Opera in the Heights

Quality performances with exceptional performers! They do a great job with the space they have to work in as far as interesting/​eye catching sets. I’ve only seen one production so far, but I was blown away by the level of talent on stage. Bravi tutti!

Lovely place to experience an opera. The restrooms are not very nice, but it is a non-​profit company. I’ve been to fancy operas and honestly enjoyed opera in the heights way more. Every seat is a good seat, there is water, coffee and snacks for sell before opera and during intermission. Parking is on the street. I recommend opera in the heights to anyone looking for something new to do or anyone that enjoys operas.

Wonderful, intimate space — not like a «normal» opera. Gives it a whole different feel.

Just came back from watching Rigoletto and I was amazed. I am a fan of opera. I can’t always afford it so it is a treat every year. Our last visit to HGO left me feeling deflated. It didn’t move me the way opera usually does.
Opera in the Heights brought back that flame. It was awesome being so close because it is a small theatre. It helps draw you in. But best of all the singing was amazing. The set and costumes were very nice too. Octavio Moreno’s performance as Rigoletto moved me to tears. You guys have a convert!

Horrible production of Don Giovanni. Calling it butchered is not enough. There was no overall conception for the costumes or what was happening on stage. This was a mix between Grease, a 1950’s gangster movie, and who knows what else. Everyone who was involved in the production of this opera should quit.

Opera in the Heights is a must see. My wife and I saw La Traviata and it was excellent! I can’t wait to see what which production they do next.

Doing some different stuff

If I could give 6 stars, I would. Last night I watched Bellini’s Capuletti E Montecchi, a rendition of Romeo and Juliet. I was impressed that this was actually better than the rendition of Othello we saw a month ago! Needless to say, I look forward to watching a rendition of Macbeth in February! So nice to have a cultural gem in Houston that isn’t pretentious or pricey!

OH! So you want to check out the opera but don’t have have Rockefeller money?
Well Opera in the Heights is your answer.
I came for the last showing of Pearl Fishers, which is a traditional French Opera. We got middle balcony seats using a student discount for 10 bucks a ticket. That’s a steal!
The production value was great, one non changing stage, costumes remained constant also, but they were very colorful and appeasing to the eyes.
The plot could been a little bit better planned and acting was eh, but the singing was superb. It’s a small space so basically every seat in the house is a good view. I like the smaller intimate theaters because you feel like you are part of the show, especially when some of the singers walk up the aisles onto the stage.
If $ 10 is too much to «TRY» out the opera, they offer a free dress rehearsal where you can can take pictures!!! I will be back for another show.

Went here for the first time to see La Boheme. This was my second time ever to see an opera. My first was Phantom of the Opera at Bass Concert Hall in Austin. I left feeling I was not a fan of the opera experience. My experience at Opera In The Heights, however, has given me a me a new outlook.
The building was cozy and charming. I don’t think there is a bad seat in the house. The temperature was a bit cool, but I think I was under a vent. I enjoyed the «up close and personal» set up. The stage is small so some of the performers walked through the aisles– so cool! The performers were talented and acoustic complemented their voices well. The orchestra was small, but powerful musical presence. Pops was a charismatic conductor and was very gracious to his musicians.
I can’t wait to come back here. Parking was on the street, typical Heights, but it was a nice evening for a walk. The only complaints I have are probably out of anyone’s control. 1. Long line to restroom during intermission. Although, there was ample time to do your business and return to your seat before intermission’s end. 2. The little girl (teenager I think) sitting next to my husband used her phone to text and search the web during the entire final act. It was rude and distracting. I expect she should know better, but I blame her adult companion for not reminding her to be considerate of others around her.

I’ve never attended an opera before so I’m not sure what the experience would be like in one of the large opera houses. A friend saw the brochure at a Starbucks and thus we ended up getting tickets for «Manon». This was the last performance for that particular piece (and actually the last performance of 2009. They’ll resume in January).
The venue, Lambert Hall, has about 300 seats so there’s definitely not a bad seat in the house. I think this added a level of intimacy that I’m sure is lacking in the larger venues. Although as mentioned before some of the action happens off-​stage so those with seats up front will have to crane their necks back to see what’s all going on.
I had no expectations about this but I was impressed with the scale of the production, considering the constraints of the space. Before the show, a gentleman gave an intro to talk about the show and the Opera in the Heights company. Turns out that there are not that many opportunities for up-​and-​comers to perform a full production with a full orchestra in the obvious places for opera singers like NYC. Therefore Opera in the Heights is able to attract a lot of talent from around the country (something like 600 submissions for auditions this past year). He joked that they’re probably better known in New York than in Houston. This translated into some great performances. The singing was fantastic, especially the two leads. The orchestra was top-​notch and the costumes and lighting were very good as well.
I would definitely recommend Opera in the Heights for anybody interested in watching their first show but also if you’re a fan of the arts in general. Please go and support them and you won’t be disappointed.

When most people in Houston think «opera», they think the large-​scale productions at Houston Grand within the confines of Wortham Center downtown. But did you know there’s a tiny little opera company nestled in the heart of the Heights that’s been putting on small, intimate shows for almost fifteen years? Opera in the Heights brings a little operatic glee to town when they put on four productions every year, and they do it on a shoestring budget. The sets, props and costumes aren’t slick, but lucky for us, Opera in the Heights spends its budget on attracting some marvelous singers from all over the world.
Staged inside historic Lambert Hall, Opera in the Heights is «opera in your face» by virtue of the small size of the venue. I went here with a few friends for my fourteenth birthday almost ten years ago (egads!) and although I loved Houston Grand, Opera in the Heights was an affordable treat. Recently I won tickets to their most recent production for a song through a silent auction (pun intended) so I took my grandmother last Saturday and was reminded of how much I liked this company.
The production we saw was two short operas – Puccini’s «Il Tabarro» and Leoncavallo’s «Pagliacci». The cast was superb and diverse – a tenor from South Korea, a Greek soprano, a fantastic baritone from New Jersey. Since Lambert Hall used to be a church building, there’s no orchestra pit or raked floor, so the orchestra is smooshed into the left side of the stage and cuts into potential seating. Though it’s on the small side, it is a full orchestra and the players are anything but amateur. Other usual opera niceties include subtitles on a screen above the stage and even a balcony section, original to the hall.
If I have any gripe, some portions of the action were staged way back in the aisles. Since my grandmother and I were in the second row, we didn’t really know what was going on and didn’t feel it was polite to crane our necks around and inadvertently stare at our neighbors! Other than that, the drama was palpable and the singing was magnificent. They really do a lot with a little.
I’d forgotten just how good of a show Opera in the Heights can put on, and with tickets as low as $ 10 on selected nights, you can bet I’ll be back to support this brave little opera company when they stage La Boheme later this year.