Hands across the Atlantic - 2014-15 in Houston

The 2014-15 season announcement from Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has some notable events for those of us watchers the other side of the Atlantic. They will be giving the North American premiere of La Fura dels Baus's production of Die Walkure as part of HGO's new Ring cycle based on the cycle originally produced by the Catalan company in Spain. Iain Paterson will be returning as Wotan, with Christine Goerke giving her first stage performances as Brunnhilde, plus Simon O'Neill and Karita Mattila as the twins, whilst this year's Cardiff Singer of the World winner Jamie Barton is Fricka. 

In an intriguing piece of casting linking Wagner and Sondheim (!), Lee Blakely's production of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, originally seen in Paris, makes its Houston debut with Susan Bullock (the Brunnhilde from the recent Covent Garden Ring cycle) as Mrs Lovett, whilst Nathan Gunn performs the title role.  Nicholas Hyntner's production of The Magic Flute, which English National Opera recently said goodbye to, also makes its Houston debut, whilst Michael Grandage returns to revive his production of Madama Butterfly with Ana Maria Martinez in the title role.

Full information from the Houston Grand Opera website.