GLOBALLY CELEBRATED
At Houston Grand Opera, ‘This Is a Good Time’ HGO.org
HOUSTON GRAND OPERA NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY FOR INTELLIGENCE
AT 68TH ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS
CAPS LANDMARK YEAR FOR THE ORGANIZATION
CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF NEW MUSIC DIRECTOR,
LEADING CONDUCTOR JAMES GAFFIGAN
“Driven by creative leadership and generous donors,
the company,
long a beacon of innovation, is bucking trends
in the field.”—The New York Times | READ HERE
December 12, 2025— The globally celebrated Houston Grand Opera (HGO) caps a landmark year with a GRAMMY nomination at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards for Best Opera Recording for the company-commissioned opera Intelligence, created by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer in collaboration with director and choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar.
HGO’s Intelligence recording and the company’s fall 2024 album, Massenet’s Werther, were also recognized with Blanton Alspaugh’s GRAMMY Award nomination in the Producer of the Year, Classical category. These nominations mark the first in General Director/CEO Khori Dastoor's tenure.
The accolades contribute to a pivotal year for the company, which recently announced the appointment of new music director James Gaffigan—one of the greatest conductors of his generation. Drawn to Houston at a moment of dynamic growth, the world-renowned Gaffigan will lead HGO in his first titled role with an American institution, following several years in Europe’s top concert halls. HGO’s fall announcement about Gaffigan joining its leadership came on the heels of the company being named the only American finalist for Opera Company of the Year in the 2025 International Opera Awards.
Since the pre-COVID era, ticket revenue at HGO has increased by 24%, with the total number of ticket buyers up 27%. This positive momentum—especially notable for taking place during a challenging period for the American opera industry as a whole—is the result of the company's dynamic, forward-thinking leadership. Khori Dastoor, who assumed leadership of the organization and responsibility for its strategic vision in 2021, has led the charge, resulting in HGO's endowment doubling since pre-COVID. HGO attributes its success to its commitment to reaching modern audiences and making opera an accessible art form.
HGO’s 2025-2026 season launched this fall with the American opera that first defined the company as a trailblazer, the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess—which became the company’s second highest-earning opera in decades—and Puccini’s Il trittico. On the way are a revised version of Kevin Puts and Mark Campbell’s Silent Night, the American premiere of Robert Wilson’s Messiah production, and much more. Find the full season calendar at HGO.org.
This GRAMMY nomination is the fourth in HGO history. In 1978, the company won in the Best Opera Recording category for the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess, and in 1989, it won Best Contemporary Composition for company-commissioned world premiere Nixon in China, composed by John Adams with a libretto by Alice Goodman. The company was also nominated for Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha in 1977.
HGO’s Intelligence and Werther albums are available in both physical and digital formats, with streaming offered via HGO’s partner platform, Apple Music Classical—Apple Music’s dedicated app for classical music fans—as well as major platforms including Amazon Music and Spotify.
Electronic press kit: Images, audio, video, album booklet, and other assets for HGO’s recording of Intelligence can be found here. Link to images HGO’s recording of Massenet’s Werther can be found here. Images are courtesy of HGO unless otherwise indicated.
ABOUT HOUSTON GRAND OPERA
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is one of the largest, most innovative, and most highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. HGO is the only American finalist for Opera Company of the Year in the 2025 International Opera Awards, and the only American company to be nominated 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 reach 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 Award, two GRAMMY Awards, and three Emmy Awards. It is the only opera company to win all three honors.
For more information, please contact Krista Williams or Carla Sacks at Sacks & Co., 212.741.1000.
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