Houston Grand Opera opens its 2026-27 season with Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, running Oct. 23 to Nov. 8 at the Wortham Theater Center. The season includes six productions and begins a new chapter of leadership for the company. Susannah is presented in honor of Floyd’s centennial year.
The opera tells the story of a young woman in the hills of Tennessee whose life is upended after church elders see her bathing in a creek. Patricia Racette directs a newly imagined staging. Sylvia D’Eramo makes her role debut as Susannah, joined by Rod Gilfry as the Reverend Olin Blitch and Bille Bruley and Aaron Blake as Sam and Little Bat.
Music Director Designate James Gaffigan conducts the opening production. He joins General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor and will become Music Director in the 2027-28 season. Music Director Emeritus Patrick Summers will conduct Show Boat in the spring.
Gounod’s Faust follows from Oct. 30 to Nov. 15 in a production by David McVicar set in Belle Époque Paris. Pretty Yende makes her company debut as Marguerite, with Matthew Polenzani as Faust and John Relyea as Mephistopheles. Verdi’s Aida runs Jan. 22 to Feb. 7 in a new production by director Kaneza Schaal. Ailyn Pérez returns as Aida, with Jonathan Tetelman and Adam Smith sharing the role of Radames.
Mozart’s The Magic Flute runs Jan. 29 to Feb. 14, reset in a 19th-century hotel by director and choreographer Renaud Doucet and designer André Barbe. Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier plays Apr. 23 to May 7 in a 1950s Vienna setting from director Bruno Ravella. The season closes with Kern and Hammerstein’s Show Boat from Apr. 30 to May 16, directed by Francesca Zambello.
“This season represents the realization of an ambitious artistic vision, one that reflects how far HGO has come as a company and what we believe is possible,” Dastoor said. Gaffigan said rehearsals for Susannah have been inspiring and called it especially meaningful to conduct the opera for the first time in his new artistic home.
The company will hold themed nights during select performances. They include Military Appreciation Day on Nov. 8 for Susannah, Masquerade Night on Nov. 13 for Faust, Noche de Ópera on Feb. 3 for Aida and Pride Night on May 15 for Show Boat. Under 40 Friday evenings offer $40 tickets for younger audiences at each production, after age verification.
Students can attend a bilingual English/Spanish Student Matinee of The Magic Flute on Feb. 12, 2027, and a High School Night performance of Show Boat on May 4, 2027. Educators can contact Nicholas Chavez at 713-980-8676 or Groups@HGO.org.
Season subscriptions for all six operas start at $100, and flexible three-opera packages are also available. The Opening Nights for Young Professionals series offers tickets starting at $25, and student tickets cost $20 with a valid ID. Veterans and active military members receive 10% off all season, and groups of 10 or more can save up to 20%.
HGO will also present programs beyond the mainstage season. Carols on the Green takes place Dec. 12 at Discovery Green, followed by Family Day on Feb. 13, Giving Voice on Feb. 19 with soprano Angel Blue and the Concert of Arias on Feb. 26. Tickets and information are available at HGO.org or through the box office at 713-228-6737.
Performance Dates: Mainstage Productions
Susannah
• Saturday, October 31, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 6, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
(Under 40 Friday)
• Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 2 p.m.
(Military Appreciation Day)
Faust
• Friday, October 30, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
(Halloween weekend performance)
• Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 2 p.m.
(Halloween weekend performance)
• Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
(Overture performance)
• Friday, November 13, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
(Masquerade Night, Under 40 Friday)
• Sunday, November 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.
Aida
• Friday, January 22, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Under 40 Friday)
• Sunday, January 24, 2027 at 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 27, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, January 30, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, February 3, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Noche de Ópera)
• Friday, February 5, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, February 7, 2027 at 2 p.m.
The Magic Flute
• Friday, January 29, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, January 31, 2027 at 2 p.m.
• Thursday, February 4, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, February 6, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Overture performance)
• Wednesday, February 10, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Friday, February 12, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Under 40 Friday)
• Sunday, February 14, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Der Rosenkavalier
• Friday, April 23, 2027 at 6 p.m.
• Sunday, April 25, 2027 at 2 p.m.
• Saturday, May 1, 2027 at 6 p.m.
• Wednesday, May 5, 2027 at 6 p.m.
• Friday, May 7, 2027 at 6 p.m.
(Under 40 Friday)
Show Boat
• Friday, April 30, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Under 40 Friday)
• Sunday, May 2, 2027 at 2 p.m.
• Thursday, May 6, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 8, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Mother’s Day weekend performance)
• Sunday, May 9, 2027 at 2 p.m.
(Mother’s Day performance)
• Friday, May 14, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 15, 2027 at 1 p.m.
• Saturday, May 15, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
(Pride Night/Overture performance)
• Sunday, May 16, 2027 at 2 p.m.
Performance Dates: Student Shows and More Opera
• Carols on the Green:
Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 7 p.m.
• Student Matinee, The Magic Flute:
Friday, February 12, 2027 at 10 a.m.
• HGO Family Day Presents The Magic Flute:
Saturday, February 13, 2027 at 1 p.m.
• Giving Voice:
Friday, February 19, 2027 at 7:30 p.m.
• Concert of Arias:
Friday, February 26, 2027 at 7 p.m.
• High School Night, Show Boat:
Tuesday, May 4, 2027 at 7 p.m.
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