OPERAVOLUME 57 NUMBER 05 | SPRING 2017 CUES Diversify your Assets: Invest in the Arts.

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

SAN ANTONIO | AUSTIN | HOUSTON | DALLAS | CORPUS CHRISTI

1.866.805.1385 | STMMLTD.COM painting: “Opera” by Alex Kenevsky, c. 2005

HoustonOpera2016.indd 1 7/25/16 12:19 PM >

GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

APR. MAY 22 | 25 | 29 4 | 7m

THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO APR. MAY 28 | 30m 6 | 10 | 12

PATRICK SUMMERS PERRYN LEECH Artistic & Music Director Managing Director Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Photos by Eva Ripoll, Palau de les Arts Renia Sof í a; Brandon A. DuHamel. LAUREATE

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

Director of Publications Laura Chandler

Art Direction / Production Pattima Singhalaka

Contributors M. Owen Lee Perryn Leech Jim Townsend Larry Wolff

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

For information about advertising in Opera Cues, YOUR LEGACY COUNTS! contact Matt Ross at [email protected].

Who will enjoy world-class opera because of your generosity?

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 Richard Buffett at 713-546-0216 or [email protected].

HGO.org/LaureateSociety

2 > SPRING 2017 A selection of diamond, amethyst, citrine and aquamarine jewelry, featuring Bulgari, Cartier and David Webb

P J  H G O 

4310 Westheimer Rd www.T ENENBAUMJEWELERS.com 713.629.7444 CONTENTS

THE PROGRAM FEATURES DEPARTMENTS

36 WAGNER: 24 IT’S A WRAP! 6 Welcome GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG As we wrap up HGO’s first-ever Ring cycle, 16 News & Notes 41 WHO’S WHO: we thank those who GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG made it possible. 60 HGOco 48 MOZART: THE 28 WE ARE THE RING 62 HGO Studio ABDUCTION FROM Wagner’s epic on THE SERAGLIO gods, dwarves, and 64 Spotlight WHO’S WHO: THE dragons is really all 53 about us. 66 Special Events ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO 32 FOR OUR OWN TIMES 71 Impresarios Circle Mozart’s The Abduction from the 75 HGO Donors Seraglio speaks to us Cover photo for Götterdämmerung by 86 Calendar Eva Ripoll, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofìa. through the centuries. Cover design for The Abduction from 56 UNSUNG HEROES: 88 Your HGO the Seraglio by Pattima Singhalaka. Chorister Tony This page: photo from The Abduction Martinez is living from the Seraglio (2008) by Andrew Cloud. his dream.

from the ARTISTIC & MUSIC DIRECTOR A MESSAGE and the MANAGING DIRECTOR

Welcome to the Wortham Theater Center. It hardly seems possible that we are concluding our first-ever presentation of Richard Wagner’s four-opera masterwork, Der Ring des Nibelungen, which began in April 2014. We have been enjoying the journey and will be sorry to see it end. But what an end! Whatever you loved most about the three previous installments, there’s more of it in Götterdämmerung, we promise. People travel all over the world to see the Ring (maybe you’re one of them—we’ve had visitors from 17 countries as well as 45 states) but there simply are no finer singers than those we have enjoyed in Houston. We’re delighted to welcome a cast of distinguished Wagnerians headed by soprano Christine Goerke and tenor Simon O’Neill, as well as director Carlus Padrissa and the other Patrick Summers creative forces behind the production from the Catalan theater group La Fura dels Baus. We end our mainstage season with an opera that could not be a greater contrast: Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. This opera has a special place in our hearts, as it is one of three works—the others were Aida and Nixon in China—chosen to inaugurate the Wortham Theater Center in 1987. Composed when Mozart was falling in love with the woman he would marry, Abduction perfectly blends romance and comedy with emotional depth in the way only Mozart could combine them. In a stroke of genius, director James Robinson sets the action on the 1920s Orient Express: with the luxury railroad’s endpoints being Istanbul and Paris at that time, what better symbol could there be of East meeting West? While Abduction can potentially lend itself to dated stereotypes, this production finds the heart of the opera—expansive, generous, and, above all, human. We welcome Perryn Leech back conductor Thomas Rösner and a marvelous ensemble cast featuring HGO Studio alumna Albina Shagimuratova and tenor Lawrence Brownlee. In a bit of luxury casting, Christopher Purves—our Alberich from Götterdämmerung—takes on the pivotal but all-spoken role of Pasha Selim. With the final notes of Abduction, HGO’s mainstage 2016–17 season ends, but we hope you’ll join us for outdoor performances of The Elixir of Love at Miller Outdoor Theatre (May 19 and 20) and The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at The Woodlands (May 26). There is no better finale to the season. Please enjoy the performance. Sincerely,

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

6 > SPRING 2017 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. We then use this experience to treat every patient with the same elite level of specialized care.

For a physician referral or appointment, visit houstonmethodist.org or call 713.730.3333. 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, Richard Husseini Inc., Chairman Vice Chair Lynn Wyatt Alfred W. Lasher III Vice Chairman of the Board Zane Carruth Glen A. Rosenbaum Perryn Leech John Mendelsohn, M.D. Anna Catalano Jack A. Roth, M.D. Claire Liu Senior Chairman of the Board Marketing and Communications Manolo Sánchez Committee Chair Finance Committee Vice Chair Beth Madison Mark R. Spradling Richard A. Lydecker Jr. Chairman Emeritus Albert Chao General Counsel and Secretary; Finance Committee Chair MEMBERS AT LARGE Donna P. Josey Chapman Audit Committee Vice Chair Special Events Committee Frances Marzio Judy Agee Harlan C. Stai Vice Chair Studio and Training Committee HGOco Committee Chair Chair Patrick Summers N. A. (Neil) Chapman Richard E. Agee Brucie Moore Ignacio Torras Mrs. Bobbie-Vee Cooney Robin Angly Sara Morgan John G. Turner Development Committee Albert O. Cornelison Jr. * Terrylin G. Neale Alfredo Vilas Vice Chair Dan Domeracki * Houston Grand Opera Endowment Margaret Alkek Williams John S. Arnoldy David B. Duthu Inc., Senior Chairman Philip A. Bahr Governance Committee Chair Frederica von Stade Franci Neely * Honorary Director Michelle Beale Frederic Dyen Ward Pennebaker Development Committee Chair Samuel Ramey Larry Faulkner Cynthia Petrello Honorary Director Astley Blair Benjamin Fink Audit Committee Chair Gloria M. Portela * Senior Director Dr. Ellen R. Gritz Pat Breen Studio and Training 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 > SPRING 2017 TRUSTEES

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

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 c 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 c The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Franci Neely Ajamie LLP Medistar Corporation Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Baker Botts LLP The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation c Dr. Saúl and Ursula Balagura Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson Bristow Group, Inc. Memorial Endowed Donor Advised Fund at the Zane and Brady Carruth Mathilda Cochran Community Foundation of Abilene ConocoPhillips Frost Bank c Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Amanda and Morris Gelb Albert and Anne Chao/Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini Schlumberger Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Sara and Gabriel Loperena Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. c M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ Alfred W. Lasher III Booker • Lowe Gallery Janice Barrow Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Anne and Dr. John Mendelsohn Houston Methodist Frances Marzio Ms. Gloria M. Portela and Mr. Richard E. Evans Margaret Alkek Williams John P. McGovern Foundation Rhonda and Donald Sweeney c Nabors Industries Ignacio and Isabel Torras Mr. and Mrs. Richard Agee PwC Winston & Strawn L.L.P. Robin Angly and Miles Smith 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.

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

10 > SPRING 2017 MOORES OPERA CENTER 2016–2017 SEASON COME GET THE COMPLETE EXPERIENCE. THE CRUCIBLE THE INSPECTOR OCT 21–24 JAN 26–29 showtimes showtimes 21 | 7:30 p.m. 26 | 7:30 p.m. 22 | 7:30 p.m. 28 | 7:30 p.m. 23 | 2:00 p.m. 29 | 7:30 p.m. 24 | 7:30 p.m.

BY ROBERT WARD MUSIC BY JOHN MUSTO LIBRETTO BY MARK CAMPBELL Witch-hunting fever has infected the town of Salem, turning neighbor against neighbor with devastating results. A searing indictment of mob An inspector from Mussolini’s Rome is paying an incognito visit psychology, Arthur Miller's classic drama was written as a response to a small Italian village, sending everyone into a frenzy of comic to the McCarthy anti-Communist witch-hunts of the 1950's. His play obsequiousness, greed, and lust for power. American composer John inspired this Pulitzer Prize winning opera by American Robert Ward. Musto’s very funny adaptation of Gogol’s satirical play, The Government Sung in the original English with the English text projected above the stage. Inspector, premiered recently at Wolf Trap to rapturous reviews. Sung in the original English with the English text projected above the stage. THE SECRET MARRIAGE ROMEO AND JULIET Il matrimonio segreto APR 7–10 JAN 27–30 showtimes showtimes 7 | 7:30 p.m. 27 | 7:30 p.m. 8 | 7:30 p.m. 29 | 2:00 p.m. 9 | 2:00 p.m. 30 | 7:30 p.m. 10 | 7:30 p.m.

BY DOMENICO CIMAROSA BY CHARLES GOUNOD So, you’ve secretly married your father’s assistant, your father is a Lyrical music that will cause you to swoon makes this story of doomed fool, your sister is a harpy, your maiden aunt is lusting after your love even more romantic than Shakespeare’s. Gounod's opera proves new husband, and a wealthy English count has come to enter into an that French is still the language of love. Bring a date, but don't tell your arranged marriage with your sister, but decides he’d much rather marry parents. Sung in the original French with English translation projected above you instead. What could possibly go wrong? The Secret Marriage is the stage. considered to be the funniest opera of the 18th century. Come see why! Sung in the original Italian with English translation projected above the stage. uh.edu/cota/music/opera

PARKING COLLEGE BOX OFFICE You can reach Moores Opera House, Dudley Recital Hall, and Organ Recital Hall from UH Entrance 16, at 3333 Cullen Blvd. Free arts event parking is available in lot 16B after 6p.m. Metered parking is available during the day. MONDAY–FRIDAY The Box Office opens at the venue one hour prior to event. 9a.m.– 4p.m. Tickets and Info UH Wortham Theatre 713.743.3388 3351 Cullen Blvd. Rm 133 MSM Administrative Office 713.743.3009 THE PRODUCTION FUNDERS: THE HEART OF HGO

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 onstage is the foundation for everything we do.

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

A Scene from Nixon in China

A scene from Götterdämmerung Photo by Tato Baeza, Palau de les Arts Renia Sof í a Photo by Tato

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

1212 > SPRING 2017 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. Houston Grand Opera gratefully acknowledges THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTERS

GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG PREMIER GUARANTORS UNDERWRITERS Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc. Mathilda Cochran Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Bobbie-Vee and Gerald Cooney Houston Saengerbund GRAND GUARANTORS Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini BBVA Compass Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Medistar Corporation Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Norton Rose Fulbright GUARANTORS Elizabeth Phillips Robin Angly and Miles Smith Donald and Rhonda Sweeney Mrs. Janice Barrow Robert L. Turner John Tweed GRAND UNDERWRITERS Birgitt van Wijk The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Vaughn Foundation Carol Franc Buck Foundation Roger and Sherrill Winter Louise Chapman Chevron SPONSORS Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Dr. Jack A. Roth William E. Colburn Houston First Corporation Frances Marzio Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker Chuck and Michelle Ritter Beth Madison William V. Walker Will L. McLendon Nancy and Sid Williams Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin C. Howard Pieper Foundation

THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO GUARANTOR UNDERWRITERS Albert and Anne Chao/Ting Tsung Ajamie LLP and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Sidley Austin LLP The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts Westlake Chemical Corporation The Humphreys Foundation Winstead PC

GRAND UNDERWRITERS Margaret Alkek Williams Dian and Harlan Stai

Weeknight Series is supported in part by Schlumberger. Photo by Andrew Cloud Mostly Friday Series is supported in part by Susan and Fayez Sarofim.

14 > SPRING 2017

NEWS & NOTES THE NUMBERS BEHIND THE RING HGO’S RING WAS THE NORTH and 45 states. An extremely conservative AMERICAN PREMIERE OF A CUTTING- estimate of economic impact is As HGO wraps up its first-ever complete EDGE PRODUCTION WITH UNIQUE $1,309,000, based on a 2012 study of cycle of Wagner’s mammoth masterwork, DEMANDS. arts event–related spending in Houston Der Ring des Nibelungen, we celebrate • Our Ring required a total of 638 hours by Americans for the Arts, which used a it as a major milestone in the life of the of supernumerary rehearsals (214 for figure of $31.49 per person. company. regular supers, 424 for crane operators). MOST OF ALL, HGO BENEFITED. For comparison, last season’s Eugene The numbers behind the HGO Ring HGO has joined the ranks of only a Onegin required only 47 hours. underscore just how big the challenge handful of opera companies able to was—and how great the impact for the • 12 video screens and 15 projectors meet the artistic and financial demands company and the city. were required. of the Ring, and we did it with some of the world’s finest Wagnerian singers. THE RING IS JUST PLAIN BIG. • The three suspended water tanks seen It brought the company international The four operas together are 16.5 hours in Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung attention and not only enhanced HGO’s long, with a total price tag of $16 million. weigh a whopping 2,500 pounds each. It takes 299 people—cast and creative reputation but also the artistry of team, crew, orchestra, chorus, and HOUSTON BENEFITED. everyone involved. Based on the first three Ring operas, we supers—to run Götterdämmerung alone! Numbers don’t tell the whole story. project that 41,581 tickets will have been sold—to attendees from 17 countries

INCOMING HGO STUDIO ARTISTS WIN AT THE MET For the second year in a row, During the 2017–18 season, two incoming HGO Studio HGO audiences will hear artists were Grand Finals Nussbaum Cohen as Nirenus winners in the Metropolitan in Julius Caesar and Second Opera National Council Maidservant in Elektra, while Auditions: countertenor Aryeh Smagur will sing Gastone de Nussbaum Cohen and tenor Letorières in La traviata and Richard Smagur. Young Servant in Elektra. Nussbaum Cohen, the first Previous winners include such countertenor to join the artists as Renée Fleming, HGO Studio, won first prize Susan Graham, Samuel in HGO’s 2017 Eleanor Ramey, Eric Owens, Angela McCollum Competition Meade, Stephanie Blythe— Concert of Arias. Smagur is and Yelena Dyachek and Sol an alumnus of HGO’s Young Jin, the HGO Studio artists Artists Vocal Academy (YAVA). who were Grand Finalists in Another YAVA alum, Samantha 2016. The award comes with a Hankey, was also among cash prize of $15,000. ROUND UP THE KIDDOS! Eric Delagrange, the six winners of the Grand Octavio Moreno, Finals, held on March 19. Megan Berti, Our new Opera to Go! adaptation of and Alexander The Barber of Seville scoots into Miller Scheuermann in The Outdoor Theatre (6000 Hermann Park Barber of Seville. Dr.) for three FREE performances, Photo by Lynn Lane. May 2–4 at 11 a.m. daily. Language barriers and a stubborn uncle threaten to keep two young lovers apart while opera’s famous barber plays the role of translator. This 45-minute opera, sung in English and Spanish, is fun for the whole family. No tickets or reservations required!

Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Richard Smagur

16 > SPRING 2017 RICHARD WAGNER

Through myth we find humanity Witness this timeless tale unfold in San Francisco Opera’s spectacular production directed by Francesca Zambello. Acclaimed Wagnerian conductor Donald Runnicles leads an extraordinary international cast featuring Evelyn Herlitzius, Greer Grimsley, Daniel Brenna, Karita Mattila, Brandon Jovanovich, Jamie Barton and Falk Struckmann.

Cycle 1—June 12–17, 2018 Cycle 2—June 19–24, 2018 Cycle 3—June 26–July 1, 2018

sfopera.com/ring (415) 864-3330

COMPANY SPONSORS SEASON CORPORATE The Dolby Family SPONSOR PARTNERS Ann and Gordon Getty John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Franklin and Catherine Johnson Edmund W. and Jeannik Méquet Littlefield Fund Steven M. Menzies Bernard and Barbro Osher Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Dianne and Tad Taube MATTHEW SHILVOCK NICOLA LUISOTTI Phyllis C. Wattis Endowment Funds General Director Music Director Diane B. Wilsey

Ring illustration: Mission Minded. Photo: Cory Weaver. NEWS & NOTES

OPERA THAT TRANSFORMS: SOME LIGHT EMERGES

Clockwise from left: The Rothko Chapel works its magic on Tom (Christian Pursell), Alicia (Cecilia Duarte), Dominique de Menil (Yelena Dyachek), Cece (Zoie Reams), and Albert (Karim Sulayman); Cece is transfixed by the paintings; Dominique de Menil mediates a dispute between Rothko and the chapel’s architect. Photos by Lynn Lane.

t Houston Grand Opera, we student and Hurricane believe that great art has Katrina refugee who the power to move people is encouraged to visit Ain unexpected ways. That’s the the Rothko Chapel by impact of HGOco’s Song of Houston a teacher who sees her program. By transforming the unique potential as an artist. stories of Houstonians into operas, Cece is so moved and HGOco creates unexpected works intrigued by the chapel of art that are at once universal and the paintings that and deeply personal. she gets a degree in art and becomes Houston’s Rothko Chapel made the an art teacher. perfect subject for a Song of Houston opera—Some Light Emerges, which On her first visit to the was presented March 16–17 at The Rothko Chapel, Reams Ballroom at Bayou Place. Composed by felt like Cece. She’d Laura Kaminsky to a libretto written by seen other Rothko Mark Campbell and Kimberly Reed, the paintings to which she had felt a stronger explored the question of her own piece celebrates the Rothko Chapel and reaction, but after noticing the way the vocation as a great humanitarian. The the visionary philanthropist who made it light interacts with the paintings in the chapel transformed her.” possible, Dominique de Menil—as well chapel, something changed. “I started as the diverse characters whose lives Some of the artists involved in Some to see the intricacy of the paintings as I intersect with it. More than 400 people Light Emerges also felt the transformative walked around,” she says. “It all changes attended a performance of the intimate power of the story. The role of Dominique with the natural light. The words of the chamber opera, which Wei-Huan Chen of de Menil was sung by first-year HGO libretto became clearer to me.” Houston Chronicle Studio soprano Yelena Dyachek. “I am the called “sublime… “At a time when a global sanctuary is astonished at the ability of one woman to shin[ing] most brightly through its motley so called for, the chapel is always living change the art culture of a city and make assemblage of visitors and the reasons in the now,” says Guarino. “It remains it one of the most important aspects of they have for seeking sanctuary.” constant, but it’s always a response to Houston society,” Dyachek says. “She did “I think everybody spends their lives what we need…a place for a kind of not wait for others to change the world, trying to figure out what their contribution quest, and a portal to think about things she rolled up her sleeves and did the is and how to make a difference,” says in a different way. People come into work herself.” director Robin Guarino. “In conceiving the chapel seeking things. They don’t the chapel, and in perceiving her own Mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, another always get the answers they want, and questions about the divine, de Menil member of the HGO Studio, sang the sometimes, that’s the point.” role of Cece, an unmotivated high school 18 > SPRING 2017 TRUE INDEPENDENCE

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CLIENT: Houston Trust Company FILE NAME: 15HTC119_HGOC_FullPg_Indep_B_GTP TITLE: True Independence SPECS: 8.375” x 10.875”, 4C, Non-Bleed MEDIA: Houston Grand Opera - Opera Cues - Full Page DATE: 10/28/15 Dear Houston Grand Opera patron,

On behalf of the more than 1,400 Houston-area BBVA Compass employees, welcome to Houston Grand Opera and Götterdämmerung—the exciting conclusion of Wagner’s epic four-opera Ring cycle.

As a guarantor of HGO’s 2016–17 season, BBVA Compass proudly supports the performances of the final opera in the series, directed by Carlus Padrissa of the legendary Catalan stage collective La Fura dels Baus.

We’re proud of our longtime partnership with Houston Grand Opera, which enhances the cultural life of this great city. Our longtime support of HGO’s student programming helps enrich the lives of Houstonians of all ages and backgrounds with high quality arts education opportunities.

As the fourth-largest bank in Texas and the fourth-largest in Houston, we proudly serve the Houston community with nearly 80 branches, providing innovative products and services that give customers access to their money when, where, and how they choose. And as a part of BBVA, the global financial services group, our clients also have access to a full range of international products and services in more than 31 countries.

We are honored to invest in world-class art like Götterdämmerung and to be a part of Houston’s historic, first-ever Ring cycle.

Thank you for joining us, and for helping the arts thrive in Houston.

Best regards,

Onur Genç CEO BBVA C ompass

20 > SPRING 2017 Dear Opera Patron:

Welcome to Houston Grand Opera for this performance of Mozart’s beloved comedy The Abduction from the Seraglio. Ajamie LLP is thrilled to support the much-awaited return of HGO’s innovative original production directed by James Robinson.

Headquartered in Houston with an office in New York, Ajamie LLP is one of the nation’s premier law firms, with a national and international practice in complex litigation and arbitration.

We are proud of our tireless work on behalf of our clients, and we’re also proud of the investment we make in our community. We love knowing that our support of HGO helps make Houston a global leader in the performing arts and a terrific place to live and work.

Thank you so much for joining us at HGO, and we hope you enjoy The Abduction from the Seraglio.

Sincerely,

Thomas R. Ajamie Managing Partner

HGO.org > 21 Photo by Todd Rosenberg 2017 18

New Production VERDI LA TRAVIATA OCT. 20–NOV. 11

HANDEL JULIUS CAESAR OCT. 27–NOV. 10

World Premiere RICKY IAN GORDON/ROYCE VAVREK THE HOUSE WITHOUT A CHRISTMAS TREE NOV. 30–DEC. 17

R. STRAUSS ELEKTRA JAN. 19–FEB. 2

ROSSINI THE BARBER OF SEVILLE JAN. 26–FEB. 10

New Production BERNSTEIN SUBSCRIBE NOW WEST SIDE STORY APR. 20–MAY 6 OPERAS FOR UNDER BELLINI NORMA $20 APR. 27–MAY 11 7 A SHOW Call 713-228-OPERA (6737) or visit HGO.org to purchase. SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGES FOR HGO’S 2017–18 SEASON ARE NOW AVAILABLE. 2017 18 CALL 713-228-OPERA (6737) OR 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372), OR ORDER ONLINE AT HGO.ORG.

* Houston Grand Opera debut † Houston Grand Opera Studio artist ‡ Former Houston Grand Opera Studio artist # Alternate cast/date

Verdi Handel LA TRAVIATA JULIUS CAESAR

Oct. 20 | 22m | 28 | Nov. 1 | 3 | 5m# | 11# Oct. 27 | 29m | Nov. 4 | 8 | 10

Violetta Valéry Giorgio Germont Director Projection Designer Julius Caesar Sextus Conductor Costume Designer Albina George Petean * Arin Arbus Christopher Ash * Anthony Roth Megan Mikailovna Patrick Summers James Schuette Shagimuratova ‡ Sol Jin † # Set Designer Choreographer Costanzo * Samarin ‡ Margaret Alkek Williams Lighting Designer Mane Galoyan † # Riccardo Austin McCormick * Lynn Wyatt Great Artist Ptolemy Chair Christopher Conductor 2017–18 Director Alfredo Germont Hernández David Daniels Akerlind Eun Sun Kim * Chorus Master Cleopatra James Robinson Dimitri Pittas Costume Designer Achillas Associate Director Bradley Moore # Richard Bado ‡ Heidi Stober ‡ Set Designer Yongzhao Yu † # Cait O’Connor * Federico De Michael Shell * Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. The Sarah and Ernest Butler Cornelia Christine Jones Lighting Designer Michelis ‡ Alkek Chair Chorus Master Chair Stephanie Blythe Houston Grand Marcus Doshi * Houston Grand Opera Orchestra Opera Orchestra Guarantor—ConocoPhillips Premier Guarantor—The General and Maurice Hirsch Opera Fund and Chorus Grand Underwriter—Margaret Alkek Williams Guarantors—Robin Angly and Miles Smith. Grand Underwriter—Lynn Wyatt Great Artist Fund

WORLD PREMIERE Addie Mills Grandma Mills Set Designer Houston Grand Ricky Ian Gordon/Royce Vavrek Lauren Snouffer ‡ Patricia Schuman Allen Moyer Opera Orchestra James Addison Costume Designer and Juvenile Conductor Mills III (“Dad”) James Schuette Chorus THE HOUSE WITHOUT Bradley Moore Daniel Belcher ‡ Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Lighting Designer A CHRISTMAS TREE Miss Thompson/ Alkek Chair Christopher Helen Mills/ Director Akerlind Based on The House without Adelaide Mills James Robinson a Christmas Tree by Gail Rock Heidi Stober ‡

Grand Guarantor—The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation. Guarantor—The Cullen Trust for Nov. 30 | Dec. 2 | 3m | 6 | 8 | 10m | 14 | 16m | 17m the Performing Arts. Grand Underwriter—The Cullen Foundation.

R. Strauss Rossini ELEKTRA THE BARBER OF SEVILLE Jan. 19 | 21m | 27 | 31 | Feb. 2 Jan. 26 | 28m | Feb. 3 | 8 | 10

Elektra Aegisth Revival Director Chorus Master Figaro Doctor Bartolo Set and Costume Chorus Master Christine Goerke Chad Shelton ‡ Nick Sandys * Richard Bado ‡ Lucas Meachem * Peixin Chen ‡ Designer Richard Bado ‡ Chrysothemis Set and Costume The Sarah and Ernest Butler Count Almaviva Berta Joan Guillén The Sarah and Ernest Butler Conductor Chorus Master Chair Chorus Master Chair Tamara Wilson ‡ Designer David Portillo Yelena Dyachek † Lighting Designer Patrick Summers Klytaemnestra John Macfarlane Houston Grand Rosina Albert Faura Houston Grand Margaret Alkek Williams Conductor Michaela Martens * Chair Lighting Designer Opera Orchestra Sofia Selowsky ‡ Choreographer/ Opera Orchestra Julian Wachner * Orest Production Jennifer Tipton and Chorus Don Basilio Associate Director and Chorus Director Greer Grimsley ‡ David McVicar Eric Owens ‡ Xevi Dorca Joan Font

Grand Guarantors—Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer Guarantor—Houston Methodist Grand Underwriter—Chevron Grand Underwriter—Edward and Frances Bing Fund

Leonard Bernstein Bellini Stephen Sondheim NORMA WEST SIDE STORY Apr. 20 | 22m | 28m | 28 | May 1 | 3 | 4 | 6m Apr. 27 | 29m | May 5 | 8 | 11

Maria Riff Choreographer Lighting Designer Norma Oroveso Set Designer Chorus Master Andrea Carroll ‡ Brian Vu * Julio Monge * Mark McCullough Liudmyla Peixin Chen ‡ David Korins * Richard Bado ‡ Tony Set Designer Associate Director Monastyrska Costume Designer The Sarah and Ernest Butler Conductor Conductor Chorus Master Chair Norman Peter J. Davison Eric Sean Fogel * Adalgisa Jessica Jahn Timothy Myers Patrick Summers Reinhardt ‡ Costume Designer Jamie Barton ‡ Lighting Designer Houston Grand Director Houston Grand Margaret Alkek Williams Anita Jessica Jahn Pollione Chair Duane Schuler Opera Orchestra Francesca Opera Orchestra Alicia Gianni ‡ Simon O’Neill Director and Chorus Zambello Kevin Newbury

Based on a Conception of Jerome Robbins. Book by Arthur Laurents. Entire Original Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Premier Guarantor—Houston Grand Opera Endowment Grand Underwriter—The Wortham Foundation, Inc. Guarantor—BBVA Compass Grand Underwriters—Vinson & Elkins; Margaret Alkek Williams Photos by Tato Baeza and Lynn Lane

WRAPPING UP AN EPIC EXPERIENCE

he full score is well over 3,000 HGO’s first-ever Ring had to be Wagner’s Ring printed pages long, with a playing big. The demands of this titanic work of time of more than 15 hours. It art on the orchestra and singers are so cycle is gigantic. Thas a massive orchestra and parts for 34 extraordinary that only the greatest opera Our family of characters across three generations, as it companies in the world can pull it off, and follows the struggles of gods and heroes HGO rose to the task. Artistic and Music donors made it through romance, betrayal, and war. Director Patrick Summers spent years possible. The story moves from the construction preparing the HGO Orchestra to meet the of Valhalla to the destruction of the greatest demands in Western music. universe—and every great and terrible This massive effort required massive moment in between is awe-inspiring. support. Several key supporters made Nothing in an opera house could be leadership contributions that allowed us BY JIM TOWNSEND more expansive, more transformative, to go forward with this history-making, HGO Development more challenging, and more rewarding for multiyear initiative. We call them Ring Communications Manager the company and the audience alike. And Leaders, and they have earned the of course, everything is bigger in Texas. gratitude of HGO and the many opera

24 > SPRING 2017 lovers who joined us from 45 states and of Das Rheingold that put HGO and own relationship to the world at every 17 countries to experience the Ring at the the city of Houston in the international level: intellectual, emotional, natural, Wortham Theater Center. cultural spotlight. By the time the organic, material. At whatever point you The enthusiasm of the HGO curtain falls on Götterdämmerung in intersect with the Ring, you will find an family of patrons was high from the May, HGO expects that the entire cycle extraordinary level of depth.” onset. When Summers and then–HGO will have been experienced by 40,000 From the Ring Study Days hosted General Director Anthony Freud made people—making it the biggest draw every season by Assistant Artistic the announcement that the company in the company’s 62-year history. Director Paul Hopper to guest lecturers was ready to begin work on the Ring at Rhonda and Donald Sweeney, two of and discussion panels, HGO takes every a dinner in 2010, some of these Ring our Ring Leaders, have attended nine Ring opportunity to share our quest for a Leaders jumped from their chairs ready to cycles since their first at the Metropolitan deeper understanding of the Ring with write a check at that very moment. Opera in New York in 1989 and are our community. Robin Angly and Miles Smith were especially delighted by HGO’s production. “I tend to study each opera for six among the first of the Ring Leaders. “We “I think our production is lively, months in advance of watching it, so got involved because HGO was ready energetic, and colorful,” Rhonda says. these educational events are perfect,” says to become a grownup opera company, “It is really different, and that makes it Corbyn Cravero, a recent graduate of and the Ring put us on the map. Patrick attractive even for people who’ve seen it Texas A&M University. “Hearing Patrick did such a terrific job of building the many times.” Summers’s perspective in person was orchestra so they would be ready for Ring Leaders John Turner and greatly appreciated.” the Ring, with vehicles like Wagner’s Jerry Fischer of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, The titular ring in Wagner’s story Lohengrin and Tristan und Isolde.” have traveled the world to experience is one that bestows great power on its “I’m very proud that it came to incredible opera, having seen 15 Ring wearer. For HGO, the Ring has done fruition,” Robin adds. “We traveled with cycles to date. “When we first saw exactly that—it’s made us stronger some of the other Ring Leaders to Seville Siegfried in Seville, we knew that the Fura and brought us to the forefront of the to see the Fura dels Baus production, and dels Baus production would be a great international cultural conversation. we loved the idea…it was so innovative, fit for Houston. We have enjoyed it from More than anything, the Ring brought particularly with the video projections. It’s start to finish.” us closer to our community of supporters. been an incredible journey, and I’m glad But the Ring doesn’t just inspire By staging the Ring, HGO has reached to have been a part of it.” people in the opera house—there’s so a new level of achievement—and we The enthusiasm of the Ring Leaders much one can learn about its history, couldn’t have done it without the generous paid off. The four-year series began in mythology, and musical significance. support of donors like you. Thank you! April 2014 with a dazzling, critically As Maestro Summers says of the acclaimed, and completely sold-out run Ring, “It is an experience that mirrors our

Jerry Fischer and John Turner (second and fourth from left) with Ring director Carlus Padrissa (center) and HGO’s Perryn Leech and Patrick Summers; Donald and Rhonda Sweeney.

HGO.org > 25 HOUSTON 2014 –2017

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

DIE WALKÜRE GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG APRIL 18–MAY 3, 2015 APRIL 22–MAY 7, 2017 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. Robert Turner, in honor of John G. Turner Medistar Corporation John C. Tweed Birgitt van Wijk GRAND GUARANTORS Sherrill and Roger Winter Robin Angly and Miles Smith Mrs. Janice Barrow GRAND UNDERWRITERS BBVA Compass The Brown Foundation, Inc. Carol Franc Buck Foundation Houston First Corporation Dr. Jack A. Roth and Dr. Elizabeth Grimm Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini Muffy and Mike McLanahan GUARANTORS Norton Rose Fulbright Louise Chapman The Vaughn Foundation Chevron William V. Walker Mathilda Cochran Houston Saengerbund UNDERWRITERS Donna Kaplan and Richard A. Lydecker William E. Colburn Beth Madison Frances Marzio Sharon and J. Landis Martin Chuck and Michelle Ritter Will L. McLendon Nancy and Sid Williams Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn

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

HGO.org > 27 GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG beyond the infinite BY M. OWEN LEE

In the final segment of Wagner’s Ring cycle, the true hero emerges to transform the world. Art by Pattima Singhalaka

28 > SPRING 2017 Siegfried is tricked into marrying Gutrune.

Kronos, with his Titans, took over the world. Finally, as man learned to think and to feel, and became fully conscious of himself and his own powers, Kronos was thought to have been dethroned by his son Zeus, a god of consciousness, with a sophisticated dynasty of Olympian gods representing not just sky and sea, thunderstorm and rainbow, but also thought and love, domesticity and creativity. But the Zeus of myth knows that a time will come when he too will pass away, and he fears it. The question in all of this then becomes: Does god die, or is it rather that evolving man emerges into new levels of awareness and so, feeling the changes in himself, changes his god? It was a question asked in Wagner’s time by Ludwig Feuerbach, and answered ötterdämmerung. What As it turned out, not even Wagner— by him emphatically: what we call God is does it mean—this twilight strong-willed, intuitive, neo-pagan actually man’s projection of his inner self. of the gods, this dusking, though he was—could live up to Friedrich Wagner was profoundly influenced Gdisappearing, fading away of the gods? Nietzsche’s superhuman ideals. There was by that idea, and also by the early German Wotan dies in this opera, his World bound to be some disillusionment on Romanticists, Novalis and Schelling Ash Tree in flaming pieces. What both sides, and there was. But before the and the two Schlegels and Herder, does it mean when a god dies? famous break-up, Nietzsche wrote a book and their approach to myth, so widely Something of an answer to that more important for understanding Greek accepted today—that man’s myths are awesome question begins on Pentecost tragedy than any since Aristotle. That the repositories of eternal truths about Sunday, 1869, as a young professor of book, The Birth of Tragedy from the Spirit himself. While Wagner was shaping classics walks around the Lake of Lucerne of Music, Nietzsche had talked through his four dramas, he was attuned to the to Tribschen, the house picturesquely set with Wagner. philosophic ideas that were shaping his below the mountaintop where, legend And later, in Nietzsche’s most famous has it, Pontius Pilate lies buried, and a work, one that has sent intellectual Hagen guards the Gibichung perennial cloud tells us he still weeps for shock waves across the philosophies of hall as Siegfried and Gunther the time he sentenced a God to die. our century, a mythical prophet named set off to retrieve Brünnhilde from the mountaintop. The young professor stands at Zarathustra descends from his mountains the gate for a long time, listening and to announce, not in exultation but in wondering as he hears from within sorrow, “God is dead.” The Age of Reason, a chord struck over and over again Nietzsche says, has killed the father god on the piano. Wagner is inside that whom mankind needed and loved. Now, house, waiting out another Swiss exile, with the Age of Reason also discredited, composing Siegfried. Eventually the mankind must be made to face the 24-year-old fledgling classicist rings the nothingness that remains. Only then can bell and receives an invitation to lunch it find, within itself, the new creative force the next day. Thereafter, he spends many that will sustain it in a world without God. long days in conversation with Lucerne’s What does it all mean? Primitive resident genius, the composer of the Ring. man, dimly conscious of earth and Wagner, plagued as always with sea, sun and moon, worshipped them self-doubts, is delighted to have found a as cosmic gods, under the dominion brilliant young intellectual who admires of father sky, Uranos. Then, over the his work. And Nietzsche, for that is the eons, threatened by thunderstorms, young classicist’s name, thinks that in earthquakes, volcanos, and tidal Wagner he has found Aeschylus come waves, man came to think of Uranos alive again. as overthrown when his violent son

HGO.org > 29 Europe. He thought at the start that his even calls himself and the dwarf Light- heroine who possess Wotan’s lost vision Ring would be an image of his century’s Alberich and Dark-Alberich, perhaps and embody his will. In the end, Wagner, politics, but he gradually saw it turn indicating that he and the Nibelung are sensing that his Ring was as much about from political to metaphysical concerns. opposed manifestations of the same force. the human psyche as about the whole At the end of the Ring, man rises to a Each is bent on world power and needs world, let his music say what, years before, new level of awareness. It is as if he has the ring to get it. Each fathers a son to he had written to his friend Röckel: seen the third god, Zeus (or Wotan, or get him the ring. But there is a difference “Siegfried alone is not the complete whatever we choose to call the god of between them. Wotan and his son and his human person. He is only the half. It consciousness), pass away, just as the son’s son all die. Alberich’s son, Hagen, is only with Brünnhilde that Siegfried previous gods had done. And a new force goes in the end to a watery grave. But transforms the world.” appears to rule the world. Alberich himself—we remember only Now I must say at length what I Who or what is that new power? That after Wagner’s last suspended chord has have meant from the first to say. The is what Götterdämmerung is about. died away—Alberich still lives! Ring can be thought of as taking place An important figure began the Ring’s And yet, we think, what power can he not only in its natural landscape of story and returns vividly in Act II of have? In order to steal the gold in the first rivers and mountains covered by fir Götterdämmerung—Alberich. In some place, Alberich had to renounce love. And trees (the way Wagner wanted it on the ways, this Nibelung dwarf is the main when he cursed the ring fashioned from stage), and not only in a 19th-century character in the Ring. In fact the whole the gold, that lovelessness spread over all industrialized Europe endangered by cycle is called The Ring of the Nibelung— the world. The whole terrible story—the greed and corrupting materialism (the that is to say, The Ring of Alberich. He loveless betrayals and deaths of those who way Wagner first thought of it and some appears in three of the four operas, and wear the ring, and the vengeful and savage modern productions stage it), but in that at the central moment in the opera in acts of those who covet it—all of that is inner landscape that is Wagner’s and mine which he does not appear, Die Walküre, the inevitable working out of Alberich’s and yours (the way Wagner eventually Wotan remembers him in whispers and curse. But in the end, when the ring suggested we see it). dread. He is clearly important. At the becomes natural gold again in the waves, On that inner level, Wotan and end of the cycle, when all the other main the one thing that can defeat Alberich Alberich, Siegfried and Brünnhilde characters are gone, he survives. The three comes sounding across the water and are four inner impulses, four aspects Rhinemaidens have their gold again, and through the fire—what Sieglinde called, of consciousness—the present state of possibly the whole cycle can start over. when she first sang the phrase in Die human evolution. Consciousness as The cosmic struggle in the Ring is Walküre, “the mightiest of miracles.” With light and dark, as male and female. You between Alberich and Wotan. The sky god that force to replace the dying god Wotan, may want to add Fricka as conscience, can Alberich really begin the cycle anew? and Loge as intelligence, and Erda as Alberich visits his son Hagen, as No, Alberich will not be the new god to intuition, and those other characters, if in a dream, to remind him of rule the world. For at the end of the Ring especially the human characters, as his sole purpose: reclaim the ring. we have, not a return to the beginning, the sorrows and desires and fears but a transformation. that inhabit your inner landscape. From the death of Siegfried to the That will make Wagner’s Ring fit closing page, Götterdämmerung rises what Schlegel and the other German to a level many will say is unsurpassed Romantics were saying, that the myths of in any work for the stage. And the part the gods were about man, that the secret that Siegfried plays in this is surprising. of the universe lay in each human soul. It had been Wagner’s first intention, It will explain why Fricka knows what 25 years previous, to have Brünnhilde Wotan tries to hide, why Erda knows take Siegfried after his death to a heroic what Wotan must do, why Loge knows afterlife with Wotan in Valhalla. But how to implement what Wotan plans: that Wagner changed the text of that final is the way conscience and intuition and scene—five times. In the sixth and final intelligence work for consciousness. version, he cut most of the text and let the Seen this way, the Ring is a story of a music explain that Siegfried’s innocent soul in crisis. The great elemental world death gives Brünnhilde the insight that of gods and men is also the private world enables her to do what she knows Wotan of man’s inner struggle with his own wants her to do—transform his old world destructive impulses, of his awareness of into a new world. limitations and guilt, of the emergence in So the last two themes we hear him of new ideas, and the dying in him of are those associated with the hero and transforming deaths.

30 > SPRING 2017 BEYOND THE INFINITE

when its last two functions—reason and memory—are defused, man lands on his new planet and evolves to his new stage. He is transformed. That intuitive film is very close to Götterdämmerung. In the old Prose Edda that Wagner used as one of his sources, Wotan’s two ravens are called Reason and Memory. In Götterdämmerung, Wotan sends them off to witness Siegfried’s death. Then they fly back to die with their god, whom Wagner called “the sum of our present awareness.” And the world is transformed. The Ring is about us. About our unarticulated dreams and aspirations. About an evolutionary potential in us we sense only at moments of heightened awareness. At the end of the Ring, it is as if a door has opened, as if the sky has turned round, as if, in the words of C. S. Lewis The Rhinemaidens unsuccessfully remembering his childhood, we have urge Siegfried to give up the ring. “tasted heaven.” Wagner’s mythic Ring tells us what Wagner once said something very That, I suggest, is why Wagner we are. We are the world in which Wotan startling about his Ring. He said that it couldn’t put the end of the Ring into confronts Alberich and Brünnhilde and teaches us that “we must learn to die.” words, even in six separate attempts. Siegfried, and Fricka and Erda and Loge. The great deaths in myths are symbols of As he labored over his mythic cycle, an Each of us is a world flawed and fallible inner transformations in man, who makes intuitive idea kept hammering away and destined to die, full of destructive the myths. In this myth, Wotan—the god at him, year after year—perhaps the impulses, yet capable too of goodness of consciousness—dies. Wagner didn’t most important idea of his century: and heroism, open to beauty and joy, and originally intend that. He intended that man was meant to evolve beyond his destined for greater things than we know. Erda, when she appears in Das Rheingold, present state, even as he had evolved Like all great art, and in concert with would warn Wotan that his power would into it. But this step would require the the great religions of the world, the Ring end unless he gave up the ring. Later, death of his present consciousness and assures us that our lives have meaning— he revised Erda’s warning to read, “All its transformation into—Wagner could even, perhaps especially, the sorrows that exists ends. A dark day is dawning only say what that was in music, in the and the pain and the deaths in them, for for the gods. I counsel you—give up the theme associated with the transformation those are transforming experiences. And ring.” Relinquishing its power is not an of Wotan’s will, Brünnhilde. though our consciousness is, like Wotan alternative. Wotan will pass away in any Now perhaps I can align the himself, finite, we sense that we are meant case. He must accept the loss of his power Ring with an evolutionary parable of to move towards something beyond and embrace his death. our own century. In that marvelous consciousness that is infinite. That comes At the end of the Ring, the god of film 2001, Stanley Kubrick shows (in rushing in on us on a wave of sound as the consciousness dies. And his voluntary his prologue) the evolution of ape Ring reaches its last page. withdrawal leaves the world within to conscious man to his next stage, us to be ruled henceforth not by the completed when he lands his spaceship M. Owen Lee is an American scholar consciousness he represents, but on Jupiter. There is a computer brain in classics and music who now makes by that “mightiest of miracles,” the on the ship, the sum total of man’s his home in Canada. In Houston, he transformation wrought by his daughter present intelligence. The computer tries taught at St. Thomas High School (1954–55) and at the University of St. Brünnhilde. The Ring begins with the to prevent man’s further evolution, for Thomas (1968–72). He is professor emergence of man into consciousness that would mean the end of its power. emeritus of classics at the University and ends with consciousness voluntarily The lone surviving astronaut realizes of Toronto. This article was excerpted, yielding to—the next evolutionary that the computer must be destroyed. with his kind permission, from his book development in human nature. He defuses it, function by function. And Wagner’s Ring: Turning the Sky Round.

HGO.org > 31 Muslims Christians

Mozart BY LARRY WOLFF Art by Pattima Singhalaka When the curtain goes up on Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio)…* European captives are being held as slaves by a Muslim pasha. When the Ottoman Turkish overseer, Osmin, enters and sings about his rage against the Christian prisoners, he fantasizes about hanging them, impaling them on hot stakes and beheading them.

ozart and his librettists wrote a memoirs of female captivity and, later, comedy. But it is hard to listen pornographic fictions on the same theme. to Osmin’s aria today and not Sex trafficking is, of course, not thinkM about contemporary nightmare what one usually thinks about when scenarios of hostages and global conflict. listening to Mozart’s brilliant overture, An evening with Abduction from the with its musical explosion of what Seraglio—first presented in Vienna in would have been viewed in his time as 1782 …—reminds us that in the 18th characteristically “Turkish” percussion— century, when the vast Ottoman Empire cymbals, triangle, bass drum—that the was governed by the Turkish sultans composer used to wake up the audience in Istanbul, Mozart was one of many and compel attention. But female slavery, European composers fascinated by the however evasively dramatized in this relations, encounters, and conflicts comedic presentation, forms the back between Christians and Muslims. story of Abduction, in which Konstanze, It was an age of warfare against a Spanish lady, and her English servant the Turks, full of the tensions between Blonde have been kidnapped by the Muslim and Western worlds. But pirates and sold to Pasha Selim. Many Abduction may be an opera for our own productions…don’t dwell on all this, but times, too: an intriguing if disturbing the director Calixto Bieito shocked the model of how to understand—through opera world by emphasizing the brutality the structure of music—the anger of an of trafficking in a harrowing, violent 2004 enemy and how to explore harmoniously Berlin staging. the reconciliation of cultural difference. At the same time that Mediterranean Europeans being held captive piracy was an 18th-century reality— in the Muslim world was a common delivering thousands of European captives occurrence in Mozart’s time. Alongside into Ottoman servitude and, not to be the Atlantic slave trade, there was a forgotten, numerous Muslim captives Mediterranean slave trade, driven by into Europe—operas about Turks were the Barbary pirates of North Africa who a cultural phenomenon, with hundreds operated within the domain of influence of productions featuring turbaned of the Ottoman Empire. Religious and sultans and pashas enslaving hundreds philanthropic associations were active all of sopranos in their harems. In 1683, over Europe, raising money for ransoms, just shy of a century before the premiere and publishers hawked both moving of Abduction, the Viennese withstood a

Ellipses denote small deletions of references specific to the Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Abduction from the Seraglio.

HGO.org > 33 Joseph Vogler’s Merchant of Smyrna as a gleefully evil slave dealer, was also Mozart’s first Osmin. Osmin, the pasha’s overseer and the guardian of the harem, dominates Abduction with extravagant musical rages that reach down to the depths of the bass vocal range. Mozart was thoroughly invested in exploring through this character the ways that music could express extreme emotions while still remaining musical: “A person who gets into such a violent rage oversteps all order, measure, and object,” he wrote in a 1781 letter. “He no longer knows himself. In the same way the music must no longer know itself—but passions violent or not, must never be expressed to the point of disgust, and music must never offend the ear.” While Mozart lived in a century of intermittent European wars against the Ottoman Turks, as well as a century of captivity and slave trade on the Turkish siege. Ottoman military bands included a section called Mediterranean, he couldn’t help being played authentic Turkish percussion to “The Generous Turk” terrify the residents—the same percussion in his Les Indes galantes that Mozart later imitated for its (1735), while Gluck and entertainment value in Abduction. Haydn both composed The siege was broken with the arrival operas on roughly the same of a Polish army, and the ensuing victories libretto, The Unexpected of the allied Christian troops pushed Encounter, or The Pilgrims back the borders of the Ottoman Empire. to Mecca, Gluck’s in This made the Turkish military seem French, Haydn’s in Italian. less fearsome than before, and European Grétry’s Caravan of Cairo opera houses rather suddenly began was such a huge success staging operas about Turks. in Paris in the 1780s that There was an almost instantaneous the Metropolitan Museum operatic treatment in Hamburg in 1686: of Art preserves French Johann Wolfgang Franck’s The Lucky fabric samples printed with Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa and The scenes from the work. Unlucky Grand Vizier Kara Mustafa, Operas about Turks composed for performance on successive could be serious or funny, evenings. (The Grand Vizier who led the but, curiously, those that Ottoman troops was put to death after depicted Europeans in the failure of the siege.) Most important, Ottoman captivity were however, was the 1689 premiere, in almost always comedies Venice, of Marc’Antonio Ziani’s Il gran that ended happily, with Tamerlano. This was the predecessor of the emancipation of the Handel’s Tamerlano, which was produced prisoners, usually by an From top: Belmonte in London in 1724 and portrayed with unexpected act of magnanimity from (Paul Groves) pleads deep sympathy the defeated Ottoman the Turkish authority (like Pasha Selim with Osmin (Andrea Silvestrelli) for mercy; sultan Bajazet, whose heroic sufferings in Abduction). Some actually reckoned Blonde (Heidi Stober) as a captive of the conqueror Tamerlane with the brutal realities of trafficking and tries to ward off Osmin's advances. Photos of were a common operatic subject slavery, if also in comic fashion: The bass HGO's 2008 staging by throughout the 18th century. Rameau Ludwig Fischer, who starred in Georg Andrew Cloud.

34 > SPRING 2017 MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, AND MOZART

interested in exploring the ways in the pasha turns out to be a “generous and a toast to all women, blondes and which the two sides were closer than Turk” in the 18th-century tradition. The brunettes alike. they realized. In the original libretto lovers are neither beheaded, nor hanged, In the spirit of the Enlightenment, for Abduction (which had already been nor impaled, but are set free to return and within the genre of comic set by a different composer in Berlin in to Europe and love each other. Mozart’s opera, Mozart really could imagine 1781), the tenor hero, Belmonte, was finale celebrates the magnanimity of the a brotherhood of Christians and revealed to be the long-lost son of the pasha as a way of flattering the Austrian Muslims. After all, even in an age of Ottoman pasha, and though this plot Hapsburg emperor (who was actually in violent conflicts, harmony was what he twist was eliminated in Vienna, Mozart the audience at the Vienna premiere), understood best. does allow a certain intimacy between with an opera that offered a model the two cultures. Though the captive of enlightened despotism relevant to Larry Wolff is the Silver Professor of Konstanze declares that she would rather Muslim and Christian rulers alike. Mozart History at New York University and author submit to “every kind of torture” than acknowledged what the political scientist of the book The Singing Turk: Ottoman Power and Operatic Emotions on the surrender sexually to the pasha, she also Samuel P. Huntington called the “clash of European Stage. seems drawn to him (“admire you, yes, civilizations” between the Islamic world From the New York Times, April 24, but love you, never”), and her stunningly and the West, but he also understood that 2016, ©2017 the New York Times. All difficult ornamentation of her aria recalls that “clash” was qualified by numerous rights reserved. Used by permission and Osmin’s in its extremity. (Later in his points of contact and familiarity. In protected by the Copyright Laws of the career, Mozart would use the same kind of Abduction, when the European captive United States. The printing, copying, soprano dazzle to portray the fury of the Pedrillo offers alcoholic temptation, and redistribution, or retransmission of Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.) once the Quranic prohibition has been this content without express written Belmonte seeks to rescue (or considered and discarded, Osmin, the permission is prohibited. “abduct”) Konstanze from the pasha’s angry overseer, becomes entirely amiable, harem, but when they are caught escaping, joining Pedrillo in a tribute to Bacchus

HGO.org > 35 Houston Grand Opera presents GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

A Music Drama in a Prologue and Three Acts Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Sung in German with Projected English Translation

CAST (in order of vocal appearance) First Norn Meredith Arwady Second Norn / Waltraute Jamie Barton ‡ Third Norn / Gutrune Heidi Melton * Brünnhilde Christine Goerke Siegfried Simon O’Neill Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2014–15 Gunther Ryan McKinny ‡ Hagen Andrea Silvestrelli Alberich Christopher Purves Woglinde Andrea Carroll ‡ Wellgunde Catherine Martin ‡ Flosshilde Renée Tatum

A co-production of Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, Valencia; and Maggio Musicale, Florence. Houston Methodist is the official health care provider for Houston Grand Opera. United Airlines is the official airline of Houston Grand Opera. Tenenbaum Jewelers is the preferred jeweler of Houston Grand Opera. The activities of Houston Grand Opera are supported in part by funds provided by the City of Houston and by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts.

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

36 > SPRING 2017 FEATURES APR. APR. APR. MAY MAY 22 25 29 4 7m

CREATIVE TEAM Conductor Patrick Summers Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Production La Fura dels Baus Director Carlus Padrissa Associate Director Esteban Muñoz Set Designer Roland Olbeter Costume Designer Chu Uroz Lighting Designer Peter van Praet Video Designer Franc Aleu Lighting Realizer Gianni Paolo Mirenda Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair Musical Preparation Peter Pasztor ‡ G Bradley Moore Ö Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair T Kirill Kuzmin † T Bill and Melinda Brunger/Jill and Allyn Risley Fellow E Peter Walsh † R Nancy and Ted Haywood/Stephanie Larsen Fellow D Emily Senturia ‡ Ä Stage Manager Christopher Staub M M Assistant Director Katrina Bachus E Supertitles by Paul Hopper R U PRODUCTION CREDITS N G Supertitles cued by Jeremy Johnson

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

Photo by Eva Ripoll/Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía

HGO.org > 37 SYNOPSIS GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG

THE PERFORMANCE LASTS APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES, INCLUDING TWO INTERMISSIONS.

PROLOGUE it. Brünnhilde refuses to yield the ring, Hagen, Gunther, and the other members citing it as a token of Siegfried’s love, and of Siegfried’s hunting party appear The three Norns busily weave the rope of Waltraute leaves in anguish. and decide to rest. As they drink wine, destiny. They envision Valhalla in flames Siegfried regales them with stories about and predict the gods’ imminent downfall. Having drunk the love potion, Siegfried his past: about his boyhood with Mime, Suddenly their rope breaks and they has fallen in love with Gutrune and has reforging the sword Nothung, and killing tumble down to their mother, Erda, deep no recollection of Brünnhilde. In return the dragon. As he reminisces, Hagen in the earth. for Gutrune’s hand, Siegfried takes on offers him wine that contains an antidote Gunther’s appearance with the aid of the Siegfried and Brünnhilde awake after to the potion, and all of Siegfried’s Tarnhelm and breaks through the flames their night together. Knowing he is memories of Brünnhilde return. Hagen to claim Brünnhilde for Gunther, tearing destined to pursue heroic challenges, thrusts his spear into Siegfried’s back, the ring from her hand. Brünnhilde encourages him to leave. and the hero dies with Brünnhilde’s As a pledge of his love, he gives praises on his lips. her the ring before he departs. INTERMISSION At the Gibichung hall, Gutrune has just awakened from a bad dream when ACT I ACT II Hagen, Gunther, and the rest of the At his home on the banks of the Rhine Alberich comes to Hagen in the night party return with Siegfried’s body. Grief River, Gunther, the leader of the royal as he sleeps outside the Gibichungs’ stricken, she blames Gunther, but Gibichung family, ponders how to hall, urging him to get the ring from he replies that Hagen was the killer. strengthen his rulership and asks his half- Siegfried. At daybreak, Siegfried arrives, Quarreling over the ring, Hagen strikes brother, Hagen, for advice. (Gunther and announcing he has won Brünnhilde for Gunther down, but when he tries to take Hagen have the same mother.) Hagen, the Gunther. When they enter, Brünnhilde the ring from Siegfried’s hand, the dead son of Alberich, recommends strategic is shocked to see Siegfried—and the hero raises his arm menacingly and all marriages: he proposes Brünnhilde ring on his hand—and accuses him of recoil in terror. as bride for Gunther, and Siegfried as betraying her. But Siegfried, still under Brünnhilde orders a funeral pyre to husband for Gunther’s sister, Gutrune. the potion’s spell, denies their love. When be built on the banks of the Rhine. Gunther and Gutrune know this can be Hagen offers to kill Siegfried, Brünnhilde, Denouncing the gods for their guilt in accomplished only through trickery, so now bent on avenging her honor, reveals Siegfried’s death, she returns the ring Hagen suggests that Siegfried be lured Siegfried’s one weak spot—his back. to the Rhinemaidens and rides her to their home and given a potion that will Together they convince Gunther to join horse, Grane, into the flames. The river make him fall in love with Gutrune. They in their plot to murder Siegfried as the overflows and the Rhinemaidens drag would then induce Siegfried to secure marriage celebrations begin. Hagen to his death in the water. The fire Brünnhilde for Gunther, since Gunther spreads and begins to consume Valhalla. could never break through the protective The old order has perished. flames that surround her on his own. They INTERMISSION hear Siegfried’s horn nearby, invite him to their hall, and begin to implement their ACT III HGO PRODUCTION HISTORY deceitful plan. Out hunting near the banks of the Rhine, This is HGO’s first staging of Brünnhilde’s Valkyrie sister Waltraute pays Siegfried spies the Rhinemaidens, who Götterdämmerung, the final work in her a visit. She describes a broken Wotan beseech him to return the ring, but Wagner’s Ring tetralogy. who wishes only that Brünnhilde would Siegfried ignores their warnings about the return the ring to the Rhinemaidens: the ring’s curse. very survival of the gods depends upon

38 > SPRING 2017 Houston Grand Opera ORCHESTRA

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

VIOLIN DOUBLE BASS BASS TRUMPET Denise Tarrant *, Concertmaster Dennis Whittaker *, Principal Carl Lenthe The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair Erik Gronfor *, Assistant Principal Jonathan Godfrey *, Assistant Concertmaster Carla Clark * TROMBONE Natalie Gaynor *, Principal Second Violin Hunter Capoccioni Thomas Hultén *, Principal Carrie Kauk *, Assistant Principal Second Violin Deborah Dunham Mark Holley * Hae-a Lee Barnes * Paul Ellison Craig Beattie Miriam Belyatsky * Anabel Detrick * FLUTE BASS TROMBONE Rasa Kalesnykaite * Seth Allyn Morris *, Principal Kyle Gordon * Chavdar Parashkevov * Christina Medawar * Mary Reed † Hannah Hammel TUBA Erica Robinson * Melissa Suhr Mark Barton *, Principal Linda Sanders * Oleg Sulyga * OBOE HARP Sylvia VerMeulen * Elizabeth Priestly Siffert *, Principal Joan Eidman *, Principal Melissa Williams * Alison Chung * Laurie Meister Stephanie Bork Spring Hill Oleg Chelpanov Aloysia Friedmann TIMPANI ENGLISH HORN Nancy Nelson *, Principal G Andres Gonzales Robert Atherholt Ö Ling Ling Huang T Kana Kimura PERCUSSION T CLARINET Fiona Lofthouse Richard Brown *, Principal E Sean Krissman †, Principal Mila Neal Christina Carroll R Jonathan Gunn, Acting Principal Sylvia Ouelette Karen Slotter D Eric Chi* Rachel Shepard Ä James Johnson M Trung Trinh BANDA Spencer Park *, horn M Hannah Watson E BASS CLARINET Jamie Leff, horn Molly Mayfield R VIOLA Tamas Markovics, bass trombone U Eliseo Rene Salazar *, Principal N Lorento Golofeev *, Assistant Principal BASSOON ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER G Amanda Swain *, Principal Gayle Garcia-Shepard * Richard Brown * Conrad Cornelison * Erika C. Lawson * Nathan Koch * HGO Orchestra core musician Suzanne LeFevre * † HGO Orchestra core musician Dawson White * on leave this production Matthew Carrington FRENCH HORN Meredith Harris Sarah Cranston * Sam Pedersen Kim Minson * Yvonne Smith Corbin Castro Shir Farkash CELLO Jamie Leff Ryan Little Barrett Sills *, Principal Kevin McIntyre Erika Johnson *, Acting Assistant Principal Gavin Reed Wendy Smith-Butler * James Wilson Steven Wiggs * Shino Hayashi Dudzik Max Dyer TRUMPET Benjamin Stoehr Jim Vassallo *, Principal Mark Yee Randal Adams * Charles Geyer

HGO.org > 39 Houston Grand Opera CHORUS

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

Nathan Abbott Lazaro Estrada Eric Laine Patrick Perez Ofelia Adame Ashly Evans Wesley Landry Juan T. Polanco-Palacios Geordie Alexander Peter Farley Katie Loff Teresa Procter Debra Alons Ami Figg Amelia Love Jessica S. Richards Sydney E. Anderson Don Figg Britany Lovett Jay Rockwell Dennis Arrowsmith Julia Fox Miles Robert Lutterbie Paul Joseph Serna Megan Berti Stewart D. Gaitán Lindsay Lymer Kade I. Smith G. Leslie Biffle Brian M. Gibbs Sarah Lysiak Haley Stage Brennan Blankenship Suzanne Gregory Keenan Manceaux Kaitlyn Stavinoha Jessica Blau Megan Gryga Heath Martin John Stevens Andrew Briggs Nancy Hall Antonio Martinez Lauren Stocker Laurelle Brown Sarah Jane Hardin Neal Martinez Naonobu Sugitani Zachary Bryant Douglas E. Henshaw Katherine McDaniel Riley Vogel Christopher Childress Frankie Hickman Jason Milam Gabriel Walker Patrick Contreras Austin Hoeltzel Jeff Monette John Weinel Esteban Cordero Sasha Holloway Natasha Monette Patrick Wright Sybil Elizabeth Crawford Jon Janacek Stacia Morgan Dunn Jennifer Wright Ann Scott Davis James R. Jennings Gary V. Navy Robert Dee Joy Jonstone Matthew Neumann Justin Dunkle Joe Key Laura Elizabeth Patterson Ashley Duplechien Kirsten Lutz Koerner Cristino Perez

SUPERNUMERARIES

Cristina Amaro Amanda Gamel Kristi Posey Melanie Bell Kat Jimenez Lori Rutledge Sarah Boice Darin Montemayor Rose Salcido Cynthia Coffield Sarah Myers Karla Saldivar Kacee Dugas Jessica Nguyen Sheila Scott Maureen Fenninger Aki Ohinata Cicily Smith Shelby Fisher Mayu Park Lisa Stringer Rob Flebbe Diana Perez Sarah Warren Julie Fontenot Megan Perry Vicki Wood Cara Fowler Victoria Pierce Shiva Zamen

CRANE OPERATORS Luke Fedell Domingo Fos Ferrandis Lorenzo Gabaldon Ferran Garrigues Insa Joel Grothe Dave Harris Brock Hatton Andrew Love Cris Skelton Lenvi Tennessee

40 > SPRING 2017 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO PATRICK SUMMERS (United States) Sébastien, La damnation de Faust, The Magic Flute, Elektra, Aida, Margaret Alkek Williams Chair Carmina Burana, and Terra Nova. Conductor CARLUS PADRISSA (Spain) Patrick Summers was named artistic Director and music director of HGO in 2011 after having served as the company’s music Carlus Padrissa is one of the six artistic director since 1998. He has conducted directors of the innovative Spanish theater more than 60 operas at HGO and has been responsible for many company La Fura dels Baus. He has important artistic advances, including the development of the directed all of the previous installments of HGO Orchestra. Some highlights of his work at HGO include the Ring at HGO: Das Rheingold (2014), conducting the company’s first-ever complete cycle of Wagner’s Die Walküre (2015), and Siegfried (2016). Padrissa was the Ring and collaborating on the world premieres of Jake Heggie’s driving force behind La Fura dels Baus’s participation in the It’s a Wonderful Life, Three Decembers, and The End of the Affair; opening ceremony of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, which André Previn’s Brief Encounter; Christopher Theofanidis’s The he and Àlex Ollé directed in collaboration with Hansel Cereza, Refuge; Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players and Cold Sassy Tree; and Jordi Arús, Miquel Badosa, and Pera Tantiñá. Padrissa’s early Tod Machover’s Resurrection. He also led the American premiere work in opera and in collaboration with Àlex Ollé and the plastic of Weinberg’s Holocaust opera The Passenger at HGO and on artist Jaume Plensa began with Falla’s La Atlántida and Debussy’s tour to the Lincoln Center Festival and has nurtured the careers Le martyre de Saint Sébastien. These were followed by La of such artists as Christine Goerke, Ailyn Pérez, Joyce DiDonato, damnation de Faust (Salzburg Festival); The Magic Flute (Ruhr Biennale); and Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle and Janáček’s song Ana María Martínez, Ryan McKinny, Tamara Wilson, Albina G Shagimuratova, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Norman Reinhardt, cycle Diary of a Missing Person (Paris Opera and Gran Teatre del Liceu). One of La Fura’s most ambitious projects was converting Ö Jamie Barton, and Dimitri Pittas. Maestro Summers is principal T guest conductor for the San Francisco Opera, where he was the ship Naumon into a modern floating performance center that T honored in 2015 with the San Francisco Opera Medal. His work has logged more than 40,000 miles from the Atlantic Ocean via E the Mediterranean all the way to the China Seas. Padrissa has R with SFO includes collaborating with André Previn on the 1998 D world premiere of A Streetcar Named Desire and conducting also directed Turandot at Bavarian State Opera, Stockhausen’s Michaels Reise um die Erde in its Austrian premiere and on an Ä several of the performances, and conducting Jake Heggie and M Gene Scheer’s Moby-Dick, which was recorded and telecast on international tour that included the Lincoln Center, Tannhäuser M PBS’s Great Performances. Next season at HGO, he will conduct at La Scala, Les Troyens at the Palau de les Arts of Valencia and E R Handel’s Julius Caesar, Strauss’s Elektra, and Bellini’s Norma. the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg, Parsifal at the Cologne Opera, Elektra in Sweden, Cantos de sirena in Switzerland, El amor brujo U LA FURA DELS BAUS (Spain) in Spain, Benvenuto Cellini in Germany, Terra Nova in Austria, N G Production and many others. La Fura dels Baus is the innovative Barcelona-based theater group behind this production of Wagner’s Ring cycle. Established ESTEBAN MUÑOZ (Chile) Associate Director in 1979, La Fura began as a street theater group and over the years has developed its own “Furan language,” style, and Esteban Muñoz has served as associate aesthetics based on collective creation. Since the early 1990s, director for all three previous operas in La Fura dels Baus has diversified its creative efforts, moving HGO’s Ring cycle: Das Rheingold (2014), into plays, digital theater, film, opera, and major corporate Die Walküre (2015), and Siegfried (2016). events. La Fura produced the opening ceremony for the 1992 He has worked as an assistant to many Barcelona Olympics, which was broadcast and watched live by directors including Calixto Bieito, Barrie Kosky, Michael Hampe, more than 500 million viewers. Since then, such companies as Emilio Sagi, Keith Warner, Balázs Kovalik, and Hugo de Ana Pepsi, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Volkswagen, Swatch, Airtel, in productions of the Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile, Microsoft, Absolut Vodka, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros., the Teatro del Lago (Chile), Opéra de Lausanne, Munich Biennale, Port of Barcelona, Telecom Italia, and Sun Microsystems have the Prince Regent Theater in Munich, and numerous open-air commissioned the group to produce large-scale “macro” shows opera productions. He has also worked very closely with La Fura for them around the world. La Fura’s production L’home del dels Baus and Carlus Padrissa since 2011. He has frequently been mil·lenni, celebrating the new millennium, drew an audience of invited to the Bavarian State Opera, where he works principally more than 20,000 in Barcelona; Divine Comedy was performed as an assistant director. In 2013, Muñoz was awarded the ProArte in Florence for more than 35,000 spectators; La navaja en el Prize for Young Artist of the Year in Chile. His most recent ojo, which opened the Valencia Biennial, attracted an audience engagements include Halévy’s La Juive with Calixto Bieito at the of more than 20,000. A number of courses and workshops Bavarian State Opera, Das Rheingold with Carlus Padrissa at the have trained actors in Furan language. La Fura’s work in opera National Taichung Theater (Taiwan), and Stravinsky’s Petrushka includes productions of La Atlántida, Le martyre de Saint and Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges with the theater group 1927 at the Komische Oper Berlin. Upcoming engagements include HGO.org > 41 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO his debut at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow with The Magic his work with La Fura dels Baus in this production of Wagner’s Flute, Wagner’s Die Walküre with Carlus Padrissa at the National Ring. Other work with La Fura includes the opening ceremony Taichung Theater, and a new production of Fiddler on the Roof of the Valencia Biennale and the operas Les Troyens, Tannhäuser, with Barrie Kosky at the Komische Oper Berlin, where he Parsifal, Turandot, and Benvenuto Cellini. became a staff member during the 2016–17 season. PETER VAN PRAET (Belgium) ROLAND OLBETER (Germany) Original Lighting Designer Set Designer HGO audiences saw Peter van Praet’s Roland Olbeter’s work has been seen at lighting designs in the previous segments HGO in the three previous segments of of the Ring cycle: Das Rheingold (2014), Die the Ring cycle: Das Rheingold (2014), Die Walkure (2015), and Siegfried (2016). He Walküre (2015), and Siegfried (2016). He has designed lighting for many productions has lived and worked in Barcelona since by Robert Carsen, most recently including La fanciulla del West 1986. Formally trained as a concert violinist and as a naval at La Scala, Don Carlo in Strasbourg, and Der Rosenkavalier at constructor, he has worked extensively in theater, opera, and the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. cinema and has created sound and movement installations Other productions with Carsen include Jenůfa, The Cunning as well as set designs. In his work for opera, he collaborates Little Vixen, Katya Kabanova, and Richard III at the Flemish intensively with Carlus Padrissa of La Fura dels Baus. He won Opera; Rusalka and Capriccio in Paris; Fidelio in Amsterdam the Franco Abbiati award for the design of La Fura’s Ring operas. and Florence; Les Boréades in Paris and New York; Tosca at Gran His work has been seen in such opera houses as the Gran Teatre Teatre del Liceu; Der Rosenkavalier in Salzburg; La traviata del Liceu in Barcelona, La Scala in Milan, Santuri Hall in Tokyo, in Venice; Elektra in Tokyo; A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Maggio Musicale in Florence, Vienna Pocket Opera, Cologne Barcelona; Iphigénie en Tauride at Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Opera, the Mariinski in St. Petersburg, Bavarian State Opera, Royal Opera, Covent Garden, and in Madrid and Toronto; and Lincoln Center, among others. Olbeter has worked for more Candide at La Scala, English National Opera, and in Japan; Don than 10 years to develop electro-acoustic instruments to perform Giovanni at La Scala; Falstaff at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, music in festivals and museums with the support of the German La Scala, and the Metropolitan Opera; and the world premiere high-tech company Festo. He realized the opera Orlando Furioso of CO2 at La Scala. With director Pierre Audi, Van Praet has for five robotic instruments and soprano with music by German lit productions of Les Troyens, Alcina, and Zoroastre. With composer Michael Gross. In July 2016 he produced and staged Valentina Carrasco, he lit the Colón-Ring (an abridged version the machine opera Gulliver’s Dream with music by Elena Kats of Wagner’s Ring for Teatro Colón), The Turn of the Screw, Don Chernin, which is now touring through Spain and Europe. Giovanni, and Oedipe.

CHU UROZ (Spain) GIANNI PAOLO MIRENDA (Italy) Costume Designer Lighting Realizer Chu Uroz’s costume designs have been seen Gianni Paolo Mirenda realized the lighting at HGO in the three previous installments on HGO’s previous stagings of Das of Wagner’s Ring: Das Rheingold (2014), Rheingold (2014) and Siegfried (2016). He Die Walküre (2015), and Siegfried (2016). began his career in 1980 as a member of Born in Barcelona, Uroz studied at the the coaching staff of the Maggio Musicale Barcelona and Vallès schools of architecture before specializing in his home city, Florence, Italy, holding various positions in in industrial design at the Elisava School of Design. In 1992 the area of stage lighting. In 1996 he collaborated on Maggio he participated in the artistic direction and costume design of Musicale’s first tour to Tokyo and Yokohama with Zubin Mehta the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games in Barcelona, and, the following year, to Shanghai to inaugurate the Grand in close collaboration with La Fura dels Baus. His work in the Theater. He has collaborated with such distinguished directors Olympics ceremonies earned him a Gold Award. In film, Uroz as Luca Ronconi, Pier Luigi Pizzi, GrahamVick, Jonathan Miller, worked with the late director Bigas Luna on Jamón, jamón Robert Carsen, Liliana Cavani, and Ferzan Özpetek. He has (production designer and art director); Huevos de oro (curator also lit Franco Zeffirelli’s landmark production of Pagliacci and film production); Yo soy la Juani and Di Di Hollywood and has done lighting for live recordings of operas and ballets. (production designer); and Comedias bárbaras and Gaudir Recently he realized the lighting for Das Rheingold to inaugurate nouvelle (artistic director). Uroz has also worked for the band U2 the National Taichung Theater in Taiwan for the opera’s Asian as a stage and wardrobe consultant. He has worked as a costume premiere. Mirenda serves as director of the Video, Audio, and designer and art director with La Fura dels Baus since 2000, Lighting Department at the Petruzzelli Theater in Bari, Italy. and in 2009 he won the prestigious Franco Abbiati Award for

42 > SPRING 2017 FRANC ALEU (Spain) RICHARD BADO (United States) Projection Designer The Sarah and Ernest Butler Franc Aleu’s projection designs have Chorus Master Chair been seen at HGO in Das Rheingold Chorus Master (2014), Die Walküre (2015), and Siegfried Richard Bado has served as HGO’s chorus (2016). He recently won the Catalonian master since 1988 and was the company’s government’s prestigious National Culture head of music staff for 14 seasons. HGO Award in the audiovisual category. He has worked in theaters honored him in 2013 with the Silver Rose Award to mark his and opera houses all over the world, including the Gran Teatre 25th anniversary as chorus master. The HGO Studio alumnus del Liceu in Barcelona, La Scala in Milan, La Monnaie in (1983–85) made his professional conducting debut in 1989 Brussels, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, Maggio Musicale in leading HGO’s acclaimed production of Show Boat at the newly Florence, and Vienna Pocket Opera, among others. Outside the restored Cairo Opera House in Egypt and later conducted performing arts, he has created visual projections on façades Robert Wilson’s production of Four Saints in Three Acts on tour of landmark buildings such as Barcelona’s City Hall and the to the Edinburgh Festival (1996). Most recently, he conducted Catalan Parliament, and he works in advertising, design, last season’s Carousel. Bado has also conducted at La Scala, conceptualization, and direction of all kinds of events. He has Opéra National de Paris, New York City Opera, the Aspen created architectural designs for exhibition pavilions such as Music Festival, Tulsa Opera, the Russian National Orchestra, the Expo Zaragoza 2008. A recent highlight was directing El the Florida Philharmonic, the Montreal Symphony, Wolf Trap somni, the first gastronomic multisensory opera in collaboration Opera, and Houston Ballet. An accomplished pianist, Bado with the Roca brothers, whose restaurant El Celler de Can Roca, appears regularly with Renée Fleming in recital and has also G in Girona, Spain, has been named the world’s best. Aleu gives played for Cecilia Bartoli, Frederica von Stade, Susan Graham, Ö master classes and lectures in major European cultural centers Denyce Graves, Marcello Giordani, Ramón Vargas, Samuel T such as Milan, Cologne, Prague, Barcelona, and other cities. Ramey, Jamie Barton, Ryan McKinny, and Nathan Gunn. Bado T E R D Ä M M E R U N G

HGO.org > 43 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO holds music degrees from the Eastman School of Music, where Engagements for 2016 and beyond include Mahler’s Symphony he received the 2000 Alumni Achievement Award, and West No. 8 in Tokyo (Harding); Florestan in Rome with Pappano; Virginia University; he also studied advanced choral conducting Gurrelieder with Runnicles at the Edinburgh Festival; Boris in with Robert Shaw. He is the director of the Opera Studies Katya Kabanova for the Berlin State Opera (Rattle); Siegmund Program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. for the Berlin State Opera (Barenboim), Berlin Philharmonic (Rattle), Leipzig Opera (Schirmer), and Bavarian State Opera DENISE TARRANT (United States) (Petrenko); Drum Major in Wozzeck for the Hamburg State The Sarah and Ernest Butler Opera; and the title roles in Siegfried in Hong Kong (van Concertmaster Chair Zweden) and Parsifal with Bavarian State Opera (Petrenko). Concertmaster A native of Texas, Denise Tarrant started CHRISTINE GOERKE (United States) her professional violin career at the age Soprano—Brünnhilde of 16 with the Midland Odessa (Texas) Christine Goerke continues her portrayal Symphony. Afterward she studied at the University of Houston, of Brünnhilde after singing the role at Rice University, Trinity University (London), and the Royal HGO in Die Walküre (2015) and Siegfried College of Music (London). She became HGO’s concertmaster (2016). Her other HGO roles include under the baton of Patrick Summers in 1999. Highlights of her Princess Eboli in Don Carlos (2012), work at HGO include the world premieres of Carlisle Floyd’s Prima Donna/Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos (2011), Ortrud in Cold Sassy Tree (2000) and Tod Machover’s Resurrection (1999), Lohengrin (2009), and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte (2001). She has as well as Catán’s Florencia en el Amazonas (2001), and Floyd’s appeared in the major opera houses of the world and has sung Of Mice and Men (2002), all of which were released on CD by much of the great soprano repertoire, beginning with the Mozart Albany Records. She further performed in the world premieres and Handel heroines and now moving into the dramatic Strauss of Jake Heggie’s It’s a Wonderful Life (2016), Three Decembers and Wagner roles. She has received acclaim for her portrayals of (2008), and The End of the Affair (2004); Carlisle Floyd’s Prince the title roles in Elektra, Turandot, Ariadne auf Naxos, Norma, of Players (2016); André Previn’s Brief Encounter (2009); Mark Iphigénie en Tauride, and Florencia en el Amazonas; Brünnhilde Adamo’s Lysistrata (2005); Catán’s Salsipuedes (2004); and Rachel in the Ring cycle; Kundry in Parsifal; Ortrud in Lohengrin; Portman’s The Little Prince (2003). She performed onstage Leonora in Fidelio; Eboli in Don Carlos; Dyer’s Wife in Die as the solo violinist in Julius Caesar in 2003. She has been Frau ohne Schatten; Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus; Ellen Orford concertmaster of the Houston Ballet Orchestra since 1988 and in Peter Grimes; Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia; Alice has been featured as a violin soloist in numerous Houston Ballet in Falstaff; and Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmélites. productions including Stanton Welch’s Maninyas (Ross Edward’s This season, she made her role debut at the Lyric Opera of Violin Concerto), Clear (Bach’s Concerto for Violin and Oboe), Chicago as Cassandre in Les Troyens and returned to Opera The Four Seasons (Vivaldi), and Natalie Weir’s Steppenwolf Philadelphia for Turandot and the Canadian Opera Company (Bruch Violin Concerto). for Gotterdämmerung. Future plans include the full Ring cycle at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and the Metropolitan Opera; a SIMON O’NEILL (New Zealand) return to the Royal Opera, Covent Garden, for Turandot; and the Lynn Wyatt Great Artist 2014–15 Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera to sing the title Tenor—Siegfried role in Elektra, which she will perform at HGO next season. Simon O’Neill made his HGO debut performing the title role in Lohengrin ANDREA SILVESTRELLI (Italy) (2009) and subsequently sang Florestan Bass—Hagen in Fidelio (2011), the title role in Otello Andrea Silvestrelli has previously (2014) and Siegmund in Die Walküre (2015). He has also performed Fafner in both Das Rheingold performed principal roles with the Metropolitan Opera; the (2014) and Siegfried (2016) at HGO, along Royal Opera, Covent Garden; La Scala; and the Bayreuth and with Philippe II in Don Carlos (2012), Salzburg festivals. He is a Fulbright Scholar, was awarded the Sparafucile in Rigoletto (2009), and Osmin Arts Laureate of New Zealand, and holds an honorary doctorate in The Abduction from the Seraglio(2008). This season, his in music from Victoria University of Wellington. Notable debuts engagements include Fafner in Das Rheingold with the National include Jeník in The Bartered Bride at the Royal Opera, Covent Taichung Theater in Taiwan, Oroveso in Norma with Lyric Garden (Mackerras); Gran Sacerdote (High Priest of Neptune) Opera of Chicago, and the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and in Idomeneo at the Metropolitan Opera (Levine); Sergei in Lady Sparafucile in Rigoletto, both with San Francisco Opera. Last Macbeth of Mtsensk for Opera Australia (Armstrong); Siegmund season with San Francisco Opera, he sang Wurm in Luisa Miller, in Die Walküre for the Bavarian State Opera (Nagano); the title The Night Watchman in Die Meistersinger von Nürnburg, Don roles in Lohengrin (Nelsons) and Parsifal (Gatti) for the Bayreuth Basilio in The Barber of Seville, and the Grand Inquisitor in Don Festival; Chairman Mao in Nixon in China for the San Francisco Carlo. He also returned to Erl, Austria, for performances of the Opera; and Parsifal at the Vienna State Opera (Thielemann). Ring cycle at the Tiroler Festspiele. Other recent performances 44 > SPRING 2017 include the Commendatore in Don Giovanni and Ferrando the 2014 Marian Anderson Award, Barton has recently made in Il trovatore with the Lyric Opera of Chicago; additional concert debuts at Wigmore Hall and with the Atlanta Symphony performances as the Commendatore with the Canadian Opera Orchestra and has returned to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Company; Fafner/Hagen in the Ring cycle with the Tiroler and Iceland Symphony Orchestra. Jake Heggie’s The Work Festspiele; Pistola in Falstaff and Don Basilio in Il barbiere at Hand was commissioned for her, and she premiered it at di Siviglia with the San Francisco Opera; and the title role in Carnegie Hall in 2015. Next season, she returns to New York to Bluebeard’s Castle with the Tiroler Festspiele. present the world premiere of Iain Bell’s Of You, commissioned by Carnegie Hall. RYAN MCKINNY (United States) Bass-baritone—Gunther CHRISTOPHER PURVES HGO Studio alumnus Ryan McKinny (United Kingdom) (2005–08) performs regularly at HGO, Baritone—Alberich including such roles as Donner in Das Christopher Purves continues his portrayal Rheingold, Escamillo in Carmen, and the of Alberich after singing the role at HGO title role in Rigoletto (2014); Kurwenal in Das Rheingold (2014). He also sang in Tristan and Isolde (2013); and Collatinus in The Rape of Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes (2010) Lucretia (2012). This season he makes his Dutch National and is concurrently performing Pasha Selim in HGO’s The Opera debut in Pierre Audi’s production of Parsifal; performs Abduction from the Seraglio. Highlights this season for Purves, Donner in Das Rheingold for his Boston Symphony Orchestra formerly a member of the experimental rock group Harvey debut conducted by Andris Nelsons at Tanglewood; returns and the Wallbangers, include the title role in Richard Jones’s to Washington National Opera as Figaro in The Marriage of new production of Don Giovanni for English National Opera; G Ö Figaro; and sings Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire Alberich in Das Rheingold with the New York Philharmonic T at Hawaii Opera Theater, Amfortas in Parsifal at the Bayreuth and Alan Gilbert; the Protector in Written on Skin for the T Festival, and Richard Nixon in John Adams’s Nixon in China Royal Opera, Covent Garden; the title role in Barrie Kosky’s E with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by the composer. production of Saul at the Adelaide Festival; and Don Pizzaro in R Recent highlights include his highly acclaimed Bayreuth Festival Fidelio with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Vladimir D Ä debut in a new Uwe Laufenberg production of Parsifal as Jurowski. Recent operatic highlights include Gamekeeper in The M Amfortas, the role he also sang for his debut at Teatro Colón in Cunning Little Vixen and the title role in Saul for Glyndebourne M Buenos Aires; a return to the Metropolitan Opera as Biterolf in Festival Opera, the Protector at Lincoln Center and on tour E Tannhäuser under James Levine, which was broadcast around with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, his debut at the Opéra R the world in HD; his Washington National Opera debut as National de Paris in Schoenberg’s Moses und Aron, Alberich in U N Donner and Gunther in Der Ring des Nibelungen; and a return Götterdämmerung at the Bavarian State Opera and in Siegfried G to the Hamburg Opera for his first European performances with Canadian Opera Company, the title role in Gianni Schicchi of The Flying Dutchman. In recent seasons, he was seen at the at Opera North, Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande at Welsh National Metropolitan Opera as the Speaker in The Magic Flute and Opera, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly in his house debut at Lyric Kothner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg under James Levine. Opera of Chicago, and Balstrode at La Scala.

JAMIE BARTON (United States) MEREDITH ARWADY (United States) Mezzo-soprano—Waltraute/Second Norn Contralto—First Norn An alumna of the HGO Studio (2007–09), Meredith Arwady has previously American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton performed at HGO as Erda in Das is the winner of the 2017 Beverly Sills Rheingold (2014) and Siegfried (2016) Artist Award, 2015 Richard Tucker Award, as well as Schwertleite in Die Walküre both Main and Song Prizes at the 2013 (2015). Also at HGO, she sang Auntie in BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and the 2007 Peter Grimes (2010) and created the role of Myrtle Bagot in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her HGO world premiere of André Previn’s Brief Encounter (2009). This credits include Fricka in Das Rheingold (2014) and in Die season’s engagements include her house debut at Washington Walküre (2015), among other roles. She will reprise Waltraute National Opera reprising her acclaimed portrayal of Kathy and Second Norn in Götterdämmerung with the Metropolitan Hagen in Terence Blanchard’s Champion, Filippyevna in Eugene Opera, San Francisco Opera, and New York Philharmonic. Onegin at the Dallas Opera, and Amelfa in Rimsky-Korsakov’s She will return to Houston next season as Adalgisa in Norma, Le coq d’or at Santa Fe Opera. Recent highlights include her Los a role she has performed to great acclaim at the Metropolitan Angeles Opera debut in Woody Allen’s production of Gianni Opera, Los Angeles Opera, and San Francisco Opera, and will Schicchi as Zita with Plácido Domingo as Schicchi, appearing sing her first runs of Eboli in Don Carlo at the Deutsche Oper at Oper Frankfurt and the Canadian Opera Company as Erda Berlin and Washington National Opera. The winner of the 2014 in Siegfried, and singing First Norn in Frankfurt. She debuted International Opera Award in the Young Singer category and at the English National Opera as Martha in John Adams’s The HGO.org > 45 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO Gospel According to the Other Mary in a production by Peter Papagena in The Magic Flute. Other recent engagements took Sellars, returned to the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Hannah her to Washington National Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Seattle in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline, debuted at Madison Opera as Mrs. Opera, and Utah Opera. She returns to HGO next season as Lovett in Sweeney Todd, and appeared at the San Francisco Maria in West Side Story. Opera under Nicola Luisotti as Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, a CATHERINE MARTIN (United States) role she then sang in a new production at Oper Frankfurt. Mezzo-soprano—Wellgunde HEIDI MELTON (United States) HGO Studio alumna Catherine Martin Soprano—Third Norn/Gutrune (2009–12) has appeared regularly at HGO Dramatic soprano Heidi Melton is making in roles including Waltraute in Die Walküre her HGO debut. Her engagements for the (2015); Wellgunde in Das Rheingold (2014); 2016–17 season include her role debut Amneris in performances of Aida (2013); as Brünnhilde in new productions of Die Anne in Mary Stuart and Flora Bervoix in La traviata (2012); Walküre and Siegfried, both at Badisches Suzuki in Madame Butterfly (2010–11); and Dryad in Ariadne Staatstheater Karlsruhe; her debut with the London Symphony auf Naxos (2011). Her current season began in Taiwan at the Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic in Ligeti’s Le grand macabre National Taichung Theater as she performed Wellgunde in under Simon Rattle; a return to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Das Rheingold and continued with her Lyric Opera of Chicago in concert performances of Siegfried, which will be recorded on debut as Hécube (also Didon cover) in Les Troyens and concerts Naxos; and Quad City Symphony for Strauss’s Four Last Songs with the Dallas Opera and the San Antonio Symphony. Other and Isolde’s Liebestod. She recently debuted with the Vienna recent engagements include Amneris in Aida in her Opera Philharmonic singing Brünnhilde’s immolation scene from Colorado debut; her first Adalgisa in Norma with Florida Grand Götterdämmerung under the baton of Valery Gergiev, in both Opera; Wellgunde in Das Rheingold and Götterdämmerung Vienna at the Musikverein and in New York at Carnegie Hall. and Grimgerde in Die Walküre at Washington National Opera; She made her New York Philharmonic debut with Alan Gilbert Sister Helen Prejean in Dead Man Walking with Dayton Opera; in Strauss lieder and Act III of Die Walküre as Brünnhilde. For Maddalena in Rigoletto for Opera Santa Barbara; Genevieve the Hong Kong Philharmonic with Jaap van Zweden, she sang in Hindemith’s The Long Christmas Dinner with the American Sieglinde in complete concert performances of Die Walküre (also Symphony Orchestra at Alice Tully Hall; and the Composer in recorded on Naxos). She returned to the Deutsche Oper Berlin Ariadne auf Naxos for the Glimmerglass Festival. as Venus/Elisabeth in Tannhäuser with Donald Runnicles, as RENÉE TATUM (United States) well as to Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe for her first Isolde Mezzo-soprano—Flosshilde in a new Christopher Alden production of Tristan und Isolde Renée Tatum made her HGO debut in conducted by Justin Brown. She debuted at the English National 2014 as Flosshilde in Das Rheingold, later Opera in Tristan and Isolde conducted by Edward Gardner. performing Grimgerde in Die Walküre ANDREA CARROLL (United States) and Third Lady in outdoor performances Soprano—Woglinde of The Magic Flute (2015). This season, Andrea Carroll continues her portrayal of her engagements include Flosshilde in Das Rheingold at the Woglinde, a role she sang in Das Rheingold National Taichung Theatre and with Tanglewood Music Festival, when HGO began its Ring cycle in 2014. Olga in Eugene Onegin with Boston Youth Symphony, and The HGO Studio alumna (2012–14) won High Priestess in Aida with Pacific Symphony. Additionally, first prize and the Audience Choice Award she performs as a soloist in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with in HGO’s 2012 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Pacific Chorale, Mozart’s Requiem with Omaha Symphony Arias. Roles at HGO include Mary Hatch Bailey in the world and Rochester Philharmonic, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 premiere of It’s a Wonderful Life earlier this season, Julie Jordan with San Diego Symphony, and Handel’s Messiah with Pacific in Carousel (2016), Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music Symphony Orchestra. Recent engagements include Suzuki in (2014), Adele in performances of Die Fledermaus (2013–14), Madama Butterfly with Toledo Opera, Flosshilde and Waltraute and Musetta in performances of La bohème (2012–13). This in the Ring cycle with Washington National Opera, Flosshilde season’s engagements include Micaëla in Carmen with Opera in Götterdämmerung with Teatro Massimo di Palermo, and a San Antonio, Gilda in Rigoletto with Palm Beach Opera, and return to the Metropolitan Opera as the Second Lady in Julie Mélisande in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande with Garsington Taymor’s production of The Magic Flute led by Ádám Fischer. Opera. On the concert stage, she performs Mozart arias with She also joined an international cast in Japan as Flora in La Musica Angelica Baroque in Los Angeles. Last season, she traviata and performed with the Eastern Music Festival as the joined the ensemble of the Vienna State Opera and during her mezzo-soprano soloist in Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony and residency she performed over 25 roles, including Gilda, Musetta, Mozart’s Requiem, and with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Adina in The Elixir of Love, Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, the Tanglewood Music Festival in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Norina in Don Pasquale, and

46 > SPRING 2017 THE

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A Singspiel in Three Acts Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Gottlieb Stephanie Brown Theater, Wortham Theater Center Sung in German with projected English translation

CAST (in order of vocal appearance) Belmonte Lawrence Brownlee Osmin Ryan Speedo Green * Pedrillo Chris Bozeka † Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Fellow Pasha Selim Christopher Purves Konstanze Albina Shagimuratova ‡ Blonde Uliana Alexyuk ‡

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

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

48 > SPRING 2017 FEATURES APR. APR. MAY MAY MAY 28 30m 6 10 12

CREATIVE TEAM Conductor Thomas Rösner Director James Robinson Set Designer Allen Moyer Costume Designer Anna R. Oliver Lighting Designer Paul Palazzo Projection Designer Wendall K. Harrington T Chorus Master Richard Bado ‡ H The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair E Musical Preparation Emily Senturia ‡ Geoffrey Loff † A Lynn Guggolz/Ms. Marianne Kah Fellow B Kevin Miller * D Bradley Moore U Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Alkek Chair C T Stage Manager Kristen E. Burke I Assistant Director Omer Ben Seadia O Supertitles by Patricia Houk, adapted by Daniel James N

F PRODUCTION CREDITS R Supertitles cued by Kirill Kuzmin † O Bill and Melinda Brunger/Jill and Allyn Risley Fellow M T Performing artists, stage directors, and choreographers are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, H the union for opera professionals in the United States. E

Scenic, costume, and lighting designers and assistant designers are represented by United Scenic Artists, S I.A.T.S.E., Local USA-829. E Orchestral musicians are represented by The Houston Professional Musicians Association, Local #65-699, R American Federation of Musicians. A G Stage crew personnel provided by I.A.T.S.E., Local #51. L I Wardrobe personnel provided by Theatrical Wardrobe Union, Local #896. O This production is being recorded for archival purposes. Photo by George Hixson

HGO.org > 49 SYNOPSIS THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO

THE PERFORMANCE LASTS APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS AND 45 MINUTES, INCLUDING ONE INTERMISSION.

Setting: The 1920s. All the action takes INTERMISSION Konstanze offers to die to save her place on the Orient Express, en route to beloved, Belmonte suggests that Selim Paris from Istanbul. might collect a handsome ransom from ACT II his wealthy family, the Lostados. Selim Before the opera begins Blonde scolds Osmin and instructs then realizes that Belmonte is the son of Turkish pirates in the Mediterranean have him in the correct way to treat women. an old enemy and bids them prepare for boarded and looted a yacht carrying Osmin orders her to love him, for that’s the kind of punishment that Belmonte’s Konstanze, a Spanish noblewoman; the way it’s done in Turkey. Blonde father would have dealt. The lovers vow Blonde, her English maidservant; and reminds him that her mistress is Pasha to welcome death as the path to an Pedrillo, the personal valet of Konstanze’s Selim’s favorite and that she enjoys their eternal union, but Selim decides that fiancé, Belmonte. Intrigued by Konstanze, protection. Osmin warns Blonde not to rather than taking revenge, he will free the wealthy Pasha Selim purchases the flirt with Pedrillo. Meanwhile, Konstanze his captives, for he despises Belmonte’s three Europeans. mourns her separation from Belmonte. father too much to emulate him. He bids After months of searching, Belmonte has Selim reminds her that by the next day Belmonte to return to his homeland and traced them to Pasha Selim’s private car she must decide whether to accept become more humane than his father. on the exotic Orient Express, about to his offer. She maintains that she can This magnanimous act confounds Osmin, depart Istanbul for Paris. Konstanze has honor him but never love him. She will who protests the loss of Blonde to no become Selim’s favorite, but she yearns remain true to her beloved even in the avail. The pasha declares that love cannot for Belmonte and resists the pasha’s face of torture or death. Selim is baffled, be won by force. As the train pulls into advances. Blonde is being pursued by wondering why Konstanze has so much the Paris station, the lovers vow never to Osmin, overseer of the harem, although hope and courage. Pedrillo tells Blonde forget the pasha’s kindness. Osmin’s rage she remains true to Pedrillo, who has of Belmonte’s arrival and describes the erupts, but he is silenced by the crowd been taken into Selim’s service. plan for the “abduction.” They will put chanting praise to Pasha Selim. a sleeping potion in Osmin’s drink and all four lovers will escape. Blonde is HGO PRODUCTION HISTORY ACT I delighted at this news and looks forward Belmonte searches for Pasha Selim’s to telling Konstanze of Belmonte’s arrival. Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio private car, yearning to be reunited Pedrillo begins working on Osmin, was first performed by HGO in 1974 in with Konstanze. He meets the boorish telling the overseer that Mohammed outdoor performances at Miller Outdoor Osmin and asks him where he might find should not have forbidden drinking, and Theatre. In the fall of 1987, it was one Pedrillo. Osmin, who believes Pedrillo is after being reassured that the drinks of three operas that inaugurated the his rival for Blonde’s affections, flies into are not poisoned, Osmin succumbs Wortham Theater Center. (The other two a rage and Belmonte departs. Pedrillo to temptation. He joins Pedrillo in were Aida and the world premiere of approaches Osmin and tries to make praising wine and women before falling Nixon in China, which returned to HGO’s peace, but Osmin refuses. Returning, fast asleep. The coast now clear, stage last winter for the opera’s 30th Belmonte learns from Pedrillo that Belmonte and Konstanze joyously anniversary.) This production by James Selim is in love with Konstanze, but embrace. The happy reunion darkens Robinson was first seen during the 2001– that so far he has not forced himself when Belmonte and Pedrillo jealously 02 season, with Elizabeth Futral and Eric upon her. They begin to plan an escape. question the women’s faithfulness, but Cutler as the lovers, and again in 2007– Konstanze appears with Selim, and they misunderstandings melt into relief and joy. 08, with Tamara Wilson and Paul Groves. are heralded by the crowd at the Istanbul station. Selim tenderly asks Konstanze PAUSE At HGO performances, the excellent natural why she is so sad, and she tells him acoustics of the theaters in the Wortham that she is in love with another man. The Theater Center are relied upon to convey ACT III pasha angrily dismisses her, but admits sound from the stage and pit. Electronic to himself that he loves her even more Pedrillo gives the signal for escape. When sound enhancement is used only with spoken for her steadfastness. Pedrillo comes in the women appear, the noise awakens dialogue (as in The Merry Widow), in musicals and introduces Belmonte to the pasha as Osmin, who sends for the guards. The (as in A Little Night Music), in sound effects a gifted young architect; Selim approves lovers are trapped and Osmin will not (thunder), and at the composer’s direction and leaves. Belmonte and Pedrillo try to accept Belmonte’s bribe to keep silent. (as in Nixon in China and The Little Prince). slip past Osmin, who attempts to bar their Instead, Osmin savors the prospect of Visible microphones are positioned to record way—but the two succeed in getting into torturing and killing his enemies. Pasha performances for archival purpose. Selim’s car. Selim is informed of the treachery and arrives to question the prisoners. While

50 > SPRING 2017 Houston Grand Opera ORCHESTRA

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

VIOLIN BASSOON TUBA Denise Tarrant *, Concertmaster Amanda Swain *, Principal Mark Barton †, Principal The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair Conrad Cornelison * Jonathan Godfrey *, Assistant Concertmaster HARP Natalie Gaynor †, Principal Second Violin FRENCH HORN Joan Eidman †, Principal Carrie Kauk *, Acting Principal Second Violin Sarah Cranston *, Principal Melissa Williams *, Acting Assistant Principal Kimberly Penrod Minson * TIMPANI Second Violin Spencer Park † Nancy Nelson *, Principal Hae-a Lee Barnes * Miriam Belyatsky * TRUMPET PERCUSSION Anabel Detrick * Jim Vassallo *, Principal Richard Brown *, Principal Rasa Kalesnykaite * Randal Adams * Christina Carroll T Chavdar Parashkevov * Karen Slotter H Mary Reed * TROMBONE E Erica Robinson * Thomas Hultén †, Principal ORCHESTRA PERSONNEL MANAGER Linda Sanders * A Mark Holley † Richard Brown * Oleg Sulyga * B Sylvia VerMeulen * D BASS TROMBONE * HGO Orchestra core musician Kana Kimura † HGO Orchestra core musician U Kyle Gordon † on leave this production C T VIOLA I Eliseo Rene Salazar *, Principal O Lorento Golofeev *, Assistant Principal N Gayle Garcia-Shepard * Erika C. Lawson * F Suzanne LeFevre * R Dawson White * O M Celebrating 30 Years! CELLO T Barrett Sills *, Principal Tom Jaber, Artistic and Music Director H Erika Johnson *, Acting Assistant Principal Conductor E Wendy Smith-Butler * Steven Wiggs * Carl Orff’s CARMINA BURANA S E DOUBLE BASS Monday, May 15, 2017—7 PM R Dennis Whittaker *, Principal Stude Hall, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music A Erik Gronfor *, Assistant Principal G Madison Leonard, Soprano L Carla Clark * Jack Swanson, Tenor I Mark Diamond, Baritone O FLUTE Full Orchestra with Seth Allyn Morris *, Principal Percussion Ensemble Christina Medawar * Parker Elementary School Choir, Marianna Parnas- OBOE Simpson, Director Elizabeth Priestly Siffert *, Principal Alison Chung* Upcoming Events CLARINET/BASSET HORN Bavarian Folk Fest Sean Krissman *, Principal May 13, 2017 Eric Chi * Fall Auditions August 14, 2017 9/11 Concert of Hope September 11, 2017

Facebook: facebook.com/HoustonMasterworksChorus/ Info: [email protected] CARMINA BURANACARMINA Tickets: HoustonMasterworks.org

HGO.org > 51 Houston Grand Opera CHORUS

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

Geordie Alexander Wesley Landry Natasha Monette Brennan Blankenship Laurie Lester Cristino Perez Christopher Childress Amelia Love Patrick Perez Patrick Contreras Keenan Manceaux Teresa Procter Suzanne Gregory Kathleen Manley Kaitlyn Stavinoha Frankie Hickman Heath Martin John Weinel Jon Janacek Katherine McDaniel

SUPERNUMERARIES

Troy E. Faldyn Anna Harris Brian Hues Orlanders Jones Brian Mitchell Shannon Murray Judith Irvington Scholtes Molly Searcy Rodney White

SPECIAL CREDITS

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

52 > SPRING 2017 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO THOMAS RÖSNER (Austria) Louis, an opera he directed at Washington National Opera this Conductor season. Next season, he will return to HGO to direct Julius Born in Vienna, Thomas Rösner made Caesar and the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce his U.S. debut at HGO conducting Die Vavrek’s The House without a Christmas Tree. Fledermaus (2013). He conducted his first ALLEN MOYER (United States) orchestral concerts at the age of 14; an Set Designer invitation from Fabio Luisi marked the Allen Moyer’s work has previously been beginning of his international career, when he was engaged on seen at HGO in Nixon in China earlier this short notice to conduct on a tour of the Orchestre de la Suisse season; this production of The Abduction Romande. Recent appearances include Fidelio at the Zurich from the Seraglio (2008, 2002); La bohème Opera; Così fan tutte at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels (2008, 2002); and the world premiere of in a staging by Michael Haneke; the world premiere of Die Catán’s Salsipuedes (2004). Recent opera credits include Vanessa Schatzinsel and Così fan tutte at the Zurich Opera; a return to and The Daughter of the Regiment for the Santa Fe Opera, Welsh National Opera for a highly acclaimed new production T Emmeline and the world premiere of Jack Perla’s Shalimar the H of Die Fledermaus; The Magic Flute at Opera Festival Sardegna, Clown for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Die Fledermaus for E Italy; Die Königskinder at Semperoper Dresden; and The Merry Canadian Opera Company and English National Opera, Orfeo Widow at the National Center for Performing Arts in Beijing. A ed Euridice for the Metropolitan Opera, and many productions He has also conducted at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, B for San Francisco Opera, Scottish Opera, Washington National Stuttgart State Opera, Théâtre du Châtelet, Grand Théâtre D Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Welsh National Opera, National U de Genève, Bregenz Festival, and the New National Theatre Academy of St. Cecilia, Wexford Festival, Seattle Opera, and New C Tokyo (Salome with Tokyo Symphony Orchestra) as well as York City Opera, including Virgil Thomson and Gertrude Stein’s T Glyndebourne Festival, Edinburgh Festival, and Opera di Roma. I The Mother of Us All, Il trittico, Il viaggio a Reims, and La bohème From 2000 to 2004, Rösner was associate conductor of the O (broadcast on Live from Lincoln Center). Broadway credits Orchestre National de Bordeaux; he has also been music director N include The Lyons, Lysistrata Jones, the musical Grey Gardens of the Festival Oper Klosterneuburg in Austria, and from 2005 to (Tony/Drama Desk/ Outer Critic’s Circle nominations and the F 2011 he was chief conductor of Orchestre Symphonique Bienne, 2006 Hewes Award from the American Theater Wing), After R Switzerland. His most recent recording features works by Kletzki O Miss Julie, The Little Dog Laughed, Twelve Angry Men (including and Marek with the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra M the national tour), and The Constant Wife. Moyer is the recipient on the Musique Suisses label. of a 2006 Obie Award for sustained excellence. He will design T JAMES ROBINSON (United States) sets for HGO’s world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon and Royce H E Director Vavrek’s The House without a Christmas Tree next season. James Robinson’s work at HGO includes ANNA R. OLIVER (United States) S Nixon in China earlier this season, this Costume Designer E R production of The Abduction from the Anna R. Oliver’s designs have been seen at HGO previously Seraglio (2008, 2002); Julius Caesar A in this production of The Abduction from the Seraglio (2008, G (2003); La bohème (2008, 2002); the 2002) and Turandot (2004). Her work in opera includes Hansel L world premiere of Catán’s Salsipuedes (2004); and Lucia di and Gretel (New York City Opera and L.A. Opera); The Magic I Lammermoor (2003). Robinson is artistic director at the Opera Flute (San Jose Opera); Il viaggio a Reims (Canadian Opera O Theatre of Saint Louis, where he has mounted productions Company, New York City Opera); Orpheus and Eurydice (Opera including Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland (American Colorado); Norma (Canadian Opera Company, San Francisco premiere), Peter Ash’s The Golden Ticket (world premiere), Opera, Opera Colorado); and designs for the Welsh National John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles (also presented at the Opera, Dallas Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Wexford Festival), and John Adams’s The Death of Klinghoffer. Opera Pacific, and Boston Lyric Opera, among others. Her many Robinson has directed new productions for San Francisco Opera productions for the Old Globe in San Diego include Romeo and (Norma, Il trittico, and L’elisir d’amore); the Canadian Opera Juliet, As You Like It, Magic Fire, Don Juan, and Misalliance. Company (Norma, Elektra, and Nixon in China); the Santa Fe Elsewhere in California, her work has been seen at the La Jolla Opera (Capriccio, Così fan tutte, and The Rake’s Progress); and Playhouse, Berkeley Repertory Theatre, American Conservatory New York City Opera (La bohème, Hansel and Gretel, and Il Theater, California Shakespeare Festival, and San Jose Repertory viaggio a Reims). His work has also been seen at the Australian Theatre. She has also designed for the Shakespeare Theatre in Opera, the Washington National Opera, the Los Angeles Opera, Washington, D.C., Seattle Repertory Theatre; McCarter Theatre; the Seattle Opera, the Royal Swedish Opera, the Dallas Opera, Long Wharf Theatre; and Dallas Theater Center. the Minnesota Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater. Recent highlights include the critically acclaimed 2013 world premiere of Terence Blanchard’s Champion for the Opera Theatre of Saint

HGO.org > 53 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO PAUL PALAZZO (United States) DENISE TARRANT (United States) Lighting Designer The Sarah and Ernest Butler Concertmaster Chair Paul Palazzo has lit previous HGO stagings Concertmaster of Nixon in China (2017), this production For information about Denise Tarrant, please see p. 44. of The Abduction from the Seraglio (2008, ALBINA SHAGIMURATOVA (Russia) 2002), and Don Pasquale (2006). He is a Soprano—Konstanze 1986 graduate of New York University’s HGO Studio alumna Albina Shagimuratova Tisch School of the Arts and has designed the lighting for (2006–08) has been seen at HGO as numerous opera productions internationally for such companies Violetta in La traviata (2012); Lucia in as English National Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Portland Lucia di Lammermoor (2011); Gilda in Opera, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Rigoletto (2009); and Musetta in La bohème Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Minnesota and Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute (2008), among Opera, Opera Colorado, Wolf Trap Opera, and Utah Opera. His others. She first came to international attention as the Gold dance credits include the 2007 world premiere of Mark Morris’s Medal winner in the 2007 Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Italian Concerto. Broadway credits include the Roundabout followed by her European opera debut as the Queen of the Night Theatre’s production of Twelve Angry Men. His museum and at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Riccardo Muti. She installation work includes American Food 2.0 at the U.S. pavilion has also sung the Queen of the Night with the Metropolitan at Milan Expo 2015; and Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red Opera; Royal Opera, Covent Garden; La Scala (available on and White Quilts for the American Folk Art Museum. Palazzo’s DVD); Vienna State Opera; Bavarian State Opera; Deutsche international base of corporate clients includes Hewlett-Packard, Oper Berlin; San Francisco Opera; Bolshoi Theater; Los Angeles IBM, SAP, and Sony Electronics. Opera; Hamburg State Opera; and the Lucerne Festival, among WENDALL K. HARRINGTON others. Her 2016–17 season began with a festival and role debut (United States) at the BBC Proms as the title character in Rossini’s Semiramide Projection/Video Designer conducted by Sir Mark Elder at the Royal Albert Hall. The Wendall K. Harrington’s career has performance will be broadcast and recorded on the Opera Rara embraced diverse disciplines including label for release in 2017. Other season engagements include her projection design for theater, publishing, signature role as the title character in Graham Vick’s production and video production. Her work has of Lucia di Lammermoor at Lyric Opera of Chicago under been seen at HGO in Nixon in China earlier this season, in this Enrique Mazzola, the Queen of the Night at Opéra Bastille and production of The Abduction from the Seraglio (2008), and in the Vienna State Opera, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the The Juniper Tree (1986). Her Broadway design credits include Vienna State Opera, and Aspasia in Mitridate, re di Ponto at the All the Way, Driving Miss Daisy, Grey Gardens, They’re Playing Royal Opera, Covent Garden. She will open HGO’s 2017–18 Our Song, The Elephant Man, My One and Only, The Heidi season this fall as Violetta in La traviata. Chronicles, The Will Rogers Follies, Having Our Say, Company, LAWRENCE BROWNLEE Racing Demon, Ragtime, John Leguizamo’s one-man show Freak, (United States) The Capeman, Putting It Together, and The Who’s Tommy. In Tenor—Belmonte opera, her credits include Werther at the Metropolitan Opera; Lawrence Brownlee, recently nominated Julie Taymor’s The Magic Flute in Florence, Italy; A View from for Male Singer of the Year in the the Bridge at Lyric Opera of Chicago; Die Gezeichneten at Los International Opera Awards, sang the Angeles Opera; The Photographer at the Brooklyn Academy of leading tenor roles at HGO in a trio of Music; and Transatlantic, The Grapes of Wrath, and Rusalka for Rossini comedies produced by the Spanish theater collective Els Minnesota Opera. She has received the Drama Desk Award, the Comediants: Lindoro in The Italian Girl in Algiers (2012), Count Outer Critics Circle Award, the American Theatre Wing Award, Almaviva in The Barber of Seville (2011), and Don Ramiro in La the TCI Award for Technical Achievement, and the Obie Award Cenerentola (2007). Brownlee has performed with nearly every for sustained excellence in projection design, and the Michael leading international opera house and festival, as well as major Merritt Award for collaboration. She is head of the projection orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic, Philadelphia design concentration at the Yale School of Drama. Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, RICHARD BADO (United States) Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Boston Symphony, Cleveland The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and the Bavarian Radio Chorus Master Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of the current season include For information about Richard Bado, please see p. 43. his San Francisco Opera debut as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Idreno in Semiramide at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, the title role in Le comte Ory with Seattle Opera, and the title role in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Lyric Opera of Chicago/Lyric

54 > SPRING 2017 Unlimited and with London’s Hackney Empire in partnership in Carmen with Opera San Antonio. Concert work includes with English National Opera. Recent performances include La Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Gustavo Dudamel leading the donna del lago at the Metropolitan Opera, La Cenerentola at the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, Belshazzar’s Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Barber of Seville at the Paris Opera, Feast with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at the Tanglewood a new production of I Puritani at Zurich Opera, and Yardbird Festival, and Basilio in The Barber of Seville with the Santa Cruz with Opera Philadelphia at the historic Apollo Theater in New Symphony, conducted by music director Daniel Stewart. Green York City. Other performances include Carmina Burana with the will also give recitals at the Ravinia Festival and the Ferguson L.A. Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Berlioz Requiem Center for the Arts. In the fall of 2016, Little, Brown and Co. at the Edinburgh Festival, and an extensive U.S. recital tour. published Sing for Your Life by New York Times journalist Daniel Bergner; the book tells the story of Green’s personal and artistic RYAN SPEEDO GREEN journey from a trailer park in southeastern Virginia and from (United States) Bass-baritone—Osmin time spent in Virginia’s juvenile facility of last resort to the Metropolitan Opera stage. An alumnus of the Met’s Lindemann Ryan Speedo Green is making his HGO Young Artist Program, Green has performed a number of roles and role debut. This season he also returns at the Met, including the Mandarin in Turandot, Rambo in the to the Metropolitan Opera as Colline Met premiere of The Death of Klinghoffer conducted by David in the iconic Zeffirelli production of La Robertson, the Second Knight in a new production of Parsifal bohème and joins the Vienna State Opera for his third season as that was broadcast as part of the Met’s Live in HD program, an ensemble member, with roles including Basilio in The Barber the Bonze in Madama Butterfly, and the Jailer in Tosca (also of Seville and Timur in Turandot, among others. Additional broadcast in Live in HD). engagements include his house and role debut as Escamillo

Lee Nangala Gallagher, Emu Dreaming, 30” x 48”, Yuendumu, Northern Territory

Please check our website or contact us for details. www.bookerlowegallery.com Tel: 713.880.1541 Booker • Lowe Gallery [email protected] aboriginal and contemporary fine art of Australia Open by appointment. 4623 Feagan Street Houston, TX 77007 Image © the artist and Booker-Lowe Gallery.

HGO.org > 55 WWHO’SHO’S WHO WHO ULIANA ALEXYUK (Ukraine) CHRIS BOZEKA (United States) Soprano—Blonde Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau Jr. HGO Studio alumna Uliana Alexyuk sang Fellow Gilda in Rigoletto, Ivette in The Passenger Tenor—Pedrillo (both at HGO and on tour to the Lincoln Second-year HGO Studio artist Chris Bozeka Center Festival), Ida in Die Fledermaus, won second prize in the 2015 Eleanor Frasquita in Carmen, and Mrs. Nordstrom McCollum Competition Concert of Arias. At in A Little Night Music during her season in the Studio (2013– HGO, he sang student performances of Nemorino in The Elixir of 14). Before coming to Houston, Alexyuk, born in Kiev, was a Love earlier this season. Last season, he performed the Drunkard/ member of the Young Artists Program at the Bolshoi Theatre the Lamplighter in The Little Prince,Don Curzio in The Marriage in Moscow. She has performed at Lyric Opera of Chicago, the of Figaro, the Huntsman in Rusalka, and Male Emilia in the world Bolshoi Theatre, Dresden Semperoper, Badisches Staatstheater premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players. As a graduate student in Karlsruhe, and Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Her at the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, most recent engagements include The Tsar’s Bride at Lincoln he sang Nemorino, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, and the Narrator Center in New York (on tour with the Bolshoi), Marfa in The in Owen Wingrave. He performed Goro and a performance of Tsar’s Bride and Amina in La sonnambula at the Bolshoi Theatre, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly with the Castleton Festival and the title role in L’enfant et les sortilèges, Musetta in La bohème and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with San Francisco Opera’s Merola Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at Badisches Staatstheater, Program. Last summer with Glimmerglass Opera he sang Pirelli in Yvette in The Passenger at Lyric Opera of Chicago, a recital at Sweeney Todd. Musashino Cultural Foundation of Tokyo, and Zerbinetta in CHRISTOPHER PURVES (United Kingdom) Ariadne auf Naxos at Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf. Pasha Selim Her repertoire also includes Ludmila in Ruslan and Ludmila; the For information about Christopher Purves, please see p. 45. roles of Princess, Fire, and Nightingale in L’enfant et les sortilèges; First Lady in The Magic Flute; Brigitta in Iolanta; and Adele in Die Fledermaus. For world premieres, she created the roles of Anya in Philippe Fénelon’s La cerisaie and Dita in Fabio Vacchi’s Lo stesso mare. Nicholas Phan and Heidi Stober in The Abduction from the Seraglio at HGO, 2008. Photo by Andrew Cloud.

56 > SPRING 2017 UNSUNG HEROES TONY MARTINEZ THE MUSIC MAN

he HGO Chorus is not a full-time ensemble; members audition for every show, and the majority Thave other full-time or part-time jobs. Their passion for choral singing means that they have to make many sacrifices in order to carve out the time needed. Tony Martinez has been a member of the HGO Chorus since 1997 and is also the group’s representative for AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists). Perryn Leech: Tell me a little about your early memories and especially how you got into music. Tony Martinez: I was born in Odessa, Texas, and was one of five kids, so we were a busy family. We were brought up by my mom on her own and we were pretty nomadic—she would move us around, always looking for a less expensive place to live. I had no musical inclination at that point other than singing along with the radio!

Tony Martinez in costume, Boris Godunov It must have been difficult for you to be moved again! Luckily I soon moved back settled in school with moving around so to that school again and Mrs. Love, the much. choir director, welcomed me back and I It certainly was! I went to a total of 15 was there for the rest of middle school. schools in all, including going to two of So there was definitely some luck the elementary and two of the middle involved in going back to that school schools twice each! I got used to fitting and that teacher? in quickly. My mom taught us all to Certainly, but I also realized that choir work hard and that your work is your was the main reason I was going to school. freedom. It was hard at times for her, but I had been in the gifted and talented she would always find work and then get programs at all the schools I had been to, off welfare. She pushed us very hard to do but it was choir that really made me push well at school but when my older siblings myself. It somehow unlocked everything reached the end of their schooling, she for me. I knew at the age of eight that pushed them to get jobs and contribute. I wanted to get out of Odessa and I When did choral music start to appeal thought music would be my way out. That’s a pretty specific set of criteria! So to you? That kind of calling, especially so early where did that lead you? In middle school I had to sign up for in life, must have allowed you to focus. There were four real options and I an elective and decided to join the What were your next steps? looked at West Texas State, Texas Tech, marching band as a percussionist. My I knew that music was what I wanted University of Texas, and University of family moved (again) just before school to do but I also had other interests like Houston. I had been in All State Choir started so I was dropped from the band cartography and architecture, so I wasn’t for the past two years and a friend roster. I was then put in other electives. completely boxed in. I knew I was going there told me that U of H was where I My new school didn’t offer one of my to college and decided to major in music. needed to go. I was so thrilled when I electives so I joined choir instead of My mom was mad—she wanted me to got into U of H, which was by then my the only other option, P.E. I had never be a doctor or lawyer since I had done first choice. When I drove into Houston studied music but I learned quickly and, so well at school. I knew I wanted to find and saw the skyline and the lights I since my voice changed at 11, I was able a state school but that it had to be more knew this was where I wanted to be. to find a good niche in the choir. Then I than a day’s drive from Odessa!

58 > SPRING 2017 UNSUNG HEROES

for the past two years and I held a similar 2006–07. Most of the time it is about position for the previous thirteen years making sure that the members have at St. Martin’s Lutheran in Sugar Land. support when they have questions or I have also been the video director at concerns. Every three or four years we the Houston Symphony for the past five have collective bargaining agreement seasons. If you go to the Symphony and negotiations and I enjoy representing the see live video, I’m calling the shots from chorus, which is such an important part my pit in the basement! Video is another of an opera production.

Clockwise from thing that I have taught myself, and I I have a huge respect for how you upper left: Tony with enjoy it very much. It has allowed me balance your schedule and for your Laura Claycomb to increase my knowledge of orchestral willingness to keep on learning and in The Daughter adding to your skills. of the Regiment; music and I get to see some great music conducting his church being made by others while I work. I am very lucky to do all the things that I orchestra rehearsal; graduation from You also took on being the lead AGMA do that allow me to make great music and Head Start. representative at HGO as well—you’re a be mentally challenged. It’s an honor to glutton for punishment, aren’t you? work with Richard and my colleagues at I actually enjoy it as it allows me to use HGO so sometimes it doesn’t even seem Great school and a very good music another part of my brain. I took it on like work. program, but it sounds like the city was in 2001–02 and have been chair since an equal draw! I really did like the school and when I went there I didn’t declare my major when I started. I did two years at U of H but then decided to take a break and started to work. I was on an accelerated management course at Jack in the Box but knew that wasn’t where I wanted to end up. After two years, I decided to go back and finish my bachelor of arts degree. It must have been hard to pay to go back to school after you had been earning money by working. Yes and no. I was missing it by then, and once I was back, I started coming to HGO on free dress rehearsal tickets and decided that I wanted to try to be a part of that. I auditioned and got accepted into the HGO Chorus—although I didn’t make it until my third try! In 1997 I was accepted and my first show was Boris Godunov. I knew immediately this was my dream work—to make music at this level. The discipline and working environment that Richard Bado commands is amazing. This was what I needed—it truly grew my appreciation of the art form and how to rehearse properly. It has an amazing energy that feeds my soul. You have other jobs though that allow you enough time off to be in the chorus though? Absolutely. I have been music director for the House of Prayer Lutheran Church

HGO.org > 59 HGOco Company, Community, Collaboration

HGOco is Houston Grand Opera’s broad initiative for connecting the company to the community. Its rich and varied programming includes Opera to Go!, a touring company that performs family-friendly operas in schools and community venues; Song of Houston, productions that bring the unique stories of Houstonians to the stage in original operatic works; and summer Opera Camps for students.

BIG CHANGES FOR THE BAUER FAMILY HIGH SCHOOL VOICE STUDIO

The Bauer Family High participate in monthly master From top: Dr. Nicole Asel, Dr. Barbara Clark, and School Voice Studio (HSVS) classes, and, this season, the Mr. Hector Vásquez welcomes three voice opportunity to perform in the teachers to the program for world premiere of The House the 2017–18 school year: without a Christmas Tree. Dr. Nicole Asel, assistant The HSVS will also expand professor of voice at Sam to 12 participants and will Houston University; include both high school Dr. Barbara Clark, associate juniors and seniors for the first professor of voice at the time since the program was Shepherd School of Music, inaugurated in 1999–2000. Rice University; and Mr. Hector Vásquez, affiliate The 2017–18 Bauer Family artist in voice at the University High School Voice Studio will of Houston, Moores School be announced in the fall issue of Music. HSVS participants of Opera Cues. receive weekly lessons,

THERE ARE STILL OPENINGS IN OPERA CAMP 2017!

Start the summer right by signing your children up for HGOco’s multi-day summer camps. Students learn vocal and theatrical skills from highly experienced faculty and staff. No previous experience is required. In addition, after-camp care makes it easy for working parents to take advantage of this unique summer activity. Please visit HGO.org/community-programs/students for more information.

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE JUNE 5 – 9 19 – 23 12 – 16 12 – 23

OPERA EXPERIENCE CREATE AN OPERA ART OF OPERA For students entering grades 4–9 in For students entering grades 3–6 in For students entering grades 7–12 in fall 2017 fall 2017 fall 2017 Campers develop healthy singing Campers collaborate to write, design, Campers enhance their vocal and technique and hone their music theory build and perform a one-of-a-kind dramaticsold skills by rehearsing out and skills. The camp culminates in a musical masterpiece based on a performing a fully staged opera or performance showcasing group and children’s story. musical production. This exciting camp solo repertoire. This camp is perfect for singers and fills quickly: register early to guarantee non-singers alike. your participation. Recommendation from a choir director or voice teacher is required.

60 > SPRING 2017 $ Join us for a fast-paced country & western 40 retelling of Wagner’s epic Ring cycle, complete DRINK, MEAL with mismatched lovers, a double shotgun & SHOW wedding, and family feuds.

APRIL 23 | 7 p.m. APRIL 30 | 7 p.m. JACKSON STREET BBQ NEON BOOTS 209 Jackson St. DANCEHALL & SALOON 6:30 p.m. dinner 11410 Hempstead Hwy. 6:30 p.m. dinner

HGOco FUNDERS

GUARANTORS Albert and Anne Chao/The Ting Hess Corporation The activities of Houston Grand BBVA Compass Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Linda and George Kelly Opera are supported in part by The Brown Foundation, Inc. Foundation Kinder Morgan Foundation funds provided by the City of City of Houston through the Lynn Murray Sr. Educational The Nathan J. Klein Fund Houston and by a grant from the Miller Advisory Board Foundation Connie Kwan-Wong Texas Commission on the Arts. Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation ConocoPhillips UNDERWRITERS The C.T. Bauer Foundation Lisa Long The Cockrell Family Fund William Randolph Hearst LyondellBasell THE NEXUS INITIATIVE ExxonMobil Foundation Marathon Oil Company Houston Grand Opera Guild H-E-B The Moody Foundation HGOco programs, including National Endowment for the Arts Houston Endowment, Inc. OPERA America Student Performances and HGO’s Schlumberger Houston Livestock Show and C. Howard Pieper Foundation performances at Miller Outdoor Wells Fargo Rodeo The Powell Foundation Theatre, are supported through the Kinder Foundation SUPPORTERS Mr. and Mrs. Irving Pozmantier NEXUS Initiative, which is made The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Andrews Kurth LLP Puckett Children’s Foundation possible by: Bill and Sara Morgan Boardwalk Pipeline Partners Schissler Family Endowed Fund for Lead Supporters Franci Neely Adrienne Bond Educational Programs Anchorage Foundation of Texas Mr. and Mrs. Anthony G. Petrello Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D. Strake Foundation BBVA Compass Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Endowment Fund William E. and Natoma Pyle Harvey The Brown Foundation, Inc. Foundation CenterPoint Energy Charitable Trust The Wortham Foundation, Inc. Shell Oil Company James J. Drach Endowment Fund TAS Commercial Concrete Nabors Industries Patricia B. Freeman and Construction, LLC Shell Oil Company GRAND UNDERWRITERS Bruce Patterson Union Pacific Foundation Judy and Richard Agee George and Mary Josephine Williams Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Hamman Foundation 1 Anonymous Anchorage Foundation of Texas Albert and Ethel Herzstein Bank of America Charitable Foundation HGO.org > 61 Houston Grand Opera STUDIO

Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen Thomas Glass Richard Smagur INCOMING HGO STUDIO ARTISTS Anthony Robin Schneider Blair Salter Jonathan Gmeinder

pring is a time of change for the summer at Wolf Trap Opera, alongside roles in Philip Glass/Robert Moran’s The HGO Studio; as we say farewell several current HGO Studio artists. Juniper Tree. Federico De Michelis will Sto several artists, I’m also proud Two pianist/coaches will be added perform Mr. Flint in Billy Budd and Timur to announce the talented singers and to the roster: Canadian pianist Blair in Turandot for his debut at Des Moines pianists who will join the HGO Studio Salter comes to us from the doctoral Metro Opera, where Geoffrey Loff will next season. Six outstanding artists program in collaborative piano at the join the music staff for Billy Budd. Kirill will finish their time in the Studio University of Michigan, and Jonathan Kuzmin will join the music staff at the this May: mezzo-soprano Megan Gmeinder joins us after finishing a Miami Music Festival, and Peter Walsh Mikailovna Samarin, tenor Chris year as a staff pianist and coach at the will return for a second year as a pianist Bozeka, baritone Ben Edquist, bass- Juilliard School and Aspen Music Festival in the prestigious Steans Music Institute baritone Federico De Michelis, and following his collaborative piano degree at at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Our pianist/coaches Geoffrey Loff and Kirill the Manhattan School of Music. We can’t incoming singers have a busy summer, Kuzmin. After their hard work in wait to begin working with this excellent too: Richard Smagur will be an apprentice the HGO Studio, they are poised class of new Studio artists this fall. artist at Santa Fe Opera, Thomas Glass for extraordinary careers. Keep an will join the Merola Opera Program in San While it’s quiet at HGO in the summer, eye out for them—you’ll see many Francisco, and Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen the festival opera season springs to life of them back at HGO very soon! and Anthony Robin Schneider will both all over the United States. One of the spend the summer at Wolf Trap. Six new artists will join us next fall. Aryeh advantages of HGO’s schedule is that Nussbaum Cohen, winner of the 2017 Studio artists are available to perform In just a few weeks, we mark the exciting Eleanor McCollum Competition, will be major roles in summer productions. return of our Studio cast of The Elixir of the first countertenor ever in the HGO Three artists will sing leading roles in Love in outdoor performances. Mane Studio—a well-deserved accomplishment Aspen this summer: Yelena Dyachek Galoyan, Chris Bozeka, Ben Edquist, after his outstanding performance in the sings Vitellia in La clemenza di Tito, and and Federico De Michelis will perform the Concert of Arias. Baritone Thomas Glass, Yongzhao Yu and Sol Jin perform Alfredo leading roles (with Studio alums Alicia our third-place winner, will also come and Germont in La traviata, roles they’ll Gianni as Giannetta and Emily Senturia to Houston after a busy season as a reprise in alternate-cast performances conducting) at Miller Outdoor Theater resident artist with Minnesota Opera. Two with HGO in the fall. Wolf Trap Opera has (May 19 and 20) and Cynthia Woods other singers will join us: tenor Richard cast some unusual repertoire with HGO Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands (May Smagur, an alumnus of the HGO Young Studio artists: Megan Mikailovna Samarin 26). I hope we’ll see you at the parks! Artists Vocal Academy (2012), and and Zoie Reams will perform in the — Brian Speck bass Anthony Robin Schneider, whose Rossini rarity La pietra del paragone, and HGO Studio Director accomplishments include a debut this Megan and Ben Edquist will sing leading

62 > SPRING 2017 HGO STUDIO FACULTY & STAFF

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

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

THE DATE Don’t miss these rapidly approaching SAVE opportunities to hear HGO Studio artists! MAY STUDIO RECITAL MAY THE ELIXIR OF LOVE MAY THE ELIXIR OF LOVE SERIES Miller Outdoor Theatre, Cynthia Woods Mitchell 11 Hear HGO Studio artists in 19 Hermann Park 26 Pavilion, The Woodlands & their final recital of the year in HGO Studio artists are HGO Studio artists are 14 the intimate salon at Rienzi, 20 featured in FREE outdoor featured in an outdoor the decorative arts wing of performances of The Elixir of performance of The Elixir of the Museum of Fine Arts, Love at 8 p.m. See calendar Love at 8 p.m. FREE tickets Houston, 1406 Kirby Drive. on p. 86 for details. available. See calendar on May 11 (7:30 p.m.) and May p. 86 for details. 14 (5 p.m.). Purchase tickets through HGO.org or 713-228-OPERA (6737).

HGO.org > 63 Supporter SPOTLIGHTS

GERRI GILL UNITED HEALTH FOUNDATION JERRY G. FISCHER AND JOHN G. TURNER When Gerri Gill first moved to Houston Houston Grand Opera is honored to Houston Grand Opera is grateful to have from New York, subscribing to the Opera welcome United Health Foundation to John Turner and Jerry Fischer of Baton was one of the first items on her agenda. our family of supporters. Rouge, Louisiana, as valued members She volunteered with the HGO Guild Established by UnitedHealth Group of the HGO family. John and Jerry have and has fond memories of taking her two in 1999, the United Health Foundation been members of our Founders Council children backstage during tours to try on has committed nearly $315 million to for Artistic Excellence since 2009, and costumes and learn about the theater. It programs and communities across the have supported many of our productions, was during such a tour that Gerri decided globe, supporting over a thousand partner including Lohengrin, Madame Butterfly, to become more involved as a member organizations to improve the health Peter Grimes, Ariadne auf Naxos, and of the HGO Patrons Circle, HGO’s core and lives of those they serve. United Tristan and Isolde and they are Premier annual supporters, and eventually a leader Health Foundation works to improve our Guarantors of all four operas in Wagner’s within the Patrons Circle Committee. nation’s health system, build a diverse and Ring cycle. John serves on the HGO Board A former resident of Tokyo, Gerri dynamic health workforce, and enhance of Directors. retired from directing the Japan American the well-being of local communities. Jerry first fell in love with opera Society of Houston and running an event- United Health Foundation knows when his high school thespian club saw planning business. Now she is a world that the performing arts are part of what The Pearl Fishers in New Orleans. John traveler and an avid photographer—her makes Houston a vibrant community. grew up in a family with a real passion work has been sold in the HGO Guild HGO is deeply grateful for the United for the arts and has come to love opera auctions and at the annual Opera Ball. Health Foundation’s support of our three since a trip to the historic opera houses Her two children live in Toronto and San signature special events: the Opening of Germany and Austria in 1999. He and Francisco, and her four grandchildren are Night celebration and dinner, Concert of Jerry seek out opera on their international quickly becoming opera fans as well. Arias, and the Opera Ball. travels and have seen 15 Ring cycles. Gerri’s favorite night of the year is James G. Springfield serves as the “When we first saw Siegfried Concert of Arias. She loves hearing new HGO Trustee on behalf of United Health in Seville, we knew that this voices, and is excited about the future of Foundation. James lives in Missouri production would be a great fit for opera. That’s why, earlier this season, she City with his wife, Teri, and is the senior Houston, and we have enjoyed it hosted a Young Patrons Circle party at vice president of Optum, UnitedHealth from start to finish,” says John. her home for supporters under the age Group’s health services platform. We’re Along with his siblings, John is part of 45. “I think these events are a big part happy to welcome James and Teri to the owner of Turner Industries, the largest of what HGO does…to make the opera HGO family. privately owned industrial services more inviting for people. I see the Young organization in Louisiana. Jerry is a Patrons as the future of HGO.” retired attorney. In addition to HGO, Gerri supports They are longtime supporters of Planned Parenthood, Ars Lyrica, the the arts in Baton Rouge; John and Jerry Museum of Fine Arts Houston, the Menil have served on the board of directors Collection, and the Houston Committee of both the Baton Rouge Symphony on Foreign Relations. We’re grateful for Orchestra and Opéra Louisiane, and everything she does for HGO and the they were instrumental in establishing Houston community. an endowment for the Louisiana State University Opera. Jerry is also a devotee of the visual arts, and he and John are closely involved with the LSU Museum of Art. 64 > SPRING 2017

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! Guild Boutique: Put those sales skills to use at the Opera HGO Studio Buddies: Show your enthusiasm for the talent Boutique in the Wortham’s Grand Foyer. Help customers being developed by the Houston Grand Opera Studio! choose the latest in opera accessories, while earning an Buddies act as in-town contacts for artists during their extra discount and dress rehearsal tickets for yourself! Studio tenure.

YAVA (Young Artists Vocal Academy): Help young artists Opera Docents: Spread the word about opera! Each year in HGO’s week-long program for talented singers at the the Guild reaches thousands of Houston-area students undergraduate level, introducing them to a breadth of and introduces them to this wonderful art form. Help professional information. Meet budding artists as they us create a new generation of opera enthusiasts by working undergo intense training, develop an understanding of in local schools with our HGOco team or volunteering their strengths and weaknesses, and make contacts at with our High School Night program. HGO that will last their entire career. Save the Date! Picnic at the Park: The Elixir of Love, May 19, 2017. Join Guild members and friends as we picnic together before attending the opera at Miller Outdoor Theatre. We’ll have reserved seats in the covered area for the performance — no need to stand in line for tickets! RSVPs and advance payment required by May 15. More information to follow at our website, hgoguild.org.

Volunteer Gathering: June 6, 2017. Enjoy complimentary wine and a light supper as you learn how you can help HGO through volunteering with the many Guild programs. In addition to Tenor Simon O’Neill and HGO Guild Co-President Fred Gott lift a supporting HGO, joining the Guild means you’ll learn more about glass together at the Guild Hospitality Cast Party for Die Walküre in opera, meet outstanding performers and designers as well as other May 2015. Mr. O’Neill returns as Siegfried for Götterdämmerung. opera lovers, and have fun! We’ll meet at the United Way building, 50 Waugh Drive. Find out more at [email protected].

Visit us at hgoguild.org or Facebook for more information on joining the FUN! CONCERT OF ARIAS On January 27, hundreds gathered in the Cullen Theater to watch eight young singers compete in Concert of Arias, the final round of HGO’s annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. Celebrating its 29th year, the competition was streamed live on Facebook for the first time, and viewers were able to cast their votes for an Online Viewers’ Choice Award. Following the performance, guests enjoyed a special black-tie dinner in the Grand Foyer, chaired by Judy and Richard Agee and honoring Beth Madison. The event raised over $600,000 to benefit the Houston Grand Perryn Leech, Geoffrey Hahn, Siphokazi Moltena, Patrick Summers, Opera Studio. Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, Nicolette Book, Thomas Glass, and Gayletha Nichols

Beth Madison and Federico De Michelis Photos by Priscilla Dickson and Wilson Parish Photos by Priscilla Dickson and Wilson

Ben Edquist with Dian and Harlan Stai Glen Rosenbaum and Rita Leader Jim and Molly Crownover

66 > SPRING 2017 Edward and Rini Ziegler Cynthia and Anthony Petrello Sarah and Aaron Stai Diane Lokey Farb and Beth Muecke

Elizabeth and Richard Husseini Judy and Richard Agee Rhonda Sweeney and Bobbie-Vee Cooney Anne and Albert Chao

Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, Yelena Dyachek, Bradley Moore, and Mathilda Edge Geoffrey Hahn, Ricardo José Rivera, Anne Marie Stanley, and Ben Edquist

CONCERT OF ARIAS WELCOME RECEPTION Concert of Arias semifinalists were welcomed to Houston in grand Texas fashion at a reception hosted by Judy and Richard Agee on January 21. Artists and Concert of Arias underwriters met and mingled while dining on fajitas and sipping margaritas.

Henry Gissel and Lynn Guggolz Mickey Rosenau and Ellen Gritz Dick and Susan Stasney Photos by Priscilla Dickson

HGO.org > 67 NIXON IN CHINA CAST PARTY Following the opening performance of Nixon in China, guests celebrated at a cast party hosted by Vinson & Elkins LLP, Jackson and Company, and Brenda Harvey-Traylor. After enjoying a thematic late-night buffet, Perryn Leech and Patrick Summers introduced the cast and creative team to great applause.

Craig Miller, Perryn Leech, and Chris Bacon Glen Rosenbaum with Susan and Ed Osterberg Photos by Wilson Parish Photos by Wilson

Lori Muratta and Lynn Wyatt Scott and C.C. Ensell Nixon in China cast with Patrick Summers

Margaret Alkek Williams and Anna Dean, Mickie Huebsch, and Barbara Van Postman Dr. Giuseppe Colasurdo Anna and Joel Catalano

REQUIEM CAST PARTY On February 10, guests gathered in the Wortham Theater’s Founders Salon to celebrate the opening of Verdi’s Requiem. Hosted by

HGO supporters Anna Dean, Parish Photos by Wilson Mickie and Ron Huebsch, and Barbara Van Postman, attendees enjoyed wine, Champagne, and a late-night buffet from Michael Nee and Elegant Events. Jan Duncan and Frances Marzio Emma, Monica, and Aidan Fulton

68 > SPRING 2017 Alexander Scheuermann, Sydney Anderson, Jim Crownover, and Nico Roussel Richard Bado Joan Bitar, Kade Smith, and Anna Knull

TRUSTEE EXPERIENCE Performing the Verdi Requiem was a hallmark achievement for the company, and the HGO Trustees had a special opportunity to see how the musical magic happens. On January 31, HGO gave the trustees a chance to go behind- the-scenes and watch a working rehearsal with Chorus Master Richard Bado and the 120- voice chorus. All who attended Ashly Evans, Bethany Baxter, Mariquita Masterson, Perryn Leech, Saïd Henry Pressley and left in eager anticipation Haley Stage, and Frank Hood The Honorable Mary E. Bacon for the performances. Photos by Priscilla Dickson

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 > 69 UNLOCKING THE MUSIC Each season, generous HGO Trustees host fellow trustees at salon events. This spring, guests were treated to an evening with Bradley Moore— HGO’s head of music staff and HGO Studio music director. He explained the work of the music staff and, with Studio mezzo Zoie Reams, demonstrated a vocal coaching. Trustee Jill Risley and husband Allyn, a member of the HGO Board of Directors, graciously hosted. Birgitt van Wijk and Gabriel Loperena David and Roz Rowan Photos by Wilson Parish Photos by Wilson

Janet Sims and Rosemary Malbin Zoie Reams and Gwyneth Campbell Allyn and Jill Risley with Perryn Leech

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70 > SPRING 2017 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-based global financial through words and music. They partnered with services group founded in 1857. BBVA Compass, committed to the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Inner- financial education, diversity, and the arts, is a lead corporate sponsor City Catholic Schools to bring HGOco programs of HGO’s Ring cycle and also supports the NEXUS Initiative, HGO’s to economically disadvantaged students. Judy and affordability program. Dick, the founder and chairman of Wapiti Energy LLC and Bayou Well Holdings Company LLC, are members of the HGO Founders Council. THE BROWN FOUNDATION, INC. Beyond their generous support of general operations and HGOco, The Brown Foundation, Inc., established in 1951 by Herman and they chaired the 2017 Concert of Arias and support HGO’s mainstage Margarett Root Brown and George R. and Alice Pratt Brown, has productions, including this season’s The Elixir of Love and Faust. been a treasured partner of HGO since 1984. Based in Houston, the Foundation distributes funds principally for education, community ROBIN ANGLY AND MILES SMITH service, and the arts, especially the visual and performing arts. HGO is HGO subscribers Robin and Miles joined the tremendously grateful for The Brown Foundation’s leadership support, Founders Council in 2010. The company is which has been critical to the company’s unprecedented growth and honored to have Robin on the HGO Board of success in recent years. Directors and as a member of HGO’s Laureate Society. She also serves on the Development, ANNE AND ALBERT CHAO Marketing and Communication, and HGO Anne and Albert have been subscribers and Studio Committees. The couple is very familiar with the view from the supporters of HGO for the past two decades. HGO stage as well—both are former singers in the HGO Chorus. Robin While serving as president and CEO of Westlake and Miles have been donors to HGO special events, the Young Artists Chemical Corporation, Albert finds time for Vocal Academy, and HGO’s Ring cycle. numerous cultural causes. He is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and was the co-chair DENISE AND PHILIP BAHR of Inspiring Performance—The Campaign for Houston Grand Opera. Denise and Philip have supported the Opera Over the years, the Chaos have sponsored HGO special events, the since 1996, underwriting special events and HGO Studio, HGOco’s Song of Houston, and main-stage productions. mainstage productions. They have a special love The couple also supports the HGO Endowment through their family for the HGO Studio, where opera’s rising stars foundation, the Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation. have benefited from their support since 2000. Denise, an HGO Trustee and the Special Events CONOCOPHILLIPS Committee Chair, is a former member of the HGO Board of Directors, For over 30 years, ConocoPhillips has supported and Philip’ has participated on the board since 1998. The Opera was various programs at HGO, from special events honored to have the couple chair the 2010 Opera Ball. to main-stage productions, including the 2016–17 season-opening production, The Elixir JANICE BARROW of Love. In 2009, the company gave a major Jan’s relationship with HGO extends back multi-year grant to establish ConocoPhillips to the early 1980s, when she and her late New Initiatives, a far-reaching program that husband, Dr. Thomas Barrow, first became allows HGOco to develop new and innovative subscribers. Jan is a member of HGO’s education and community collaboration programs. Janet L. Carrig, Laureate Society and the Founders Council, ConocoPhillips’s senior vice president, legal, general counsel, and contributing to HGO’s main stage and special corporate secretary, serves on the HGO Board of Directors and also as events. She is also supports the HGO Studio, having underwritten chairman of the HGO Endowment Board. several rising opera stars over the past 20 years. Jan’s late husband, Tom, former chairman of the HGO Board of Directors, was instrumental in the concept and construction of the Wortham Center. A lifelong lover of music, Jan is past president of the Houston Symphony and has a special affinity for Puccini and Wagner.

HGO.org > 71 BOBBIE-VEE AND GERALD COONEY of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build Bobbie-Vee and Jerry have been HGO healthy, productive and inspiring lives. We’re deeply grateful for the subscribers since 1979 and have generously Foundation’s many years of generous support. supported HGO productions of the most beloved classics of the Italian repertoire, HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ENDOWMENT, INC. including Aida, La bohème, Tosca, and Madame Established and incorporated in 1982, the Houston Grand Opera Butterfly. The Cooneys also supported HGO’s Endowment (HGOE) is a vital financial management tool that innovative commission Cruzar la Cara de la Luna (2010, 2013), the ensures HGO has a reliable, regular source of income. Today, the world’s first mariachi opera. They have been active supporters of all Endowment contains over 50 named funds, both unrestricted HGO special events for many years, from the Opening Night Dinner, and restricted. The HGO Endowment is the largest single annual which Bobbie-Vee chaired in 2004, to Concert of Arias, which the funder of the Opera. HGOE leadership includes Chairman Janet couple chaired together in 2014. HGO is honored to have Bobbie-Vee L. Carrig, Senior Chairman Terrylin Neale, and several members serve on the HGO Board of Directors. of the HGO Board of Directors. This season, HGO is thrilled to have HGOE as the premier guarantor of Götterdämmerung. THE CULLEN FOUNDATION For more than three decades, The Cullen Foundation has been a vital HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND member of the HGO family. Established in 1947, the Foundation has RODEOTM more than a half-century history of giving generously to education, For more than 15 years, the Houston Livestock health care, and the arts in Texas, primarily in the Greater Houston area. Show and Rodeo™ has supported HGO’s arts education programs, The Opera is very grateful for the Foundation’s longstanding leadership helping more than one million Houston-area students experience the support of HGO’s main-stage season. magic of live opera through Opera to Go!, the Student Performance THE CULLEN TRUST FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Series, and Storybook Opera. A Section 501(c)(3) charity, the Show has committed more than $400 million to the youth of Texas since 1932. The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts has been a lead underwriter of The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is the world’s largest livestock HGO’s main-stage season for nearly 30 years. The Trust was established show and rodeo, with more than 2.4 million attendees in 2016. from assets of The Cullen Foundation to specifically benefit Texas performing arts institutions, particularly those within the Greater HOUSTON METHODIST Houston area. In recent years, The Cullen Trust has provided lead Houston Grand Opera has partnered with support for memorable productions of Carmen, A Christmas Carol, The Houston Methodist, the official health Little Prince, and the 2016–17 production of It’s a Wonderful Life. care provider for HGO, and the Center for MARIANNE AND DAVID DUTHU Performing Arts (CPAM) for more than 10 seasons. The only center of its kind in the country, CPAM comprises a Marianne and David have been HGO specialized group of more than 100 physicians working collaboratively subscribers since 1991 and members of the to address the specific demands placed on performing artists. In Founders Council for Artistic Excellence since addition to the first-rate medical care CPAM provides HGO artists, 2009, and David is a member of the HGO Board Houston Methodist also generously supports HGO special events and of Directors. The couple chaired Concert of main-stage productions such as Aida, The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Arias in 2011, an event they have generously Figaro, and this season’s The Elixir of Love. HGO is fortunate to have Dr. supported for many years, and were the event’s honorees in 2013. David, C. Richard Stasney, founder of CPAM, and Dr. Mauro Ferrari, president an engineer, is the founder of Texas Energy Engineers, Inc./CCRD and CEO, Houston Methodist Research Institute, serve as Houston Partners Consulting Engineers. Marianne is retired from Vopak North Methodist’s corporate trustees. America, a chemical storage company. When not working or attending opera, they love to collect art and to restore rare vehicles. THE HUMPHREYS FOUNDATION Based in Liberty, Texas, the Humphreys Foundation has been a major LIZ GRIMM AND JACK ROTH underwriter of HGO’s main-stage season since 1980. Geraldine Davis HGO subscribers since the 2013–14 season, Humphreys (d. 1961), a member of the pioneer Hardin family of Liz and Jack became members of the HGO Liberty, Texas, bequeathed her estate to the Humphreys Foundation, Founders Council the same season. Both which was formally established in 1959. The Foundation provides committed themselves to cancer research support for performing arts in Texas and college scholarship funding and patient care and have contributed greatly for students in the arts. Linda Bertman, Louis Paine, and Robert Wall to the work being done at The University of serve as trustees of the Humphreys Foundation. In recent years, the Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In addition to donating to HGO Foundation’s generous support has helped make possible unforgettable special events, Liz and Jack are generous underwriters of HGO’s Ring mainstage productions, including The Little Prince, The Marriage of cycle. HGO was pleased to welcome Jack as a member of the board of Figaro, and this season’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. directors in 2014. Liz and Jack are the chairs of Opera Ball 2018. DONNA KAPLAN AND RICHARD LYDECKER THE WILLIAM RANDOLPH Richard Lydecker has been an HGO subscriber HEARST FOUNDATION and supporter for more than three decades. He For four decades, The William Randolph Hearst Foundation has is a member of the HGO Board of Directors supported HGO’s arts education efforts, providing crucial support for and Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. Opera to Go! and the Student Performance Series—a longstanding Richard has great passion for opera, especially tradition that brings students from all over the city to the Wortham Wagner, and he and Donna are underwriters for Theater Center to experience the magic of live mainstage opera. The HGO’s Ring cycle. He is also a special events sponsor, supporting Opera Foundation works with organizations like HGO to ensure that people Ball and Concert of Arias. 72 > SPRING 2017 NANCY AND RICHARD KINDER MEDISTAR Nancy and Rich became HGO subscribers Medistar is a full-service real estate during the 2000–01 season. Rich is development company that specializes in co-founder, chairman, and CEO of the design, development, financing, and Kinder Morgan, and Nancy is a focused construction of hospitals, long-term acute care philanthropist whose work has positively facilities, cancer centers, integrated medical impacted communities throughout plazas, medical office buildings, and other Houston and beyond. Rich and Nancy established the Kinder medical facilities for the health care industry. Foundation in 1997 to provide impactful gifts to projects dedicated The company is led by founder Monzer to urban green space, education, and quality-of-life issues in the Hourani, an internationally renowned engineer Greater Houston area. HGO is indebted to the Kinders for their whose innovations of many building techniques and concepts have visionary support in areas including general operations, main-stage had a great impact on the U.S. construction industry. Medistar joined productions, special events, and especially HGOco, the Opera’s the HGO family as a Grand Guarantor of Wagner’s Ring cycle. innovative education and community collaboration initiative. THE ANDREW W. THE ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION CLAIRE LIU AND JOSEPH GREENBERG HGO is honored to partner with The Andrew Claire and Joe have subscribed to HGO for MELLON FOUNDATION W. Mellon Foundation, based in New York many seasons and are members of HGO’s City. The Mellon Foundation’s opera program Founders Council for Artistic Excellence. Claire supports a small number of companies demonstrating a longstanding recently joined the HGO Board of Directors and commitment to artistic innovation by developing and presenting serves on the Finance Committee. She is retired ambitious new works or those rarely heard. Mellon Foundation– from LyondellBassell Industries, where she led supported projects include this season’s world premiere of It’s a the corporate finance team and was formerly a managing director with Wonderful Life and HGOco’s Song of Houston initiative. Bank of America. Joe is founder, president, and CEO of Alta Resources, L.L.C., a private company involved in the development of shale oil MILLER THEATRE ADVISORY BOARD and gas resources in North America. Claire and Joe support many The Miller Theatre Advisory Board (MTAB), organizations, with particular emphasis on educational organizations appointed by Houston’s mayor and confirmed including YES Prep and Teach for America. An avid runner, Claire has by the City Council, acts as a steward of public completed a marathon in all 50 states. and private funds to provide professional- caliber performances free to the public at BETH MADISON the Miller Outdoor Theatre for the cultural This season marks Beth’s 22nd as an HGO enrichment of Houston’s diverse communities subscriber. HGO has had the honor of her and visitors to the city. HGO’s partnership support since 2004. Past chair of the HGO with MTAB extends back nearly six decades, Board of Directors, she currently serves on making great opera accessible to thousands of the Executive, Finance, and HGO Studio Houstonians each year through live main-stage Committees, and is an active member of and Opera to Go! performances at Miller Theatre. June Deadrick is an HGO’s Founders Council. Beth generously supports the HGO Studio, HGO Trustee representing the Miller Theatre Advisory Board. special events, and main-stage operas. Beth has been inducted into the Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame and serves on the University of SARA AND BILL MORGAN Houston System Board of Regents. Sara and Bill have been supporting HGO since 2002. Sara is a co-founder of the Houston JANICE AND ROBERT MCNAIR Center for Contemporary Craft, where she Janice and Bob McNair, longtime HGO currently serves on the board. Bill is a co- subscribers, are well known for their incredible founder of the Kinder Morgan companies philanthropy and for bringing the NFL back and the retired vice chairman and president to Houston. Bob is chairman and CEO of The of Kinder Morgan, Inc., and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, LP. The McNair Group, a financial and real estate firm, Morgans support HGO’s special events and main-stage productions, and owner of the Houston Texans. The Robert including the Holiday Opera Series, represented this season by It’s a and Janice McNair Foundation provides leadership support to Houston- Wonderful Life. HGO is thrilled to have Sara serve on the HGO Board of area organizations supporting educational opportunities for youth. Bob Directors and as a member and past chair of the HGOco Committee. is a former chair of the HGO Board of Directors (1995–97). The McNair Foundation is the lead supporter of HGO’s Holiday Opera Series. FRANCI NEELY Franci is among the opera’s strongest friends M.D. ANDERSON FOUNDATION and advocates, having been a subscriber The M.D. Anderson Foundation has provided general operating since the 1983–84 season and one of the first support to HGO for more than 30 years. The Foundation was members of the Founders Council for Artistic established in 1936 by Monroe Dunaway Anderson, whose company, Excellence. Franci is a senior director of the Anderson, Clayton and Co., was the world’s largest cotton merchant. HGO Board of Directors and previously While the Foundation started the Texas Medical Center and was served on the Special Events and Governance Committees. She was instrumental in bringing to it one of the premier cancer centers the inaugural chair of the HGOco Committee and generously supports in the world, the Foundation’s trustees also looked to improve the HGOco initiatives as a guarantor. wellness of communities through the arts. HGO is privileged to have such a longstanding and committed partner as the M.D. Anderson Foundation in enhancing the quality of life for all Houstonians. OPERA AMERICA JOHN G. TURNER & JERRY G. FISCHER HGO is thankful for our John and Jerry, based in Baton Rouge, longstanding partnership with OPERA America, which has supported Louisiana, travel around the world to many of our projects and new works, including the critically acclaimed experience the best that opera has to offer. HGO 2016 world premiere of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players and HGOco’s subscribers and donors for over a decade, the Song of Houston initiative, which uses words and music to tell the couple’s leadership support of Wagner’s Ring unique stories of our city. Founded in 1970, OPERA America is a cycle was the largest gift ever made to HGO for service organization dedicated to supporting the creation, presentation, a single production. John, a shareholder at Turner Industries Group, and enjoyment of opera. HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech is a member of the HGO Board of Directors and is also a member of proudly serves on OPERA America’s 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 is vice chair of the HGOco Committee. HGO is grateful nearly three decades. V&E is deeply committed for the Petrellos’ support of HGOco and the main stage, underwriting to empowering the communities in which it this season’s It’s a Wonderful Life. The Petrellos also support HGOco serves. It has enriched the cultural vibrancy programs for children, including the Student Performance Series and of Houston by supporting HGO through in- Opera to Go! kind legal services and contributions to special events and main-stage SCHLUMBERGER productions, including this season’s Nixon in China. The Opera is Schlumberger, Ltd., is a leading corporate honored to have two V&E partners serve on its board of directors: from contributor to HGO, supporting the main left, Mark R. Spradling and Glen A. Rosenbaum. stage and a wide range of special projects over MARGARET ALKEK WILLIAMS nearly 20 years. Schlumberger’s leadership Margaret, a longtime singer, possesses a deep gift was integral to launching HGO’s ongoing affinity for all music, and especially opera, affordability program, the NEXUS Initiative, in supporting HGO for over 30 years. Currently, 2007—since then, NEXUS has made great opera Margaret continues her parents’ legacy as accessible to more than 225,000 people. HGO chairman of their foundation, where her son, is honored to count Schlumberger among its most dedicated corporate Charles A. Williams, serves as president. supporters. Fred Dyen, director of HR–Cameron Group, serves on the HGO is humbled by Margaret’s incredible generosity and dedication HGO Board of Directors. 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 THE WORTHAM FOUNDATION, INC. Studio, the HGO Endowment, and special In the 1980s, the Wortham Foundation events. The Stais have also sponsored HGO Studio artists and they contributed $20 million to lead the capital host annual recitals featuring HGO Studio artists at Mansefeldt, their campaign for the Wortham Theater Center, renowned Fredericksburg ranch. HGO was privileged to recognize guided by businessman Gus S. Wortham’s Dian and Harlan as the honorees of Opening Night 2008 and the 2014 early recognition of the vital role of the arts in Concert of Arias. making Houston an appealing place to live and work. During their lifetimes, Gus and his wife, Lyndall, were dedicated TENENBAUM JEWELERS to improving the lives of Houstonians. The Foundation continues HGO is thrilled to welcome Tenenbaum to support the Opera through the Wortham Foundation Permanent Jewelers as the preferred jeweler 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 fabulous one-of-a-kind auction items to generously supporting our main-stage opera season and special events, the Tenenbaum team helps HGO sparkle and shine.

74 > SPRING 2017 PATRONS SOCIETY

Members of Houston Grand Opera’s Patrons Society support the opera­ at a level of $5,000 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 Sherrill and Roger Winter Mr. and Mrs. Claude J. Davenport III Michelle Beale and Dick Anderson 1 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Davidson Ms. Anna M. Dean Mr. Tony Bradfield and Mr. Kevin Black SILVER CIRCLE—$15,000 OR MORE Mrs. Pat Breen Mr. Ugo DiPortanova Samuel and Omana Abraham Zane Carson Carruth and Brady Carruth Connie and Byron Dyer Mr. and Mrs. Frank N. Barnes Louise Chapman Mr. Scott Ensell Meg Boulware and Hartley Hampton Mr. Max Chapman and Mary Ann and Larry Faulkner Bill and Melinda Brunger Mrs. Donna Josey Chapman Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Galfione Dr. and Mrs. William T. Butler Mr. and Mrs. James W. Crownover Sandy and Lee Godfrey Ms. Janet Langford Carrig Dr. Elizabeth Grimm and Dr. Jack A. Roth Leonard A. Goldstein and Helen B. Wils The Robert and Jane Cizik Foundation Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Mr. Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Randy Crath Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Hevrdejs Mrs. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Gislar and Victoria Donnenberg Mr. and Mrs. Richard Husseini Mr. and Mrs. David R. Hindman Mr. and Mrs. David Dorenfeld Alfred W. Lasher III Lee M. Huber Ms. Patricia B. Freeman and Mr. Bruce Patterson Carolyn J. Levy Joan Blaffer Johnson Mrs. William H. Guggolz Jr. Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Ms. Carey C. Jordan Dr. and Mrs. Theodore J. Haywood Frances Marzio Ann and Stephen Kaufman Ms. Marianne Kah Will L. McLendon Mr. and Mrs. William H. Knull III Mr. and Mrs. George B. Kelly Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Jeff and Gail Kodosky Mrs. Stephanie D. Larsen Jill and Allyn Risley Mrs. Connie Kwan-Wong Perryn and Caroline Leech Glen A. Rosenbaum Ms. Michele La Noue and Mr. Gerald Seidl Mr. Joseph Matulevich and Ms. Sasha Davis Mr. and Mrs. Fayez Sarofim Marcheta Leighton-Beasley Chuck and Michelle Ritter Mr. and Mrs. Donald G. Sweeney Dr. Mike Lemanski Hinda Simon John and Becca Cason Thrash Rochelle and Max Levit Mr. Georgios Varsamis Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Vilas Mr. and Mrs. Karl R. Loos Mr. William V. Walker Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Mr. and Mrs. David S. Wolff GOLDEN CIRCLE—$25,000 OR MORE Ms. Michele Malloy Mr. Thomas R. Ajamie BRONZE CIRCLE—$10,000 OR MORE Ms. Ginger Maughs and Mr. Byron Rusk Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Mr. Edward H. Andrews III Mr. R. Davis Maxey and Ms. AnnMarie Johnson Anna and Joel Catalano The Honorable Mary E. Bacon Ginger and Hugh Menown Mathilda Cochran Mr. Karl-Heinz Becker and Dr. Gudrun H. Becker Mr. and Mrs. Mark Metts The Fulton Family Judith and David Belanger Dr. and Mrs. William E. Mitch Amanda and Morris Gelb Kathryn and David Berg Mr. Sid Moorhead Sara and Gabriel Loperena Alex and Astley Blair Terrylin G. Neale M. David Lowe and Nana Booker/ Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Mrs. Maria Papadopoulos Booker Lowe Gallery Ms. Adrienne Bond Susan and Ward Pennebaker Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Walt and Nancy Bratic Dr. Angela Rechichi-Apollo Dr. and Mrs. John Mendelsohn Mr. Robert J. Bruni Margaret and Todd Reppert Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Nickson Dr. Janet Bruner Kelly and David Rose Beverly and Staman Ogilvie Mr. Ralph Burch Mr. and Mrs. David Rowan Ms. Elizabeth Phillips Ms. Gwyneth Campbell and Mrs. Craig M. Rowley Gloria M. Portela and Richard E. Evans Mr. Joseph L. Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Mrs. Henry K. Roos Marjorie H. Capshaw Sue S. Schwartz Kristina and Paul Somerville Mr. and Mrs. Mark S. Carnes Mrs. Helen A. Shaffer Dr. and Mrs. C. Richard Stasney Mr. and Mrs. Thierry Caruso Ms. Alice Simkins Ignacio and Isabel Torras Dr. Peter Chang and Hon. Theresa Chang Ms. Janet Sims Phoebe and Bobby Tudor Neil and Elizabeth Chapman Bruce Stein Mr. Robert L. Turner Mr. William E. Colburn Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor John C. Tweed Mr. and Mrs. Sam Cooper Marietta Voglis Birgitt van Wijk Mr. Efraín Z. Corzo and Mr. Andrew Bowen Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Wakefield Mr. and Mrs. James M. Vaughn Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Mark D’Andrea Mr. and Mrs. K. C. Weiner

HGO.org > 75 PATRONS SOCIETY, Continued

Nancy and Sid Williams Dr. and Mrs. Robert Chapman Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Margarida and Penn Williamson Alain and Maryline Chepda William F. Guest Mr. R. Alan York Mr. and Mrs. Jack Christiansen Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Mr. and Mrs. David P. Young Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Mr. and Mrs. Dewuse Guyton Nina and Michael Zilkha Ms. Judy Clark Ms. Zahava Haenosh 2 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Clarke Ms. Barbara Hagood Dr. Nancy I. Cook Dr. and Mrs. Thomas C. Halsey PATRONS CIRCLE—$5,000 OR MORE Mr. Robert L. Cook and Mrs. Giovanna Imperia Mr. Frank Harmon III and Ms. Jacquelyn M. Abbott Julie and Bert Cornelison The Honorable Melinda Harmon Dr. Paul Abell and Ms. Amy Sisson Ms. Joyce Cramer Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Mr. and Mrs. W. Kendall Adam Dr. Sharon S. Crandell Dr. Linda L. Hart Josh Adler Mr. and Mrs. Markley Crosswell III Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr. Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins Sharon Curran-Wescott and Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mr. William Altenloh and Earle “Skip” Wescott Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mrs. Susan Saurage-Altenloh Mrs. Leslie Barry Davidson and Kay and Michael W. Hilliard Dr. and Mrs. Glenn B. Anderson Mr. W. Robins Brice Deborah and Michael Hirsch Chris and Michelle Angelides Ronada R. Davis, DDS and Eric S. Johnson Mr. Edward L. Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Ardell Ms. Linnet Frazier Deily Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth Bill Arning and Mark McCray Dr. and Mrs. Roupen Dekmezian Patricia Holmes Mr. Paul R. Aruffo and Dr. Eva Salmeron Ms. Elisabeth DeWitts Alan and Ellen Holzberg Dr. and Mrs. Roy Aruffo Katya and David Dow Mr. and Mrs. John H. Homier Paul and Maida Asofsky Mr. John Ellis Drewer Dr. and Mrs. Gabriel N. Hortobagyi Ms. Catherine Baen and Mr. Matt Hennessey Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Dubrowski Mr. and Mrs. George M. Hricik Gilbert and Golda Baker Ms. Eliza Duncan Mr. Mark F. Jacobs Mr. and Mrs. William C. Baker Anna and Brad Eastman Mrs. Olive Jenney Ms. Thu Nhi Barrus Carolyn and David G. Edgar Mr. and Mrs. James K. Jennings Jr. Mr. William Bartlett Miss Kellie Elder Doreen and Basil Joffe Dr. Barbara Lee Bass and Mrs. James A. Elkins III Barbara Hoffman Johnson Mr. Richard S. Marshall Mr. and Mrs. John D. Ellis Charlotte Jones Dr. James A. Belli and Dr. Patricia Eifel Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Sultana Kaldis Drs. Robert S. and Nancy Benjamin Mr. and Mrs. Ron G. Embry Jr. Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Kauffman Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher Parrish N. Erwin Jr. The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr. Drs. Henry and Louise Bethea Ms. Sharon Ettinger Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Rice Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer Mr. and Mrs. J. Thomas Eubank Mr. Anthony K. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen D. Bickel Diane Lokey Farb Ms. Nancy J. Kerby Drs. Gloria and E. Wiley Biles Nanette Finger Mr. Kyle Kerr Joan Hacken Bitar, MD Benjamin and Jennifer Fink Mr. John Keville Wirt Blaffer and Nina Delano Carol Lay Fletcher Mr. and Mrs. Albert Kidd Mrs. Thomas W. Blake Ms. Jackie Ford Thomas Kimbrough and Elizabeth Scribner Kenneth Bloom and Sheila Swartzman Wanda and Roger Fowler Mrs. Frances Kittrell Dr. Jerry L. Bohannon Mr. Ronald Franklin Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Kolb Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Mr. John E. Frantz Mr. and Mrs. Sam Koster Thomas and Sally Bolam Drs. Daniel and Jean Freeman Jr. Elizabeth and Bill Kroger Mr. and Mrs. George Boss Dr. Alice Gates and Dr. Wayne Wilner Lois and Larry Kupor Mr. Jeffery Bosworth and Mr. Timothy Bammel Gerard and Christine Gaynor Terri Lacy Mr. Al Brende and Mrs. Ann Bayless Dr. Layne O. Gentry Mr. and Mrs. Randall B. Lake Lisa Brenskelle and Elmer Ledesma Dr. Eugenia C. George Lily Kobayashi Landress Mr. Chester Brooke and Dr. Nancy Poindexter Ms. Josette M. George Mr. and Mrs. John Lattin Mr. Matthew Brown Dr. Wm. David George Mr. Richard Leibman Mr. and Mrs. Richard Burleson Ann and Gordon Getty Dr. and Mrs. Ernst Leiss Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler Dr. and Mrs. David P. Gill Robert and Joyce Levine Ms. Kiana K. Caleb and Mr. Troy Sullivan Mrs. Geraldine C. Gill Alesia and David LeVrier Mr. Patrick Carfizzi Nancy Glass, M.D., and John Belmont, M.D. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Liesner Jess and Patricia Carnes Mary Frances Gonzalez Dr. Alison Lin and Mr. Steven Spears Mr. and Mrs. Juan M. Carreon Adelma S. Graham Mr. and Mrs. H. Arthur Littell Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Dr. and Mrs. David Y. Graham Mrs. Sylvia Lohkamp and Mr. Tucker Coughlen Mrs. John R. Castano Ms. M. A. Graiff Lisa Long Ms. Nada Chandler Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Greenan Paul and Marilyn Longstreth Mr. Robert N. Chanon Joyce Z. Greenberg Mrs. Marilyn Lummis Mr. Anthony Chapman Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Grieves Mr. and Mrs. Paul A. Lynn

76 > SPRING 2017 Joan H. Lyons Ed and Janet Rinehart Mr. and Mrs. Wayne White Mr. and Mrs. Harry Mach Mr. and Ms. Walter Ritchie Mr. and Mrs. Tracy Whitehead Sandra and Mark Manela Mr. and Mrs. Gregory S. Robertson Ms. Pippa Wiley Mr. Neal S. Manne and Ms. Nancy D. McGregor Mr. and Mrs. James L. Robertson Ms. Jane L. Williams Ms. Diane M. Marcinek Drs. Alejandro and Lynn Rosas Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Williams Renee Margolin Dr. and Mrs. Franklin Rose Dr. Courtney Williams Mr. and Mrs. J. Stephen Marks Mrs. Shirley Rose Ms. Catherine Wintz Nancy and Rob Martin Dr. Nico Roussel Mr. and Mrs. Scott Wise Danita Maseles Sharon Ruhly Ms. Debra Witges Dr. and Mrs. Malcolm Mazow Miss Judy C. Sauer Penny and John Wright Mrs. Mollie E. McBride Mrs. Richard P. Schissler Jr. Mr. Sam T. Yates III Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Wolfgang Schmidt and Angelika Schmidt-Lange Drs. Edward Yeh and Hui-Ming Chang Mr. and Mrs. D. Patrick McCelvey Ms. Mary K. Schratwieser Drs. Jorge and Gunilla Zeballos Wynn and Shawna McCloskey Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schreiber Mr. Stephen A. Zeff Mrs. Sarah McCollum John Serpe and Tracy Maddox Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ziegler Gillian and Michael McCord Mr. and Mrs. Theodore P. Shen John L. Zipprich II Mr. William H. McDugald Trey and Adrienne Shepherd 8 Anonymous Mimi Reed McGehee Mr. Nick Shumway and Mr. Robert Mayott YOUNG PATRONS—$2,500 OR MORE Mr. and Mrs. J. Douglas McMurrey Jr. Ms. Denmon Sigler and Mr. Peter Chok Dr. Genevera Allen Dr. Alice R. McPherson Gwen Simms Mr. and Mrs. Bryan W. Bagley Jerry and Sharyn Metcalf Mrs. Phyllis Singer Ms. Emily Bivona Mrs. Theresa L. Meyer Dennis and Kagari Smith Wirt Blaffer and Nina Delano Betsy and Scott Miller Ms. Karen M. Somer Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl Kathryn Miller Ms. Linda S. Sonier Mr. Alexander Brewer Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Misamore Mr. and Mrs. Howard Speight Ms. Kiana K. Caleb and Mr. Troy L. Sullivan Marsha L. Montemayor Mr. and Mrs. Mark R. Spradling Dr. John Cangelosi Glenna and Joe F. Moore Mrs. Robert Springob and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Carvelli Kathleen Moore and Steven Homer Laredo Construction, Inc. Mr. Anthony Chapman Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran Mr. and Mrs. Michael Stamatedes Mrs. Bailey Dalton-Binion and Mr. Greg Binion Mr. Wiley L. Mossy Jr. Richard P. Steele and Mary McKerall Mr. and Mrs. Tracy L. Dieterich Mr. and Mrs. David Murphy CDR and Mrs. James B. Sterling III Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV Linda C. Murray Mr. Jeffrey Stocks Ms. Rebecca Ferrell and Mr. Stephen Ferrell Erik B. Nelson and Terry R. Brandhorst Mr. and Mrs. John T. Stough Jr. Kelly Finn Mrs. Bobbie Newman Dr. and Mrs. Mark Stuart Ms. Kathleen Gerber Susan Nusynowitz and Martin Nusynowitz, M.D. Drs. Vivek and Ishwaria Subbiah Dr. Paullett Golden Maureen O’Driscoll-Levy, M.D. Dr. and Mrs. Paul Subrt Tina and Sam Governale Drs. John and Karen Oldham Dr. Laura E. Sulak and Dr. Richard W. Brown Ms. Anna Gryska Ms. Claire O’Malley Dr. and Mrs. Demetrio Tagaropulos Mr. Mario Gudmundsson and Mr. Darrin Davis Susan and Edward Osterberg Mrs. John Ben Taub Mr. Claudio Gutierrez Robert and Rheta Page Jenny and Minas Tektiridis Mr. and Mrs. A. John Harper III Suzanne Page-Pryde and Arthur Pryde Neil and Kris Thomas David Krohn Capt. and Mrs. Kim Parker Ms. Susan Thompson Mrs. Connie Kwan-Wong Mr. and Mrs. Carl Pascoe Dr. Barbara Tilley Mr. Andy Lee Mr. and Mrs. W. Wayne Patterson Mr. and Mrs. Charles Tobias Sara and Gabriel Loperena Ms. Emilee Peters Dr. and Mrs. Karl Tornyos Rachel and Daniel MacLeod Mr. and Mrs. Scott V. Pignolet Mr. and Mrs. Robert B. Trainer Jr. Ms. Xiaodan Mao-Clark Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Mrs. Ann Gordon Trammell Ms. Charyn McGinnis Dr. Mary Poag and Mr. Daniel M. Poag Dr. Elizabeth Travis and Mr. Jerry Hyde Mr. Justin Mitchell and Ms. Katherine Butler Mary Ellen and Donald Podoloff Jay and Charlotte Tribble Mr. Arturo Muñoz Holguin and Ms. Jessica Roper Susie and Jim Pokorski James M. Trimble and Sylvia Barnes Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Pancherz Mr. and Mrs. Irving Pozmantier Mr. and Mrs. Eliot P. Tucker Ashley Parks Lou and Joan Pucher Paloma Urbano Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Peters Radoff Family Ms. Barbara Van Postman Ms. Rosemin Premji and Ms. Farida Abjani Ms. Judith Raines Joseph Waiter and Irene Bourke Mr. and Mrs. Marcos Rodriguez Ms. Sina Raouf Darlene Walker and Reagan Redman Dr. Nico Roussel Mrs. Gerald Rauch Mr. and Mrs. M. C. “Bill” Walker III Dr. Juan Santamaria Dr. David Reininger and Ms. Laura Lee Jones Mr. Raymond Wallace Kenneth and Deborah Scianna Mr. Serge G. Ribot Mr. Thomas Warden Mr. Nicholas Shea Ms. Gwen Richard Mike and Kim Weill McKinley Smith Mr. Robert Richter Jr. Ms. Bryony Jane Welsh

HGO.org > 77 DONORS, Continued

Mr. and Mrs. Aaron J. Stai Ms. Eleanor Connan, Miccosukee, FL Brucie and Andrew Moore, Goliad, TX Jennifer Stearns Dr. and Mrs. Richard Day, Horseshoe Bay, TX Mr. John P. Muth, Wimberley, TX Drs. Vivek and Ishwaria Subbiah Dr. Thomas S. DeNapoli and Mr. Mark Walker, Mr. Barry Narlines, Baltimore, MD Dr. Pavlina Suchanova San Antonio, TX Ms. Claudia Nelson and Ms. Anne Morey, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Tinis Mr. James M. Duerr and Dr. Pamela Hall, College Station, TX Mr. and Mrs. Hector Torres San Antonio, TX Dr. James F. Nelson, San Antonio, TX Bryan and Josey Wagner Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Easterby, Boerne, TX Ms. Danna Orr, Dallas, TX Mr. Jeffrey Watters Michael Freeburger and Matilda Perkins, Mr. and Mrs. Harley Rex, Huntsville, TX Mr. and Mrs. Jason Williams Fair Oaks Ranch, TX Ms. Wanda A. Reynolds, Austin, TX Mr. Andrew Wooley Dr. Wm. David George, Austin, TX Ms. Ellen Rienstra, Beaumont, TX Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wright Mr. Raymond Goldstein and Ms. Jane T. Welch, Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Ritter, Kansas City, MO Drs. Raj and Sri Yalamanchili San Antonio, TX Ms. Mary Roediger, Calabasas, CA Brian Hencey and Charles Ross Jr., Austin, TX James and Nathanael Rosenheim, Bryan, TX NATIONAL PATRONS—$2,500 OR MORE Mr. Charles Hendrix, Rancho Mirage, CA Mr. and Mrs. Michael Samarin, Murrieta, CA Ms. Jacqueline S. Akins, San Antonio, TX Sarah Lou Hill, Baton Rouge, LA Dr. Barry E. Schwarz, Dallas, TX Ms. Joan Allison, Corpus Christi, TX Dr. Victor S. Ho and Mrs. Arielle Lawson, Mr. Marcelo Selowsky, Bethesda, MD Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Allison, Beaumont, TX Mr. and Mrs. Victor E. Serrato, Pharr, TX Lake Charles, LA Edward and Patricia Hymson, San Francisco, CA Robert and Nancy Shivers, San Antonio, TX Dr. Robert E. Anderson, Oklahoma City, OK Spencer A. Jeffries and Kim Hawkins, Ms. Alice Simkins, San Antonio, TX Dr. and Mrs. Robin Ardoin, Lafayette, LA Chicago, IL Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai, Tone Owen Dr. Anna C. Armstrong, San Antonio, TX The Honorable and Mrs. Stuart S. Kay Jr., Endowed Fund, Fredericksburg, TX Jorge Bernal and Andrea Maher, DeRidder, LA Eleanor and Philip Straub, Metairie, LA Bogota, Colombia, Houston, TX Mr. Kyle Kerr, Irving, TX Dr. and Mrs. Clark D. Terrell, Boerne, TX Mr. Richard A. Berry, Nacogdoches, TX Jeff and Gail Kodosky, Austin, TX Mr. and Mrs. William F. Threlfall, Ridgway, CO Dr. Dennis Berthold and Dr. Pamela Matthews, Dr. and Mrs. Morton Leonard Jr., Galveston, TX Dr. David N. Tobey and Dr. Michelle Berger, College Station, TX Mrs. Sharon G. Ley and Mr. Robert F. Lietzow, Austin, TX Evan Black and Susan Ross Black, Vail, CO Austin, TX Mr. John G. Turner and Mr. Jerry G. Fischer, Kenneth Bloom and Sheila Swartzman, Ms. Viki L. List, Bryn Mawr, PA Baton Rouge, LA San Antonio, TX Mr. George Loudder and Dr. Martha Loudder, Mr. Jerre van den Bent, Dallas, TX Mr. Richard E. Boner and Ms. Susan Pryor, College Station, TX Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Vastola Jr., Dallas, TX Austin, TX Cathleen C. and Jerome M. Loving, Bryan, TX Mrs. Rons Voogt, Huntsville, TX Linda Brahaney, Midland, TX Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin, Denver, CO Dr. Karan Watson, College Station, TX Mr. Stephen R. Brenner, Tacoma, WA Mrs. Walter W. McAllister Jr., San Antonio, TX Margaret and Alan Weinblatt, San Antonio, TX Mr. Robert J. Bruni, San Antonio, TX Ms. Taddy McAllister, San Antonio, TX Valerie and David Woodcock, College Station, TX Dr. Bernd U. Budelmann, Galveston, TX Kathryn Miller, New York, NY The Honorable Eugenia Wright and Dr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Butler, Austin, TX Mr. James R. Moffitt, Albuquerque, NM Dr. Francis Wright, San Antonio, TX Louise Chapman, Corpus Christi, TX Mr. and Mrs. John R. Monk Jr., Lufkin, TX Mrs. Ruth Wright, Dallas, TX Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Cloudman III, Boulder, CO Marsha L. Montemayor, Houston, TX 1 Anonymous

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. Nicholas Eoff Mr. and Mrs. James R. Hutton Ms. Cynthia Akagi and Mr. Tom Akagi Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Evans Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Kaplan Mrs. Nancy C. Allen Susan Love Fitts Mrs. Frances Kittrell Dr. John P. Anderson Mrs. Wendy Germani Dr. Helen W. Lane Grace and Mark Baker Mr. William E. Gipson Juliet and Mark Markovich Drs. Nathaniel and Marcia Barnes Marion and Gary Glober Ana María Martínez Mr. and Mrs. James Becker Dr. and Mrs. Carlos R. Hamilton Jr. Kay and Larry Medford Richard Buffett Dr. and Mrs. William C. Heird Mrs. Eileen Moore Dr. and Mrs. Gary Clark Mr. Frank Hood Ms. Celia Morgan Mr. and Mrs. James M. Clepper Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Huebsch Mr. John Newton and Ms. Peggy K. Cramer Ms. Sybil Elizabeth Crawford Robert and Kitty Hunter Mr. Ralph S. O’Connor

78 > SPRING 2017 Mrs. Ulrike Peto Mr. and Mrs. William B. Freeman Jr. Ms. Sally Schott Mr. Albert Ramirez and Ms. Mary A. Fitzgerald Mr. Blake Frere Dr. and Mrs. H. Irving Schweppe Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Michael Rasmussen Mr. and Mrs. Donn C. Fullenweider Dr. Paul E. Setzler Mr. Daniel Rowe Dr. Robert A. Furse Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard Dr. and Mrs. C. Dan Sauls Ms. Sonia Garcia Mr. Herbert Simons Christopher Schulze, M.D. Mrs. Gibson Gayle Jr. Jan Simpson Ms. Hannelore N. Schwarze Susan Giannatonio and Bruce Winquist Louis Sklar Barbara and Neil Stovall Mr. Enrico R. Giannetti Mr. Calvin Slater Dr. and Mrs. Peter K. Thompson Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Girouard Hon. Ruby K. Sondock Dean Walker Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Glenn Ms. Linda F. Sonier Joan and Michael Weltzien Ms. Lisa K. Goetz Mr. Brian Speck The Honorable and Mrs. Bill White Dr. and Mrs. Michael J. Gordon Dave Stein 2 Anonymous Mrs. Gwynn F. Gorsuch Mrs. Sue Stocks Mr. and Mrs. John S. Griffin Drs. Adaani E. Frost and Wadi N. Suki CONTRIBUTING FELLOWS— Mr. George B. Harrop Ms. Lori Summa $1,000 OR MORE Sheila Heimbinder Mr. and Mrs. Willie Swisher Mr. and Mrs. Robert Arnett Mr. and Mrs. Rex D. Hemme Mr. Kiyoshi Tamagawa Dr. Carlos Bacino Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Henderek Mr. and Mrs. Dale Tingleaf Christopher Bacon and Craig Miller Mr. Karl Hennessee Mr. and Mrs. John A. Unger Mr. Richard G. Bado Dr. Ralph J. Herring Dr. and Mrs. Lieven J. Van Riet Paul and Nancy Balmert Dr. Janice L. Hewitt Mr. and Mrs. John Wallace Mr. and Mrs. John Barbe Dr. Sallie T. Hightower Mr. and Mrs. Alton L. Warren Dr. and Mrs. Robert C. Bast Jr. Mr. Stanley A. Hoffberger Mr. and Mrs. James A. Watt Mrs. Deborah Bautch Dr. Holly Holmes Mr. Jesse Weir and Mr. Roberto Ayala Mr. Douglas Bishea Mr. and Mrs. Clay Hoster Mr. Lawrence Williams Mrs. John Bixby Mr. and Mrs. David G. Hughes Mr. Graeme Womersley Drs. David H. and Joanne Boldt Mr. and Ms. Rich Janssen Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Woodell II Jim and Susan Boone Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jaworski Miss Pinar Oya Yilmaz Mr. and Mrs. Howard K. Bostock Lynda and Frank Kelly Drs. William and Huda Yahya Zoghbi Mr. Bob F. Boydston Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Langenstein 8 Anonymous Lorence and Zora Bravenec Mrs. John E. Langwith Jr. FELLOWS—$500 OR MORE Mr. James Brugman Ms. Rachel Le and Mr. Lam Nguy Mr. Michael Burke Mr. Joseph Levitan and Mr. Nicolo Messana Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Allen Mrs. Anne H. Bushman Mr. James C. Lindsey Mr. Mark Barton Mr. and Mrs. Ronald L. Butcher Mrs. Marta Lujan-Gough Mr. and Mrs. V. G. Beghini Dr. and Mrs. Raul Caffesse Ms. Lynn Luster Dr. Zach Blailock Jr. Ms. Marion Cameron Dr. Brian Malechuk and Mr. Kevin Melgaard Mr. James L. Boockholdt Mr. Armin Cantini and Mrs. Gail S. Ayers Ms. Laura Marsh Ms. Zu Dell Broadwater Ms. Toni Capra Jim and Linda McCartney Mrs. Jan Brodhead Dorothy E. F. Caram, Ed.D. Dr. Mary Fae McKay Mr. James L. Broockholdt Mr. Jerry Conry Ms. Maryellen McSweeney Nora and Richard Brooks Dr. and Mrs. Dorian Coppenhaver Wanda Meyer Robin and Richard Brooks Dr. Lorraine Cornwell and Mr. Matthew Antonelli Mr. Douglas D. Miller Mr. Stephen Brossart Ms. Kathleen R. Cross Mr. Stanley Milstein Dr. Joan K. Bruchas and H. Philip Cowdin Mr. and Mrs. Arthur G. Dauber Mr. and Mrs. Richard J. Moehring Ms. Leila Buerger Mr. and Mrs. Warren Dean Dr. Richard Moiel and Mrs. Katherine Poeppel Mrs. Dorothy Burge Mr. and Mrs. Tony Deeb Ms. Martha P. Palmer Mr. and Mrs. Lester P. Burgess Mike and Gayle DeGeurin Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Percoco Mr. Bradley T. Burkett Peggy DeMarsh Dr. and Mrs. Richard B. Pesikoff Drs. Terry and Elvira Burns Dr. and Mrs. Richard Denne Mr. and Mrs. Elvin B. Pippert Jr. Mr. Paul D. Camp Roxi Cargill and Peter Weston, M.D. Mr. Michael E. Dillard Mr. Charles Prince Sylvia J. Carroll Mr. Tom Doneker Mr. Nigel Prior Glenn Carvel Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Giulio Draetta Dr. and Mrs. Florante A. Quiocho Dr. Raul Carvajal Mike Ezzell Mr. and Mrs. William Rawl Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Castelberg Ms. Ann L. Faget Mr. Federico Reyes Mrs. Kenneth E. Caulking Ms. Ursula Felmet Mr. and Mrs. Richard Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cazier Carol Sue Finkelstein Mr. William K. Rice Mrs. Laura Chandler Mrs. Ronald P. Fischer Mansel and Brenda Rubenstein Kenneth T. Chin Mr. Jacques Fortier Chula Ross Sanchez Ms. Janet Cluff Mr. and Mrs. Michael Fowler Ms. Jill Schaar and Mr. George Caflisch

HGO.org > 79 DONORS, Continued

Mr. and Mrs. Marion D. Collier Mr. Raymond Jones Mr. John Stephen Skaggs Mr. Joseph V. Boyd and Mr. James Collins John Otis Kirkpatrick Len Slussler Mr. Robert M. Singleton Dr. and Mrs. J. Michael Condit Mr. Brett Kirkpatrick Bruce Smith Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Bristol Mrs. Christa M. Cooper Dr. Milton and Gail Klein Mr. Gary A. Smith and Ms. Beth Brownlee Mr. and Mrs. Larry Corona Mr. Carl Koontz Mr. Jim Murdaugh Ms. Mary Brunetti Noel and Barbara Cowart Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Leffler Mr. and Mrs. Josh Solera Ms. Elizabeth Bryson Mr. John Cravero Dr. Kelly Bruce Lobley Mr. Tyler Sooby Ms. Kathleen Bucher Mr. and Mrs. T. N. Crook Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Y. Lui Ms. Eve Stoddard Jane M. Campbell, Ph.D. Dr. Lida Dahm Dr. and Mrs. R. A. MacLean Dr. and Mrs. Clarke Stout Mr. Tim Campbell Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Daly Ms. Nancy Manderson Dr. and Mrs. David Sufian Mr. Claude Cech Ms. Elizabeth DeLeon Dr. and Mrs. Moshe H. Maor Mrs. Jo Sutter Ms. Beth Chambers Mr. and Mrs. John Difilippo Jr. Mr. and Mrs. H. Woods Martin Dr. Jeffrey Sweterlitsch Mr. Brian Charboneau Dr. and Mrs. Donald Donovan Mrs. Kristi Shipnes Martin Mrs. Kay T. Tabor Mr. Raymond Chinn Dr. and Mrs. Charles L. Dupin Mariquita Masterson Father Charles Talar Dr. James Claghorn Mr. George Dysinger Mr. and Mrs. J. Mathalone Mr. and Mrs. David Tancredi Ms. Carole J. Colley Mr. Tom Eaton Mr. Michael C. McEwen Mr. Quentin Thigpen and Ms Carolynn Lee Conley Ms. Barbara Eaves Mr. Stephen McIntyre Ms. Amy Psaris Mr. Jim O. Connell Dr. and Mrs. David Edelstein Mr. James L. McNett Mr. and Mrs. Jon D. Thompson Mr. Mark Conrad Ms. Connie Elliott Keith and Elizabeth McPherson Ms. Tammy Tran Mr. and Mrs. Leighton B. Cooke Mr. and Mrs. Blake Eskew John and Bets McSpadden Dr. Roger F. Trandell Mr. John Cornell Steve and Marie Fay Evnochides Ms. Ashley Mehrens Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Tsuchida Mr. Howard Cornelsen Sylvia B. Fatzer Mr. and Mrs. Robert Menzie Dr. David Tweardy and Dr. Robert B. Couch Ms. Vicki Schmid Faulkner Ms. Terry Meyer Dr. Ruth Falik Mr. Robert M. Craft B. Dell Felder Mr. Chadd Mikulin Mr. and Mrs. Christophe E. Dr. and Mrs. James Creed Mrs. Kathleen Fenwick Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Mosier Venghiattis Ms. Lynda Crist Mr. and Mrs. Peter J. Ferenz Mr. and Mrs. Chad Muir Mr. and Mrs. Larry Veselka Ms. Barbara Davey Dr. and Mrs. Marvin A. Fishman Dr. Joseph G. Munisteri Mr. Frank Watson Dr. and Mrs. R. L. Deter Ms. Virginia Floyd Mr. Daniel O’Neil Mr. Peter J. Wender Ms. Ronda Devins Marion M. Freeman Mr. Michael Ouellette Drs. Angel and Anita Werch Mr. David R. Dexel Ms. Barbara R. Friedman Mr. Scott F. Partridge Mr. and Mrs. Loyd L. Whatley Ms. Deidra Dierks Mr. and Mrs. Scott J. Garber Mr. Jeffrey Pferd and Mrs. Sara E. White Ms. Karen Doolittle Mr. and Mrs. Steve Georgeson Ms. Shin L. Wu LaVerne and Philip Wiles Mr. A.C. Dumestre Dr. and Mrs. Victor F. German Mr. J. R. Pope Mr. and Mrs. Bert B. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Brent A. Dyer Mr. Joseph Gomez Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin L. Portnoy Mr. Billy A. Winkelmann Mr. David Dyer Dr. Winston Goodrich Mr. Ronald Powell Daisy Wong Ms. Suse M. Edwards and Dr. Harvey L. Gordon Mrs. and Mr. Helen B. Preddy Mr. Richard Zansitis and Ms. Susi Singletary Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gott Ophelia Lux Pujol Ms. Suzanne Mitchell Mr. Steve Eisert Ms. Clare Greene Cindy Hageney Raimond 6 Anonymous Ms. Susan Ellerbe Mr. and Mrs. Ira Gruber Ms. Carol Rausch Ms. Susan Elliott CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS— Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Guinee Ray Ravitz Ms. Karen C. Elsen $250 OR MORE Mr. Teruhiko Hagiwara Mr. and Mrs. Steven Rawley Mr. David H. Fahl Mrs. Jackie Harbachick Carol F. Relihan Mr. Anthony J. Adam Dr. Harold Farber and Mrs. Kathryn M. Hardin Ms. Kelly Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. Grant F. Adamson Mrs. Dana Camp-Farber Jon and Judy Harris Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Ritter Mr. Orlando Alvarado Dr. and Mrs. Bernard H. Feldman Mary and Jim Henderson Mr. Michael C. Romer Ms. Sally S. Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Feldman Hernandez Engineering, Inc. Mr. Jack Rooker Mr. Jim Nelson Mr. and Mrs. James Ferguson Pam Higgins and Tom Jones Dr. and Mrs. Arthur Rosenthal Mrs. Winifred Avelallemant Mr. Jaime Fernandez Jr. Mrs. Ann G. Hightower Dr. Roger D. Rossen Mr. Kevin Barnes Mrs. Madeleine Ferris Mr. Tim Hilt Mr. Jerome Roth Mr. and Mrs. Greg Barra Mr. David H. Fifield Mr. Andres Hirschfeld Patricia A. Rouse and Ms. Leta Barry Mr. and Mrs. Albert Finch Mr. Steven Hooker Clare Michelson Dan and Judy Bates Mrs. Helen Fiore Mr. John Hrncir Mr. and Mrs. Gregory M. Ruffing Mr. and Mrs. Ed Bayliss Mr. Donald Fitzgibbons and Mr. Brian Hues Mr. Charles K. Sanders Mr. and Mrs. Roger L. Beebe Mrs. Doris Miller Ms. Olive Allen Hughes Mr. and Mrs. W. Russell Scheirman Ms. Eloise Behrends Liuda and Gustavo Flores Mr. Jim W. James Audrea and Charles Seay II Ms. Lynn Bencowitz Mr. and Mrs. Israel Fogiel Mrs. Georgia P. James Mr. Ronald Seeliger Mr. and Mrs. Lauris Berzins Mr. and Mrs. Joe Ford Ms. Joan Jeffrey Mr. Frank Seger Ms. Maryana Bilenka Mr. Michael Forlenza Dr. Susan and Mr. Darrell John Ms. Joan M. Shack Ms. Kimberly K. Birtcher Mr. Charles C. Foster Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Johnson Mr. Barrett K. Sides Joseph Blackburn Mr. and Mrs. John Frassanito Mr. David K. Johnson Mr. Joseph Sims and Ms. Shari Bosco Mr. Douglas E. Frobese Mr. and Mrs. K.C. Jones Ms. Janis Doty Dr. and Mrs. Meherwan Boyce Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Fullinwider

80 > SPRING 2017 Ms. Sharon Lee Gaskill Ms. Nora A. Laufman Dr. Gerhard Paskusz Mr. Vincent Treglia Mr. Dominique Gil and Dr. and Mrs. Victor R. Lavis Miss Sue Patrick Ms. Anne Tucker Ms. Anne Royere Gil Ms. Elaine Lear and Ms. Barbara Paull Mr. Harvey Tucker Ms. Judy S. Gilbert Mr. Mark C. Lear Dr. Robert Phillips and Dr. Ulrike Turner Ms. Karen Gilmore Dr. and Mrs. Michael LeCheminant Dr. Julia Andrieni Philip A. Tuttle and Mr. Mark Gordon Mr. Bryant Lee Mark and Nancy Picus Joan M. C. Bull, M.D. Ms. Beatrice Graham David Leff Mrs. Maria Pineiro Dr. Valentina Ugolini Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. Greenberg Mr. and Ms. Glenn Leishner Dr. Didier Piot-Haber Mr. Hywell Upshall Dr. and Mrs. Stephen B. Greenberg Ms. Judy Lenox Mr. and Mrs. John R. Pipkin Dr. and Mrs. Ray Alan Verm Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B. Greene III Ms. Ann V. Leslie Mr. and Mrs. Louis Potempa Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vest Dr. Vicky Gresik Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Levy Ms. Patricia G. Pratt Mr. Greg Vetter and Dr. and Dr. James E. Griffin III Dr. Benjamin Lichtiger Dr. Cathleen Provost Ms. Irene Kosturakis Mr. and Mrs. David Guenther Mr. Robert Livermore Ms. Beverly Ramirez Mr. Suann Waight Ms. Gabriella M. Guerra Mr. James Loftus Dr. and Mrs. Ronald B. Rea Ms. Margaret S. Walker Ms. Nancy L. Hall Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Scott C. and Vickie S. Reeve Mrs. Sara K. Warf Mr. Donald Hang Dr. and Mrs. Michael Lyons Richard Regenburgh Mr. Kenneth W. Warren Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Hanlon Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mancini Ms. Katherine Reynolds Mr. and Mrs. Barry Wawak Dr. David Hanson Mr. Clifford Mankenberg Mr. Dale A. Rice and Mr. Michael Webster Ms. Sandra C. Harris John T. Manning Jr. Dr. Antonio C. Lapastina Mr. and Mrs. Jon Weichbrodt Mrs. Marilyn Hassid Martha W. Marberry and Mrs. Ann Richardson Mrs. Blake I. Weisser Mr. Philip J. Hastings Thomas A. Roraff Ms. Nell Richardson and Mr. G. Mr. Herbert Weller Mr. and Mrs. Jim Heffernan Mr. and Dr. Alan H. Marshak Sidney Buchanan Jr. Dr. Arlo Weltge Ms. Kitty L. Hendrix Ms. Joan Marshak Mr. Guido Rivas Mr. Donald Wertz Ms. Carol A. Hermes Ms. Barbara Matens Mr. Hector Rodriguez Jackie Westfahl Dr. Leonard and Carol Hershkowitz Mr. Michael Mattingly Regina Rogers Alvin Wexler Mr. James Hitt Ms. Barbara Mayer Mrs. Elihu Root Ms. Susan Trammell Whitfield Ms. Joanne Hodges Mr. Joel Mayer Mr. Christopher Ross Mrs. Beverly B. Wiemer Ms. Alice J. Hooker Mr. and Mrs. Murray McAndrew Ms. Jean P. Ross Ms. Jennifer Wijangco Ms. Shirley Hooks Dr. and Mrs. Robert G. McCandless Ms. Caroline Ellsworth Dr. Kirk R. Wilhelmus Mrs. Edna G. Houston Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey S. McKennis Mr. Daniel Ruhl Mrs. J. H. Wilkenfeld Ms. Betty G. Houston Ms. Janet Meininger Mrs. Jeanne Samuels Mr. and Mrs. Stuart C. Williams Mrs. Robert C. Howe Mr. John Mell Mr. and Mrs. Richard Schenke Ms. Janet Wilson Richard and Kathleen Hulfish Mr. and Mrs. John H. Meltzer Ms. Emily Schreiber Ms. Joanne Wilton Mr. Thomas Hultén and Dr. Robert A. Mendelson Mr. Juergen R. Schroder and Ms. Irena Witt Ms. Kristina Hultén Ms. Susanne Mentzer Ms. Vera Schroder Mr. Gerhard Wittich Mr. and Mrs. Alan D. Husak Mr. and Mrs. Jon Mitchell Dr. Wayne X. Shandera Mr. Eric M. Wolf and Mr. Francisco J. Izaguirre Mr. William Mitchell Mike Shannon Ms. Amy Kurlander Ms. Alevtina Izvekova Ms. Laurie Modrey Mr. and Mrs. Charles Shearouse Ms. Annette P. Wood Dr. Robert G. Jaeger Dr. and Mrs. David J. Moeller Ms. Lynne Shepard John and Victoria Wood Ms. Mary Jakab Mr. Jonathan Moeller Ms. Carol Ann F. Shepherd Robert and Michele Yekovich Ms. Louise Jamail Mr. John Molbeck Mr. and Mrs. Richard Sherry Diane Zola Mary Lee Johns and Bill Lessels Ms. Barbara G Moore Marcel and Reggie Silberman 5 Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Steven R. Johnson Ms. Betty Moore Mr. John Smaardyk Ms. Linda Katz Mr. Frank L. Morales Mrs. Margo Donaldson Snider Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Kelley Mr. Paul R. Moreno Ms. Claudia A. Standiford Mr. Neil Kent Mr. and Mrs. Lee N. Morgenthaler Mr. Per A. Staunstrup Mr. Armen Kocharian Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Morris Ms. Frances Steele Dr. and Mrs. Michael F. Koehl Mr. Patrick Muhlen-Schulte Mr. John J. Stiff and Dr. Rex A. Koontz Mr. Jason Muriby Mrs. Michelle Wesley Mr. R. J. Koperwhats Dr. Delbert Dennis Myers Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stobaugh Mr. Terrance Kopp Mr. and Mrs. James P. Naismith Ms. Rebecca Storey Ms. Paula Kotlarek Michael Newark Mr. Leon Strieder Dr. and Mrs. James H. Krause Mr. Emlyn Norman Mr. Charles R. Tanner Mr. Robert Krinock Richard E. Norris Ms. Kris A. Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Layne Kruse Mr. and Mrs. Paul Nugent Mr. and Mrs. Howard T. Mr. Steve Kubenka Mr. and Mrs. Rene A. Orillac Tellepsen Jr. Mrs. Ryan Lafratta Mr. and Mrs. Dee S. Osborne Mr. John C. Thomas and Margaret J. Lam John and Joan Ostroot Ms. Linda Laurent Dr. Lynn Lamkin and Mr. George L. Otis Mr. and Mrs. William Tilley Mr. Jon T. Lamkin Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pagel Ms. Deborah Todd Mr. and Mrs. Eastman Landry Ms. Marcia Pampe Mr. and Mrs. Edmunds Travis Jr.

HGO.org > 81 CORPORATE | FOUNDATION | GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

Houston Grand Opera’s corporate, foundation, and government partners make it possible for HGO to create and share great art with our community. We are incredibly proud to work with these organizations and grateful for all they do. For information on joining HGO’s valued team of corporate and foundation supporters, please call Kelly Finn, director of development, institutional giving, at 713-546-0265.

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA Angelo Ciardella Jr., Bank of America Jerry L. Metcalf, Thompson & Knight LLP CORPORATE COUNCIL Merrill Lynch Mark Metts, Sidley Austin LLP Joshua Davidson, Baker Botts L.L.P. Charlene Nickson, ACC Realty LLC Gary Adams, Deloitte Daniel D. Domeracki, Schlumberger Ward Pennebaker, Pennebaker Thomas R. Ajamie, Ajamie LLP Frederic Dyen, Schlumberger Gloria M. Portela, Seyfarth Shaw LLP J. Scott Arnoldy, Triten Corporation Mark Evans, Bracewell LLP Gary Reese, Northern Trust C. Mark Baker, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP Sheryl Falk, Winston & Strawn LLP Glen Rosenbaum, Vinson & Elkins LLP Jonathan Baliff, Bristow Group, Inc. Mauro Ferrari, Houston Methodist Thomas V. Rushing, Bank of America Barbara Lee Bass, M.D., F.A.C.S., Michaela Greenan, PwC Merrill Lynch Methodist Institute for Technology, Michael Heckman, Houston First Corporation Denmon Sigler, Baker & McKenzie Innovation and Education (MITIE) Jackson Hicks, Jackson and Company Mark R. Spradling, Vinson & Elkins LLP Astley Blair, Marine Well Containment Company Todd Hoffman, PwC James Springfield, Optum/United Health Meg Boulware, Boulware & Valoir Richard Husseini, Baker Botts L.L.P. Foundation Tony Bradfield, Tenenbaum Classic Jewelers John Keville, Winston & Strawn LLP Dan Summerford, BB&T Walt Bratic, OverMont Consulting LLC Michele M. LaNoue, Headworks Inc. Ignacio Torras, Tricon Energy Melinda Brunger, Andrews Kurth LLP Jerry Lasco, Lasco Enterprises Tom Van Arsdel, Winstead PC Ralph Burch, ConocoPhillips Dr. Mike Lemanski, Shell Oil Company (Retired) De la Rey Venter, Shell Oil Company Janet Langford Carrig, ConocoPhillips David LePori, Frost Bank Alfredo Vilas, Novum Energy Thierry Caruso, Ernst & Young LLP Kevin Lipson, Hogan Lovells Chris Williams, Tokio Marine HCC Albert Chao, Westlake Chemical Corporation J. Douglas McMurrey Jr., Kinder Morgan David Young, Union Pacific Neil Chapman, ExxonMobil Chemical Company (Retired) Todd Chen, Winstead PC

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS Underwriters — $25,000 or more Sponsors — $10,000 or more Grand Guarantor — $250,000 or more Ajamie LLP Akerman LLP Baker Botts L.L.P. † Andrews Kurth LLP Medistar Corporation BB&T AT&T † Guarantors — $100,000 or more Booker • Lowe Gallery Boardwalk Pipeline Partners Boulware & Valoir Bracewell LLP BBVA Compass † * Bristow Group, Inc. Cadence Bank ConocoPhillips † City Kitchen Catering * Ernst & Young LLP H-E-B Deloitte The Events Company * Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo TM ExxonMobil † Fort Bend Music Company * Houston Methodist * Frost Bank Frosch International Travel Schlumberger † George H. Lewis & Sons Hess Shell Oil Company † Hogan Lovells La Perla Tenenbaum Jewelers * Jackson and Company †* Locke Lord LLP † United Airlines * JPMorgan Chase & Co. LyondellBasell Vinson & Elkins LLP †* Norton Rose Fulbright † Marathon Oil Corporation Grand Underwriters — $50,000 or more Novum Energy Services, LLC Northern Trust Anadarko Petroleum Corporation † Saks Fifth Avenue * Thompson & Knight LLP Bank of America Sidley Austin LLP Union Pacific Foundation Tokio Marine HCC Chevron † Members— $1,000 or more Fayez Sarofim & Co. † United Health Foundation CenterPoint Energy Houston First Corporation Wells Fargo † Patterson & Sheridan LLP Nabors Industries Westlake Chemical Corporation TAS Commercial Concrete Construction, LLC PwC † Winstead PC Winston & Strawn LLP Western Gas Partners LP Williams

82 > SPRING 2017 IN-KIND CONTRIBUTORS Members — $1,000 or more Grand Underwriters — $50,000 or more TO OPERATIONS AND BCN Taste and Tradition Anchorage Foundation of Texas Booker • Lowe Gallery Carol Franc Buck Foundation SPECIAL EVENTS The Grove Houston Grand Opera Guild † Underwriters — $25,000 or more Hayden Lasher C. Howard Pieper Foundation Houston Cinema Arts Society Abrahams Oriental Rugs and Home Furnishings Underwriters — $25,000 or more Miles David City Kitchen Catering TréborStyle Cockrell Family Fund Jackson and Company Houston Saengerbund Landry’s Inc. FOUNDATIONS AND John P. McGovern Foundation † Neiman Marcus Precious Jewels GOVERNMENT AGENCIES Stedman West Foundation † Saks Fifth Avenue Sterling-Turner Foundation † Tenenbaum Jewelers Premier Guarantor —$1,000,000 or more Texas Commission on the Arts † The Events Company Houston Grand Opera Endowment, Inc.† The Vaughn Foundation Tony’s Catering Wattle Creek Winery Principal Guarantors — $500,000 or more Sponsors — $10,000 or more Sponsors — $15,000 or more CT Bauer Foundation Mary H. Cain Foundation Ruth and Ted Bauer Family Foundation † Albert and Ethel Herzstein Charitable Foundation Lavandula Design The Brown Foundation, Inc. † Eugene McDermott Foundation The Lancaster Hotel/Lancaster Bistro City of Houston † The Moody Foundation LUCHO/Hector Villarreal The General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Nightingale Code Foundation Sakowitz Furs Opera Fund † The William A. and Madeline Smith Foundation Tootsies Alkek and Williams Foundation The Powell Foundation † The Wortham Foundation, Inc. † Co-Sponsors — $7,500 or more Members — $1,000 or more Abercombie & Kent Grand Guarantors—$250,000 or more The Arts Federation Briggs Vest Outdoors Anne and Albert Chao, Ting Tsung and George and Mary Josephine Hamman Brooks Lake Lodge Wei Fong Chao Foundation Foundation Elegant Events and Catering by Michael The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation The Leon Jaworski Foundation † Frosch Travel The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation † The Nathan J. Klein Fund Gremillion & Co. Fine Art Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation † Guarantors — $100,000 or more IW Marks Jewelers Puckett Children’s Foundation The Nice Winery M.D. Anderson Foundation † William E. and Natoma Harvey Pyle PerCorsi Culinari Cooking School City of Houston through Miller Theatre Charitable Trust † Benefactors — $5,000 or more Advisory Board † Strake Foundation The Cullen Foundation † Bradford Portraits The Cullen Trust for the Performing Arts † * Contribution includes in- kind support † Ten or more years of consecutive support Christian Dior Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation Elaine Turner William Randolph Hearst Foundation Events Houston Endowment Inc. † Fleming’s The Humphreys Foundation † Hotel Granduca Houston/Ristorante Cavour Kinder Foundation Masterson Design/Mariquita Masterson National Endowment for the Arts MPenner OPERA America Past Era Antique Jewelry Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai and Terrell Tone Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Owen Memorial Endowed Donor Advised Fund Santa Fe Opera at the Community Foundation of Abilene

HGO.org > 83 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 L. Fletcher Nancy Wynne Mattison James and Mary Waggoner Mr. Carlisle Floyd Mrs. Dorothy McCaine Dean B. Walker Ms. Gerry Aitken Bruce Ford Mrs. Cynthia Tally McDonald Mr. Gordon D. Watson Mrs. Marion Alexay Dr. Donna Fox Mr. and Mrs. Alexander K. McLanahan Mr. Jesse Weir Mrs. Margaret Alkek Williams Dr. Alice Gates Dr. Will L. McLendon Mr. Geoffrey Westergaard Mrs. Judy Amonett Dr. Layne O. Gentry Mr. Allen D. McReynolds Ms. Roxanne Cargill and Peter Weston Ms. Michelle Beale and Mr. Michael B. George Maryellen McSweeney Ms. Jane L. Williams Mr. Richard H. Anderson Dr. Wm. David George Mr. and Mrs. D. Bradley McWilliams Helen Wils Ms. Robin Angly and Mr. Miles Smith Dr. Rollin O. Glaser Christianne Melanson David and Mary Wolff Ms. Mary Lee Archer Mr. David Gockley Miss Catherine Jane Merchant Miss Daisy Wong Dr. and Mrs. Willard Aronson Rhoda Goldberg Ms. Suzanne Mimnaugh Dr. L. Fabian Worthing III Roberto Ayala Mr. Jon K. Gossett Mr. Juan R. Morales Lynn Wyatt Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Baker Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gott Mr. and Mrs. Sidney S. Moran R. Alan York Dr. and Mrs. Saúl Balagura Adelma Graham Mrs. Lucian L. Morrison Katherine and Mark Yzaguirre Daniel B. Barnum Mr. and Mrs. Donald Graubart Ms. Terrylin G. Neale Dr. and Mrs. Efrain Zavala Mrs. Thomas D. Barrow Dr. Nichols Grimes Bobbie Newman Mr. John L. Zipprich II Bill A. Bartlett Dr. Ellen R. Gritz Mrs. Tassie Nicandros 18 Anonymous Marcheta Leighton Beasley Mario Gudmunsson and Darrin Davis Ms. B. Lynn Mathre and Dr. and Mrs. Barry Beller WE HONOR THE MEMORY OF THOSE Lynn Guggolz Mr. Stewart O’Dell Dr. Patricia Eifel and Dr. James A. Belli WHO INCLUDED HGO IN THEIR ESTATE Mr. Jas A. Gundry Mr. and Mrs. Staman Ogilvie Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Beyer PLANS: Bill Haase Mrs. James W. O’Keefe Mrs. Eileen Birge Mrs. Jack W. Harris Macky Osorio Dr. Thomas D. Barrow Dr. Joan Hacken Bitar Linda Lloyd Hart Mrs. Susan Osterberg Ms. Evelyn M. Bedard Susan Ross Black Ms. Brenda Harvey-Traylor Mrs. Joan D. Osterweil Dr. James Birge Dr. Michael and Susan Bloome Nancy Ferguson-Haywood Thelma and Richard Percoco Ronald Borschow Dr. and Mrs. Jules H. Bohnn Miguel and Teresita Hernandez Mrs. Sara M. Peterson Mr. Ira B. Brown Mr. Andrew Bowen Dr. Ralph Herring Mr. and Mrs. Harry C. Pinson Mr. Thomas Capshaw Lynda Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hewell Mr. and Mrs. James A. Pokorski Dr. Lawrence E. Carlton Stephen R. Brenner Mr. Jackson D. Hicks Mr. Arthur B. Pryde and Mr. Tony Carroll, LCSW Ms. Zu Dell Broadwater Mr. Edward L. Hoffman Mrs. Suzanne Page-Pryde Michael Cochran Catherine Brock Dr. Gary L. Hollingsworth and Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Reynolds Renee Danziger Mrs. Ira B. Brown Dr. Ken Hyde Mr. Bill Richmond and Ms. Marilyn R. Davis Richard Buffett Alan and Ellen Holzberg Mr. Dennis Courtney Frank R. Eyler Ralph C. Byle Ms. Kathleen Moore and Charles and Janet Rinehart Christine E. George Mrs. Marjorie H. Capshaw Mr. Steven Homer Mr. and Mrs. Edward N. Robinson Janet Glaser Jess and Patricia Carnes Frank Hood Mr. and Mrs. Donald M. Rose Jack W. Harris Janet Langford Carrig Ms. Ami J. Hooper Glen A. Rosenbaum Mark Lensky Mrs. Sylvia J. Carroll Dr. Marjorie Horning Mrs. Jean Rowley Mary R. Lewis Nada Chandler Ms. Sue A. Shirley-Howard and Mr. John C. Rudder Jr. Mrs. Margaret Love Ms. Virginia Ann Clark Mr. Richard H. Howard Mr. and Mrs. Thomas V. Rushing Ms. Marsha Malev Mathilda Cochran Eileen and George Hricik Mr. and Mrs. Terrell F. Sanders Mr. Constantine Nicandros Mr. William E. Colburn Ms. Lee M. Huber Mr. Chris Schilling Dr. Mary Joan Nish Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Comstock Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. Hunter Charles and Gudrun Senuta Mr. James W. O’Keefe Mr. Jim O. Connell Dr. Lamar and Mrs. Jane Jackson Helen and James Shaffer Barbara M. Osborne C.M. and A.A. Cooper Jr. Charitable Trust Hinda Simon Mrs. Mary Ann Phillips Mr. Efrain Z. Corzo Mr. Brian James Mr. Herbert D. Simons Mr. Howard Pieper Dr. Joan K. Bruchas and Mr. Spencer A. Jeffries Ms. Susan Simpson Mr. Craig M. Rowley Mr. H. P. Cowdin Ms. Charlotte Jones Janet Sims Mrs. Joseph P. Ruddell Ms. Catherine Cox Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kauffman Bruce Smith, DDS Mr. Eric W. Stein Sr. Mr. Alan M. Craft Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Kaufman Mr. Robert J. Smouse John and Fanny Stone James W. Crownover Mr. John S. W. Kellett Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Stai Dr. Carlos Vallbona Ms. Judy Cummings Steve Kelley and Charles Dennis Catherine Stevenson Miss Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Karl A. Dahm Ms. Virginia Kiser Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Suter Lida S. Dahm, M.D. Ann and Sam Koster Rhonda J. Sweeney Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy S. Davis Lynn and Jon Lamkin Mr. and Mrs. Leonard B. Tatar Ms. Sasha Davis For information regarding charitable Willy and Inge Lotte Liesner Mrs. John Ben Taub Ms. Anna M. Dean Heide and Karl Loos Quentin Thigpen and Amy Psoris estate gift planning and how it might Ms. Peggy DeMarsh Ben and Margaret Love Foundation Dr. and Mrs. Robert Toth positively impact you, your loved Dr. and Mrs. Russell L. Deter II Mrs. Marilyn G. Lummis Mr. John G. Turner Connie and Byron Dyer ones, and Houston­ Grand Opera, Drs. Nancy and Raymond Lutz Mr. Paul and Dr. Rhonda Turner Ms. Gloria M. Portela and please contact Richard Buffett, Dr. Jo Wilkinson Lyday Mr. and Mrs. Jess B. Tutor Mr. Richard E. Evans Ms. Sandra L. Magers Jan Upole director of major gifts and legacy Ann L. Faget Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Malbin Birgitt van Wijk giving, at 713-546-0216 or visit Mrs. Jean L. Fauntleroy Ms. Michele Malloy Marietta Voglis Ms. Carol Sue Finkelstein HGO.org/laureatesociety. Mr. and Mrs. J. Landis Martin Ms. Rons Voogt

84 > SPRING 2017 FEATURES 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 Rudy Avelar Chair Fund Robert W. George Endowment Fund Kitty King Powell Endowment Fund Bauer Family Fund Frank Greenberg, M.D. Endowment Fund Rowley Family Endowment Fund Charles T. (Ted) Bauer Memorial Fund Jackson D. Hicks Endowment Fund The Ruddell Endowment Fund Sandra Bernhard Endowed Fund General and Mrs. Maurice Hirsch Shell Lubricants (formerly Pennzoil – The Stanley and Shirley Beyer Endowed Fund Memorial Opera Fund Quaker State Company) Fund Mary Frances Newton Bowers Endowment Fund Elizabeth Rieke and Wayne V. Jones Endowment Fund Dian and Harlan Stai Fund Pat and Daniel A. Breen Endowment Fund Lensky Family Endowed Fund The John and Fanny Stone Endowment Fund Ira Brown Endowment Fund Mary R. Lewis Endowed Fund Dorothy Barton Thomas Endowment Fund The Brown Foundation Endowment Fund Beth Madison Endowed Fund John G. Turner and Jerry G. Fischer Endowed Fund The Ting Tsung and Wei Fong Chao Foundation Franci Neely Endowed Fund John and Sheila Tweed Endowed Fund Endowment Fund Constantine S. Nicandros Endowment Fund Marietta Voglis Endowed Fund Jane and Robert Cizik Endowment Barbara M. Osborne Charitable Trust Bonnie Sue Wooldridge Endowment Fund Douglas E. Colin Endowment Fund Cynthia and Anthony Petrello Endowed Fund The Wortham Foundation Permanent Endowment Fund Mary Jane Fedder Endowed Fund Mary Ann Phillips Endowed Fund Linda K. Finger Endowed 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 Lawrence E. Carlton, M.D., Fondren Foundation Fund for The Schissler Family Foundation Sandra Bernhard/C. Howard Pieper Endowment Fund Educational Programs Endowed Fund for Educational Foundation Education Fund Beth Crispin Endowment Fund David Clark Grant Endowment Fund Programs James J. Drach 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 > 85 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.

APRIL SEE YOU AT 22, 25, 29, May 4, 7m 11 & 14 THE PARKS! • Performances of Wagner’s • HGO Studio Recital Series: Artists of the Götterdämmerung. Wortham Center’s HGO Studio perform in the intimate and Join HGO for The Elixir of Love, Brown Theater. Special intermission elegant salon at Rienzi, the decorative arts featuring current and past artists reception for members of Opening Nights wing of MFAH, at 1406 Kirby Drive. May 11 of the HGO Studio. This is the for Young Professionals at the Apr. 22 at 7:30 p.m. and May 14 at 5 p.m. production that opened our 2016–17 performance only. season, as adapted for outdoor 15 venues! 23 • HGOco presents the Bauer Family High • HGOco presents Das Barbecü, a School Voice Studio Graduation Recital, lighthearted retelling of Wagner’s Ring Dudley Recital Hall, University of Houston, MAY 19–20, 8 P.M. cycle. Jackson Street BBQ, 209 Jackson 7 p.m. Free. Miller Outdoor Theatre, St. $40 general seating includes meal and Hermann Park show. 7 p.m. 31 • HGO Association Annual Meeting and FREE tickets for covered seating 26 Reception: Wortham Theater Center, 5–7 may be picked up the day of the • HGOco presents a Professional p.m. Open to board, trustees, and donors. performance from 10:30 a.m. until Development Workshop for educators on Call 713-546-0217 for information. 1 p.m. at the Miller Outdoor Theatre Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio. Box Office. The evening includes dinner, a moderated Visit milleroutdoortheatre.com. discussion on the opera’s impact, and JUNE a ticket to the dress rehearsal. Wortham Theater Center, 5 p.m. For information, call 5–9 MAY 26, 8 P.M. 713-546-0230 or visit HGO.org/HGOco. • Opera Experience: HGOco’s Opera Camp Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 28, 30m, May 6, 10, 12 for students entering grades 4–9 in the fall The Woodlands of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. • Performances of Mozart’s The Abduction Orchestra seats available for $20; from the Seraglio. Wortham Center’s 6 Brown Theater. Special intermission FREE mezzanine and lawn seating reception for members of Opening Nights • HGO Guild Volunteer Gathering: Find out courtesy of The Wortham Foundation. for Young Professionals at the Apr. 28 how you can use your talents to help HGO Visit woodlandscenter.org for performance only. through volunteering with the Guild. United information and tickets. Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr., 30 6:30 p.m. For information, contact Patricia Carnes at [email protected]. • Behind the Music: an intimate Nemorino Conductor conversation about The Abduction from 12–16 the Seraglio immediately following the Chris Bozeka † Emily Senturia ‡ Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and performance. Masterson Green Room. • Create an Opera: HGOco’s Opera Camp Revival Director/ Milton D. Rosenau Jr. Free. for students entering grades 3–6 in the fall Choreographer of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. Fellow Tim Claydon • HGOco presents Das Barbecü, a Adina Set and Costume lighthearted retelling of Wagner’s Ring 12–23 Mane Galoyan † Designer cycle. Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon, • Art of Opera: HGOco’s Opera Camp for Mr. and Mrs. Philip A. Bahr/Mr. and Mrs. Robert Innes 11410 Hempstead Hwy. $40 admission students entering grades 7–12 in the fall of Hopkins includes meal and show. 7 p.m. Charles G. Nickson 2017. Wortham Theater Center. Fellow Original Lighting 19–23 Dr. Dulcamara Designer Federico De Simon Mills MAY • Opera Experience: HGOco’s Opera Camp Michelis † Revival Lighting for students entering grades 4–9 in the fall Beth Madison Fellow Designer of 2017. Wortham Theater Center. 2, 3, 4 Belcore Michael James • HGOco and Opera to Go! present a Ben Edquist † Clark bilingual adaptation of Rossini’s The Mr. and Mrs. Harlan C. Chorus Master Barber of Seville at Miller Outdoor Theatre. Stai, Terrell Tone Owen Richard Bado ‡ Memorial Endowed 11 a.m. daily. Free. The Sarah and Ernest Fund at the Community Butler Chorus Master Foundation of Abilene 7 Chair Endowed Fellow • Behind the Music: an intimate Giannetta conversation about Götterdämmerung Alicia Gianni ‡ immediately following the performance. Masterson Green Room. Free. †HGO Studio artist ‡Former HGO Studio artist

86 > SPRING 2017 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 CARLEEN GRAHAM DEBORAH HIRSCH JUDITH KURNICK General Manager * Director of HGOco Senior Director of Development * Director of Communications

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

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL DIRECTOR ADVANCEMENT SERVICES HOUSTON GRAND OPERA STUDIO Dawn Gillespie, Governance and Ashley Bales, Advancement Data Assistant Jeremy Johnson, Administrator Business Manager Patrina Johnson, Prospect Research and Jami Howard, Assistant to the Artistic and Data Specialist TECHNICAL/PRODUCTION Music Director Meredith Morse, Development Associate Philip Alfano, Lighting Associate Tamara Johnson, Executive Assistant M. Jane Orosco, Advancement Data Manager * Katrina Bachus, Assistant Director Nicole Sackllah, Development Associate Kristen E. Burke, Production Stage Manager * FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Joanna Torok, Director of Advancement Operations Michael Clark, Lighting Supervisor Maria J. Blake, Systems Manager * Andrew Cloud, Properties Associate * Henry Cantu, Staff Accountant * COMMUNICATIONS Norma Cortez, Head of Costumes * Luis Franco, Office Services Coordinator * Laura Chandler, Director of Publications * Kyle Coyer, Assistant Technical Director Denise Fruge, Accounts Payable Administrator * Marion Frizzell, Communications Coordinator Esmeralda De Leon, Costume Coordinator Matt Gonzales, Database Administrator Christine Lee, Communications Manager Meg Edwards, Assistant Stage Manager/ Debbie Loper, Payroll Administrator * Gracie Padron, Graphic Designer Assistant Director Tanya Lovetro, Director of Finance * Pattima Singhalaka, Art Director * Mary Elsey, Assistant Stage Manager Taylor Twohy, Assistant to the General Manager Zoltan Fabry, Master Propertyman * Ken Vaughn, Director of Information Systems * THE GENEVIEVE P. DEMME ARCHIVES AND­ Vince Ferraro, Assistant Master Electrician/ Lee Whatley, Director of Business Analytics * RESOURCE CENTER Lighting Board Programmer Melissa Williford, Director of Human Resources * Brian Mitchell, Archivist * Ed Hamala, Assistant Carpenter/Head Flyman Eduardo Hawkins, Head Soundman * DEVELOPMENT HGOco Clair Hummel, Costume Coordinator Richard Buffett, Director of Major Gifts and Dennis Arrowsmith, Touring Programs Manager * Zachary Jenkins, Assistant Stage Manager Legacy Planning Wesley Landry, Bauer Family High School Voice Nara Lesser, Costume Technician Ashley Coffey, Development Information Manager Studio Manager Brant McNamara, Technical Assistant/Driver Kelly Finn, Director of Development, Jason Lester, Bauer Family High School Voice Studio Megan, Properties Design Director * Institutional Giving Director of Vocal Studies Wendy Mendez, Interim Technical/Production Clare Greene, Associate Director of Stacey Michael, Operations Manager Administrator Special Events Kathleen Staten, Education Manager Liz Petley, Assistant Stage Manager Scott Ipsen, Director of Patron Services * Emily N. Wells, Programs Manager Albert Pike, Master Electrician * David Krohn, Director of Development Mercedes Ramirez, Draper * Kelly Nicholls, Development Officer ARTISTIC/MUSIC Evelyn Rossow, Assistant Stage Manager Brooke Rogers, Director of Special Events Richard Bado, Chorus Master * Maria Luisa Salinas, Costume Technician Denise Simon, Special Events Operations Manager * The Sarah and Ernest Butler Chorus Master Chair Logan Schoenbaechler, Assistant Technical Director Jim Townsend, Development Communications Richard S. Brown, Orchestra Personnel Manager * Omer Ben Seadia, Assistant Director Manager Jamie Gelfand, Artistic and Rehearsal Coordinator Dotti Staker, Wig and Makeup Department Head * Andrea Ward, Annual Giving Officer Carolyne Hall, Associate Company Manager Christopher Staub, Stage Manager/ Rachel Wardzinski, Development Officer Patrick Harvey, Assistant Conductor Assistant Stage Manager Jennifer Wijangco, Director of Development, Paul Hopper, Assistant Artistic Director Paully Lea Tran, Costume Technician Individual Giving Daniel James, Music Administrator/ Myrna Vallejo, Costume Shop Supervisor * Artistic Media Manager Sean Waldron, Assistant Head of Properties * MARKETING Lindsey Kirgin, Artistic and Rehearsal Coordinator Annie Wheeler, Stage Manager/ Allison Kirk, Marketing Manager Mark C. Lear, Associate Artistic Assistant Stage Manager Kelly Laning, Director of Marketing Administrator * Cynthia Lewis, Team Lead * Aspen McArthur, Music Librarian * denotes 10 or more years of service Jacob Millwee, Manager of Customer Service Lisa Oswald, Company Manager Emily Sitton, Marketing Coordinator Peter Pasztor, Assistant Conductor * Richard Wong, Director of Sales and Services * Emily Senturia, Assistant Conductor/ Assistant Chorus Master

HGO.org > 87 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 Season subscribers may exchange opera experience. advance reservations. Please call H their tickets for a different performance 713-546-0203 for details. Want to brush up on the opera before of the same opera without fee, subject you attend? Need directions to the to availability. Exchanges can be made FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES­ theater? This information and much more by phone until 24 hours before the To pre-order food and beverages at the is available on our website where you performance begins; for exchanges within Encore Café prior to the performance, can also purchase tickets and make a 24 hours of curtain time, please visit the call Aramark at 713-250-3650. Pre-order donation: HGO.org. Box Office in person. Non-subscription beverages for intermission at any of the single tickets may be exchanged with HGO’s Customer Care Center is another lobby bars when you arrive at the theater. a service fee of $10 per ticket. When great resource. For performance When you return at intermission, your exchanged for tickets of greater value, information, to purchase or exchange beverages will 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 LOST OR MISPLACED TICKETS must be ordered in advance. To take [email protected]. 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 713-546-0704, or through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If there e-mail us at [email protected]. is a performance on Saturday or Sunday, PATRONS WITH DISABILITIES the Box Office will be open from noon The Wortham Theater Center features until curtain. Hours are subject to change. wheelchair access to both theaters with BROWN AND CULLEN ALCOVES a choice of seating locations and ticket prices. An FM assistive listening The Wortham Theater Center’s newly device, generously provided by the renovated alcoves were designed with Houston First Corporation, is available your comfort in mind. Step inside one of for use free of charge at all performances. these golden-hued spaces in the Grand Please call the ­Customer Care Center at Foyer, and you’ll find a calm place to 713-228-OPERA (6737) or reflect on the evening’s performance over 800-62-OPERA (800-626-7372) for dinner or drinks. full details.

88 > SPRING 2017

COM-3765-17_WPS1 Print Ad Apr_May.indd 1 2/3/17 10:55 AM