Letter from the Directors

Twenty years ago, an enterprising group of musicians and their supporters launched into the Houston arts ecosphere something new: an ensemble devoted to music from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the “golden age” of lyric art for voices and instruments. Since that time, Ars Lyrica Houston has grown steadily—from a small nucleus of musicians-for-hire into an organization with an international reputation for creative excellence. 20 Years of Magic celebrates this milestone with musical wizardry of various kinds, from wondrous choral works by Carissimi and Charpentier to miraculous chamber pieces by Biber and Bach. We’re especially pleased to offer a new production of a “magic” opera: Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula, in its Houston premiere.

Subscriptions are available now! Purchase a 6-concert or 4-concert package here. Early subscribers enjoy the best benefits, including discounts on tickets to individual concerts and the Post-Opera Soirée, choice of seating in Zilkha Hall, and priority seating for programs at St Philip Presbyterian Church and Rice University. Subscribers are also invited to attend post-concert receptions with the artists.

Ars Lyrica’s 20th anniversary owes much to a network of generous supporters, who have made possible increasingly ambitious programming, a portfolio of diverse outreach activities, newly commissioned period instruments, and biennial operatic productions. Please consider a one-time, tax-deductible gift—or, better yet, a three-year pledge to the ALH Opera Circle—as you subscribe or renew for 2023/24. Become part of the Ars Lyrica family as you ensure a bright future for period-instrument performance and world-class Baroque opera in Houston.

With gratitude,

2023/24 Season: 20 Years of Magic

Fallen Angels

Friday, September 22, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

The season gets underway on September 22 with Fallen Angels, a program animated by fairies, witches, and demons, featuring five singers and Baroque orchestra. Musical enchantments include masques from Purcell’s Fairy Queen and Giacomo Carissimi’s harrowing Judgement of Solomon.

Ecstatic Visions

Friday, November 3, 2023 at 7:30 PM
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Ecstatic Visions on November 3 features Handel’s Silete venti with soprano Sherezade Panthaki alongside instrumental music of Heinrich Biber and Jean-Baptiste Lully. The rarely heard Handel motet, which tells the story of a profound religious experience, is also a spectacular showstopper for soloist and Baroque orchestra.

Awe and Wonder

Tuesday, December 12, 2023 at 7:30 PM
St. Philip Presbyterian Church

Our holiday concert Awe and Wonder on December 12 includes vocal music by C. P. E. Bach and Marc-Antoine Charpentier on the stories of the creation and the incarnation, respectively.

Fugal Games

Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 4 PM
Duncan Recital Hall, Rice University

On January 13 we celebrate the release of artistic director Matthew Dirst’s latest book, on Bach’s Art of Fugue and Musical Offering, with a program featuring excerpts from both works. This program will also tour to San Antonio on Sunday, January 14.

Visions and Reveries

Saturday, March 16, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

An all-French program of Visions and Reveries with soloist Lauren Snouffer brings to life lyric cantatas by Elizabeth Claude Jacquet de la Guerre and Jean-Philippe Rameau, both on mythological themes.

Amadigi di Gaula

Friday, May 24 and Saturday May 25, 2024 at 7:30 PM
Zilkha Hall, The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

The most significant undertaking of 2023/24 will be a new production of Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula, one of a handful of “magic” operas he composed and produced during his long career in London. Our cast includes sopranos Raven McMillon and Camille Ortiz with countertenors Randall Scotting and Nicholas Garza. Tara Faircloth directs and Matthew Dirst conducts this Houston premiere of one of Handel’s most beautiful scores.

Following the closing night performance on 5/25, join us at Diana American Grill for a Post-Opera Soirée to celebrate the culmination of our momentous 20th anniversary season! Purchase your Post-Opera Soirée ticket here.