10.19.11 at 12:00 p.m.
Maura Hughes

Back From Paris and Ready for More

Houston Grand Opera has a whirlwind year in 2011.

There's been the appointment of Patrick Summers as the new artistic and musical director, a national grant for their community involvement, a trip to Paris and, now, the start of a new season. HGO's official strat was in Paris last month with six performances of Cruzar de la Cara de la Luna (To Cross the Face of the Moon) at Theatre du Chatelet.

Now they are back from across the pond and ready for their Houston season to begin. Between now and May, HGO has six operas scheduled, including two new productions.

The Barber of Seville, the comedic case of mistaken identity, opens this Friday and runs until early November. Fidelio, the story of the heroine Leonore and her courageous and undying love for her husband, opens next Friday (Oct 28-Nov 13). After breaking for the holidays, the season will resume with La Traviata (Jan. 27-Feb. 12). La Traviata offers a story of love, sacrifice and redemption all in one opera. The Rape of Lucretia is an immortal tragedy that has inspired artists and writers from every century. The beautiful but tragic tale will be performed  Feb. 3-11. In April, come out and see the family feud that overtakes Spain when King Phillippe II ends the engagement of Don Carlos, his son, and Elizabeth de Valois in Don Carlos (April 13-21). The final performance of the season, Mary Stuart will run April 21-May 4. The historical drama tells the fated tale of Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth I, cousins and rivals for the crown.

This year's season has everything you want from opera -- love, family, betrayal, heartache, beautiful vocals and haunting melodies. For more information, pricing and times, please visit Houston Grand Opera's website.

What operas will you be seeing this season?

HGO, Wortham Center