OPERA PLACES Andriana Chuchman take us to Houston, TX

by | Apr 19, 2024 | Artist of the Week, Featured, News

Canadian soprano Andriana Chuchman takes us to Houston, Texas where she is making her role debut as Donna Anna in Houston Grand Opera‘s production of Don Giovanni, running April 19 – May 3 (info and tickets here).

This soprano has made a name for herself throughout North America; her 2023-24 season has been filled with exciting performances including the world premiere of Joby Talbot and Gene Sheer‘s Diving Bell and the Butterfly in the role of Sandrine with Dallas Opera, her role debuts of Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata with Opera Omaha and Juliette in Gounod‘s Roméo et Juliette with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and her recording release as Boonyi/India in Jack Perla‘s Shalimar the Clown with the Opera Theater of Saint Louis. Lucky for her hometown, next season Andriana will be back in Winnipeg performing Adina in Manitoba Opera‘s The Elixir of Love, running October 26 – Nov 1.

Between rehearsals, Andriana shared with us what she has been up to while in Houston, including exploring the culinary delights that Houston has on offer, going to Astro games, and going to the Houston Zoo with her family! Read on to find out more.

City where you’re working?
I am currently working in Houston, Texas!

How long are you working on contract?
I’m making my role debut as Donna Anna here at Houston Grand Opera’s Don Giovanni in the thrilling Kasper Holten production. This is my third production with the company, first making my debut here as Pat Nixon in John Adams’ Nixon in China  in 2017, and then singing Michal in Handel’s Saul in 2019. We started Don Giovanni rehearsals March 18th, and the shows are April 19, 21, 27, May 1, 3.

What’s the opera house like?
The Wortham Theater Center, located right downtown, is home to Houston Grand Opera (HGO) and Houston Ballet. It serves as a cultural hub in Houston and houses two theaters, the Brown Theater and the Cullen Theater. We will perform Don Giovanni in the Brown Theater! The Brown Theater, with its striking design and acoustics, is the primary performance space for large-scale opera productions by Houston Grand Opera. It has a seating capacity of around 2,400 and is known for its grandeur and excellent sightlines. It’s an acoustically fabulous space in which to sing!

Where is the most peaceful place in the city?
This is a hard question to answer, because it’s so subjective! Even for myself, it depends what I’m looking for. Do I want to get some fresh air, pop in some AirPods to listen to a good podcast or audiobook, and stroll through a lush park? Or am I feeling a little lonely and want the comfort of being around other people in a bustling urban coffee shop? Both scenarios can provide peace for me! The next park on my list to wander through is the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center in Memorial Park. As for coffee shops, I’ll answer that after the next question!

Best coffee or tea?
When I come to a new city, neighbourhood coffee shops are the first thing I search for in Google Maps. When I was here for my debut season in 16/17, I stayed in Montrose, and was so pleased to discover a handful of great coffee shops within a mile radius! They included Campesino, Blacksmith, Siphon, and Southside Espresso to name just a few. Lots more to check out in this city, but my current fave spot this contract has been Brass Tacks in EaDo (East Downtown). It’s open late for a coffee shop, has a great coffee, food, and cocktail menu, has a nice vibe and lots of room in both its indoor and outdoor spaces, and is *always* busy, which I love.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Brass Tacks | Coffee + Bar (@brasstackshouston)

Coolest bar or restaurant you’ve been to?
If you know me, you know I love food. So I always seek out all the greatest spots in new cities, whether by word of mouth, or a quick google search of “top restaurants”-type lists. Houston has a vibrant and vast culinary scene. A couple of great spots to mention are Uchi – a fabulous sushi restaurant, and Nancy’s Hustle – New American cuisine. I’m calling out my hometown of Winnipeg for not having any good Mexican restaurants, so when in Texas, I have to hit up El Tiempo at least a couple times for some delicious Tex-Mex! And I must not forget to mention Texas barbecue – I’ve enjoyed the Pit Room, and Truth Barbecue, but there are definitely more to try. (…aaaaand now I’m hungry…)

An activity you have done that is unique to the area?
Some fun Houston activities I’ve done include going to an Astros game (with my husband, Adam and my Saul cast!); taking in the Menil Park and Menil Collection Museum in Montrose, and the Rothko Chapel right nearby; the Zoo in Hermann Park with my family (the lions took our breath away!), and strolling thru Rice University Campus (elegant architecture, lush green spaces, and Borofsky sculptures); and Buffalo Bayou Park (a great view of the downtown skyline, observing the bat colony under the Waugh Bridge, and the captivating Plensa sculptures).

Is there something unexpected that happens locally that you discovered?
Something I’ve noticed this time round in Houston is its vibrant street art scene with a diverse array of murals, graffiti, and public art installations scattered throughout the city. There is a stunning one on the Houston Ballet building, for example. From colourful abstract designs to large-scale portraits, you can’t miss these vibrant spectacles!

How did you find your accommodation?
HGO has a brilliant group of people in their rehearsal department, that will help you find any kind of accommodation you need. Whether a corporate housing or hotel situation downtown near the opera house or in a nearby neighbourhood. You could also find your own AirBNB in your desired neighbourhood, or rent from an opera colleague who lives here, but is away on a gig. I’ve done all the above during my time in Houston!

Is there anything you recommend beyond what we’ve asked here?
I’m grateful for the chance to discuss my work here in Houston and its vibrant cultural and culinary scenes. Working at the Houston Grand Opera allows me to contribute to this dynamic community, and I’m continually inspired by the city’s passion for the arts and its support for cultural institutions!

LEARN MORE ABOUT ANDRIANA CHUCHMAN
VISIT HER WEBSITE
© Andriana Chuchman
Mural by graffiti artist Gonzo247, with Adam and Mateo, Downtown, Houston, TX

 

©Andriana Chuchman
Borofsky sculpture on Rice University campus, Houston, TX
© Andriana Chuchman
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX

Don Giovanni
Huston Grand Opera

April 19 – May 3

CONDUCTOR: Dame Jane Glover
ORIGINAL DIRECTOR: Kasper Hotlen
REVIVIAL DIRECTOR: Greg Eldridge
SET DESIGNER: Es Devlin
COSTUME DESIGNER: Anja Van Kragh

ORIGINAL LIGHTING DESIGNER: Bruno Poet
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGNER: John-Paul Percox
PROJECTIONS AND VIDEO DESIGNER: Luka Halls
CHOREOGRAPHER: Anne-Marie Sulliva

DON GIOVANNI: Luca Pisaroni
LEPORELLO: Ryan McKinny
DONNA ANNA: Andriana Chuchman
DON OTTAVIO: Kang Want
DONNA ELVIRA: Sasha Cooke

ZERLINA: Erika Baikoff

MASETTO: Norman Garrett
COMMENDATORE: Patrick Guetti
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA CHORUS
HGO CHORUS
HGO CHORUS MASTER: Richard Bado

 

640 girls in Italy, 231 in Germany, 100 in France, 91 in Turkey, 1,003 in Spain. As the servant Leporello famously sings in his “Catalogue aria,” the eponymous fiend in Mozart’s sublime tragicomedy Don Giovanni has already been very busy when he beds the engaged Anna and then kills her father in a duel. Even as he’s pursued by aggrieved parties on all sides, Don Giovanni sets about seducing the lovely Zerlina—on her wedding day. But the arrogant Spanish antihero everyone loves to hate meets his comeuppance, and in director Kasper Holten’s brilliant production, his descent into hell is not literal but mental, as depicted by Luke Halls’s incredible projections onto Es Devlin’s magically minimalist set.

Conducted by acclaimed Mozartian Dame Jane Glover, the opera’s stellar cast will be headlined by charismatic Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, an international superstar, in the title role, opposite sensational soprano Andriana Chuchman in her role debut as Donna Anna. The opera’s world-renowned cast will be headlined by bass-baritone Ryan McKinny as Leporello, tenor Kang Wang in his company debut as Don Ottavio, and mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke as Donna Elvira.


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