Houston Grand Opera hosts its first Noche de Ópera
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"West Side Story." Photo: Michael Bishop, courtesy of HGO
Houston Grand Opera's winter season focuses on the all-consuming feeling of young love with "La Bohème" and "West Side Story."
State of the opera: HGO brings back Giacomo Puccini's "La Bohème," the opera that helped popularize the "starving artist" trope, portraying youthful struggle and romance in Paris.
- Meanwhile, "West Side Story," about an overwhelming love caught in a turf war, brings the music to the opera stage, with the production score amplified by a full orchestra and some operatic singing.
Driving the news: For the first time, HGO is hosting a Noche de Ópera on Feb. 15 as part of its new themed affinity nights initiative. "West Side Story" will feature Spanish and English supertitles translating the performance.
- The evening will also include live entertainment in the lobby, themed booths, Spanish educational displays and literature, and more festivities.
What they're saying: HGO general director and CEO Khori Dastoor calls hosting the Noche de Ópera a "no-brainer," saying it celebrates Houston's multicultural identity while aligning with the group's business strategy of introducing opera to more people — and this musical-turned-opera is a great entry to the art.
- "We want to make space to honor and celebrate the Hispanic Latino community of Houston, which represents such a large part of our city, and these themes around immigration, assimilation, bigotry, hatred, gun violence — these issues are not some relic from the past," she tells Axios, adding that the opera provokes reflection on society.
Flashback: Both productions have been part of HGO's lineup in recent years— with "La Bohème" in the 2018-2019 season and "West Side Story" in the 2017-2018 season. The latter was staged in a temporary theater after Hurricane Harvey, so this production marks its first time being fully realized at HGO's home venue.
Fun fact: Soprano Shereen Pimentel, who plays Maria, the lead, in HGO's "West Side Story," also starred as Maria in the musical's 2020 Broadway revival.
Shafaq's experience: "La Bohème" is a classic worth seeing at least once, and the older audience seemed to enjoy reminiscing. The singer who performed Mimi, the main love interest, was phenomenal.
- "West Side Story" captured the ache, emotion, and clash of prejudice and love. The dancing brought energy, the voices carried weight, and the production delivered.
If you go: "La Bohème" runs through Feb. 14, and "West Side Story" runs through Feb. 15.
- Tickets, including for the Noche de Ópera, start at $25.