THE HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
www.houstongrandopera.org
2003 - 2004 SEASON
Affairs of the Heart
Four Centuries of Great Opera
PUCCINI, HANDEL, MOZART, JANACEK, ROSSINI AND JAKE HEGGIE
- The great composers, the most romantic operas, and the singers who were born to sing them.
Only at Houston Grand Opera can you experience so much in one season from the classic baroque of Handel's Julius Caesar,
starring David Daniels and Laura Claycomb, to the 21st Century world premiere of The End of the Affair by Jake Heggie, of
Man Walking fame. The season features Mozart's most popular opera The Magic Flute, Rossini's mad-cap Barb Seville,
Patricia Racette's heartbreaking performance in Janacek's Jenufa, Puccini's passionate Tosca starring the incomparable Maria
Guleghina, and closes with Puccini's stunning Turandot.
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Experience the magic of Paris in
THE MERRY WIDOW
January 30 - February 16, 2003
SUSAN GRAHAM MAKES ROLE DEBUT AND BO SKOVHUS RETURNS IN POPULAR OPERETTA
BRIMMING WITH WALTZES, CAN-CANS, AND CHAMPAGNE.
Interview with Houston Grand Opera
Costume Director Melissa Graff
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PUCCINI'S
TOSCA
October 24 - November 9m, 2003
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Opening - October 24, 2003 at 7:00pm
Murder, Intrigue and Lust…In one of Puccini's greatest operas! The fiery opera singer Floria Tosca offers her body to the
lecherous police chief Scarpia (Franz Grundheber) to save her lover's life. But when he approaches her, Tosca plunges a
dagger through the rogue's heart. Gorgeous melodies and riveting drama abound. The diva is portrayed by Maria Guleghina,
"the reigning Tosca of the decade" (New York Times). Antonello Allemandi conducts this stunning Jean - Pierre Ponnelle
production.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
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HANDEL'S
JULIUS CAESAR
October 30 - November 16m, 2003
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Hail Caesar! The mesmerizing Egyptian princess Cleopatra (Laura Claycomb) uses all her seductive wiles to manipulate
Caesar (countertenor David Daniels in his HGO debut) into helping her seize the throne of the Pharaohs. Revel in the vocal
pyrotechnics of Handel's most famous opera. Patrick Summers conducts James Robinson's dazzling new production.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
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JANACEK'S
JENUFA
January 23 - February 7, 2004
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Love, Honor and Tragedy collide in Janacek's Greatest Love Story. Patricia Racette stars as the Moravian beauty whose
illegitimate child is callously murdered by her foster mother, Kostelnicka (Catherine Malfitano) to protect the girl's honor.
Janacek's second and most popular opera is gloriously melodic and profoundly humane. "Patricia Racette is moving in the title
role of Jenufa" (New York Times). Renowned conductor Dennis Russell Davies leads David Alden's provocative new
production.
Sung in Czech with English surtitles.
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MOZART'S
THE MAGIC FLUTE
January 30 - February 13, 2003
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Except Sunday, February 1st - 1:00pm
Maurice Sendak creates a magical and mystical world where light triumphs over dark. The transcendent music of Mozart
propels this delightful fairy tale wherein the young Prince Tamino (Chad Shelton) and Princess Pamina (Alexandra Coku) are
transformed from adolescence to adulthood. In his HGO debut, Claus Peter Flor conducts Mozart's beloved and timeless
masterpiece.
Sung in German with English surtitles.
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JAKE HEGGIE'S
THE END OF THE AFFAIR
WORLD PREMIERE
March 4-21m, 2004
Evenings 8:00, Matinees 2:30
A clash of honor, passion and a promise to God! London, 1939, during the Blitzkrieg. Sarah Miles is comfortably married but
has never truly loved, at least not until a cocktail party brings her face to face with the author Maurice Bendrix. When she
inexplicably ends their torrid affair Bendrix is devastated. In his quest for an explanation he discovers the extent of her love for
him. Patrick Summers conducts this new opera, based on Graham Greene's riveting 1951 novel, from Jake Heggie, composer
of the super-hit Dead Man Walking. Julianne Moore and Ralph Fiennes starred in the acclaimed 1999 movie adaptation.
Sung in English with English surtitles
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ROSSINI'S
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
April 23-May 12, 2004
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Figaro, Figaro, Figaro! This wily barber-and conniver-aids playboy Count Almaviva (Richard Croft) in winning the hand of
the vivacious young Rosina, who is kept a virtual prisoner in the home of her crotchety guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Earle Patriarco
and Joyce DiDonato star in Lindy Hume's updated new production, conducted by Patrick Summers.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
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PUCCINI'S
TURANDOT
April 30-May 16m, 2004
Evenings 7:30, Matinees 2:00
Except Friday, May 14-8:00
Mythical China is the backdrop for this grandest of all operas. The beautiful but icy Princess Turandot (Adrienne Dugger)
demands that her suitors solve three riddles before she deems them worthy of her. Those who fail are executed and paraded
through the streets of Peking. Against the advice of his adoring Liù (Ana Maria Martinez), Prince Calaf (Vladimir Galouzine)
accepts the challenge. Puccini's most ravishing and exotic score will be in the hands of Patrick Summers.
Sung in Italian with English surtitles.
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FOR 2003 - 2004 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS
CALL 713-228-6737 or 1-800-626-7372
www.houstongrandopera.org