This fall, Houston Grand Opera will stage Dame Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers in an extraordinary new production. Although Smyth composed the opera in 1906, HGO is the first major American opera company to produce it at full scale—ever!  

Houstonians can look forward to experiencing a stunning opera that has deserved the spotlight for over a century. “The Wreckers is a grand, Edwardian-Gothic, wild, epic romance, and you’ll wonder why you’ve never heard of it,” shares HGO Artistic and Musical Director Patrick Summers, who will be at the podium as conductor. “It is one of the most important debut operas we’ve ever programmed, an opera I’ve wanted to conduct for years but never thought the opportunity would arise! It also represents the first large-scale project of General Director Khori Dastoor’s tenure, so it is a particular honor to conduct it and to work so closely with her on it.”  

The Wreckers is set in the late 1700s on the Cornish coast of England, in a town whose inhabitants survive by plundering ships that wreck on its rocky shores. Thirza, who is married to the preacher Pascoe, loves another, Mark, and bucks against a way of life she finds confining. When she tries to take a different path, the result is tragedy.

The opera’s themes were no doubt close to Smyth’s heart. She was a feminist and a suffragist who was attracted to women, living in the inhospitable environs of the early 20th century. It is perhaps little surprise that her work didn’t get the attention it deserved during her lifetime. But now The Wreckers is finally getting its due, and Houston arts lovers are getting the magical chance to discover it for themselves.

Directed by Louisa Muller, HGO’s new production will feature an updated English translation by Amanda Holden and a visually stunning production design by Christopher Oram. Grammy Award winner Sasha Cooke performs the role of Thirza, while HGO Studio alumni Reginald Smith, Jr. and Norman Reinhardt sing the roles of Pascoe and Mark, respectively. HGO Studio alumna Mané Galoyan performs as Avis, with Paul Groves joining HGO Studio artist Luke Sutliff and alumni Daniel Belcher and Sun Ly Pierce to complete the cast.

Performances of The Wreckers run October 28-November 11 at the Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave. Tickets range from $20 to $210. For information and to buy tickets, visit HGO.org or call the box office at 713-228-6737.   

HGO's production of Dame Ethel Smyth's The Wreckers—a New York Times pick for one of fall's best arts events—is set to open! Don't miss it!