Maria Martinez News

After an international search, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has chosen three new singers and one new pianist/coach for the 2016-17 HGO Studio. The artists are Yelena Dyachek, soprano, the Ana Maria Martinez Encouragement Award recipient at Concert of Arias 2016;  Zoie Reams, mezzo-soprano, the second-place prize winner at Concert of Arias 2016;  Sol Jin, baritone, the Audience Choice Award winner at Concert of Arias 2016; and Peter Walsh, pianist/coach. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensive career development to young singers, pianist/coaches, and conductors who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to the field of opera. The HGO Studio received applications from 475 artists; of those, about 275 were heard in auditions in Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles. For singers, the audition process culminates in HGO's annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers, held this year on February 4.

This new program, The Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera, will be inaugurated today, November 28, 2015 and run through December 6, 2015, with generous support from the Richard and Enika Schulze Foundation.

The 2015 Audrey Herman Celebration opens the 54th season (2015/2016) of Spotlighters Theatre. At the event The Audrey Herman Award for support of the arts & theatre will be presented to Dr. Maravene S. Loeschke, former president of Towson University for her work in expanding arts & theatre across Baltimore!  The Spotlighters Award will be presented to Alan Zemla for his volunteer efforts at the theatre.

Houston, March 12, 2015—Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will present its highly anticipated La Fura dels Baus staging of Wagner's Die Walküre with an all-star cast and Stephen Sondheim's thrilling Sweeney Todd in April, after notching critical and sales successes with its winter productions of Puccini's Madame Butterfly and Mozart's The Magic Flute. Butterfly's six performances averaged a total capacity of 102% (including resale of returned seats) while Flute's five performances averaged 104% capacity.

DALLAS, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is preparing to whisk audiences away to the Latin Quarter of Paris for the blockbuster opera of the season: Giacomo Puccini's 1896 masterpiece, LA BOHÈME, based on Henri Murger's newspaper serial-turned-novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème.

DALLAS, FEBRUARY 20, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is preparing to whisk audiences away to the Latin Quarter of Paris for the blockbuster opera of the season: Giacomo Puccini's 1896 masterpiece, LA BOHÈME, based on Henri Murger's newspaper serial-turned-novel, Scènes de la vie de bohème.

DALLAS, FEBRUARY 9, 2015 – Working to address a long-standing career issue in the opera world, The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce the launch of a unique, new residential program designed to provide training and career support for distinctively talented women conductors. Female conductors age forty and younger, as well as accomplished women singers, opera coaches and accompanists, and instrumentalists with established careers seeking a new career at the podium, are encouraged to apply.

DALLAS — The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the five phenomenal mainstage productions of the 2015-2016 Season, “Seeking the Human Element,” to be presented in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District.

Now anyone and everyone can join in the thrill of opening night at the opera! The Dallas Opera and the Sheila and Jody Grant Opera Discovery Program, with support from the AT&T Performing Arts Center, present an evening of FREE entertainment at Dallas's popular Klyde Warren Park, the second annual “Dallas Opera Opening Night Simulcast in the Park” featuring Mozart's class-conscious romantic comedy, The Marriage of Figaro.

POLITICAL INTRIGUE. CONSPIRATORS. MURDER. JULIUS CAESAR, a tragic play in five acts written by William Shakespeare and directed by Robert Beltran (Star Trek: Voyager; Zoot Suit; Eating Raoul), will be coming to the community of Boyle Heights, CA presented in a five-week run by CASA 0101 Theater and Josefina Lopez, Artistic Director. The production will be presented on the theater's Main Stage located at 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 todays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., October 17 - November 16, 2014. A Preview performance will be given on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. There will be no performance on Sunday, November 9, 2014.

POLITICAL INTRIGUE. CONSPIRATORS. MURDER. JULIUS CAESAR, a tragic play in five acts written by William Shakespeare and directed by Robert Beltran (Star Trek: Voyager; Zoot Suit; Eating Raoul), will be coming to the community of Boyle Heights, CA presented in a five-week run by CASA 0101 Theater and Josefina Lopez, Artistic Director. The production will be presented on the theater's Main Stage located at 2102 East First Street (at St. Louis Street), Boyle Heights, CA 90033 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and on Sundays at 5:00 p.m., October 17 - November 16, 2014. A Preview performance will be given on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. There will be no performance on Sunday, November 9, 2014.

Lyric Opera of Chicago's 60th anniversary starts in style with a brand-new production of Mozart's Don Giovanni, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, Lyric's music director, and staged by director Robert Falls, artistic director of Chicago's Goodman Theatre. It opens on Saturday, September 27 with 10 performances through Wednesday, October 29. Performance dates are Sept. 27, 30, Oct. 11, 14, 17, and 29 at 7:30pm; Oct. 2, 5, 8, and 24 at 2pm.

The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the appointment of Brian Zeger as Chair of the Judges Panel for the 2015 Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition. This season's competition will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2015 and Sunday, April 19, 2015 in the elegant setting of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Now anyone and everyone can join in the thrill of opening night at the opera! The Dallas Opera and the Sheila and Jody Grant Opera Discovery Program, with support from the AT&T Performing Arts Center, present an evening of FREE entertainment at Dallas's popular Klyde Warren Park, the second annual “Dallas Opera Opening Night Simulcast in the Park” featuring Mozart's class-conscious romantic comedy, The Marriage of Figaro.

It's the place to see and be seen this fall – FIRST SIGHT FASHION SHOW AND LUNCHEON! The Dallas Opera 2014-15 “Heights of Passion” Season opens with a stunning fashion show featuring styles by world-class Italian designer Roberto Cavalli, as well as, six custom-made gowns created by internationally renowned designers inspired by each of the operas presented this season. The lavish event, co-chaired by Lynn McBee and Nicholas Even, also includes a delectable gourmet luncheon. Elizabeth Kimple is the Chair of the luncheon.

Taos, New Mexico - Summer in Taos is one of the most magical seasons of the year to explore this enchanted town. This Summer, the members of the Museum Association of Taos will offer a broad range of artistic, historic, musical, and cultural exhibits, events, lectures, and classes as well as special programming for children. See you at the Museums for these wonderful exhibitions!

Closing their 2013-14 Season, HGO is presenting Georges Bizet's acclaimed CARMEN. For this production, Award winning Broadway Director and Choreographer Rob Ashford took the reins and has created a CARMEN that is as beautiful as it is exciting.

Rafael Domenech, a visual arts college junior from New World School of the Arts, will exhibit his body of work in an exhibition entitled Symplectic Structures. Opening reception is tonight, November 8; 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at NWSA@Artseen Gallery in Wynwood Arts District. Symplectic Structures will be on view from November 8 - November 17, 2013 at NWSA@Artseen.