FULL OPERA GEMS A Celebration of American Opera Houston TX 2026 Houston Ebony Opera Guild

Information on the Performance

• Work Title: Opera Gems A Celebration of American Opera  
• Composer: various  
• Libretto: various  
• Venue & Opera Company: Heights Church, Houston Ebony Opera Guild, Houston, Texas  
• Recorded: April 26, 2026
• Type: Concert Live
• Singers: Antoine Griggs, Kaci Timmons, Kenneth Gayle, Dorceal Duckens, Bernard Kelly, Julie Allison
• Conductor:   
• Orchestra:
• Stage Director:   
• Costume Designer:   

Information about the Recording

• Published by: Houston Ebony Opera Guild  
• Date Published: 2026  
• Format: Streaming
• Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
• Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs, gensubs  

• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE

  Overview of Part 1
  The production highlights the evolution of the American operatic form. A central pillar of Part 1 is the performance of Highway 1, USA, a one-act opera by William Grant Still, who is widely celebrated as the “Dean of African American Composers”. 
  • The Narrative: Highway 1, USA focuses on a Black American family working hard to build a future, exploring deep themes of sacrifice, family tension, vulnerability, and love.
  • Key Characters & Cast:
    • Mary: Performed by soprano Kaci Timmons (and in alternate stagings, soprano Ardeen Pierre), capturing the raw emotional weight of the piece, notably in the aria “Oh, Bob, Can I Make You Understand”.
    • Bob: Played by baritone Antoine Griggs, depicting the internal struggles of the household.

  Core Vocal Selections
  • “I Loves You, Porgy”: The vulnerable, emotionally complex romantic duet from George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, performed by soprano Kaci Timmons.
  • “Lonely House”: A deeply introspective aria from Kurt Weill’s Street Scene (written with lyrics by Langston Hughes), sung by tenor Kenneth Gayle.
  • “The 23rd Psalm”: A poignant, narrative-driven segment excerpted from Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels’ Pulitzer Prize-winning contemporary opera, Omar (2022).
  • “Make Our Garden Grow”: The grand, uplifting finale movement from Leonard Bernstein’s operetta Candide, which brought the full ensemble together to close the presentation. [1, 2]

  Additional Featured Repertoire
  • Selected Arias from Highway 1, USA: Highlighting the domestic life and struggles of a Black American family, composed by William Grant Still.
  • Excerpts from Treemonisha: Early ragtime-influenced operatic storytelling celebrating African American resilience, composed by Scott Joplin.
  • Selected Movements: Curated operatic pieces from 20th and 21st-century composers, including Samuel Barber, H. Leslie Adams, Terence Blanchard, and Igor Stravinsky.
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