Critic’s Choice
Music of Beethoven and Strauss
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Fabio Luisi
October 16-18
DSO principal horn Daniel Hawkins takes center stage as music director Fabio Luisi leads the Dallas Symphony Orchestra in performances of Richard Strauss’s Horn Concerto No. 2 and Beethoven’s vibrant Symphony No. 7 in A Major. dallassymphony.org
Gounod: Faust
Houston Grand Opera
October 30- November 15
Houston Grand Opera’s production of Gounod’s classic reimagines Faust as a beset composer who trades his soul for sensual indulgence. Matthew Polenzani sings the title role, with Pretty Yende as Marguerite and Ildebrando D’Arcangelo as Mephistopheles both making their company debuts. houstongrandopera.org
Dover String Quartet
CMSFW
January 9, 2027
The Grammy-nominated Dover Quartet returns with a program featuring Mozart’s String Quartet No. 17 (“The Hunt”), Brahms’s String Quartet No. 3 and Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 11. cmsfw.org
Verdi: Aida
Houston Grand Opera
January 22-February 7
Director Kaneza Schaal helms the HGO’s new production of Verdi’s sumptuous tale of an Ethiopian princess torn between her devotion to her people and her secret love for the Egyptian captain, Radames. Jonathan Tetelman and Adam Smith, both make HGO debuts, alternating in the role of Radames. Ailyn Pérez sings the role of Aida and Raehann Bryce-Davis takes the role of her nemesis, Amneris. houstongrandopera.org
Puccini: Turandot
Dallas Opera
February 12-20
The Dallas Opera’s production of Puccini’s unfinished masterpiece features a recently realized ending by Grammy Award-winning composer Christopher Tin and playwright/screenwriter Susan Soon He Stanton. Anna Pirozzi performs the role of the imperious Princess Turandot and Jorge Puerta portrays her determined suitor, Calaf. dallasopera.org
Wagner: Lohengrin
Dallas Opera
March 5-13
Dallas Opera closes its season with Wagner’s epic saga of an enigmatic knight serving as a champion for an accused maiden on the condition that she never ask his name. Saimir Pirgu appears as the title character while Kathleen O’Mara makes her company debut as Elsa. dallasopera.org
Mozart: Don Giovanni
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Fabio Luisi
March 26-28
Fabio Luisi and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra add Mozart’s tale of the notorious Spanish libertine to their succession of semi-staged operas beginning with Wagner’s Ring cycle followed by last season’s Madame Butterfly. Ildebrando D’Arcangelo has the title role with Jacquelyn Wagner as Donna Anna, Siobhan Stagg as Donna Elvira and Luca Pisaroni as Leporello. dallassymphony.org
Music of Mahler and Khayam
Anne-Sophie Mutter. Dallas Symphony Orchestra/Fabio Luisi
April 2-4
Celebrated violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter joins the DSO as soloist in the world premiere of Golfam Khayam’s Triple Concerto (with violist Muriel Razavi and cellist Kian Soltani). Fabio Luisi also leads the orchestra in a further exploration of the symphonies of Gustav Mahler with the composer’s Symphony No. 1. dallassymphony.org
Music of Mendelssohn and Beethoven
Dallas Symphony Orchestra/David Danzmayr
April 22-24.
Concertmaster Alexander Kerr performs as soloist in Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, and guest conductor David Danzmayr leads the DSO in Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5 “Reformation.” dallassymphony.org
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier
Houston Grand Opera
April 23-May 7
HGO’s presentation of Strauss’s charming comedy of manners places the original’s 18th century romantic intrigues in mid-1950s Vienna. Grammy-winning soprano Tamara Wilson takes the role of the Marschallin and Matthew Rose sings the role of Baron Ochs. Samantha Hankey and Soraya Mafi make their house debuts singing the roles of Octavian and Sophie, respectively. houstongrandopera.org
