Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has announced its plans for the 2025-26 season, featuring a mix of classic and new productions. The season, themed "The Light We Hold," will include a range of performances, from dramatic to comedic, showcasing the contributions of performers, composers, and creative teams, according to CultureMap Houston.
The 2025-26 season begins with Gershwin's Porgy and Bess, described by HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor as "the most American opera I can think of," according to Houston Press. Running from October 24 to November 7, the production features Michael Sumuel and Angel Blue in the lead roles. HGO previously staged Porgy and Bess 50 years ago, a production that later earned both a Tony and a Grammy.
HGO will present Puccini's Il Trittico for the first time in its entirety, featuring the opera trio. In an interview with Houston Press, Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers explained that Puccini considered the work his response to the devastation of WWI, stating, "All three of the operas are about the effect of one death on those left alive."
HGO will present a trilingual production of Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell's Silent Night, which portrays the WWI Christmas truce. The opera will run from January 23 to February 28, featuring multiple languages and an international narrative of peace during conflict. This production of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera is scheduled to be performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City next.
Kensho Watanabe will make his debut with HGO as the conductor for this production, leading a cast of renowned vocalists through the story of war and song. At the same time, the Brothers Grimm's classic tale Hansel and Gretel will be presented, featuring Sasha Cooke and Mané Galoyan as the sibling duo from January 30 to February 15, as noted by CultureMap Houston. This production, which comes from Covent Garden, includes a family-friendly performance in English with a relaxed environment on February 14.
HGO will present Handel’s Messiah with Robert Wilson's interpretation from April 17 to May 3, focusing on Jesus as the Christian messiah. Patrick Summers, who will conduct the performance, will lead this Mozart arrangement, which features an astronaut, adding an abstract element to the classic oratorio. Summers will be leaving HGO in May 2026.
The season will close with Rossini's The Barber of Seville, running from April 24 to May 10. Baritone Will Liverman and mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack will perform in the production, with Gemma New conducting for her first HGO appearance.
HGO continues its efforts to support new talent and engage with the community. On February 6, the Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers will highlight emerging vocalists, followed by the second annual Family Day, which will offer a 90-minute, English-language performance of Hansel and Gretel for all ages.
To commemorate Carlisle Floyd’s centennial, the Butler Studio for Young Artists will present a fully staged production of Floyd's Of Mice and Men on March 13 and 15. Additionally, the company’s Opera to Go! program will visit schools and community centers across Houston, offering opera performances to local audiences.
HGO’s upcoming season features a combination of established and new talent, offering a diverse range of performances. Subscriptions for the season start at $90 and are now available on HGO’s website, with tickets for select performances of Porgy and Bess already on sale. The season will include a variety of operatic experiences, spanning both classic and contemporary works.
