Symphony Arlington Competitors

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative, and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor assumed leadership of the organization and responsibility for its strategic vision in 2021. HGO was the only American finalist for Opera Company of the Year in the 2025 International Opera Awards, and the only American company to be nominated for the award three times. In fulfilling its mission to advance the operatic art, to serve the Houston community, and to be a global leader in the future of opera, HGO has led the field in commissioning and producing new works (76 world premieres to date) and in training and nurturing promising young artists and administrators. In 2025, the company launched the Houston Grand Opera record label, enabling it to share American operatic works with a broad international audience. HGO contributes to the cultural enrichment of Houston and the nation through a diverse and innovative program of performances, community events, and education projects that reaches the widest possible public. The company’s pioneering Community and Learning initiative has served as a model for other arts organizations. HGO invites all Houstonians to experience superlative opera without the barrier of price through discounted single tickets and subscriptions, subsidized student performances, and free productions. HGO has toured extensively and has won a Tony, three Grammy awards, and three Emmy awards. It is the only opera company to win all three honors.

One of the leading regional theaters in the country, Dallas Theater Center (DTC) performs to an audience of more than 90,000 North Texas residents annually. DTC is a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center and presents its mainstage season at the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. DTC also presents at its former residence, the Kalita Humphreys Theater, the only freestanding theater designed and built by Frank Lloyd Wright. DTC engages, entertains and inspires a diverse community by creating experiences that stimulate new ways of thinking and living by consistently producing plays, educational programs and other initiatives that are of the highest quality and reach the broadest possible constituency.

More than half-a-century of artistic excellence and community engagement has made the Dallas Opera a major factor in the international cultural reputation of Dallas and a major contributor to the economic impact of the performing arts in North Texas. the Dallas Opera has presented many international stars in their American debuts, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Jon Vickers, and Plácido Domingo, as well as designer-director Franco Zeffirelli. A champion of new work, the Dallas Opera has also presented the American premieres of five operas and additional world premieres. Most recently, the company commissioned composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create a new opera based on Herman Melville's 19th century novel "Moby-Dick." In 1957, civic leaders worked diligently to found a resident opera company in Dallas, including Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Miller, Jr., Dallas Morning News critic John Rosenfield, and William A. McKenzie. They approached Lawrence Kelly, formerly associated with Chicago's Lyric Theater, about establishing an opera company in Dallas. Mr. Kelly agreed to pursue that goal and the Dallas Civic Opera was chartered in March of 1957. Mr. Kelly named his long-time associate, Maestro Nicola Rescigno, as artistic director. The Dallas Civic Opera opened with an inaugural concert by legendary Greek soprano Maria Callas in November of that year, and a production of what was then a Rossini rarity, The Italian Girl in Algiers.