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About this concert
It’s been 50 years since HGO first presented the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, restoring the “folk opera” to its creators’ full original vision in a landmark production that earned HGO both a Tony and a Grammy. Now, audiences have the chance to again experience the cherished American classic that set HGO on its path as a trailblazer, presented in an acclaimed production from director Francesca Zambello.
Set in the Jim Crow South, in the fictional Charleston slum of Catfish Row, the opera shares the story of Porgy, a disabled beggar, and Bess, a woman struggling with addiction, who fall in love. With a moving score that seamlessly blends jazz, spirituals, blues, and classical music into timeless songs like “Summertime” and “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” Porgy and Bess offers an unforgettable portrayal of resilience, community, love, and hope against all odds. HGO’s production features a cast of opera giants, led by bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as Porgy and soprano Angel Blue as Bess.
After conducting the HGO Orchestra during Concert of Arias 2025, the brilliant James Gaffigan returns to the podium.
Photo credit: Seattle Opera (Philip Newton)
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Houston Grand Opera Biography
The mission of HGO is to enrich our diverse community through the art of opera. We will do so by creating, curating, exploring, and producing outstanding experiences centered around the human voice.
HGO is committed to the future of opera through initiatives that engage new audiences and give new artists a stage for their voices to be heard. Through this commitment we have had the honor of commissioning a plethora of world premieres—both mainstage grand operas and smaller-scale works—as well as hosting the American premieres of several major operas, paving the way for new eras of the art form in all genres, time periods, and languages. Join us as we continue to raise the curtain on the future of opera, showcasing where the arts can take us when we commit ourselves to new experiences.
Read MoreHGO is committed to the future of opera through initiatives that engage new audiences and give new artists a stage for their voices to be heard. Through this commitment we have had the honor of commissioning a plethora of world premieres—both mainstage grand operas and smaller-scale works—as well as hosting the American premieres of several major operas, paving the way for new eras of the art form in all genres, time periods, and languages. Join us as we continue to raise the curtain on the future of opera, showcasing where the arts can take us when we commit ourselves to new experiences.
Classical
Opera
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