MUSIC

Three stories with elements of the bizarre are recounted, all with the theme of lost love. Meet Olympia, a real doll; Antonia, a singer jousting with death; and Giulietta, a Venetian courtesan. E.T.A. Hoffmann wrote these stories in the early 1800's and he appears in the opera as a character, spinning his tales in a Nuremberg ale house.

Starting on September 23, The Tales of Hoffmann (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) by Jacques  Offenbach. Three Passions. Three Fantasies. Three Women. The Genius of Offenbach.

In its 15th year, Oh! reveals its stellar artistic growth and maturity, providing thrilling entertainment and great music in its intimate home, Lambert Hall in the Houston Heights.

Click here for a synopsis of this opera.

These performances will be in French with English surtitles through October 2.

Brian Runnels will conduct this first opera for Opera in the Heights, Tales of Hoffmann. Many of you will already know Brian, either as Professor in Music at Houston Baptist University, and as Music Director and Conductor of the Houston Civic Symphony, and Music Director and Conductor of the Houston Gilbert and Sullivan Society. Brian holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from the University of Missouri at Kansas City.

Opera in the Heights, a professional regional opera company, exists to provide a stage for emerging performers and to bring affordable opera to the greater Houston area. All operas are presented in the original language with English surtitles in Lambert Hall, at the corner of Heights Blvd. and 17th Street in the Houston Heights, with easy and convenient parking.

Experience these traditional productions in an intimate (300 seat), historic setting, where the audience can enjoy the performance up close! Ticket prices start at a mere $20 per performance, with the best seats in the house for only $49 and season tickets (four operas) for as low as $68. Call 713-861-5303 or visit www.operaintheheights.org  for more information. See you UP CLOSE!