi ning “aha” moment when Zoie Reams realized “It makes complete sense for me to be in opera,” says Peter she wanted to be an opera singer. Instead, her career choice Walsh. And while he acknowledges that he began focusing on fl owed gradually and naturally from her experience, said the opera as a profession relatively late, everything from childhood second prize winner of the 2016 Eleanor McCollum Competition on seems to have led him in this direction. Concert of Arias. When he was small, his grandmother bought him a toy As a ballet student since the age of three, she was exposed piano. “I started plunking things out by ear—just single-note to—and came to love—classical music. When she got a little bit melodies. And then my parents realized they could recognize older, the Chicago native also enjoyed singing with the Lyric what I was playing,” he says. Th ey signed him up for piano Opera of Chicago Children’s Chorus. During high school, lessons when he was fi ve years old. she attended boarding school in Minnesota and “really got His fi rst opportunity to collaborate as a pianist with singers serious” about singing when she was accepted in the Minnesota came in elementary school, when the class was preparing a Opera’s Project Opera, a program for young singers. From musical program. “I had an immense fear of singing in public, there, she went on to become an apprentice, receiving even even in a group,” says Peter. “So I went home and learned how more opportunities to learn and perform. Th e highlight of her to play all the songs by ear on the piano. Th e music teacher was experience with Minnesota Opera was performing in the chorus amenable to me accompanying the class instead of singing.” in a main-stage production of Roberto Devereux. But it was solo piano performance he studied at the Zoie will be learning and singing a lot of new music University of Southern California Th ornton School of Music. during the season at HGO—in fact all of her roles this During his training, he accompanied quite a few singers in season are in contemporary repertoire. She will perform art song, but he’d had “almost no experience” in opera when, in the world premieres of It’s a Wonderful Life and Some nearing the end of his doctoral program at USC, he decided to Light Emerges and will also sing Th ird Secretary in Nixon branch out and was accepted at the Music Academy of the West. in China—“I’m excited to sing it, but I’m honestly a little Th e fi rst opera he worked on was Stravinsky’s extremely diffi cult nervous because I haven’t sung any Adams, or much Th e Rake’s Progress. It was a “baptism by fi re,” he says, but he also music like his—and it’s very diffi cult,” she says. realized he had found his path. Th e HGO Studio has been on Zoie’s radar for a long time Collaborating with singers is uniquely satisfying, he says. because of its emphasis on performance opportunities. “It’s “You are tasked with carrying them through and supporting always been at the top of my list,” she says, “and I’m attracted them and being there for them on a human level, not just a to the city as well.” Th is summer, she did her shopping for a musical level. When I can think about those things, the music Houston apartment long distance, from Cooperstown, New just comes out better.” York, where she performed Tituba in Th e Crucible and covered Th is season at HGO, Peter will coach Th e Elixir of Love, the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd with Glimmerglass Nixon in China, HGOco’s world premiere of Some Light Emerges, Festival Opera. and Götterdämmerung. HGO.org > 51 Houston Grand Opera STUDIO

Clockwise from far left: HGO’s Bradley Moore coaches YAVA participant Nicholas Newton. Soprano Tamara Wilson (third from top right), an HGO Studio alumna and this year’s Richard Tucker Award winner, had dinner with YAVA participants one evening and discussed the realities of the profession. YAVA training includes movement and stage combat classes.

ummer is a time when with one of opera’s biggest prizes, the Town, South Africa, following receipt of the HGO Studio artists Richard Tucker Award, following last a Tucker Study Grant in March. YAVA scatter throughout the year’s win by another HGO alum, Jamie alumni Samantha Hankey (2012, 2014), world, singing roles with Barton. Current Studio artist Megan Jamez McCorkle (2012), Rebecca festival companies, learning Mikailovna Samarin won a study grant Pedersen (2013), and Theo Hoffman Slanguages, and preparing for the from the Tucker Foundation. At the (2015) also received major awards busy season to come. Here at HGO, Gerda Lissner Competition, Kevin Ray this spring. A number of YAVA alumni we’re working hard to prepare for the took first prize in the Wagner Division, have now entered major young artist upcoming year, and reflecting on a and D’Ana Lombard won second prize programs, including the HGO Studio. very successful 2015–16 season. in the General Division. Two incoming Looking forward to the 2016–17 season, Studio artists, Yelena Dyachek and At the end of May, four distinguished we are thrilled to welcome soprano Sol Jin, were among five Grand Finals artists completed their time in the HGO Yelena Dyachek, mezzo-soprano Zoie winners in the prestigious Metropolitan Studio—congratulations to sopranos Reams, baritone Sol Jin, and pianist/ Opera National Council Auditions. Pureum Jo and D’Ana Lombard, mezzo- coach Peter Walsh (find out more about soprano Sofia Selowsky, and pianist/ This May’s Young Artists Vocal Academy them on pp. 50–51). Returning to the coach Sahar Nouri! We’ll miss seeing (YAVA) was an extraordinary success Studio are soprano Mane Galoyan, these wonderful artists every day, but for the 16 young singers who attended. mezzo-soprano Megan Mikailovna we’re excited that all four have major YAVA participants, all undergraduate Samarin, Chris Bozeka and engagements planned in the coming year students, spend a full week at HGO, Yongzhao Yu, baritone Ben Edquist, to kick off their post-Studio careers. where they receive coachings, voice bass-baritone Federico De Michelis, lessons, and group sessions with HGO and pianist/coaches Kirill Kuzmin and Every spring brings a new round of staff. The training is paying off, as YAVA Geoffrey Loff. competitions and awards in the opera alumni have also fared well on the world, and Studio artists and alumni Please join us for our annual Studio competition circuit: Nicholas Brownlee are always well represented. Alumna Showcase on September 11 (2:30 (2011) recently won the Belvedere Tamara Wilson was honored this year p.m.) and 13 (8 p.m.). Accompanied International Singing Competition in Cape by our pianist/coaches, the Studio singers will perform scenes from La bohème, , The Rake’s Progress, Dialogues of the Carmelites, I Capuleti e i Montecchi, L’italiana in Algeri, Lucia di Lammermoor, L’heure espagnole, and Faust. We always program this production with the artists’ specific strengths in mind, which makes for an unforgettable event that really shows them off! Subscribers can reserve free tickets by contacting Justine Welch at 713-546-0270. À la carte operagoers can join us by purchasing tickets online or by calling Customer Care (713-228-OPERA or 800-626-7372). —Brian Speck, HGO Studio Director

52 > SUMMER 2016 HGO Studio FACULTY & STAFF

Brian Speck, Director Adam Noble, Movement Instructor The Young Artists Vocal Academy Carol Lynn Lay Fletcher Bradley Moore, Music Director Christa Gaug, German Instructor (YAVA) is generously underwritten Endowment Fund Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair Sponsored by John G. Turner and by Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. William Randolph Hearst Endowed Jeremy Johnson, Studio Jerry G. Fischer Wakefield and the HGO Guild. Scholarship Fund Administrator Enrica Vagliani Gray, Italian Additional support for YAVA is Charlotte Howe Memorial Instructor provided by Mr. Patrick Carfizzi, Scholarship Fund , Artistic Advisor Jonathan Ludwig, Russian Dr. David and Mrs. Norine Gill, Elva Lobit Opera Endowment Stephen King, Director of Vocal Instructor and Gwyneth Campbell. Fund Instruction Julie Muller, English Instructor Hotel accommodations for YAVA Marian and Speros Martel Sponsored by Jill and Allyn Risley Nicole Uhlig, French Instructor generously provided by the Foundation Endowment Fund Patrick Summers, Conducting Tomer Zvulun, Showcase Director Lancaster Hotel. Erin Gregory Neale Endowment Instructor and Coach Edward Berkeley, Guest Acting Fund Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Instructor Additional support for Shell Lubricants (formerly Patrick Harvey, Resident Coach Gerardo Felisatti, Guest Coach Houston Grand Opera Studio Pennzoil-Quaker State Company) Peter Pasztor, Resident Coach Kevin Miller, Guest Coach is provided by the following Fund funds within the Houston Grand Emily Senturia, Resident Coach Laurent Philippe, Guest Coach Mary C. Gayler Snook Endowment Larry Rachleff, Conducting Opera Endowment, Inc.: Fund The HGO Studio is grateful for the Instructor The Gordon and Mary Cain Tenneco, Inc. Endowment Fund in-kind support of McGladrey, LLP. Brian Connelly, Piano Instructor Foundation Endowment Fund Tara Faircloth, Drama Coach Thomas Capshaw Endowment Fund

HGO Studio ARTISTS 2016–17

Chris Bozeka, tenor Mane Galoyan, soprano Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Bahr/ The Evans Family/John G. Turner and Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Fellow Jerry G. Fischer Fellow Federico De Michelis, bass-baritone Sol Jin, baritone Megan Mikailovna Samarin, Beth Madison Fellow Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Fellow mezzo-soprano Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Fellow Yelena Dyachek, soprano Kirill Kuzmin, pianist/coach Hildebrand Foundation Fellow Bill and Melinda Brunger/ Peter Walsh, pianist/coach Jill and Allyn Risley Fellow Nancy and Ted Haywood/ Ben Edquist, baritone Stephanie Larsen Fellow Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Geoffrey Loff, pianist/coach Terrell Tone Owen Memorial Endowed Lynn Guggolz/Ms. Marianne Kah Fellow Yongzhao Yu, tenor Fund at the Community Foundation of Albert and Anne Chao/Carolyn J. Levy Abilene Endowed Fellow Fellow

Don’t miss these rapidly approaching opportunities to hear THE DATE HGO Studio artists! Purchase tickets to the events listed here online at HGO.org/scheduletickets/calendar or by telephone at SAVE 713-228-OPERA. STUDIO SHOWCASE RECITALS AT RIENZI SEPT. NOV. The singers and pianists of Artists of the HGO Studio the HGO Studio perform in 17 perform in the intimate and 11 a program of opera scenes elegant salon at Rienzi, &13 in Wortham Center’s Cullen & 20 the decorative arts wing of Theater, on Sept. 11 (2:30 the Museum of Fine Arts, p.m.) and Sept. 13 (8 p.m.). Houston, at 1406 Kirby Drive. Free to season subscribers; Nov. 17 (7:30 p.m.) and Nov. nonsubscribers may purchase 20 (5 p.m.). mezzanine tickets at HGO.org.

HGO.org > 53 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.

SUMMER OASIS In June of 2016, over 100 young singers sang, danced, wrote music and words, and built sets and props during HGO’s summer Opera Camps. New this year, the Opera Experience camp was expanded to two, week-long offerings, and after-camp care was available for all sessions. Opera Experience campers sang classics from the Broadway songbook by such composers and lyricists as Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe, Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Irving Berlin. And, importantly, all Opera Experience campers left camp with an audition song prepared, to help them continue their musical journeys. Create an Opera campers wrote the libretto and composed the music for their own opera based on the children’s book Rosie Revere, Engineer. They created the set and props, and interpreted Rosie’s inventions in recycled materials, paint, glue, and even their own bodies. Our oldest campers, in the Art of Opera, spent two weeks rehearsing The Emperor’s New Clothes with music adapted from Mozart’s operas. This culminated in a performance for parents and friends at the Heinen Theatre on the central campus of Houston Community College.

READY FOR COLLEGE The Bauer Family High School Voice Studio Class of 2015–16 presented its graduation recital at Duncan Recital Hall at on Sunday, May 15. This adjudicated recital is the culmination of HGO’s scholarship program that offers talented high school seniors a year of voice lessons, master classes with HGO main-stage artists, and assistance with the college audition process—all with the aim of helping them through the audition process and into vocal music programs at their chosen institutions. The first place scholarship of $3,000 went to Pepperdine University on behalf of Nathaniel Thompson, while Madison Mackey won the second place scholarship of $2,000, which goes toward her tuition at Boston University. The third place prize of $1,000 went to Louisiana State University on behalf of Leah Moody.

54 > SUMMER 2016 COMING SOON!

Opera to Go! embarks on the 2016-17 In the season with a revival of The Princess and spring, the Pea, music by Mary Carol Warwick Opera to Go! is and libretto by Mary Ann Pendino. A thrilled to present a brave princess faces dragons and ogres, brand new bilingual (English/ but will a single pea prove her greatest Spanish) production of The Barber challenge? This operatic treatment of of Seville where language divides a the classic Hans Christian Andersen young couple as much as a stubborn tale features an unsteady prince, uncle. Opera’s most famous barber, an overbearing queen, and a Figaro, plays the role of translator as mountain of mattresses. The Rossini’s sparkling, witty score takes Princess and the Pea tours to center stage. The Barber of Seville will area schools and community tour from January 30 through May 19, centers from September with free public performances at the 19 through December 16. Heinen Theatre on the central campus of Highlighting the tour are three Houston Community College, February free performances at Miller 3–4 at 9:30 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. daily. Outdoor Theatre, September To book performances, visit HGO.org/operatogo 21–23 at 11 a.m. daily. or call 713-546-0231.

HGOco FUNDERS

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

HGO.org > 55 Supporters SPOTLIGHTS

Claire Liu and Joe Greenberg

GARY ADAMS CLAIRE LIU HON. ALASTAIR J. M. WALTON HGO warmly welcomes Deloitte as the Houston Grand Opera is thrilled to have Houston Grand Opera is delighted to latest addition to our wonderful network Claire Liu as a member of the HGO welcome the Honorable Alastair J. M. of corporate supporters. Deloitte provides Board of Directors and as vice chair of the Walton as a new Houstonian and one industry-leading audit, consulting, tax Finance Committee. of our newest HGO Trustees. Alastair, and advisory services to many of the As a child, Claire took violin lessons Australia’s consul general and senior world’s most admired brands, including and was exposed to opera through trade commissioner to Houston, 80 percent of the companies on the listening to classical music records that has been an opera fan since he was Fortune 500. Deloitte has more than her uncle left behind at her parents’ house. a young teenager, when his father 220,000 professionals delivering services Th e fi rst time Claire attended an opera (then consul g eneral in Los Angeles) in audit, consulting, fi nancial advisory, was in January of 1987: HGO’s production took him to his fi rst performance. risk management, tax, and related services of Verdi’s Aida that opened the newly built “Th e opera completely takes you in more than 150 countries and territories. Wortham Th eater Center. She and her into a diff erent world,” Alastair said, Houston principal Gary Adams husband, Joe Greenberg, were instantly aft er being mesmerized by HGO’s 2016 serves as an HGO Trustee on behalf hooked and became HGO subscribers. production of Rusalka. “It doesn’t matter of Deloitte. Gary has over 30 years of “HGO has a bright future,” Claire how bad your day is, when you end it with experience in the oil and gas industry, and says. “Th e leadership is fantastic...I the opera, it always ends up well.” Alastair serves as a leader within Deloitte’s Global love working with Patrick and Perryn, adds that the people he has met through Oil and Gas practice. especially with regard to the strategic his support of HGO, the Houston Ballet, A proud supporter of many fi ne planning process. Th is is an exciting time and the Houston Livestock Show and arts organizations like HGO, Deloitte to be on the board, as we appeal to a wider Rodeo have become like a second family provides leadership through fi nancial audience and meet the needs of Houston’s to him. Alastair loves Houston, calling it a support, pro-bono work, and volunteer changing demographics.” city of “civility and optimism.” work in innovative ways with the Houston Claire recently retired from A career investment banker, Alastair community. We’re thrilled to welcome LyondellBasell Industries, where she has been chairman of BKK Partners, an Deloitte to the HGO family and we thank led the corporate fi nance team. Joe is independent corporate advisory fi rm them for their support of our main-stage the founder of Alta Resources, LLC, serving the Asia Pacifi c region, and he season and special events. and serves on the board of YES Prep is a former co-chairman and managing public schools and Teach for America. director of Goldman Sachs Australia. Claire and Joe have two children, Robert Prior to joining Goldman Sachs, Alastair and Margaret. When not working to worked with Credit Suisse First Boston strengthen public education and the for 14 years. Alastair is also a supporter arts, Claire and Joe enjoy the outdoors. of the Sydney Dance Company, the Claire has run marathons in all 50 Houston Ballet, the Museum of Fine Arts states, and the entire family went on Houston, and the Menil Collection. He a recent adventure climbing to the has four children who live in Australia summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. and London.

56 > SUMMER 2016 Photo by Wilson Parish

Robert Turner, Kathryn Miller, Peter Speliopoulos, John G. Turner, and Jerry G. Fischer Alex and Astley Blair Scotty Arnoldy and Beth Madison

SIEGFRIED CAST PARTY To celebrate the April 16 opening of Siegfried, the penultimate installment of HGO’s four-season Ring cycle, lead sponsors John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer hosted cast and crew at a late-night buffet at The Dunlavy. Guests danced well into the night to the rocking tunes of New Orleans band Gal Holiday and the Honky Lynn Guggolz, Richard Paul Fink, and Tonk Revue. Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue Sharon Fink

CAROUSEL CAST PARTY Following the April 22 opening night performance of Carousel, Jana and Scotty Arnoldy hosted HGO patrons at a late-night reception in their stunning home. Perryn Leech and Patrick Summers introduced the cast and creative team to great applause.

France Aline, Patrick Summers, Rob Ashford, Lynn Wyatt, Beau Miller, and Kevin Ryan Duncan Rock and Andrea Carroll

Jana and Scotty Arnoldy Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniel Kevin Black and Tony Bradfield Photo by Wilson Parish

HGO.org > 57 OPERA BALL AUCTION LUNCHEON On March 10, more than 60 longtime HGO supporters gathered at Tony’s for the annual Opera Ball Auction Luncheon, hosted by Special Events Committee Chairman Denise Bush Bahr. Each attendee was asked to bring a gift card for her favorite Houston establishment, resulting in a “Ladies of the Opera” auction package worth over $6,000. LAUREATE SOCIETY

Olga Bush, Anne Mendelsohn, and Denise Bush Bahr

Donna Josey Chapman and Zane Carruth and Lynn Guggolz Kristina Somerville

YOUR LEGACY COUNTS!

Who will enjoy world-class opera because of your generosity? Elizabeth Abraham Colombowala and Angela Perry Pat Breen and Mario Gudmundsson By including HGO in your will or as a beneficiary of your retirement plan or insurance policy, you become a partner with HGO in perpetuating the art form we love, sustaining its vibrant good health for future generations. As a member of the Laureate Society, your legacy gift helps ensure opera forever in Houston.

For more information, please contact Photo by Priscilla Dickson Richard Buffett at 713-546-0216 or [email protected].

HGO.org/LaureateSociety Irene Bourke, Danielle Ellis, Rini Ziegler, and Barbara Van Postman

58 > SUMMER 2016 PATRONS CIRCLE RECITAL On May 2, members of HGO’s Patrons Circle were treated to a special performance by mezzo- soprano Stephanie Blythe at The Corinthian. In town making her HGO debut in Carousel, Ms. Blythe wowed the crowd with chestnuts from the American songbook. Hosted by Jackson and Company, the event honored those who provide core support to HGO. Patrick Harvey and Stephanie Blythe Helen Shaffer and Mariquita Masterson

Eileen and George Hricik with Donna Josey Chapman Karl and Heide Loos Perryn Leech, Milton Townsend, and Jackson Hicks

Your Support MatterS Ticket sales alone cover only 25 percent of HGO’s annual costs. We rely on the generosity of donors like you to aid us in creating world-class, uncompromising operatic programs. Your donation to HGO grants you exclusive benefits like valet parking, Masterson Green Room access, and invitations to our behind-the-scenes lecture series. Will you support HGo with your annual Fund gift today? To donate or for more information, visit HGO.org/Giving or contact Jennifer Wijangco at 713-546-0704 or [email protected].

HGO.org > 59 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 and Rusalka. 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 the Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown, has Founders Council in 2010. The company is been a treasured partner of HGO since 1984. Based in Houston, the honored to have Robin on the HGO Board of Foundation distributes funds principally for education, community Directors and as a member of HGO’s Laureate service, and the arts, especially the visual and performing arts. HGO is Society. The couple is very familiar with the view tremendously grateful for The Brown Foundation’s leadership support, from the HGO stage as well—both are former which has been critical to the company’s unprecedented growth and singers in the HGO Chorus. Robin and Miles have been donors to HGO success in recent years. special events, the Young Artists Vocal Academy, and HGO’s Ring cycle. ANNE AND ALBERT CHAO DENISE AND PHILIP BAHR Anne and Albert have been subscribers and Denise and Philip have supported the Opera supporters of HGO for the past two decades. since 1996, underwriting special events and While serving as president and CEO of Westlake main-stage productions. They have a special love Chemical Corporation, Albert finds time for for the HGO Studio, where opera’s rising stars numerous cultural causes. He is a member of the have benefited from their support since 2000. HGO Board of Directors and was the co-chair Denise, currently an HGO Trustee, is a former of Inspiring Performance—The Campaign for Houston Grand Opera. member of the HGO Board of Directors, and the Opera has been Over the years, the Chaos have sponsored HGO special events, the privileged to have Philip’s participation on the board since 1998. The HGO Studio, HGOco’s Song of Houston, and main-stage productions. Opera was honored to have the couple chair the 2010 Opera Ball. The couple has also supported the HGO Endowment through their family foundation, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation. JANICE BARROW Jan’s relationship with HGO extends back CONOCOPHILLIPS to the early 1980s, when she and her late For over 30 years, ConocoPhillips has supported husband, Dr. Thomas Barrow, first became various programs at HGO, from special events subscribers. Jan is a member of HGO’s to main-stage productions, including the Laureate Society and the Founders Council, 2015–16 season-opening production, Puccini’s contributing to HGO’s main stage and special Tosca. In 2009, the company gave a major events. She is also supports the HGO Studio, having underwritten multi-year grant to establish ConocoPhillips several rising opera stars over the past 20 years. Jan’s late husband, New Initiatives, a far-reaching program that Tom, former chairman of the HGO Board of Directors, was allows HGOco to develop new and innovative instrumental in the concept and construction of the Wortham education and community collaboration programs. Janet L. Carrig, Center. A lifelong lover of music, Jan is past president of the Houston ConocoPhillips’s senior vice president, legal, general counsel, and Symphony and has a special affinity for Puccini and Wagner. corporate secretary, serves on the HGO Board of Directors and also as chairman of the HGO Endowment Board.

60 > SUMMER 2016 BOBBIE-VEE AND GERALD COONEY HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND Bobbie-Vee and Jerry have been HGO RODEOTM subscribers since 1979 and have generously For more than 15 years, the Houston Livestock supported HGO productions of the most Show and Rodeo™ has supported HGOco’s arts education programs, beloved classics of the Italian repertoire, helping more than one million Houston-area students experience the including Aida, La bohème, Tosca, and Madame magic of live opera through Opera to Go!, the Student Performance Butterfly. The Cooneys also supported HGO’s Series, and Storybook Opera. A Section 501(c)(3) charity, the Show has innovative commission Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (2010, 2013), the committed more than $400 million to the youth of Texas since 1932. world’s first mariachi opera. They have been active supporters of all The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest livestock HGO special events for many years, from the Opening Night Dinner, show and rodeo, with more than 2.4 million attendees in 2015. which Bobbie-Vee chaired in 2004, to Concert of Arias, which the couple chaired together in 2014. HGO is honored to have Bobbie-Vee HOUSTON METHODIST serve on the HGO Board of Directors. This year, Houston Grand Opera celebrates 10 seasons of partnering with Houston Methodist, THE CULLEN FOUNDATION the official health care provider for HGO, and For more than three decades, The Cullen Foundation has been a vital the Center for Performing Arts (CPAM). The member of the HGO family. Established in 1947, the Foundation has only center of its kind in the country, CPAM comprises a specialized more than a half-century history of giving generously to education, group of more than 100 physicians working collaboratively to address health care, and the arts in Texas, primarily in the Greater Houston area. the specific demands placed on performing artists. In addition to The Opera is very grateful for the Foundation’s longstanding leadership the first-rate medical care CPAM provides HGO artists, Houston support of HGO’s main-stage season. Methodist also generously supports HGO special events and main-stage productions such as Aida (2013–14), The Magic Flute (2014–15), and THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS last season’s The Marriage of Figaro. HGO is fortunate to have Dr. C. The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts has been a lead underwriter of Richard Stasney, founder of CPAM, and Dr. Mauro Ferrari, president HGO’s main-stage season for nearly 30 years. The Trust was established and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute, serve as Houston from assets of The Cullen Foundation to specifically benefit Texas Methodist’s corporate trustees. performing arts institutions, particularly those within the Greater Houston area. In recent years, The Cullen Trust has provided lead THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION support for memorable productions of Carmen, A Christmas Carol, and Based in Liberty, Texas, the Humphreys Foundation has been a major the 2015–16 production of The Little Prince. underwriter of HGO’s main-stage season since 1980. Geraldine Davis Humphreys (d. 1961), a member of the pioneer Hardin family of MARIANNE AND DAVID DUTHU Liberty, Texas, bequeathed her estate to the Humphreys Foundation, Marianne and David have been HGO which was formally established in 1959. The Foundation provides subscribers since 1991 and members of the support for performing arts in Texas and college scholarship funding Founders Council for Artistic Excellence for students in the arts. Linda Bertman, Louis Paine, and Robert Wall since 2009, and David is a member of the serve as trustees of the Humphreys Foundation. In recent years, the HGO Board of Directors. The couple chaired Foundation’s generous support has helped make possible unforgettable Concert of Arias in 2011, an event they have main-stage productions, recently including Così fan tutte and Rigoletto. generously supported for many years, and were the event’s honorees in 2013. David, an engineer, is the founder of Texas Energy Engineers, DONNA KAPLAN AND RICHARD LYDECKER Inc./CCRD Partners Consulting Engineers. Marianne is retired from Richard Lydecker has been an HGO subscriber Vopak North America, a chemical storage company. When not working and supporter for more than three decades. He or attending opera, they love to collect art and to restore rare vehicles. is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ENDOWMENT, INC. Richard has great passion for opera, especially Established and incorporated in 1982, the Houston Grand Opera Wagner, and he and Donna are underwriters for Endowment (HGOE) is a vital financial management tool that HGO’s Ring cycle. He is also a special events sponsor, supporting Opera ensures HGO has a reliable, regular source of income. Today, the Ball and Concert of Arias. Endowment contains over 50 named funds, both unrestricted and restricted, and annually distributes 5 percent of the Endowment’s NANCY AND RICHARD KINDER average market value to HGO, making it the largest single annual Nancy and Rich became HGO subscribers funder of the Opera. HGOE leadership includes Chairman during the 2000–01 season. Rich is Janet L. Carrig, Senior Chairman Terrylin Neale, and several co-founder, chairman, and CEO of members of the HGO Board of Directors. Last season, HGO was Kinder Morgan, and Nancy is a focused thrilled to have HGOE as the premier guarantor of Siegfried. philanthropist whose work has positively impacted communities throughout Houston and beyond. Rich and Nancy established the Kinder Foundation in 1997 to provide impactful gifts to projects dedicated to urban green space, education, and quality-of-life issues in the HGO.org > 61 Greater Houston area. HGO is indebted to the Kinders for their MEDISTAR visionary support in areas including general operations, main-stage Medistar is a full-service real estate development productions, special events, and especially HGOco, the Opera’s company that specializes in the design, innovative education and community collaboration initiative. development, fi nancing, and construction of hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, cancer CLAIRE LIU AND JOSEPH GREENBERG centers, integrated medical plazas, medical Claire and Joe have subscribed to HGO for offi ce buildings, and other medical facilities for many seasons and are members of HGO’s the health care industry. Th e company is led by Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. founder Monzer Hourani, an internationally Claire recently joined the HGO Board of renowned engineer whose innovations of many Directors and serves on the Finance Committee. building techniques and concepts have had a great impact on the U.S. She is newly retired from LyondellBassell construction industry. Medistar joined the HGO family as a Grand Industries where she led the corporate fi nance team and was formerly Guarantor of Wagner’s Ring cycle (2014–17). a managing director with Bank of America. Joe is founder, president, and CEO of Alta Resources, L.L.C., a private company involved in the THE ANDREW W. THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION development of shale oil and gas resources in North America. Claire HGO is honored to partner with Th e Andrew and Joe support many organizations, with particular emphasis on MELLON FOUNDATION W. Mellon Foundation, based in New York educational organizations including YES Prep and Teach for America. City. Th e Mellon Foundation’s opera program An avid runner, Claire has completed a marathon in all 50 states. supports a small number of companies demonstrating a longstanding commitment to artistic innovation by developing and presenting BETH MADISON ambitious new works or those rarely heard. Mellon Foundation– nd Th is season marks Beth’s 22 as an HGO supported projects include last season’s world premiere of Prince of subscriber. HGO has had the honor of her Players by legendary American composer Carlisle Floyd and HGOco’s support since 2004. Past chair of the HGO Song of Houston initiative. Board of Directors, she currently serves on the Executive, Finance, and HGO Studio MILLER THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD Committees, and is an active member of Th e Miller Th eatre Advisory Board (MTAB), HGO’s Founders Council. Beth generously supports the HGO Studio, appointed by Houston’s mayor and confi rmed special events, and main-stage operas. Beth has been inducted into the by the City Council, acts as a steward of public Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame and serves on the University of and private funds to provide professional- Houston System Board of Regents. caliber performances free to the public at the Miller Outdoor Th eatre for the cultural JANICE AND ROBERT MCNAIR enrichment of Houston’s diverse communities Janice and Bob McNair, longtime HGO and visitors to the city. HGO’s partnership subscribers, are well known for their incredible with MTAB extends back nearly six decades, philanthropy and for bringing the NFL back making great opera accessible to thousands of to Houston. Bob is chairman and CEO of Th e Houstonians each year through live main-stage McNair Group, a fi nancial and real estate fi rm, and Opera to Go! performances at Miller Th eatre. June Deadrick is an and owner of the Houston Texans. Th e Robert HGO trustee representing the Miller Th eatre Advisory Board and Janice McNair Foundation provides leadership support to Houston- area organizations supporting educational opportunities for youth. SARA AND BILL MORGAN Th e McNair Foundation is the lead supporter of HGO’s Holiday Opera Series. Bob is a former chair of the HGO Board of Directors (1995–97). Sara and Bill have been supporting HGO since 2002. Sara is a co-founder of the Houston M.D. ANDERSON FOUNDATION Center for Contemporary Craft , where Th e M.D. Anderson Foundation has provided general operating she currently serves on the board. Bill is a support to HGO for more than 30 years. Th e Foundation was co-founder of the Kinder Morgan companies established in 1936 by Monroe Dunaway Anderson, whose company, and the retired vice chairman and president Anderson, Clayton and Co., was the world’s largest cotton merchant. of Kinder Morgan, Inc., and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP. Th e While the Foundation started the Texas Medical Center and was Morgans support HGO’s special events and main-stage productions, instrumental in bringing to it one of the premier cancer centers including the holiday opera series, represented this season by It’s a in the world, the Foundation’s trustees also looked to improve the Wonderful Life. HGO is thrilled to have Sara serve on the wellness of communities through the arts. HGO is privileged to have HGO Board of Directors and as a member and past chair of the such a longstanding and committed partner as the M.D. Anderson HGOco Committee. Foundation in enhancing the quality of life for all Houstonians. FRANCI NEELY Franci is among the opera’s strongest friends and advocates, having been a subscriber since the 1983–84 season and one of the fi rst members of the Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. Franci is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and serves on the Special Events and Governance Committees. She was the inaugural chair of the HGOco Committee and generously supports HGOco initiatives as a guarantor. OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION fabulous one-of-a-kind auction items to generously supporting our HGO is privileged to count Occidental main-stage opera season and special events, the Tenenbaum team helps Petroleum Corporation (Oxy) among its HGO sparkle and shine. newest corporate supporters. Oxy is an international oil and gas exploration and JOHN G. TURNER & JERRY G. FISCHER production company with operations in the John and Jerry, based in Baton Rouge, United States, Middle East, and Latin America. Louisiana, travel around the world to HGO is grateful for Oxy’s leadership support experience the best that opera has to offer. HGO of HGOco, the Opera’s innovative education subscribers and donors for over a decade, the and community collaboration initiative that couple’s leadership support of Wagner’s Ring brings performances to over 100,000 students, cycle (2014–17) was the largest gift ever made to families, and teachers each season. HGO is thrilled to have Marcia HGO for a single production. John, a shareholder at Turner Industries Backus, a long-term HGO supporter and senior vice president and Group, is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and is also chair of general counsel at Oxy, serve on the HGO Board of Directors. the HGO Studio Committee. Jerry is a board member of Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra. In recent years John and Jerry have supported CYNTHIA AND ANTHONY PETRELLO HGO main-stage productions and special events. They are members of Cynthia and Tony are deeply committed to the Founders Council for Artistic Excellence, and John is a member of improving the lives of Houstonians through HGO’s Laureate Society. their support of health care and the arts. Tony is the chief executive officer of Nabors Industries, the world’s largest land-based drilling VINSON & ELKINS LLP contractor. Cynthia, a community leader, HGO has been privileged to have the support currently serves on the HGO Board of Directors and Special Events of international law firm Vinson & Elkins for Committee, and chairs the HGOco Committee. HGO is grateful for nearly three decades. V&E is deeply committed the Petrellos’ support of HGOco and the main stage, underwriting last to empowering the communities in which it season’s Prince of Players. The Petrellos also support HGOco programs serves. It has enriched the cultural vibrancy of for children, including the Student Performance Series and Opera to Go! Houston by supporting HGO through in-kind legal services and contributions to special events and main-stage SCHLUMBERGER productions, including last season’s Rusalka. The Opera is honored to Schlumberger, Ltd., is a leading corporate have two V&E partners serve on its board of directors: from left, Mark contributor to HGO, supporting the main R. Spradling and Glen A. Rosenbaum. stage and a wide range of special projects over nearly 20 years. Schlumberger’s leadership MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS gift was integral to launching HGO’s ongoing Margaret, a longtime singer, possesses a deep affordability program, the NEXUS Initiative, in affinity for all music, and especially opera, 2007—since then, NEXUS has made great opera supporting HGO for over 30 years. Currently, accessible to more than 200,000 people. HGO Margaret continues her parents’ legacy as is honored to count Schlumberger among its most dedicated corporate chairman of their foundation, where her supporters. Dan Domeracki, vice president of government and industry son Charles A. Williams serves as president. relations, serves on the HGO Board of Directors. HGO is humbled by Margaret’s incredible generosity and dedication to the company, both as an individual donor and through her family’s DIAN AND HARLAN STAI foundation. She has endowed the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, held Harlan, a member of the HGO Board of by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers, and is a member Directors, and Dian are charter members of HGO’s Laureate Society. A valued member of the HGO Board of HGO’s Founders Council for Artistic of Directors, Margaret was the honoree of the 2009 Opera Ball and Excellence, and their leadership support chairman of the 2014 Ball. includes main-stage productions, the HGO Studio, the HGO Endowment, THE WORTHAM FOUNDATION, INC. and special events. The Stais have also sponsored HGO Studio In the 1980s, the Wortham Foundation artists and they host annual recitals featuring HGO Studio artists contributed $20 million to lead the capital at Mansefeldt, their renowned Fredericksburg ranch. HGO campaign for the Wortham Theater Center, was privileged to recognize Dian and Harlan as the honorees guided by businessman Gus S. Wortham’s of Opening Night 2008 and the 2014 Concert of Arias. early recognition of the vital role of the arts in making Houston an appealing place to live and TENENBAUM CLASSIC JEWELERS work. During their lifetimes, Gus and his wife, Lyndall, were dedicated HGO is thrilled to welcome Tenenbaum to improving the lives of Houstonians. The Foundation continues Classic Jewelers as the preferred jeweler to support the Opera through the Wortham Foundation Permanent of Houston Grand Opera. For 40 years, Endowment and generous annual operating support. Tenenbaum has been Houston’s premier destination for unique, rare, and collectible estate jewelry with styles ranging from antique to vintage to contemporary. Owners Tony Bradfield and Kevin Black are familiar faces at HGO performances, recitals, and events. From donating

HGO.org > 63 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. Gabriel Loperena, Chairman PLATINUM CIRCLE—$50,000 OR MORE Birgitt van Wijk Mr. William E. Colburn Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Mr. and Mrs. James M. Vaughn Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cooper Mr. Tony Bradfield and Mr. Kevin Black Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Vilas Mr. Efraín Z. Corzo and Mr. Andrew Bowen Mrs. Pat Breen 1 Anonymous Dr. and Mrs. Mark D’Andrea Louise Chapman Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Davenport III Mr. Max Chapman and SILVER CIRCLE—$15,000 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Davidson Mrs. Donna Josey Chapman Samuel and Omana Abraham Ms. Anna M. Dean Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Barnes Mr. Ugo DiPortanova Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Dr. Jack A. Roth Mr. Karl-Heinz Becker and Dr. Gudrun H. Becker Dr. and Mrs. William F. Donovan Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Hevrdejs Joan Hacken Bitar, MD Connie and Byron Dyer Alfred W. Lasher III Bill and Melinda Brunger Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Galfione Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Dr. and Mrs. William T. Butler Sandy and Lee Godfrey Frances Marzio Ms. Janet Langford Carrig Mr. and Mrs. Fred Griffin Will L. McLendon The Robert and Jane Cizik Foundation Mrs. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Mr. and Mrs. Randy Crath Joan Blaffer Johnson Jill and Allyn Risley Gislar and Victoria Donnenberg Ms. Carey C. Jordan Glen A. Rosenbaum Mr. and Mrs. David Dorenfeld Ann and Stephen Kaufman Mr. Fayez Sarofim Ms. Patricia B. Freeman and Mr. Bruce Patterson Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Ms. Anne Schlumberger Mrs. William H. Guggolz Jr. Jeff and Gail Kodosky John and Becca Cason Thrash Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Haywood Mrs. Connie Kwan-Wong Lynn Wyatt Lee M. Huber Ms. Michele La Noue and Mr. Gerald Seidl Zane and Brady Carruth Ms. Marianne Kah Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Mrs. Stephanie D. Larsen Dr. Mike Lemanski GOLDEN CIRCLE—$25,000 OR MORE Perryn and Caroline Leech Rochelle and Max Levit Mr. Thomas R. Ajamie Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Loos Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Mr. Joseph Matulevich and Ms. Sasha Davis Sara and Gabriel Loperena Meg Boulware and Hartley Hampton Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritter Ms. Michele Malloy Anna and Joel Catalano Mr. Georgios Varsamis Ms. Ginger Maughs and Mr. Byron Rusk Mathilda Cochran Mr. William V. Walker Mr. R. Davis Maxey and Ms. AnnMarie Johnson Amanda and Morris Gelb Mr. and Mrs. David S. Wolff Ginger and Hugh Menown Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Metts Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini BRONZE CIRCLE—$10,000 OR MORE Dr. and Mrs. William E. Mitch Carolyn J. Levy Mr. Edward H. Andrews III Mr. Sid Moorhead M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ The Honorable Mary E. Bacon Terrylin G. Neale Booker Lowe Gallery Mr. and Mrs. Philip Belanger Mrs. Maria Papadopoulos Kathrine G. McGovern Kathryn and David Berg Susan and Ward Pennebaker Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Alex and Astley Blair Mr. and Mrs. Smith Ray Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Margaret and Todd Reppert Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Ms. Adrienne Bond Kelly and David Rose Beverly and Staman Ogilvie Walt and Nancy Bratic Mr. and Mrs. David Rowan Ms. Elizabeth Phillips Mr. Robert J. Bruni Mrs. Craig M. Rowley Gloria M. Portela and Richard E. Evans Dr. Janet Bruner Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Mrs. Henry K. Roos Mr. Ralph Burch Mrs. Helen A. Shaffer Hinda Simon Mrs. Mary H. Cain Ms. Jennifer Sickler Kristina and Paul Somerville Ms. Gwyneth Campbell and Ms. Alice Simkins Dr. and Mrs. C. Richard Stasney Mr. Joseph L. Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Sweeney Marjorie H. Capshaw Marietta Voglis Mrs. John Ben Taub Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Carnes Joseph Waiter and Irene Bourke Ignacio and Isabel Torras Mr. and Mrs. Thierry Caruso Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wakefield Phoebe and Bobby Tudor Dr. Peter Chang and Hon. Theresa Chang Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Weiner John C. and Sheila R. Tweed Neil and Elizabeth Chapman Margarida and Penn Williamson

64 > SUMMER 2016 Mr. R. Alan York Dr. Alice R. McPherson Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burleson Mr. and Mrs. David P. Young Jerry and Sharyn Metcalf Mr. Patrick Carfizzi Nina and Michael Zilkha Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Misamore Mr. and Mrs. Juan M. Carreon 2 Anonymous Marsha L. Montemayor Ms. Nada Chandler Glenna and Joe F. Moore Mr. Robert N. Chanon ARTISTS CIRCLE—$5,000 OR MORE Drs. John and Karen Oldham Mr. Bob Chapman Dr. and Mrs. Glenn B. Anderson Ms. Claire O’Malley Alain and Maryline Chepda Bill Arning and Mark McCray Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Mr. and Mrs. Jack Christiansen Mr. Paul R. Aruffo and Dr. Eva Salmeron Mr. and Mrs. Irving Pozmantier Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Paul and Maida Asofsky Lou and Joan Pucher Ms. Judy Clark Gilbert and Golda Baker Radoff Family Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Clarke Mr. and Mrs. William C. Baker Ms. Judith Raines Dr. Nancy I. Cook Dr. James A. Belli and Dr. Patricia Eifel Mr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Robertson Mr. Robert L. Cook and Mrs. Giovanna Imperia Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher Drs. Alejandro and Lynn Rosas Tucker Coughlen Drs. Henry and Louise Bethea Ms. Mary K. Schratwieser Ms. Joyce Cramer Kenneth Bloom and Sheila Swartzman Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schreiber Dr. Sharon S. Crandell Lisa Brenskelle and Elmer Ledesma Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Shen Mr. and Mrs. Markley Crosswell III Mr. Chester Brooke and Dr. Nancy Poindexter Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Spradling Sharon Curran-Wescott and Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Mrs. Robert Springob and Earle “Skip” Wescott Jess and Patricia Carnes Laredo Construction, Inc. Shelly Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Drs. Vivek and Ishwaria Subbiah Ronada R. Davis, DDS and Eric S. Johnson Mrs. John R. Castano Mrs. Ann Gordon Trammell Dr. and Mrs. Roupen Dekmezian Mr. Anthony Chapman Dr. Elizabeth Travis and Mr. Jerry Hyde Mr. John Ellis Drewer Julie and Bert Cornelison Mr. and Mrs. M. C. “Bill” Walker III Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dubrowski Mrs. Leslie Barry Davidson and Ms. Jane L. Williams Ms. Eliza Duncan Mr. W. Robins Brice Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Williams Carolyn and David G. Edgar Isabel and Danny David Nancy and Sid Williams Miss Kellie Elder Ms. Linnet Frazier Deily Roger and Sherrill Winter Mrs. James A. Elkins III Anna and Brad Eastman Drs. Jorge and Gunilla Zeballos Mr. and Mrs. John D. Ellis Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler Ms. Sharon Ettinger Mr. and Mrs. Ron G. Embry Jr. 4 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Eubank Mr. Scott Ensell Diane Lokey Farb Parrish N. Erwin Jr. PATRONS CIRCLE—$4,000 OR MORE Nanette Finger Mary Ann and Larry Faulkner Ms. Jacquelyn M. Abbott Carol Lay Fletcher Gerard and Christine Gaynor Dr. Paul Abell and Ms. Amy Sisson Ms. Jackie Ford Dr. Layne O. Gentry Mr. and Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Wanda and Roger Fowler Dr. Eugenia C. George Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins Mr. Ronald Franklin Ms. Josette M. George Mr. William Altenloh and Mr. John E. Frantz Dr. Wm. David George Mrs. Susan Saurage-Altenloh Drs. Daniel and Jean Freeman Jr. Dr. and Mrs. David P. Gill Chris and Michelle Angelides Dr. Alice Gates and Dr. Wayne Wilner Leonard A. Goldstein and Helen B. Wils Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Ardell Mrs. Geraldine C. Gill Dr. and Mrs. David Y. Graham Dr. and Mrs. Roy Aruffo Nancy Glass, M.D. and John Belmont, M.D. Joyce Z. Greenberg Ms. Catherine Baen and Mr. Matt Hennessey Mary Frances Gonzalez Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Jim Baird and Terri Lacy Adelma S. Graham Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Ms. Thu Nhi Barrus Ms. M. A. Graiff Ms. Zahava Haenosh Mr. William Bartlett Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Grieves Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Dr. Barbara Lee Bass and William F. Guest Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr. Mr. Richard S. Marshall Ms. Janet Gurwitch Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer Mr. and Mrs. Dewuse Guyton Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Bickel Ms. Barbara Hagood Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Drs. Gloria and E. Wiley Biles Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Halsey Mrs. Olive Jenney Mrs. Thomas W. Blake Mr. Frank Harmon III and The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr. Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon The Honorable Melinda Harmon Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kidd Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Dr. Linda L. Hart Mrs. Marilyn Lummis Thomas and Sally Bolam Mr. and Mrs. Doug Haynes Wynn and Shawna McCloskey Mr. and Mrs. George Boss Hugh Helferty and Sarita Karve Gillian and Michael McCord Mr. Jeffery Bosworth and Mr. Timothy Bammel Mrs. J. W. Hershey Mr. William H. McDugald Mr. Al Brende and Mrs. Ann Bayless Kay and Michael W. Hilliard Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglas McMurrey Jr. Dr. Laura E. Sulak and Dr. Richard W. Brown Deborah and Michael Hirsch Mr. Matthew Brown Mr. Edward L. Hoffman

HGO.org > 65 PATRONS SOCIETY, Continued

Alan and Ellen Holzberg Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy, M.D. Mr. Raymond Wallace Mr. and Mrs. John H. Homier Susan and Edward Osterberg Mr. Thomas Warden Dr. and Mrs. Gabriel N. Hortobagyi Robert and Rheta Page Mike and Kim Weill Mr. and Mrs. George M. Hricik Suzanne Page-Pryde and Arthur Pryde Ms. Fabene Welch Mr. Mark F. Jacobs Capt. and Mrs. Kim Parker Ms. Bryony Jane Welsh Mrs. Colleen A. Jennings Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pascoe Thao and Jeff Westenhaver Mr. and Mrs. James K. Jennings Jr. Mr. and Mrs. W. Wayne Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Wayne White Dr. and Mrs. Basil Joffe Ms. Emilee Peters Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Whitehead Barbara Hoffman Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Scott V. Pignolet Ms. Pippa Wiley Sultana Kaldis Dr. Mary Poag and Mr. Mark Poag Dr. Courtney Williams Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Kauffman Susie and Jim Pokorski Ms. Catherine Wintz Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Rice Kelly Ms. Sina Raouf Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wise Mr. Anthony K. Mrs. Gerald Rauch Ms. Debra Witges Mr. and Mrs. George B. Kelly Darlene Walker and Reagan Redman Mr. Sam T. Yates III Ms. Nancy J. Kerby Dr. David Reininger and Ms. Laura Lee Jones Drs. Edward Yeh and Hui-Ming Chang Mr. John Keville Mr. Serge G. Ribot Mr. Stephen A. Zeff Thomas Kimbrough and Elizabeth Scribner Ms. Gwen Richard John L. Zipprich II Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kolb Mr. Robert Richter Jr. 3 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Sam Koster Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Rinehart Jr. Terri Lacy Mr. and Ms. Walter Ritchie YOUNG PATRONS—$2,000 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. Randall B. Lake Mr. and Mrs. James L. Robertson Dr. Genevera Allen Lily Kobayashi Landress Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose Mr. and Mrs. Bryan W. Bagley Ms. Angela Lane Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Rose Ms. Emily Bivona Mr. and Mrs. John Lattin Dr. Nico Roussel Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl Mr. Richard Leibman Sharon Ruhly Mr. Alexander Brewer Dr. and Mrs. Ernst Leiss Miss Judy C. Sauer Dr. John Cangelosi Robert and Joyce Levine Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Liesner Wolfgang Schmidt and Angelika Schmidt-Lange Mr. Anthony Chapman Dr. Alison Lin and Mr. Steven Spears Mary K. Schratwieser Mrs. Bailey Dalton-Binion and Mr. Greg Binion Mr. and Mrs. H. Arthur Littell Ms. Sue Schwartz Mr. and Mrs. Tracy L. Dieterich Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp and Tucker Coughlen Mr. Marcelo Selowsky Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Lisa Long John Serpe and Tracy Maddox Ms. Rebecca Ferrell and Mr. Stephen Ferrell Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Lynn Trey and Adrienne Shepherd Ms. Kathleen Gerber Joan H. Lyons Ms. Denmon Sigler and Mr. Peter Chok Tina and Sam Governale Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach Gwen Simms Ms. Anna Gryska Mr. Neal S. Manne and Ms. Nancy D. McGregor Mrs. Phyllis Singer Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Ms. Diane M. Marcinek Dennis and Kagari Smith Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Renee Margolin Ms. Karen M. Somer Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Gary and Shannon Margolis Mr. and Mrs. Howard Speight Mrs. Connie Kwan-Wong Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stamatedes Mr. Andy Lee Mr. and Mrs. J. Mathalone Richard P. Steele and Mary McKerall Mr. and Mrs. Robert Little Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mazow CDR and Mrs. James B. Sterling III Sara and Gabriel Loperena Mrs. Walter W. McAllister Jr. Mr. Jeffrey Stocks Rachel and Daniel MacLeod Mrs. Mollie E. McBride Mr. and Mrs. John T. Stough Jr. Ms. Charyn McGinnis Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Dr. and Mrs. Mark Stuart Mr. Justin Mitchell and Ms. Katherine Butler Mr. and Mrs. D. Patrick McCelvey Dr. and Mrs. Paul Subrt Mr. Arturo Muñoz Holguin and Ms. Jessica Roper Mrs. Sarah McCollum Mr. and Mrs. John M. Sullivan Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Pancherz Mimi Reed McGehee Dr. and Mrs. Demetrio Tagaropulos Ashley Parks Mrs. Theresa L. Meyer Neil and Kris Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peters Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Miller Ms. Susan Thompson Ms. Rosemin Premji and Ms. Farida Abjani Kathryn Miller Dr. Barbara Tilley Mr. and Mrs. Marcos Rodriguez Mr. James R. Moffitt Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tobias Dr. Nico Roussel Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Dr. and Mrs. Karl Tornyos Ms. Tiffany Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Trainer Jr. Dr. Juan Santamaria Mr. Wiley L. Mossy Jr. Jay and Charlotte Tribble Kenneth and Deborah Scianna Mr. and Mrs. David Murphy James M. Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Mr. Nicholas Shea Linda C. Murray Mr. and Mrs. Eliot P. Tucker McKinley Smith Erik B. Nelson and Terry R. Brandhorst Mr. Paul Turner and Mr. David Rast Mr. and Mrs. Aaron J. Stai Mrs. Bobbie Newman Ms. Janet Upole and Mr. Kirk Hickey Drs. Vivek and Ishwaria Subbiah Mr. John Newton and Ms. Peggy K. Cramer Ms. Barbara Van Postman Dr. Pavlina Suchanova

66 > SUMMER 2016 Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Tinis Mr. James M. Duerr and Dr. Pamela Hall, Mr. Barry Narlines, Baltimore, MD Mr. and Mrs. Hector Torres San Antonio, TX Ms. Claudia Nelson and Ms. Anne Morey, Mr. Jeffrey Watters Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Easterby, Boerne, TX College Station, TX Mr. and Mrs. Jason Williams Michael Freeburger and Matilda Perkins, Dr. James F. Nelson, San Antonio, TX Mr. Andrew Wooley Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Ms. Danna Orr, Dallas, TX Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright Dr. Wm. David George, Austin, TX Mr. and Mrs. Harley Rex, Huntsville, TX Drs. Raj and Sri Yalamanchili Mr. Raymond Goldstein and Ms. Jane T. Welch, Ms. Wanda A. Reynolds, Austin, TX San Antonio, TX Ms. Ellen Rienstra, Beaumont, TX NATIONAL PATRONS—$2,000 OR MORE Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr., Austin, TX Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritter, Kansas City, MO Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins, San Antonio, TX Mr. Charles Hendrix, Rancho Mirage, CA Ms. Mary Roediger, Houston, TX Ms. Joan Allison, Corpus Christi, TX Sarah Lou Hill, Baton Rouge, LA James and Nathanael Rosenheim, Bryan, TX Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Allison, Dr. Victor S. Ho and Mrs. Arielle Lawson, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Samarin, Murrieta, CA Lake Charles, LA Beaumont, TX Dr. Barry E. Schwarz, Dallas, TX Dr. Robert E. Anderson, City, OK Edward and Patricia Hymson, San Francisco, CA Mr. Marcelo Selowsky, Bethesda, MD Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ardoin, Lafayette, LA Sammie Jakle, Santa Fe, NM Mr. and Mrs. Victor E. Serrato, Pharr, TX Dr. Anna C. Armstrong, San Antonio, TX Spencer A. Jeffries and Kim Hawkins, Robert and Nancy Shivers, San Antonio, TX Mr. and Mrs. John A. Barbe, Sunrise Beach, TX Chicago, IL Ms. Alice Simkins, San Antonio, TX Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher, The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Tone Owen Bogota, Colombia, Houston, TX DeRidder, LA Endowed Fund, Fredericksburg, TX Mr. Richard A. Berry, Nacogdoches, TX Mr. Kyle Kerr, Irving, TX Eleanor and Philip Straub, Metairie, LA Dr. Dennis Berthold and Dr. Pamela Matthews, Thomas Kimbrough and Elizabeth Scribner, Dr. and Mrs. Clark D. Terrell, Boerne, TX College Station, TX Galveston, TX Mr. and Mrs. William F. Threlfall, Ridgway, CO Evan Black and Susan Ross Black, Vail, CO Jeff and Gail Kodosky, Austin, TX Dr. David N. Tobey and Dr. Michelle Berger, Kenneth Bloom and Sheila Swartzman, Dr. and Mrs. Morton Leonard Jr., Galveston, TX Austin, TX San Antonio, TX Mrs. Sharon G. Ley and Mr. Robert F. Lietzow, Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer, Mr. Richard E. Boner and Ms. Susan Pryor, Austin, TX Baton Rouge, LA Austin, TX Ms. Viki L. List, Bryn Mawr, PA Mr. Jerre van den Bent, Dallas, TX Linda Brahaney, Midland, TX Mr. George Loudder and Dr. Martha Loudder, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Vastola Jr., Dallas, TX Mr. Stephen R. Brenner, Tacoma, WA College Station, TX Mrs. Rons Voogt, Huntsville, TX Mr. Robert J. Bruni, San Antonio, TX Cathleen C. and Jerome M. Loving, Bryan, TX Dr. Karan Watson, College Station, TX Dr. Bernd U. Budelmann, Galveston, TX Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin, Denver, CO Margaret and Alan Weinblatt, San Antonio, TX Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler, Austin, TX Mrs. Walter W. McAllister Jr., San Antonio, TX Valerie and David Woodcock, College Station, TX Louise Chapman, Corpus Christi, TX Ms. Taddy McAllister, San Antonio, TX The Honorable Eugenia Wright and Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Cloudman III, Boulder, CO Kathryn Miller, New York, NY Dr. Francis Wright, San Antonio, TX Ms. Eleanor Connan, Miccosukee, FL Mr. James R. Moffitt, Albuquerque, NM Mrs. Ruth Wright, Dallas, TX Dr. and Mrs. Richard Day, Horseshoe Bay, TX Mr. and Mrs. John R. Monk Jr., Lufkin, TX 1 Anonymous Dr. Thomas S. DeNapoli and Mr. Mark Walker, Marsha L. Montemayor, Houston, TX San Antonio, TX Brucie and Andrew Moore, Goliad, TX Mr. John P. Muth, Wimberley, TX

HGO 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 Mr. Jeffrey W. Carr Mrs. Wendy Germani Ms. Cynthia Akagi and Mr. Tom Akagi Dr. and Mrs. Gary Clark Mr. William E. Gipson Mrs. Nancy C. Allen Mr. and Mrs. James M. Clepper Marion and Gary Glober Dr. John P. Anderson Ms. Sybil Crawford Dr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr. Grace and Mark Baker Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Dauber Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Huebsch Drs. Nathaniel and Marcia Barnes Mr. Nicholas Eoff Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hutton Mrs. Deborah S. Bautch Mrs. Ronald P. Fischer Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Drs. Robert S. and Nancy Benjamin Susan Fitts Elisabeth and George Laigle Mrs. John E. Bixby S. Scott and Gina Gaille Ms. Angela Lane

HGO.org > 67 DONORS, Continued

Dr. Helen W. Lane Peggy DeMarsh Jim and Linda McCartney Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Longstreth Dr. and Mrs. Richard Denne Dr. Mary Fae McKay Juliet and Mark Markovich Ms. Elisabeth DeWitts Ms. Maryellen McSweeney Nancy and Rob Martin Mr. Michael E. Dillard Wanda Meyer Mrs. Ana Maria Martinez Mr. Tom Doneker Mr. Douglas D. Miller Ms. Danita Maseles Dr. and Mrs. Giulio Draetta Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Moehring Kay and Larry Medford Mike Ezzell Dr. Richard Moiel and Mrs. Katherine Poeppel Ms. Celia Morgan Ms. Ann L. Faget Dr. and Mrs. Robert B. Moore Martin L. and Susan Nusynowitz Dr. Harold Farber and Mrs. Dana Camp-Farber Mr. Ralph S. O’Connor Mrs. Ulrike Peto Ms. Ursula Felmet Ms. Martha P. Palmer Mr. Albert Ramirez and Ms. Mary A. Fitzgerald Mr. Benjamin Fink Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Percoco Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rasmussen Carol Sue Finkelstein Mr. Jeffrey Pferd and Ms. Shin L. Wu Dr. Angela Rechichi-Apollo Ms. Kelly Finn Mr. and Mrs. Elvin B. Pippert Jr. Mr. Daniel Rowe Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fowler Mary Ellen and Donald Podoloff Dr. and Mrs. C. Dan Sauls Mr. Meredith G. Fox Mr. Charles Prince Drs. Kathleen and Jed Sazama Mr. and Mrs. Donn C. Fullenweider Mr. Nigel Prior Ms. Hannelore N. Schwarze Dr. Robert A. Furse Mr. and Mrs. William Rawl Mr. Nick Shumway and Mr. Robert Mayott Ms. Sonia Garcia Mr. Federico Reyes Mr. and Ms. Hayden Smith Mr. and Mrs. Gibson Gayle Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reynolds Hon. Ruby K. Sondock Susan Giannatonio and Bruce Winquist Mr. William K. Rice Mrs. Brigitte Steele Mr. Enrico R. Giannetti Ms. Jean P. Ross Barbara and Neil Stovall Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Girouard Mansel and Brenda Rubenstein Dr. and Mrs. Peter K. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Glenn Chula Ross Sanchez Mrs. Paloma Urbano Ms. Lisa K. Goetz Mr. and Mrs. Terrell F. Sanders Dean Walker Mrs. Gwynn F. Gorsuch Raymond Sawaya M.D. Mr. and Mrs. John Wallace Mr. and Mrs. John S. Griffin Ms. Jill Schaar and Mr. George Caflisch The Honorable and Mrs. Bill White Mr. and Mrs. David Hammock Mr. and Mrs. W. Russell Scheirman 2 Anonymous Mrs. Jeanette Heard Ms. Sally Schott Sheila Heimbinder Christopher B. Schulze, M.D. CONTRIBUTING FELLOWS— Dr. and Mrs. William C. Heird Dr. and Mrs. H. Irving Schweppe Jr. $1,000 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. Rex D. Hemme Dr. Philip Scott and Dr. Susan Gardner Jose A. Araujo Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Henderek Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnett Mr. Karl Hennessee Mr. Herbert Simons Paul and Nancy Balmert Dr. Ralph J. Herring Jan Simpson Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bast Jr. Dr. Janice L. Hewitt Mr. Joseph Sims and Ms. Janis Doty Mr. and Mrs. James Becker Mrs. Ann G. Hightower Ms. Gwen Sitton Dr. and Mrs. Hagop Bedikian Dr. Sallie T. Hightower Mr. Calvin Slater Mr. Douglas Bishea Mr. Stanley A. Hoffberger Drs. Adaani E. Frost and Wadi N. Suki Dr. Hope Bliss Dr. Holly Holmes Ms. Lori Summa Jim and Susan Boone Mr. and Mrs. Clay Hoster Mr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa Mr. and Mrs. Howard K. Bostock Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hughes Mr. and Mrs. John A. Unger Lorence and Zora Bravenec Mr. and Ms. Rich Janssen Dr. and Mrs. Lieven J. Van Riet Mr. James Brugman Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jaworski Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Vaughan Mr. Michael Burke Charlotte Jones Mr. and Mrs. Alton L. Warren Mrs. Anne H. Bushman Lynda and Frank Kelly Mr. Frank Watson Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Butcher Mr. and Mrs. Michael Klaveness Mr. and Mrs. James A. Watt Ms. Susan Byerley Dr. and Mrs. Larry R. Kupor Mr. Jesse Weir and Mr. Roberto Ayala Dr. and Mrs. Raul Caffesse Mr. and Mrs. Paul Landen Ms. Linda M. Wells Ms. Marion Cameron Mrs. John E. Langwith Jr. J. M. Weltzien Mr. Armin Cantini and Mrs. Gail S. Ayers Ms. Rachel Le and Mr. Lam Nguy Drs. Angel and Anita Werch Ms. Toni Capra Mr. Joseph Levitan and Mr. Nicolo Messana LaVerne and Philip Wiles Dorothy E. F. Caram, Ed.D. Jose and Marcia Lima Mr. Lawrence Williams Mr. Jerry Conry Mr. James C. Lindsey Mr. Graeme Womersley Dr. and Mrs. Dorian Coppenhaver Mr. and Mrs. Y. Lui Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Woodell II Dr. Lorraine Cornwell and Mr. Matthew Antonelli Ms. Lynn Luster Miss Pinar Oya Yilmaz Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Crook Dr. Brian Malechuk and Mr. Kevin Melgaard Drs. William and Huda Yahya Zoghbi Ms. Kathleen R. Cross Ms. Laura Marsh 6 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Warren Dean Mrs. Kristi Shipnes Martin Mr. and Mrs. Tony Deeb Mr. Joel Mayer Mike and Gayle DeGeurin Gretchen and Mark Mazziotti

68 > SUMMER 2016 CORPORATE MATCHING GIFTS

Select corporations in our community help to augment contributions to Houston Grand Opera through their employee matching gift programs. We thank the institutions below, and their employees, for their generosity and dedication to advancing the art form of opera. Do you work at one of the institutions listed below? Ask your employer today about how you can have your personal contribution matched. For information on matching gifts, please call Justine Welch at 713-546-0270.

AIG American General FMC Technologies Apple Matching Gifts Program GE Foundation Baker Hughes Incorporated Halliburton BHP Billiton Petroleum (Americas) Inc. Hewlett-Packard Company The Boeing Company IBM Corporation BP America Kinder-Morgan Cabot Oil & Gas Laredo Construction, Inc. Cameron Corporation Linn Energy Chevron LyondellBasell CITGO Petroleum Corporation Marathon Oil Corporation Coca-Cola North America Merrill Lynch & Co. ConocoPhillips Northern Trust Covidien Occidental Petroleum Corporation Energy XXI Services, LLC Shell Oil Company Exxon Mobil Corporation Spectra Energy

HGO.org > 69 CORPORATE | FOUNDATION | 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.

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

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS Underwriters — $25,000 or more Tokio Marine HCC Wells Fargo † Grand Guarantor — $250,000 or more Ajamie LLP Akerman LLP Westlake Chemical Corporation Medistar Corporation Baker Botts L.L.P. † Winston & Strawn LLP Guarantors — $100,000 or more BB&T Sponsors — $10,000 or more Booker • Lowe Gallery BBVA Compass † * Andrews Kurth LLP Boulware & Valoir ConocoPhillips † AT&T † Bracewell LLP H-E-B Boardwalk Pipeline Partners Bristow Group, Inc. Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo TM Cadence Bank Capgemini Consulting Houston Methodist * Ernst & Young LLP City Kitchen Catering * Occidental Petroleum Corporation The Events Company * Deloitte Schlumberger † Fort Bend Music Company * ExxonMobil † Shell Oil Company † Hess Frost Bank Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers * Locke Lord LLP † George H. Lewis & Sons United Airlines * LyondellBasell Hogan Lovells Vinson & Elkins LLP †* Marathon Oil Corporation Jackson and Company †* Northern Trust Grand Underwriters — $50,000 or more KPMG LLP † TAS Commercial Concrete Construction, LLC MD Anderson Cancer Center Anadarko Petroleum Corporation † Thompson & Knight LLP Northern Trust † Bank of America Union Pacific Foundation Norton Rose Fulbright † Chevron † Winstead PC Fayez Sarofim & Co. † Novum Energy Services, LLC Houston First Corporation Phillips 66 Nabors Industries Saks Fifth Avenue * PwC † Sidley Austin LLP

70 > SUMMER 2016 Member — $1,000 or more Fleming’s Grand Underwriters — $50,000 or more Burberry Masterson Design/Mariquita Masterson Anchorage Foundation of Texas CenterPoint Energy MPenner Carol Franc Buck Foundation JP Morgan Chase & Co. Past Era Antique Jewelry Houston Grand Opera Guild † Linscomb & Williams Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Lynne Murray Sr. Educational Foundation † Patterson & Sheridan LLP C. Howard Pieper Foundation Western Gas Partners LP Members — $3,000 or more Underwriters — $25,000 or more Williams BCN Taste and Tradition The Clayton Fund IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS Booker • Lowe Gallery Cockrell Family Fund Hayden Lasher TO OPERATIONS AND Houston Saengerbund Houston Cinema Arts Society John P. McGovern Foundation † SPECIAL EVENTS Miles David Stedman West Foundation † TréborStyle Underwriters — $25,000 or more Sterling-Turner Foundation † FOUNDATIONS AND Texas Commission on the Arts † Abrahams Oriental Rugs and Home Furnishings The Vaughn Foundation City Kitchen Catering GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Jackson and Company Sponsors — $10,000 or more Premier Guarantor —$1,000,000 or more Landry’s Inc. Mary H. Cain Foundation Neiman Marcus Precious Jewels Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.† Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Saks Fifth Avenue Principal Guarantors — $500,000 or more Ralph H. and Ruth J. McCullough Foundation Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers Eugene McDermott Foundation CT Bauer Foundation The Events Company The Moody Foundation Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation † Tony’s Catering Nightingale Code Foundation The Brown Foundation, Inc. † Wattle Creek Winery OPERA America City of Houston † The Powell Foundation † Sponsors — $15,000 or more The General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch William A. and Madeline Welder Smith Opera Fund † Granduca Hotels Foundation Lavandula Design Alkek and Williams Foundation The Lancaster Hotel The Wortham Foundation, Inc. † Members — $1,000 or more LUCHO/Hector Villarreal Grand Guarantors—$250,000 or more The Arts Federation Sakowitz Furs Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation, Inc. Anne and Albert Chao, Ting Tsung and Tootsies George and Mary Josephine Hamman Wei Fong Chao Foundation Foundation Co-Sponsors — $7,500 or more The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation The Leon Jaworski Foundation † The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation † Abercombie & Kent The Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund Briggs Vest Outdoors Guarantors — $100,000 or more The Nathan J. Klein Fund Brooks Lake Lodge M.D. Anderson Foundation † Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation † Elegant Events and Catering by Michael City of Houston through Miller Theatre William E. and Natoma Harvey Pyle Frosch Travel Advisory Board † Charitable Trust † Gremillion & Co. Fine Art The Cullen Foundation † Strake Foundation IW Marks Jewelers The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts † The Nice Winery * Contribution includes in- kind support Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation PerCorsi Culinari Cooking School † Ten or more years of consecutive support Houston Endowment Inc. † Benefactors — $5,000 or more The Humphreys Foundation † Bradford Portraits Kinder Foundation Christian Dior National Endowment for the Arts Elaine Turner Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai and Terrell Tone Events Owen Memorial Endowed Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation of Abilene

HGO.org > 71 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. Rhonda Sweeney, Chairman LAUREATE SOCIETY MEMBERS Ms. Carol Sue Finkelstein Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Birgitt van Wijk Ms. Carol L. Fletcher Ms. Michele Malloy Marietta Voglis Ms. Gerry Aitken Mr. Carlisle Floyd Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Ms. Rons Voogt Mrs. Marion Alexay Nancy Wynne Mattison Dean B. Walker Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams Dr. Donna Fox Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Mr. Gordon D. Watson Mrs. Judy Amonett Dr. Alice Gates Mrs. Cynthia Tally McDonald Mr. Jesse Weir Ms. Michelle Beale and Dr. Layne O. Gentry Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Mr. Geoffrey Westergaard Mr. Richard H. Anderson Mr. Michael B. George Dr. Will L. McLendon Ms. Roxanne Cargill and Peter Weston Ms. Robin Angly and Mr. Miles Smith Dr. Wm. David George Mr. Allen D. McReynolds Ms. Jane L. Williams Ms. Mary Lee Archer Dr. and Mrs. Rollin O. Glaser Maryellen McSweeney Helen Wils Dr. and Mrs. Willard Aronson Mr. David Gockley Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams David and Mary Wolff Roberto Ayala Rhoda Goldberg Christianne Melanson Miss Daisy Wong Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Baker Mr. Jon K. Gossett Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Dr. L. Fabian Worthing III Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gott Ms. Suzanne Mimnaugh Lynn Wyatt Daniel B. Barnum Adelma Graham Mr. Juan R. Morales R. Alan York Mrs. Thomas D. Barrow Mr. and Mrs. Donald Graubart Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre Bill A. Bartlett Dr. Nichols Grimes Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Dr. and Mrs. Efrain Zavala Dr. and Mrs. Barry Beller Dr. Ellen R. Gritz Ms. Terrylin G. Neale Mr. John L. Zipprich II Dr. Patricia Eifel and Dr. James A. Belli Mario Gudmunsson and Darrin Davis Bobbie Newman 16 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer Lynn Guggolz Mrs. Tassie Nicandros Mrs. Eileen Birge WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE Mr. Jas A. Gundry Ms. B. Lynn Mathre and Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar WHO INCLUDED HGO IN THEIR Bill Haase Mr. Stewart O’Dell Susan Ross Black ESTATE PLANS: Mrs. Jack W. Harris Mr. and Mrs. Staman Ogilvie Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Linda Lloyd Hart Mrs. James W. O’Keefe Dr. Thomas D. Barrow Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Macky Osorio Ms. Evelyn M. Bedard Mr. Andrew Bowen Nancy Ferguson-Haywood Mrs. Susan Osterberg Ronald Borschow Lynda Bowman Miguel and Teresita Hernandez Mrs. Joan D. Osterweil Mr. Ira B. Brown Stephen R. Brenner Dr. Ralph Herring Thelma and Richard Percoco Mr. Thomas Capshaw Ms. Zu Dell Broadwater Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mrs. Sara M. Peterson Dr. Lawrence E. Carlton Catherine Brock Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Mr. Tony Carroll, LCSW Mrs. Ira B. Brown Mr. Edward L. Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pokorski Michael Cochran Richard Buffett Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth and Mr. Arthur B. Pryde and Frank R. Eyler Ralph C. Byle Dr. Ken Hyde Mrs. Suzanne Page-Pryde Christine E. George Mrs. Marjorie H. Capshaw Alan and Ellen Holzberg Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Reynolds Jack W. Harris Jess and Patricia Carnes Ms. Kathleen Moore and Mr. Bill Richmond and Mark Lensky Janet Langford Carrig Mr. Steven Homer Mr. Dennis Courtney Mary R. Lewis Mrs. Sylvia J. Carroll Frank Hood Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Robinson Mrs. Margaret Love Nada Chandler Ms. Ami J. Hooper Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose Ms. Marsha Malev Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Dr. Marjorie Horning Glen A. Rosenbaum Mr. Constantine Nicandros Mathilda Cochran Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard and Mrs. Jean Rowley Dr. Mary Joan Nish Mr. William E. Colburn Mr. Richard H. Howard Mr. John C. Rudder Jr. Mr. James W. O’Keefe Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Comstock Eileen and George Hricik Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Barbara M. Osborne Mr. Jim O. Connell Ms. Lee M. Huber Mr. and Mrs. Terrell F. Sanders Mrs. Mary Ann Phillips C.M. and A.A. Cooper Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hunter Mr. Chris Schilling Mr. Howard Pieper Mr. Efrain Z. Corzo Dr. Lamar and Mrs. Jane Jackson Charles and Gudrun Senuta Mr. Craig M. Rowley Dr. Joan K. Bruchas and Charitable Trust Helen and James Shaffer Mrs. Joseph P. Ruddell Mr. H. P. Cowdin Mr. Brian James Hinda Simon Mr. Eric W. Stein Sr. Ms. Catherine Cox Mr. Spencer A. Jeffries Mr. Herbert D. Simons John and Fanny Stone Mr. Alan M. Craft Ms. Charlotte Jones Ms. Susan Simpson Dr. Carlos Vallbona James W. Crownover Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kauffman Janet Sims Miss Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Ms. Judy Cummings Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kaufman Bruce Smith, DDS Karl A. Dahm Mr. John S. W. Kellett Mr. Robert J. Smouse Lida S. Dahm, M.D. Steve Kelley and Charles Dennis Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai For information regarding charitable Ms. Marilyn R. Davis Ms. Virginia Kiser Catherine Stevenson Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy S. Davis estate gift planning and how it might Ann and Sam Koster Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Suter Ms. Sasha Davis positively impact you, your loved Lynn and Jon Lamkin Rhonda J. Sweeney Ms. Anna M. Dean Willy and Inge Lotte Liesner Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Tatar ones, and Houston­ Grand Opera, Ms. Peggy DeMarsh Heide and Karl Loos Mrs. John Ben Taub please contact Richard Buffett, Dr. and Mrs. Russell L. Deter II Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Quentin Thigpen and Amy Psoris Connie and Byron Dyer director of major gifts and legacy Mrs. Marilyn G. Lummis Dr. and Mrs. Robert Toth Ms. Gloria M. Portela and giving, at 713-546-0216 or visit Dr. and Dr. Raymond Lutz Mr. John G. Turner Mr. Richard E. Evans HGO.org/laureatesociety. Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Mr. Paul and Dr. Rhonda Turner Ann L. Faget Ms. Sandra L. Magers Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor Mrs. Jean L. Fauntleroy Jan Upole 72 > SUMMER 2016 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 Thomas Rushing Terrylin G. Neale, Senior Chairman James W. Crownover Stephen M. Kaufman Scott Wise Janet Carrig, 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 Bauer Family Fund Frank Greenberg, M.D. Endowment Fund Kitty King Powell Endowment Fund Charles T. (Ted) Bauer Memorial Fund Jackson D. Hicks Endowment Fund Rowley Family Endowment Fund Sandra Bernhard Endowed Fund General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch The Ruddell Endowment Fund The Stanley and Shirley Beyer Endowed Fund Memorial Opera Fund Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil — Mary Frances Newton Bowers Endowment Fund Elizabeth Rieke and Wayne V. Jones Endowment Fund Quaker State Company) Fund Pat and Daniel A. Breen Endowment Fund Lensky Family Endowed Fund Dian and Harlan Stai Fund The Brown Foundation Endowment Fund Mary R. Lewis Endowed Fund The John and Fanny Stone Endowment Fund The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Beth Madison Endowed Fund Dorothy Barton Thomas Endowment Fund Endowment Fund Franci Neely Endowed Fund John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer Endowed Fund Jane and Robert Cizik Endowment Constantine S. Nicandros Endowment Fund John and Sheila Tweed Endowed Fund Douglas E. Colin Endowment Fund Barbara M. Osborne Charitable Trust Marietta Voglis Endowed Fund Mary Jane Fedder Endowed Fund Cynthia and Anthony Petrello Endowed Fund Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Endowment Fund Linda K. Finger Endowed Fund Mary Ann Phillips Endowed Fund The Wortham Foundation Permanent Endowment Fund Robert W. George Endowment Fund C. Howard Pieper Endowment Fund PRODUCTION FUNDS HELP CREATE NEW PRODUCTIONS AND REVIVE EXISTING ONES Edward and Frances Bing Fund Tracey D. Conwell Endowment 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. James A. Elkins Jr. Endowed Chair: Patrick Harvey, Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair: Bradley Moore, Head of Music Staff/ Assistant Conductor HGO Studio Music Director James A. Elkins Jr. Endowed Visiting Artist Fund The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair: Denise Tarrant Evans Family Endowed Chair: Pierre Vallet, Guest Coach The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair: Richard Bado 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 Bauer Family Fund James J. Drach Endowment Fund The Schissler Family Foundation Endowed Fund for Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D., Endowment Fund Fondren Foundation Fund for Educational Programs Educational Programs Beth Crispin Endowment Fund David Clark Grant Endowment Fund 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 HGO.org > 73 ESTATE GIFTS Laura Clyburne McWilliams Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Finkelstein Terrylin G. Neale Estate of Ronald C. Borshow Jill and Allyn Risley Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Flanagan III Franci Neely Estate of Marilyn Jane Fedder Glen Rosenbaum Carol Lay Fletcher Mr. Ralph S. O’Connor Estate of Mary R. Lewis Dian and Harlan Stai Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fowler Robert and Rheta Page Estate of Dr. Mary Joan Nish Dr. and Mrs. Richard Stasney Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Francisco Ms. Barbara Paull Estate of Mary A. Phillips Shannon Traylor and Eric Schmitt Frost Bank Ms. Emilee Peters Estate of Dorothy B. Thomas John Turner and Jerry Fisher Mr. Richard Gaddes Ms. Ellen Potter Jennifer Wijangco Dr. Layne O. Gentry Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rauch CONTRIBUTIONS MADE Mr. Michael B. George Ms. Ashley Reder IN MEMORY OF: WE THANK THE FOLLOWING DONORS: Ms. Susan Glesby Darlene and Reagan Redman Robert Allen Ms. Roy Heler Ackers Mr. David Gockley Mr. and Mrs. David Reeves Rudy Avelar Mr. and Mrs. William A. Adams Leonard A. Goldstein and Helen B. Wils Ms. Chere Reneau William Bacon The Adler Foundation Adelma S. Graham Ms. Wanda A. Reynolds Sandra Bernhard The Alkek and Williams Foundation Joyce Z. Greenberg Mr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Robertson Stan Blair Dr. and Mrs. Glenn B. Anderson Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. and Mrs. J. Hugh Roff Jr. Harold Block Ms. Linda Anderson Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose Daniel Breen Robin Angly and Miles Smith Mrs. William H. Guggolz Jr. Mrs. Henry K. Roos Donna Bruni Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnett Mr. and Mrs. Frank Herzog Glen A. Rosenbaum Gerald J. Bush Mr. and Mrs. David Askanase Mr. Kirk Hickey Mr. Autry W. Ross Charles F. Cockrell Mr. Robert J. Babbitt Pam Higgins and Tom Jones Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Douglas E. Colin Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Bahr Deborah and Michael Hirsch Dr. Jack A. Roth Barbara Crosby Gilbert and Golda Baker Mr. Andres Hirschfeld Mr. G. M. Rowe Jr. Dr. Cecil Kaplan Dalton Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Mr. Ned S. Holmes Mr. Joe Segal and Mr. John Sapero Dick Dalton Mr. Daniel B. Barnum and The Houston Seminar Ms. Susan D. Sarofim Renee Danziger Ms. Marilyn Lewis Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Huebsch Mrs. Sandy Sartorius Carol Ann Gathe Janice Barrow Robert and Kitty Hunter Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sauer Christina George Mr. Mike Benedum Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini The Schissler Foundation Katherine Giswell-Rodwell Mr. and Mrs. Leonard M. Bergren Edward and Patricia Hymson Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mary Green Mr. and Mrs. Steven R. Biegel Mrs. Elmore B. Inscoe Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schwartz Carmen Halden Mr. and Mrs. William A. Bisso III Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Johnson Ms. Barbara Scott Jack Weldon Harris Mr. and Mrs. Eric Blumrosen Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker Mrs. Mariana Servitje Diana Hobby Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon Ann and Stephen Kaufman Ms. Alice Simkins Ho Nam Kam Mr. Liam Bonner The Honorable and The Simons Family Foundation Justin Karp Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Bowden Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr. Dennis and Kagari Smith Sherwin Kershman Dr. and Mrs. Meherwan Boyce Mrs. Jeanie Kilroy Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai Paul E. Krieger Mr. Stephen R. Brenner Nancy and Rich Kinder Ms. Caroline Starry LeBlanc and Louis Leon Ms. Zu Dell Broadwater Dr. Milton and Gail Klein Mr. Jared LeBlanc Gaston Maurin Mr. Robert J. Bruni Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Ms. Frances Steele William McCloskey Ms. Kimberly Bush Jeff and Gail Kodosky Mr. and Mrs. Alan Stein Laurie Falls Morris Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Ms. Michele La Noue and Dr. and Mrs. David Sufian Lamar Neale Dorothy E. F. Caram, Ed.D. Mr. Gerald Seidl Mr. and Mrs. John M. Sullivan Jon Nish Roxi Cargill and Peter Weston, M.D. Simeon and Carol Lake Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Sweeney Rebecca Nystron Albert and Anne Chao/Ting Tsung and Mrs. Sandra Lamont and Mr. and Mrs. Charles L Teel Jr. Charlotte Phelan Wei Fong Chao Foundation Mr. Joe Boatman Dr. Barbara Tilley Guyla Pircher Louise Chapman Mr. and Mrs. Uylesse J. LeGrange Ms. Deborah Todd Sally Riner Ragan Alain and Maryline Chepda Mrs. Irene Leslie Tootsies Richard Schissler Ms. Brenda C. Cialone Mrs. Herbert A. Lesser Mrs. Ann Gordon Trammell Shirley Stein Jane and Robert Cizik Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Liesner Mr. John G. Turner and Betty Ruth Tomfohrde Mr. and Mrs. James M. Clepper Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Linn Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Robert Totz Mr. Cecil Conner Sarah and John Loudermilk Mr. and Mrs. Dan Tutcher Dr. Robert Treasure Jerry and Bobbie-Vee Cooney M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ John C. and Sheila R. Tweed Tim Tull Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Cormier Jr. Booker Lowe Gallery Mr. and Mrs. David M. Underwood Sr. Andrew Wilkomirski Mr. and Mrs. Markley Crosswell III Mr. Kelley Lubanko Birgitt van Wijk David Windsor Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Lynn Vinson & Elkins LLP Sharon Curran-Wescott and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach Marietta Voglis CONTRIBUTIONS MADE IN HONOR OF: Earle “Skip” Wescott Ms. and Mr. Sandra L. Magers Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Weil Margaret Alkek Williams Mr. and Mrs. Marty Davis Mr. and Mrs. Wallis Marsh Mr. and Mrs. John A. Weinzierl Robin Angly Ms. Wini Deitrich Frances Marzio Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Wildenstein Judge Mary Bacon Mr. David Doggett Mr. J. F. Mastroianni Mr. David Wofford Richard Bado Mr. and Mrs. Ray W. Duffy Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Ms. Wanda S. Wolfe Tim Bammel and Jeff Bosworth Mr. and Mrs. David B. Duthu The Robert and Janice McNair Mr. and Mrs. Melvyn Wolff Susan and Michael Bloome Connie and Byron Dyer Foundation Lynn Wyatt Max and Donna Chapman Dr. and Mrs. Harry Eastman Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Mr. and Mrs. Stuart A. Zarrow Molly Dill Ms. Susan Elliott Mrs. Denise Monteleone Mary Harburg Mr. and Mrs. Thomas L. Elsenbrook Marsha L. Montemayor Veronica Kannan Marlene Eng Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Al Lasher Ms. Jamie Evans Sara and Bill Morgan Marie Lin Mr. and Mrs. Don Faust Mr. Gary A. Smith and Brian McCulloch Martin and Kelli Cohen Fein Mr. Jim Murdaugh 74 > SUMMER 2016 Let’s Make Beautiful Music Together — Join the Guild!

A scene from HGO’s Carmen, 2014. Photo by Felix Sanchez. Make Opera Friends! Meet Opera Friends! Boutique: Put those sales skills to use at the Opera Boutique Opera Night Live: Enjoy in-depth interviews of this in the Grand Foyer. Help customers choose the latest in season’s artists, along with performances by members opera accessories, while earning an extra discount and of the HGO Studio. dress rehearsal tickets for yourself! AMICI: Meet other opera lovers at local restaurants, movies, Theater District Open House: Lead tours through the wine tastings, and more; check us out at Meetup.com! Wortham Center at this event showcasing the Opera’s (Visit meetup.com/AmiciHGOGuild.) upcoming season with some of the people who make the magic happen. Hospitality: Join us in helping visiting artists of Houston Grand Opera feel welcome, host cast parties, and assist Special Events: Assist with creating and hosting opera with transportation needs. events throughout the year, such as silent auctions, fall and spring Guild events, and more!

Save the Date! Guild Awards Luncheon: Join us October 1, 2016, for our annual awards luncheon honoring Guild members who have given their effort and time to further the Guild programs. Reservations required.

Theater District Open House: August 28, 2016. Backstage tours, discount tickets, and more! Visit theaterdistrictopenhouse.com for more information. Guild members Marcheta Leighton-Beasley (left) and Ann Koster (right) greeted Opera Night Live: October 4, 2016. Don’t miss this special guests including HGO Assistant Conductor Christopher Turbessi at the HGO Guild Hospitality Committee party for the Siegfried cast following the last performance. evening of interviews, music, and camaraderie!

Visit us at hgoguild.org or Facebook for more information on joining the FUN! CALENDAR For information on all Houston Grand Opera events, call the Customer Care Center at 713-228-OPERA (6737) or 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7323) 2016–17 unless otherwise noted. For information about HGOco events, please call 713-546-0230, email [email protected], or visit HGO.org/HGOco.

SEPTEMBER DECEMBER

11 & 13 28, 30m, Nov. 5, 8, 11 2, 4m, 6, 8, 9, 11m, 13, 15, 17 • Studio Showcase: The singers and • Performances of Gounod’s Faust. • Performances of Jake Heggie and Gene pianists of the HGO Studio perform in Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater. Scheer’s It’s a Wonderful Life. Wortham a program of opera scenes, Wortham Special intermission reception for Theater Center’s Cullen Theater. Special Center’s Cullen Theater, at 2:30 p.m. (Sept. members of Opening Nights for Young intermission reception for members of 11) and 8 p.m. (Sept. 13). Free to season Professionals at the Oct. 28 performance Opening Nights for Young Professionals subscribers; nonsubscribers may purchase only. at the Dec. 2 performance only. mezzanine tickets at HGO.org. 30 4 21–23 • Behind the Music: an intimate • Behind the Music: an intimate • The Princess and the Pea: HGOco and conversation about Faust immediately conversation about It’s a Wonderful Life Opera to Go! present this new work following the performance. Masterson immediately following the performance. by Mary Carol Warwick and Mary Ann Green Room. Free. Masterson Green Room. Free. Pendino at Miller Outdoor Theatre, 11 a.m. daily. Free. The Princess and the Pea tours from Sept. 19 through Dec. 16. To book a NOVEMBER JANUARY performance, visit HGO.org/OperaToGo or call 713-546-0231. 1 & 3 4 • Student Matinees: HGOco hosts groups • Opera Night Live: the HGO Guild invites OCTOBER of students in grades 4–8 and their you to the Wortham Theater Center to chaperones at performances of enjoy wine and snacks and learn more Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, 10 a.m. about Nixon in China from a special guest. 1 School groups only: reserve online at 7 p.m. For information, call 713-546-0269 • Fall Awards Lunch—Magic Behind the HGO.org/StudentPerformances. or email [email protected]. Scenes: the HGO Guild honors stellar volunteers and supporters at the Omni 5 15 Houston Hotel, 4 Riverway, 11:30 a.m. For • The Princess and the Pea: HGOco and • HGOco presents the Bauer Family High information, contact Gwyneth Campbell at Opera to Go! present this new work by School Voice Studio Winter Recital at the 713-885-5024 or visit HGOguild.org. Mary Carol Warwick and Mary Ann Pendino Wortham Theater Center, 7 p.m. Free. at The Deluxe Theater, 10 a.m. Free. The 4 Princess and the Pea tours from Sept. 19 20, 22m, 24, 26, 28 • Opera Night Live: the HGO Guild invites through Dec. 16. To book a performance, • Performances of John Adams and Alice you to the Wortham Theater Center to visit HGO.org/OperaToGo or call Goodman’s Nixon in China. Wortham enjoy wine and snacks and learn more 713-546-0231. Theater Center’s Brown Theater. Special about The Elixir of Love from a special intermission reception for members of guest. 7 p.m. For information, call 713-546- 7 Opening Nights for Young Professionals 0269 or email [email protected]. • Ring 401: HGO Dramaturg Paul Hopper at the Jan. 20 performance only. introduces Götterdämmerung, which 21, 23m, 26, 29, NOV. 4 concludes HGO’s presentation of Wagner’s 22 Ring cycle this spring. Cullen Theater, • Performances of Donizetti’s The Elixir of • Behind the Music: an intimate 6:30 p.m. For information, please email Love. Wortham Theater Center’s Brown conversation about Nixon in China [email protected]. Theater. Special intermission reception for immediately following the performance. Masterson Green Room. Free. members of Opening Nights for Young 9 Professionals at the Oct. 21 performance only. • High School Night: HGOco hosts high 27 school students and their chaperones at a • Concert of Arias: the 29th Annual 21 full-length performance of Donizetti’s The Eleanor McCollum Competition for Elixir of Love. School groups only. Wortham • Opening Night Dinner: HGO celebrates the Young Singers. Wortham Center’s Cullen Center’s Brown Theater, 7 p.m. Visit opening of the 2016–17 season following Theater. Champagne reception at 6 p.m., HGO.org/StudentPerformances to reserve. the performance of The Elixir of Love. competition at 7 p.m. Celebration Dinner to follow in the Grand Foyer. For information, Wortham Theater Center, Ray C. Fish 17 & 20 Plaza. For more information, contact Scott contact Scott Ipsen at 713-546-0242 or Ipsen at 713-546-0242 or [email protected]. • Recital at Rienzi: Artists of the HGO Studio [email protected]. perform in the intimate and elegant salon at 23 Rienzi, the decorative arts wing of MFAH, at 1406 Kirby Drive. Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. • Behind the Music: an intimate and Nov. 20 at 5 p.m. conversation about The Elixir of Love immediately following the performance. 23 Masterson Green Room. Free. • Holiday Tree Lighting at the Wortham Theater Center, noon. 76 > SUMMER 2016 FEBRUARY JUNE Seraglio from a special guest. 7 p.m. For 3–4 information, call 713-546-0269 or email 5–9 [email protected]. • HGOco and Opera to Go! present a new, • Opera Experience: HGOco’s Opera Camp bilingual (English and Spanish) adaptation 8 for students entering grades 4–9 in the fall of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville. Heinen of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. Theatre at Houston Community College, • Opera Ball 2017: Grand Foyer of the central campus, 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Wortham Theater Center, 7 p.m. Followed 6 by the Encore Party. For information, daily. The Barber of Seville tours from Jan. • HGO Guild Volunteer Gathering: Find out contact Scott Ipsen at 713-546-0242 or 30 through May 19. Book a performance at how you can use your talents to help HGO [email protected]. HGO.org/OperaToGo or by calling through volunteering with the Guild. United 713-546-0231. 22, 25, 29, May 4, 7m Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr., 6:30 p.m. For information, contact Patricia 10, 12m, 15, 17, 18 • Performances of Wagner’s Carnes at [email protected]. • Performances of the Verdi Requiem. Götterdämmerung. Wortham Center’s Wortham Theater Center’s Brown Theater. Brown Theater. Special intermission 12–16 reception for members of Opening Nights Special intermission reception for • Create an Opera: HGOco’s Opera Camp for Young Professionals at the Apr. 22 members of Opening Nights for Young for students entering grades 3–6 in the fall performance only. Professionals at the Feb. 10 performance of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. only. 28, 30m, May 6, 10, 12 12–23 • Performances of Mozart’s The Abduction 12 • Art of Opera: HGOco’s Opera Camp for from the Seraglio. Wortham Center’s • Behind the Music: an intimate students entering grades 7–12 in the fall of Brown Theater. Special intermission conversation about the Verdi Requiem 2017. Wortham Theater Center. immediately following the performance. reception for members of Opening Nights Masterson Green Room. Free. for Young Professionals at the Apr. 28 19–23 performance only. • Opera Experience: HGOco’s Opera Camp 30 for students entering grades 4–9 in the fall MARCH of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. • Behind the Music: an intimate conversation about The Abduction from 10 & 11 the Seraglio immediately following the • HGO Studio in Recital: Artists of the HGO performance. Masterson Green Room. Studio perform at the Museum of Fine Arts, Free. 16 | 17 Houston, Audrey Jones Beck Building, 5601 Main Street, 7:30 p.m. MAY BOARD OF DIRECTORS 15–17 Meetings • Spring Break at Discovery Green: HGOco 7 presents activities and performances at All meetings will take place in the Discovery Green, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. • Behind the Music: an intimate third floor rehearsal room at the conversation about Götterdämmerung Wortham Theater Center. 16, 17 immediately following the performance. Masterson Green Room. Free. • World premiere performances of Laura SEP. 29 9 a.m.–noon Kaminsky and Mark Campbell/Kimberly 11 & 14 Reed’s Some Light Emerges. Venue to be DEC. 15 9 a.m.–noon announced. • Recital at Rienzi: Artists of the HGO Studio perform in the intimate and elegant salon at MAR. 2 4–7 p.m. Rienzi, the decorative arts wing of MFAH, APRIL at 1406 Kirby Drive. May 11 at 7:30 p.m. MAY 18 9 a.m.–noon and May 14 at 5 p.m. 1 15 • Spring Event: the HGO Guild holds its • HGOco presents the Bauer Family High annual fundraiser at the Houston Racquet School Voice Studio Graduation Recital, TRUSTEES Meetings Club, 10709 Memorial Dr. 6:30 p.m. Dudley Recital Hall, University of Houston, Contact Gwyneth Campbell at 7 p.m. Free. Trustees meetings will be held at 713-885-5024 for information. the Wortham Theater Center. 31 5 • HGO Association Annual Meeting and SEP. 28 5–7 p.m. • Opera Night Live: the HGO Guild invites Reception: Wortham Theater Center, 5–7 you to the Wortham Theater Center p.m. Open to board, trustees, and donors. JAN. 5 5–7 p.m. to enjoy wine and snacks and learn Call 713-546-0217 for information. more about The Abduction from the

HGO.org > 77 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 If you have a state-issued disability until curtain. Hours are subject to change. wheelchair access to both theaters with permit and need valet parking, you may BROWN AND CULLEN ALCOVES a choice of seating locations and purchase special passes by contacting ticket prices. An FM assistive listening the Customer Care Center. Parking The Wortham Theater Center’s newly device, generously provided by the spots for disabled ticket holders are also renovated alcoves were designed with Houston First Corporation, is available available in the Theater District Garage your comfort in mind. Step inside one of for use free of charge at all performances. on a first-come, first-served basis. 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 Parking in the Theater District Parking reflect on the evening’s performance over 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372) for full Garage is $10.00 on weekends and after dinner or drinks. details. 5 p.m. on weekdays. Clearance

78 > SUMMER 2016 for trucks and vans is 6’8”. The LEFT into Theater District garage, Out of consideration for other patrons tunnel connecting the garage to entrance #1 and for the performers, anyone of any the Wortham Theater Center is on age whose behavior is noisy or disruptive Traveling South the Green 2 level of the garage. Take the I-10 split (to ­Beaumont), may be asked to leave the performance by house management or HGO staff. The recommended entrances for the bear LEFT; Exit Milam Street Theater District Garage are on Prairie or RIGHT on Prairie Street Cameras, recording devices, cellular Texas between Bagby and Smith. The LEFT into Theater District garage, telephones, pagers, beeping watches, recommended entrances for the Alley entrance #8 and recording devices may not be used Theatre Garage are on Smith or Louisiana VIA 225 during the performance inside the hall. between Texas ­and Prairie. Loop 610 West to I-45 North Cameras and recording devices may be confiscated by an usher or HGO staff DIRECTIONS (see I-45 directions) member. VIA I-10 VIA MEMORIAL DRIVE Complimentary cough suppressants Traveling East Memorial turns into Texas Avenue are available at Houston Grand Opera Smith exit LEFT into Theater District garage, performances. Visit the Customer Care RIGHT on Prairie Street entrance #6 booth in the Grand Foyer. LEFT into Theater District garage, VIA ALLEN ­PARKWAY entrance #8 Parkway turns into Dallas Street Food and beverages are allowed in the lobby area only. Bottled water may be Traveling West LEFT on Bagby Street taken into the theater. San Jacinto / Main exit RIGHT on Rusk Street LEFT on San Jacinto Street LEFT into ­Theater District garage, Smoking is prohibited in the Wortham RIGHT on Prairie Street entrance #1 Theater Center. LEFT into Theater District garage, VIA 288 For your safety inside the auditorium, entrance #8 Take I-45 North (see I-45 ­directions) please remain seated until the house VIA US-59 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION lights are turned on. Traveling North In case of illness during a performance, Take Louisiana / Brazos exit; Out of consideration for other patrons ask an usher to contact the EMT on call. follow Louisiana Street and for the performers, late arrivals will LEFT on Prairie Street be seated at intermission. EMERGENCY NUMBERS LEFT into Theater District Garage, Children aged five years and older who Backstage Security at the Wortham entrance #8 are capable of sitting quietly through a Theater Center: 713-250-3657 Traveling South minimum of three hours are welcome at Wortham Theater Center lost-and-found: Take I-10 West to the San Jacinto / HGO performances when accompanied 713-237-1439 Main exit (see I-10 directions) by an adult. Should a child become restless, our ushers will direct adult and VIA 290 child to an area where they may watch Loop 610 South to I-10 East the performance together on closed- (see I-10 directions) circuit television until the child is able to VIA I-45 be calm and quiet. Adult and child will be Traveling North welcome to resume their seats at the next Houston Avenue / Memorial Drive exit intermission. RIGHT on Memorial Drive feeder; cross Bagby Street

HGO.org > 79 Houston Grand Opera MANAGEMENT & 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 CARLEEN GRAHAM DEBORAH HIRSCH General Manager * Technical and Production Director Director of HGOco Senior Director of Development *

JUDITH KURNICK BRADLEY MOORE BRIAN SPECK DIANE ZOLA Director of Communications 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 HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO Dawn Gillespie, Governance and Robin Lewis, Development Data Manager Jeremy Johnson, Administrator Business Manager Meredith Morse, Development Administrative Tamara Johnson, Executive Assistant Assistant TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION M. Jane Orosco, Marketing Data Manager * Philip Alfano, Lighting Associate FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Joanna Torok, Director of Advancement Operations Katrina Bachus, Assistant Director Maria J. Blake, Systems Manager * Justine Welch, Development Operations Manager Kristen E. Burke, Production Stage Manager Henry Cantu, Staff Accountant * Michael Clark, Lighting Supervisor Luis Franco, Office Services Coordinator * COMMUNICATIONS Andrew Cloud, Properties Associate * Denise Fruge, Accounts Payable Administrator * Laura Chandler, Director of Publications * Norma Cortez, Head of Costumes * Matt Gonzales, Database Administrator Christine Lee, Communications Manager Kyle Coyer, Assistant Technical Director Debbie Loper, Payroll Administrator * Gracie Padron, Graphic Designer Esmeralda De Leon, Costume Coordinator Tanya Lovetro, Director of Finance Pattima Singhalaka, Art Director * Meg Edwards, Assistant Stage Manager Ken Vaughn, Director of Information Systems * Mary Elsey, Assistant Stage Manager Lee Whatley, Director of Business Analytics * THE GENEVIEVE P. DEMME ARCHIVES AND Zoltan Fabry, Master Propertyman * Melissa Williford, Director of Human Resources * RESOURCE CENTER Vince Ferraro, Assistant Master Electrician/ Brian Mitchell, Archivist * Lighting Board Programmer DEVELOPMENT Ed Hamala, Assistant Carpenter/Head Flyman Kristina Bergeron, Associate Director of Development HGOco Eduardo Hawkins, Head Soundman * Richard Buffett, Director of Major Gifts and Dennis Arrowsmith, Touring and Ensembles Manager Clair Hummel, Costume Coordinator Legacy Planning Wesley Landry, Bauer Family High School Voice Nara Lesser, Costume Technician Ashley Coffey, Development Information Manager Studio Manager Megan, Properties Design Director * Kelly Finn, Director of Development, Jason Lester, Bauer Family High School Voice Studio Liz Petley, Assistant Stage Manager Institutional Giving Director of Vocal Studies Albert Pike, Master Electrician * Clare Greene, Associate Director of Stacey Michael, Operations Manager Mercedes Ramirez, Draper * Special Events Kathleen Staten, Education Manager Evelyn Rossow, Assistant Stage Manager Scott Ipsen, Director of Special Events Maria Luisa Salinas, Costume Technician David Krohn, Director of Development ARTISTIC/MUSIC Logan Schoenbaechler, Assistant Technical Director Patrick Mühlen-Schulte, Development Officer Richard Bado, Chorus Master * Omer Ben Seadia, Assistant Director Andrea Richardson, Special Events Coordinator Richard S. Brown, Orchestra Personnel Manager * Dotti Staker, Wig and Makeup Department Head * Denise Simon, Special Events Operations Manager Lindsey Cavanaugh, Artistic and Rehearsal Christopher Staub, Stage Manager/ Jim Townsend, Development Communications Coordinator Assistant Stage Manager Manager Jamie Gelfand, Artistic and Rehearsal Coordinator Paully Lea Tran, Costume Technician Andrea Ward, Annual Giving Officer Carolyne Hall, Associate Company Manager Myrna Vallejo, Costume Shop Supervisor * Jennifer Wijangco, Director of Development, Patrick Harvey, Assistant Conductor Sean Waldron, Assistant Head of Properties Individual Giving Paul Hopper, Dramaturg Annie Wheeler, Stage Manager/ Daniel James, Music Administrator Assistant Stage Manager MARKETING Mark C. Lear, Associate Artistic Kelly Laning, Director of Marketing Administrator * * denotes 10 or more years of service Cynthia Lewis, Team Lead * Aspen McArthur, Music Librarian Jacob Millwee, Manager of Customer Service Lisa Oswald, Company Manager Richard Wong, Director of Sales and Services * Peter Pasztor, Assistant Conductor * Karen Reeves, Children’s Chorus Director * Emily Senturia, Assistant Conductor/ Assistant Chorus Master

80 > SUMMER 2016 ESTATE SELECTION OF: POMELATTO, CARTIER OSCAR HEYMAN & DAVID WEBB

P J  H G O 

1801 Post Oak Blvd www.TENENBAUMJEWELERS.com 713.629.7444 HOUSTON, TX 77056

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