Houston Grand Opera Celebrates FIGARO At Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. Happy Hour

By: Jan. 11, 2018
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Houston Grand Opera Celebrates FIGARO At Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. Happy Hour

Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. and Houston Grand Opera (HGO) reunite for a happy hour to celebrate the opening of Rossini's The Barber of Seville on Jan. 26 and Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, FIIIGAAARO beer (Figaro for short). This beer was originally brewed in collaboration with HGO to celebrate the opening night of The Barber of Seville in 2011. When Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company first started testing this "creative collab," they knew it needed a secret ingredient as dark, sweet, and tricky as Figaro himself. Hence Figaro, a Belgian quad brewed with Turkish figs, was born.

As background, the Figaro aria is likely the first opera music you ever heard...even if you didn't know it at the time. Rossini's The Barber of Seville includes one of the world's most recognizable pieces of music, the famous "Figaro, Figaro, Figaro!" aria featured in Bugs Bunny cartoons. Count Almaviva enlists his friend Figaro-the barber of the opera's title-to help him woo the lovely Rosina right under the nose of her overly protective guardian. Their trickery goes awry, but young love prevails in this laugh-out-loud comedy. The opera runs from Jan. 26 - Feb. 10 at the HGO Resilience Theater in the George R. Brown Convention Center downtown. It's been dubbed as the perfect "first opera," for its quick-paced, madcap, comedic fun. For more info visit HGO.org.

HGO staff and The Barber of Seville cast members will attend the event, which is open to the public as part of Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co.'s ongoing Friday Happy Hours. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about this comedic opera and the character of Figaro. You can even hear Figaro (Lucas Meachem) belt out a few lines from the famous aria at 7 p.m., when drinks will be half price. There will also be a drawing for free tickets to The Barber of Seville.

Friday, Jan. 12, 5 p.m.- 9 p.m.; HGO's Lucas Meachem performs at 7 p.m. . Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co., 5301 Nolda St., Houston, TX 77007. Admission to the Happy Hour is free.

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative, and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. HGO was the only American finalist for Opera Company of the Year at the 2017 International Opera Awards. In fulfilling its mission to advance the operatic art to serve an ever-evolving audience, HGO has led the field in commissioning new works (64 world premieres to date) and in training and nurturing promising young artists and administrators. The company 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. HGO's pioneering community engagement initiative, HGOco, has served as a model for other arts organizations.

The NEXUS Initiative is HGO's multi-year ticket underwriting program that allows Houstonians of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy opera without the barrier of price. Since 2007, NEXUS has enabled more than 250,000 Houstonians to experience superlative opera through discounted single tickets and subscriptions, subsidized student performances, and free productions.

HGO has toured extensively and has won a Tony, two Grammy awards, and two Emmy awards. It is the only opera company to win all three honors.



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