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Ars Lyrica Houston Championing Baroque Opera And Inspiring Community Engagement
As we enter the new year, we extend our deep gratitude for the vibrant and generous community that is Ars Lyrica Houston. Thanks to our amazing networks of local and international supporters, we share the beauty of historically informed performance—from intimate chamber programs to fully staged Baroque operas—with more than 30,000 local audience members, 10,000 students, and 200,000 global viewers each year.
Now in our 22nd season, Ars Lyrica is truly coming of age, embracing the maturity and boldness that accompany over two decades of artistic growth and achievement. What began as a small ensemble of local musicians has blossomed into an internationally recognized leader in historically informed Baroque performance—enriching Houston’s cultural life through world-class opera, critically acclaimed recording, and bilingual education programs that inspire thousands of young Houstonians annually. With over two million views on YouTube and a steadily expanding global presence, our impact continues to grow.
This season also marks an exciting new chapter: Ars Lyrica will now present a fully staged Baroque opera every year, beginning with Monteverdi’s Orfeo in May 2026, featuring GRAMMY® Award–winning tenor Karim Sulayman. Producing opera at this scale requires the support of a passionate and dedicated community, and Ars Lyrica’s Opera Circle plays a vital role in realizing this vision. Through three-year commitments, Opera Circle underwriters ensure the sustainability of these ambitious productions while enjoying exclusive benefits such as behind-the-scenes access to artists, special event invitations, and public recognition.
“Baroque opera presents a golden opportunity to advocate for exceptional and seldom-heard repertoire,” says Artistic Director Matthew Dirst. Since 2011, when Ars Lyrica earned a GRAMMY® nomination for Best Opera Recording, the organization has set a high standard for excellence. Productions such as Handel’s Amadigi di Gaula and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas have garnered widespread acclaim, with Arts and Culture Texas praising them as “utterly magnificent, wildly successful, and among the most enjoyable performances of the season.”
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Transforming Lives Through Education
While Ars Lyrica Houston’s artistic ambitions continue to soar, its community programs remain central to its mission to inspire, educate, and connect. The ensemble performs regularly at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Rice University, and St. Philip Presbyterian Church, offering main-stage programs both in person and virtually.
Ars Lyrica also engages more than 40,000 community members each year through extensive outreach initiatives in partnership with the ExxonMobil Discovery Series at the Hobby Center, 14 Houston-area school districts, the University of Houston, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, Miller Outdoor Theatre, and the Houston Airport System’s Harmony in the Air program, among others. These collaborations broaden access to historically informed performance and strengthen Ars Lyrica’s role as a cultural resource for the region.
A highlight of the current season is Orígenes: Voice and Percussion Through the Ages, a bilingual educational program presented to over 6,000 elementary students at the Hobby Center and featured at the MFAH Hispanic Heritage Festival, the Rothko Chapel, and the Houston Rodeo. Another major initiative, Ring in the Peace, presented with Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, offers 30 multicultural holiday performances in one of Houston’s most distinctive acoustic spaces.
Ars Lyrica believes deeply in the power of Baroque music to move and uplift. As one audience member noted, its performances leave “serene emotions that linger long after I leave Zilkha Hall.”
Join the Movement
From the grandeur of Baroque opera to the joy of introducing children to classical music, Ars Lyrica Houston is shaping a vibrant cultural future for Houston. To support these endeavors, consider joining the Opera Circle or bringing Ars Lyrica’s educational programs to your community. Together, we can ensure that the magic of Baroque music continues to inspire for generations to come.
Join the Opera Circle at https://www.arslyricahouston.org/operacircle or visit www.arslyricahouston.org to learn more.
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