Absolutely a beautiful experience!! Stunning interior and the performance was so good! read more

Houston Grand Opera - Absolutely a beautiful experience!! Stunning interior and the performance was so good! - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

I just wiew the Barbiere Di Siviglia. Unfortunately I didn't like the interpretation. Most probably to defeat the linguistic barrier they exceeded in their comic interpretations. It is a comedy people not the Cirque of soleil! It looked like opera singer acting like clowns!. Very disappointed.. how to spoiled a Rossini masterpiece read more

Easy to park, easy to enter. Underground self-parking lot is a flat $15 for events and in the next building over. You'll have to cross the street where valets and taxis pick up and drop off directly. It took about half an hour to leave the garage after a show, which was much better than expected. Seats are comfortable considering the venue. I went without my lumbar support just fine. The slope at the orchestra level is good enough. Seats are staggered so that you are in between the two seats in front of you. The projections box for translations is at the top of the stage, which is quite high. At Row J, my eyes were constantly up to read the translations and the actors were not in my peripheral view, so I felt like I missed many gestures and facial expressions. Perhaps Row N would be a nice compromise between seeing the performers' faces while also being able to more easily glance up at the translations without missing the story. Seat 4 is probably the furthest out I would go on Orchestra Right or Orchestra Left because the side of the stage ends close to there. (See attached photo.) Any further and you might miss something happening in the back corner of the stage. read more

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Although I am not a fan of opera, it was so nice to be able to go to the Houston Grand Opera with friends. The stage was beautiful, the voices were amazing, and the teleprompter translated the story maybe a little too perfectly. I can see why there are fans of the HGO, including my friends who are long time season ticketholders. The story of Salome is very disturbing, though. A great terrace in the Palace of Herod. A wild banquet hall filled with inappropriate behavior that culminates in the Dance of the Seven Veils and the ultimate beheading of Jochanaan. Although the operatic voices were incredible, I wish that I would have not followed the story so closely and just enjoyed the music. Parking was easy. We arrived early and had a light bite before finding our seats for the bonus lecture before the opera. So interesting to hear some of the background that led to this opera in one act by Richard Strauss based French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde. Definitely an interesting afternoon at the Houston Grand Opera in One Act. read more

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I sat in balcony J and watched Falstaff, an Italian play. The price of seat was $25, so it could be considered a "bad" seat, compared to the several hundred dollar seats that are much closer. Even though the balcony was one of the farthest away from the stage, it still felt like i could follow along with the opera. Because Falstaff is an Italian play, it needed to be translated by a screen display above the performance. Yet even though I'm not exactly fluent in Italian, I could discern that the translator isnt perfect. I could tell that the translator screen skipped quite a few lines, causing me to lose some context of the story. I was still able to follow along with the main plot of the opera, but this may cause some specific scenes to lose their impact. Note that this should only apply to operas in a foreign language; operas performed in your own native tongue shouldn't have this problem. read more

Houston Grand Opera - Opera stage (before the play started) - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

Another great in the Houston performing arts scene. I had my first opera experience this past weekend seeing Madame Butterfly - am I now a converted lifelong opera fan? Probably not, but that is solely based on my personal interests/tastes and nothing to do with the quality of the show. The singers were incredible (who knew they didn't use microphones?! crazy) and the set was gorgeous. At just over 2.5 hours in duration (plus intermission), it was a great first show to experience. They have subtitles presented on a screen above the stage so you can understand what is being sung - if you watch TV with subtitles at home, this is an easy thing to adopt while enjoying the show. Wortham seating is quite nice, it is probably my favorite of the downtown venues. Parking is easy if you use the downtown underground garages - currently flat rate of $15. read more

Absolutely wonderful experience! The sound of music was nostalgic and spectacular. The sets were bold. The theatre is clean and they have plenty of food and beverage options in the lobby. The bathrooms are clean. The staff were friendly. They do limit alcohol as they do not want drunks there. The underground parking is a nightmare though. read more

Houston Grand Opera - Orchestra section watching sound of music - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

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Over 20+ years and today was royally fucked by education department and so I'll never purchase another ticket to performance. However they don't care! If I could give a zero star I would. Shitty customer service! read more

The show must go on! The original venue (Wortham Center) for the HGO is still undergoing renovations due to Hurricane Harvey. However, the Houston Grand Opera is continuing their season, currently performing at the George R Brown Convention Center. Self-parking AND valet parking is at the Greater Houston Partnership building between Capitol and Rusk at Avenida de las Americas. Additional parking info here: https://www.grbhouston.com/attendees/parking-maps-and-directions/ I attended a HGO performance last night - a mariachi performance titled "Cruzar la Cara de la Luna" (To Cross the Face of the Moon). It was so incredibly good. Because of the smaller venue, there really isn't a bad seat in the house. You can see and hear everything. Seats have extra cushioning thanks to seat pads. Room got a tad warm. Food and drinks are still available for purchase. Kudos to the team who transformed Hall A - in 11 days - to a beautiful salon with lounge seating, gallery and dining area. Check out the HGO - they need your support! read more

Houston Grand Opera - A mariachi performance! - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

Very disappointing - we purchased season tickets - most shows were cringeworthy - not sure upon what basis the performers are selected, but I'm pretty sure it is not merit. The modernization of classic operas is taken to the point of being ridiculous and if you like and respect opera - offensive. My guess is the company is trying to appeal to the younger generation at the expense of the art. We will not be renewing. read more

I had never been to an opera so when I had a chance to watch a non traditional american Opera I was all over it. I had only seen the stereotypical operas on TV and in movies and I knew I did not want to see that. The show was Dead Man Walking. From the start I knew I was in store for something different. Even though the singing was in english it was still hard to understand and the scrolling screen was very useful. The Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has their performances at the Wortham center, the same place as the Ballet. Out of all of the venues in the theater district is one of least favs. After watching an Opera I can say, it was way more enjoyable than I imagined, but I'd take a broadway show over this anyday. read more

I purposely arrived here early for a Saturday night performance. Tip: Arrive early enough to attend a presentation on the history and background details of the show. It's interesting, and gratis! That was an unexpected, much appreciated surprise. My friend and I ate before driving over, but it's easily evident many dine there, before the show. All three areas looked packed to me. To me, the theatre is intimately arranged, well-designed. The presenter, ushers, etc. are all friendly and mostly down-to-earth. The other attendees are the same too. This has sparked consideration to become a member. It was a very pleasant experience. Parking is very easy, and not outrageously priced ($10). The attendants are helpful and clear in communication. A scant number of the crowd is very stylishly dressed, but most are just dressed for a Saturday evening out of the house. read more

Houston Grand Opera - Row M is good! - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

Yes yes I live in Dallas but I can always fine time to see our distant neighbors at HGO. HGO does perform world class opera. And has introduced to the world amazing singers from there studio artist program. I'm also a big fan of Patrick Summers.. I know that HGO is making adjustments in house (hopefully for the better). I have high "hopes" for next season....? read more

Houston Grand Opera - Stage Door - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

The Houston Grand Opera is a fantastic professional opera company. If you are under 40, subscribe and do the Young Professionals opening nights. They give you drinks at intermission on these nights! My husband and I recently bought a subscription for the 3rd season in a row. At $25 a ticket for the balcony seats, HGO is by far the best deal for fine arts subscriptions in the city. As subscribers, they also have let us exchange tickets when we have a conflicting event or sometimes even move to closer seats. The HGO also has top quality sets and recently has started using lighting effects as well. We love going to the HGO! Pro tip: take the 161 or 162 bus to save money on parking. It drops off right near the Wortham! read more

If you've never been to the opera or ballet, you should know that they run at a huge deficit and are heavily subsidized by donors. All this means is the ticket prices we pay in Houston are outrageously cheap compared to other parts of the world. In Milan, a cheap opera ticket at La Scala would run you €300 while you can get a good seat for less than $100 at Wortham's Brown Theater. True, it isn't La Scala, but why not take advantage? read more

Houston Grand Opera - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

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As an ex-CIA agent, I like to observe and watch more than talking and chatting. So take it from me, it's a great place to take your lady friend. Drinks before the program and during the intermission? Awesome. Make sure you "preorder" your intermission drinks or bring your own flask. There are only two challenges: it's pricey and staying awake in a dark, comfortable seat late at night. read more

I have had the good fortune to travel the world and attend operas on five continents and dozens of opera houses. I love Houston's oper and the people behind the scene are amazing. read more

It has been a lovely season. But I wish intermissions would be slightly longer. The cruel 10 minute intermissions at the longer operas (alas! enough time to buy a drink, but not drink it) sort of spoil my mood. Their season tickets are a GREAT buy for your money, though I wish they would offer half season packages or mixed packages (2 operas, 2 ballets, 2 plays or musicals! How about it Houston theater scene!?!?) Otherwise, keep up the good work HGO! read more

I had a wonderful experience here watching the Madame Butterfly opera. (free tickets courtesy of Rice, wootwoot) We had seats on the balcony but the acoustics here are amazing and I could still hear the singers on the stage very clearly. If you're afraid of heights, I would recommend to skip the balcony though because it is very steep.... The venue itself is just beautiful and this place is also fairly accessible by Metro so avoid driving if possible! read more

# To Budget Travelers: Go there on a weeknight and buy the cheapest tickets (mine were $20). After intermission move to the best seats and have a world class view of a world class opera for cheap. I went to see Siegfried at the Houston Opera on a Wednesday night. As a traveler visiting the city, this is a must see location. The beauty of the architecture outside and inside the opera is indescribable. Even though I got the cheapest seats in the house I was still impressed by how well I could see and hear. And since this was a Wednesday night, half the seats were empty. After the first intermission I moved to the best open seats I could find and had an amazing time. The production was amazing and unique with impressive visuals and costumes. The Opera Siegfried was in German, so I had to depend on the subtitles. The reason that I am giving 4 and not 5 stars is that it was tough to see the subtitles. From the far balcony seats the subtitles on top of the stage were too small and often I had to make a choice between watching the singers or reading the subtitles. At the Met in NYC, I saw Carmen many years ago. There was a small subtitles display for every seat and I think that this is the way that it should be. read more

I really enjoyed the 2014-15 season except for A Christmas Carol. The Magic Flute was an outstanding performance and my favorite of all. Seating is best in the orchestra but grand tier is okay too. If you live in the suburbs, its best to leave early to allow time for unforgiving Houston traffic. I missed a performance once but as a subscriber, tickets can be exchanged or donated if you call the box office before showtime. The parking garage is about a 20 minute headache so opt for valet or nearby garages with less traffic. Also, if you've never gone to an opera before and you're unsure of the dress code, please dress in formal attire. I've actually seen some attendees wearing jeans to the opera! Shame on them. read more

Houston Grand Opera - Opera & Ballet Near Me - Houston, Texas

This years season is ho hum to me, there is nothing beyond the 1800's. Yes they are all classics but classics can be overdone. I am looking for more of a mix from old to new and new to old. I do have to mention as a veteran of the New York and Memphis performing arts scene, I have not found the openess in Houston, so perhaps a bit bitter but hoping things will begin to open up around Houston and soon. read more

This was my very first time at the HGO, and I had a great time! It was beautiful, clean and the staff were very friendly and helpful. We had several people offer to help us, and then help us find our seats. I am looking forward to going back again, hopefully closer to the stage. My only downside, is the cost. I wish the tickets closer were not so much. Highly recommend HGO for a wonderful experience! read more

It's like a symphony performance and a theater show all in one. Overall it's a rather neat experience. We were in the balcony (aka the cheap seats) which were not the most comfortable (though I think all the seats in the theater are the same) and while not an obstructed view there were people with binoculars. So take that as you will. When you consider that it's 3+ hours of rather unique entertainment it's a nice thing to do every so often. Overall I enjoyed the performance. read more

Hmm...well the theater itself is well-appointed and comfortable. Given the sweeping space and Houston heat, they keep it at a good temperature. We were up in the balcony, which is *very* steep. Excellent views, even at that distance, but can make you a bit wobbly if you're afraid of heights. They do have a restaurant that serves food and drinks prior to the show. It's very difficult to get a seat, however, as they have a limited number of tables. There is also a small shop located on the 3rd floor. I give the location, parking, comfort, and such 4 stars. However, the show I actually saw I have to give 1-2 stars. I went to see Wagner's Das Rheingold. My husband surprised me with tickets because he knows what a HUGE Wagner fan I am. I love his music, operas, and used to adore playing it when I was in an orchestra. However, their interpretation was...very nonstandard. I'll even stretch out my neck and call it downright awful. It was sung and acted beautifully. The orchestra did a 3-star job playing. It was the stage direction, costumes, and sets that really left a horrible taste in my mouth. It was awful. I'm not sure what was up with the Tron-style Rock 'em Sock 'em robots as giants or why Loge was on a segway and had LED lights all over his costume...among other strange things the characters had to do. I will *not* return for the rest of the Cycle. In fact, it'll be a while before I'll even return for anything. read more

I saw Sweeny Todd, which is not an opera but an opera-like musical or maybe an english opera. It was VERY good. Make sure you dress up. I only wore black slacks and a dress shirt and I felt out of place. Suit is the bare minimum. Some guys even wear tuxes. read more

We had tickets for a performance of Verdi's Requiem but found ourselves too exhausted to attend it. We had not ever enjoyed Verdi's Requiem, so I called HGO Customer Service hoping to be able to exchange our tickets. Priscilla was very attentive and helped us exchange our tickets for a different evening. Thank you, Priscilla and HGO. read more

I look forward to Opera season every year! I still get goosebumps when I think about Mary Stuart form last season. LOVE HGO!!

Who thought Houston had a world-class opera house? When you think Texas, cowboys and bbq comes to mind, not Verdi and Puccini. I saw Verdi's Masked Ball few nights ago and was highly impressed. I lived in Europe for several years and have seen productions in Paris, Vienna and London. I can tell that this production and cast can easily compare with the best I have seen. I will definitely try to see more this season! read more

Chorus I like so many opera choruses that when I heard that several will be performed by HGO of course I wanted to hear it. Little did I know what an imaginative and magical show I was to see. And not just that - the performance was powerful, entertaining, spectacular; the biggest surprise to me was that the individual "numbers" were linked together to tell a story, or to be more exact to send a message. A simple and a surprising message given our prevailing "culture". At least as I understood it, the performance was telling me that meaningful life is not about fame, wealth, power but it is about simple things in life lived well. The performance overall was flawless but the finale deserves particular mention. I must have heard "Va pensiore" hundred-times before but never performed with the sensitivity and meaning as in Chorus. It is very rare for a work of art, a performance to have such an emotional impact on me, but this one brought tears to my eyes. This followed by "You'll never walk alone" and then by "Make our garden grow" made the meaning of Chorus very clear. Chorus was clearly thought through to the last detail, including the encore. After the chorus and the audience sang America, America together I expect that everyone except the most committed and hardened skeptics and pessimists amongst us left the auditorium very happy! PS. I thought I would miss not hearing that evening the Ode of Joy but I did not, not a bit... Karel Petrak read more

Look, I know the balcony is for people with less money. But the seats near the J Door are just ridiculously difficult to reach. On the N side, there is a side door out. Today, it took us 20 minutes to get to the exit door at the back of the balcony section. The seats are exceedingly narrow and tight and diminish the enjoyment of the performance. Additionally, a portion of the action takes place towards the back of the stage which cannot be seen from the balcony. Really disappointed. read more

Fantastic performances, but poor customer service when they offer free parking tickets as an incentive for people to buy tickets, but they fail to give those same parking tickets to people who enjoy and love good art, without the need of any incentive. Rather tasteless I would say. read more