HOUSTON GRAND OPERA

Presents

DAVID GOCKLEY
GENERAL DIRECTOR

WAGNER'S

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

WITH JULIE TAYMOR'S PRODUCTION
OF WAGNER'S THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

Lion King director brings her vision to Wagner's mythic story of redemption Bass-baritone Franz Grundheber and conductor Dietfried Bernet to make HGO debuts.

Houston, Texas
October 12, 1998

Houston Grand Opera will kick off its 1998/99 season with director Julie Taymor's production of Wagner's The Flying Dutchman. As a result of her acclaimed direction and design of the Broadway version of The Lion King, Taymor is one of the hottest directors working in the performing arts today.

She recently became the first woman to win a Tony Award for "Best Direction of a Musical" for her work on The Lion King, for which she also won a Tony Award for her costume designs.

The Flying Dutchman opens Friday, October 23 at the Wortham Center's Brown Theater with additional performances on October 25m, 28, 31, November 3, 6, and 8m, 1998. The Flying Dutchman is produced in association with L.A. Opera.

Taymor and her production team (assistant stage director Christopher Harlan, set designer George Tsypin, costume designer Constance Hoffman, lighting designer Paul Pyant and choreographer Daniel Ezralow) have created a production which features her trademark visual punch.

Among other unexpected elements, this Dutchman features a massive, skeletal ship, two added characters which reflect the main characters and a troupe of dancers. Austrian conductor Dietfried Bernet makes his HGO debut leading the Houston Symphony.

German bass-baritone Franz Grundheber makes his HGO debut in the role of The Dutchman. American soprano Sue Patchell sings the role of Senta. The cast is rounded out with a quartet of American singers--bass Gabor Andrasy as Daland, tenor Patrick Denniston as Erik, tenor Raymond Very as Steersman and mezzo-soprano Judith Christin as Mary.

Generally considered his first great work, The Flying Dutchman was Wagner's first, partially successful attempt at music drama or a "total work of art," integrating words, music, and visual art. Wagner was twenty-eight when he fimished the work, a poor, unknown composer living outside
Paris.

The Flying Dutchman was first performed in Dresden in 1843, after Wagner had returned to Germany and had his first success with Rienzi. Among other sources, the work was inspired by Heinrich Heine's The Memoirs of Herr von Schnabelewopski, which retold the legend of the Dutch ship that sailed forever, and by Wagner and his wife's own tumultuous voyage from Prussia to London, during which their ship took refuge off the coast of Norway. Wagner was also inspired by other mythic wanderers, including the Wandering Jew and Odysseus. In The Flying Dutchman, Wagner takes on a theme which he explored further in his later masterpieces--man's redemption through woman's love.

A strange ship appears on the Norwegian coast, and a Dutchman comes ashore, explaining to Daland, a ship's captain, that he is condemned to endlessly sail the seas. In Taymor's production, the figure of a Wandering Jew roaming the stage reflects the Dutchman's fate. Every seven years, the Dutchman explains, he is allowed to land and search for a woman who will be faithful to him until death.

Finding such a woman, he will be released from his curse. The Dutchman offers Daland great wealth if he can marry his daughter, Senta. Senta is obsessed with the legend of the Dutchman, and believes she is the woman who will save him. The added character of a young girl in white is Taymor's representation of Senta as Romantic ideal. The Dutchman and Senta meet and fall in love, but when he overhears her talking to Erik, a young hunter who had expected to marry her, the Dutchman misunderstands and orders his ship
to set sail. Desperate, Senta flings herself into the fjord and the Dutchman is redeemed.

With production ranging from original musicals to Shakespeare plays to films and operas, Julie Taymor is one of the most imaginative and provocative directors and designers working in the performing arts today. Her production of Juan Darien at the Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont
Theater garnered five Tony nominations including best director.

Also in 1996, she directed and co-designed Carlo Gozzi's The Green Bird at the New Victory Theater in NYC and at the La Jolla Playhouse. She directed Salome for the Kirov Opera in St. Petersburg, Russia, and in Germany under the baton of Valery Gergiev. In 1993, she directed The
Magic Flute for the Maggio Musicale in Florence, Zubin Mehta conducting.

Taymor's first opera direction was of Oedipus Rex for the Saito Kinen Orchestra in Japan, Seiji Ozawa conducting. Taymor's production of Titus Andronicus was produced off-Broadway in 1994 and is currently being developed into a feature film. Fool's Fire, Taymor's first film, which she both adapted and directed, is based on Edgar Allan Poe's Hopftog.

Produced by American Playhouse, it premiered at the American Film Festival in Park City and aired on PBS. She is collaborating with the composer Elliot Goldenthal on a new opera, Grendel, scheduled to premiere in 2000.

Conductor Dietfried Bernet has conducted most of the major European orchestras and in the major European opera houses during his illustrious career. Most recently, he conducted Boris Godunov at the Teatro Regio, Torino, Mahler's Third Symphony at the Tivoli, Copenhagen, Romeo and Juliet (Berlioz)at La Monnaie, Bruxelles and a new production of Arabella and The Flying Dutchman at the Royal Opera, Copenhagen.

Assistant stage director Christopher Harlan is primarily associated with L.A. Opera, where he has worked continuously since the 1986 inaugural season. His credits as Stage Director for L.A. Opera include Tosca with Maria Ewing and Catherine Malfitano, Madame Butterfly with Galina Gorchakova and Catherine Malfitano, and Otello with Pldcido Domingo. Harlan has also worked in Seville, Barcelona, Seattle, Berlin, Charlotte, Dallas, Long Beach, Washington, D.C. and Chicago.

Set designer George Tsypin's designs have been seen at many of the world's major opera houses, as well as on Broadway, the concert stage, television and film. His opera design credits include Katerina Izmailova and Salome at the Kirov, Theodora and The Electrification of the Soviet
Union at Glyndebourne, The Gambler at La Scala and Paris, Mathis der Maler for the Royal Opera, The Magic Flute for Julie Taymor at Teatro Comunale of Florence and The Death ofKlinghoffer for San Francisco Opera. His many collaborations with Peter Sellars include productions of Tannhauser, Pellias and Melisande and many others.

Constance Hoffman designed the costumes for La Traviata at The New Israeli Opera (a production coming to Houston in February, 1999), Madame Butterfly, Lizzie Borden and Paul Bunyan at Glimmerlgass Opera, Rigoletto at San Francisco Opera, Julius Caesar at Virginia Opera and Mahagonny Songspiel and The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken at The Manhattan School of Music. Her New York theater credits include Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3 at The Public Theatre and The Green Bird, Titus Andronicus, Measure For Measure and Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3 at Theatre For A New Audience.

Lighting designer Paul Pyant has designed for opera, ballet and theater. Associated with Glyndeboume Opera from 1974 to 1987, his credits there include The Marriage ofFigaro, Death in Venice, New Year and Falstaff. UK credits in opera include Lear, Xerxes, Lady Macbeth of Mrsensk, Street Scene, and Khovanshina for English National Opera, 11 Viaggio A Reims,
The Magic Flute, Gawain and Stiffelio for the Royal Opera and Hansel and Gretel for Scottish Opera. He has also designed productions at the Metropolitan Opera and La Scala. His other work includes Arcadia for the Royal National Theatre, Sleeping Beauty for English National Ballet and
the West End productions of The Sisters Rosensweig and Cabaret.

Choreographer Daniel Ezralow is an innovative young dancer-choreographer whose work has been seen not only on the dance stage but also in opera, theater, film, music video and concerts. He recently choreographed the workshop of Hal Prince's I Love A Parade. In 1996, the Fosse Awards honored him with its Innovator Award. He has been a member of the companies 5x2, Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor and Pilobolus, and was among the founding dancer-choreographers of Momix. He has choreographed original works for Hubbard Street Dance Company, Paris Opera Ballet and other companies. In opera, he choreographed and performed in Aida with Zubin Mehta conducting. He has choreographed music videos for Sting and U2, and David Bowie's Glass Spider tour.

Bass-baritone Franz Grundheber is a frequent performer with Europe's leading opera houses, symphonies and festivals, including, Vienna State Opera, Paris, La Scala, Covent Garden, Hamburg State Opera, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic and the Salzburg Festival. His many recordings include the title role in Don Giovanni (Electrola), Mandryka in Arabella with Kiri Te Kanawa, Faninal in Der Rosenkavalier (EMI) and the Vienna production of Wozzeck under Claudio Abbado (DG).

Soprano Sue Patchell's guest appearances with major opera houses and concert halls of the world attest to her growing international reputation as one of the finest interpreters of the romantic heroines of Wagner, Strauss and Verdi. Notable appearances include Eva in Die Meistersinger
for Barcelona, Bonn, and Paris, Elisabeth in Tannhduser for Vienna, Bonn, Hamburg and Mannheim, Elsa in Lohengrin for Barcelona, Bielefed, and Wiesbaden, Senta in The Flying Dutchman for Rome Opera and at the Bregenz: Festival and the Foreign Princess in Rusalka for her American debut at Houston Grand Opera in 1991. Recently, she has made several appearances
with Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, and sang Isolde at Teatro Communale Giuseppe Verdi in Trieste, Deutsches Nationaltheater Weimar, The Theatre Royal de la Monnaie Brussels, and Danish Royal Opera Copenhagen.

Tenor Raymond Very was most recently seen in Houston Grand Opera's production of Arabella. He has appeared at San Francisco Opera in Eugene Onegin and Harvey Milk, at Santa Fe Opera in The Magic Flute, Salome and La Traviata. He made his European debut as the Duke of Mantua in a new production of Rigoletto with the Norwegian National Opera in Oslo. While a member of Houston Opera Studio, he was seen in HGO's productions of La Traviata, Harvey Milk, Turandot, Lucia di Lammermoor and Elektra.

Patrick Denniston has appeared with opera companies throughout the United States. He recently appeared at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in Nahucco and Madame Butterfly, at Opera Colorado in Carmen, at Madison Opera and Minnesota Opera in Tosca, at Glyndebourne Festival Opera in Manon Lescaut and New York City Opera in Madame Butterfly. He made his La Scala
debut last season in Manon Lescaut.

Mezzo-soprano Judith Christin has sung in over seventy roles, performing with leading opera companies throughout the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera and many others. Recently, she appeared in Peter Grimes and The Magic Flute at the Metropolitan, The Marriage ofFigaro at San Francisco Opera and San Diego Opera, Countess Maritza at L.A. Opera, Mefistofele at Lyric Opera of Chicago, Romeo andJuliette at Pittsburgh Opera and Madame Butterfly at Santa Fe Opera.

Bass Gabor Andrasy was seen in Houston Grand Opera's world premiere of Florencia en el Amazonas and in Rigoletto. He has a special relationship with Seattle Opera, having appeared there in Der Ring des Nihelungen, The Flying Dutchman, Die Meistersinger, Fidelio and Don Carlo. He recently appeared in Billy Budd and Katya Kabanova for Dallas Opera and Luisa Miller
and Tiefland for Washington Opera.

The Southwestern Bell Pre-Curtain Lecture Series is thirty minutes before each performance. Guest speakers will present a twenty-minute informal lecture on the sixth floor of the Grand Foyer. These lectures, free and open to all ticket holders, are intended to enhance audience members' enjoyment by preparing them for the production they are about to attend.

Wortham Center features easy wheelchair access to both theaters. An infrared listening system, generously underwritten by Pennzoil Company, is available and free of charge at all performances. Please call the subscription office at 713/546-0246 or 1-800-346-4462 for details.
Descriptive services for visually impaired persons are also available with 48-hour advance reservations. Please call the Education and Outreach Department at 713/546-0232 for information or to make a reservation. The Flying Dutchman is sung in German with English surtitles.
HGO's surtitles are underwritten by Compaq Computer Corporation.

Single tickets for The Flying Dutchman, priced from $20 to $175, are available by phone at 713/227-ARTS, out-of-town at 1-800-828-ARTS or in person at both Houston Ticket Center locations (the ticket lobby at the Wortham Theater Center and courtyard level at Jones Hall) and at all TicketMaster outlets. Ticket prices do not include a $1 city surcharge.

Conoco is the corporate guarantor for The Flying Dutchman-

---------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA ANNOUNCES FALL EDUCATION & OUTREACH EVENTS

Free Events Include Wagner Lecture and Family Night at
The Children's Museum of Houston

Houston, TX, October 8, 1998 -- Houston Grand Opera's Education and Outreach Department has announced several events being held in conjunction with HGO's productions of The Flying Dutchman and The Tales of Hoffmann.

On Monday, October 19 at 7:00 pm, Houston Grand Opera will present a free lecture on Wagner and The Flying Dutchman by D6siree Mays, lecturer for the Santa Fe Opera. This event is co-sponsored by the Wagner Society. The lecture will be held at the Wortharn Theater Center.

On Thursday, October 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Houston Grand Opera and The Children's Museum of Houston will present "Family Night at The Museum." At this free event for families, members of Houston Opera Studio will perform selections from The Tales of Hoffmann and children will make and decorate paper dolls. The Children's Museum of Houston is located in the
Museum District at 1500 Binz. On November 7 at 2:00 pm, there will be a Family Matinee performance of Houston Grand Opera's production of Offenbach's The Tales o Hoffmann. Adults may purchase up to two children's tickets at $4.99 each when purchasing a full price ticket for themselves.

On Wednesday, November I I at 7:00 pm, Houston Grand Opera will
present the High School Night at the Opera performance of The Tales of
Hoffmann in the Wortharn Theater Center's Brown Theater.
For more information about these events, call 713-546-0230.

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
510 PRESTON HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-1594
(713) 546-0200
---------------------------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA-ANNOUNCES FALL-EDUCATION & OUTREACH EVENTS

Free Fall Events Include Wagner Lecture and Family Night at The Children's
Museum of Houston

WHO:
Houston Grand Opera's Education and Outreach Department

WHAT:
Houston Grand Opera's Education and Outreach Department has announced the
following free events:


Monday, October 19 * 7:00 pm
Location: The Wortharm Center
Wagner and The Flying Dutchman
Free lecture by 136siree Mays of Santa Fe Opera
Co-sponsored by the Wagner Society


Thursday, October 22 * 6:00-8:00 pm
Location: Children's Museum of Houston, 1500 Binz
"Family Night at the Museum"
Free event for families, featuring music and
activities related to The Tales of Hoffmann


Saturday, November 7 * 2:00 pm
Location: Brown Theater
Wortham Theater Center
Family Matinee of The Tales ofHoffmann
Discounted tickets for children attending with
an adult at full price


Wednesday, November 11 * 7:00 pm
Location: Brown Theater, Wortharn Theater Center
The Tales of Hoffinann
High School Night at the Opera


CONTACT:
For information about these events, call 713-546-0230.

HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
510 PRESTON HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-1594
(713) 546-0200
FAX: (713) 228-4355