Director Francesca Zambello returns to HGO to helm the Houston premiere
On January 14, 2022, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will open Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites.
Photo caption: Houston Grand Opera presents Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites with four performances from January 14 through January 22 at the Wortham Center. Photo credit: Scott Suchman
Dialogues of the Carmelites, Poulenc’s tragedy in two parts, takes place during the French Revolution and asks the question: what makes a martyr? Seeking to protect herself from the guillotine, young aristocrat Blanche leaves her family and trembles her way to the Carmelite convent. But as the bedridden prioress admonishes the fearful Blanche, it is nuns who protect the convent, not the other way around. Promising to embrace her new life, Blanche befriends Constance, another young nun, who’s had a nightmare that they’ll soon die together. What began as a fresh start quickly turns to tragedy as Madame Croissy dies and the revolutionaries come for the nuns.
Blanche is portrayed by incredible soprano and HGO Studio alumna Natalya Romaniw, and powerhouse soprano Christine Goerke returns to HGO as Madame Lidoine, in this lushly beautiful opera directed by the legendary Francesca Zambello, who previously directed The Pearl Fishers for Houston Grand Opera and is a frequent HGO collaborator. The treasured soprano Patricia Racette, having triumphed in the roles of Blanche and Lidoine earlier in her career, makes her much-anticipated role debut as Madame de Croissy.
The opera runs two hours and 50 minutes with one intermission. It is sung in French with projected English translation.
Who: Soprano and HGO Studio alumna Natalya Romaniw takes the lead role as Blanche joined by soprano Christine Goerke as Madame Lidoine. World renowned soprano Patricia Racette makes her much-anticipated role debut as Madame de Croissy. Rounding out the cast is soprano and HGO Studio alumni Lauren Snouffer as Sister Constance and mezzo soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano as Mother Marie. HGO’s Patrick Summers conducts the lush production directed by Francesca Zambello.
When: Friday, January 14, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 22, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave.
Tariff: Tickets range from $20 to $210. For more information and to buy tickets, visit hgo.org or call the Box Office at 713-228-6737.