The WFMT Radio Network

The Houston Grand Opera

During the Metropolitan Opera hiatus, the WFMT Radio Network has partnered with the Houston Grand Opera to present 6 operas from their 2011-2012 season, produced by Mark Hanna of the Houston Grand Opera.

Houston Grand Opera is recognized nationally and internationally for artistic excellence and innovation.  It contributes to the cultural enrichment of the city of Houston and the nation, by producing and performing world-class opera, creating a diverse, innovative and balanced program of performances, events, community and educational projects, which reaches the widest possible public.

Here's what they are saying about this year's HGO productions:

"It's been 27 years since Houston Grand Opera last presented Beethoven's Fidelio - but it was well worth the wait for the thoroughly satisfying production…" - Everett Evans, Houston Chronicle

"…It was a triumphant performance…" (The Barber of Seville) - Gregory Barnett, Opera News
"(Christine) Goerke is a brilliant singer and an accomplished actor, and her overall deportment harkens back to the great heyday of golden divas." (Don Carlos) - Theodore Bale, Culturmap, Houston

For more information about this free American Opera series, please contact Tony Macaluso at 773-279-2114, email: tmacaluso@wfmt.com or Carol Martinez at (773) 279-2112, e-mail: cmartinez@wfmt.com

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

Broadcast Schedule — Fall 2012

Revised 5/8/12

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-01
RELEASE:   October 27, 2012

OPERA:   THE BARBER OF SEVILLE (in Italian)
COMPOSER:   Gioachino Rossini

CAST:
Figaro    Nathan Gunn
Rosina    Ana María Martínez
Count Almaviva  Lawrence Brownlee
Dr. Bartolo   Patrick Carfizzi
Don Basilio   Kyle Ketelsen
Berta    Catherine Cook
Fiorello   Boris Dyakov
Sergeant   Charles Mellor

CONDUCTOR:  Leonardo Vordoni
STAGE DIRECTOR:  Joan Font
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER:  Richard Bado

Approx. Length:  2 hours 30 minutes

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-02
RELEASE:   November 3, 2012

OPERA:   FIDELIO (in German)
COMPOSER:   Ludwig van Beethoven

CAST:
Florestan   Simon O'Neill
Leonore   Karita Mattila
Don Pizarro   Tómas Tómasson
Rocco    Kristinn Sigmundsson
Don Fernando   Kyle Ketelsen
Marzelline   Brittany Wheeler
Jaquino   Norman Reinhardt
First Prisoner   Brendan Tuohy
Second Prisoner  Mark Diamond

CONDUCTOR:  Michael Hofstetter
STAGE DIRECTOR:   Jürgen Flimm
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER  Richard Bado

Approx. Length:  2 hours 6 minutes

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-03
RELEASE:   November 10, 2012

OPERA:   LA TRAVIATA (in Italian)
COMPOSER:   Giuseppe Verdi

CAST:
Violetta Valéry  Albina Shagimuratova
Alfredo Germont  Chad Shelton
Giorgio Germont  Giovanni Meoni
Gastone de Letorieres  Scott Quinn
Flora Bervoix   Catherine Martin
Baron Douphol  Boris Dyakov
Marchese d'Obigny  Mark Diamond
Doctor Grenvil  Nicholas Masters
Annina    Brittany Wheeler
Giuseppe   Brendan Tuohy
Messenger   Keenan Manceaux

CONDUCTOR:  Patrick Summers
STAGE DIRECTOR:  Daniel Slater
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER:  Richard Bado

Approx. Length:  2 hours 4 minutes

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-04
RELEASE:   November 17, 2012

OPERA:   THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA (in English)
COMPOSER:   Benjamin Britten

CAST:
Lucretia   Michelle DeYoung
Male Chorus   Anthony Dean Griffey
Female Chorus  Leah Crocetto
Tarquinius   Jacques Imbrailo
Collatinus   Ryan McKinny
Junius    Joshua Hopkins
Bianca    Judith Forst
Lucia    Lauren Snouffer

CONDUCTOR  Rory Macdonald
STAGE DIRECTOR  Arin Arbus
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA

Approx. Length:  1 hour 56 minutes

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-05
RELEASE:   November 24, 2012

OPERA:   DON CARLOS (in French)
COMPOSER:   Giuseppe Verdi

CAST:
Don Carlos   Brandon Jovanovich
Elisabeth de Valois  Tamara Wilson
Princess Eboli   Christine Goerke
Rodrigue   Scott Hendricks
Phillipe II   Andrea Silvestrelli
The Grand Inquisitor  Samuel Ramey
Spirit of Charles V  Oren Gradus
Thibault   Lauren Snouffer
Celestial Voice  Brittany Wheeler
Comte de Lerme  Boris Dyakov
Royal Herald   Scott Quinn
Forester   Mark Diamond

CONDUCTOR:  Patrick Summers
STAGE DIRECTOR:  John Caird
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER:  Richard Bado

Approx. Length:  3 hours 18 minutes

PROGRAM #:   HGO 12-06
RELEASE #:   December 1, 2012

OPERA:   MARIA STUARDA (in Italian)
COMPOSER:   Gaetano Donizetti

CAST:
Maria Stuarda   Joyce DiDonato
Elisabetta   Katie van Kooten
Earl of Leicester  Eric Cutler
Talbot    Robert Gleadow
Cecil    Oren Gradus
Anna    Catherine Martin
CONDUCTOR:  Patrick Summers
STAGE DIRECTOR:  Kevin Newbury
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
CHORUS MASTER:  Richard Bado

Approx. Length:  1 hour 57 minutes