Patrick Summers, the conductor, has been a central figure at Houston Grand Opera for almost three decades and will become Music Director Emeritus in 2026.
Composition History
The opera Breaking the Waves is based on the film by Lars von Trier, which librettist Royce Vavrek first saw nearly 20 years before adapting it.
Composer Biography
Royce Vavrek, the librettist, co-founded Luna Composition Lab, a non-profit mentorship program for young female and nonbinary composers, with composer Ellen Reid.
Recording & Production
This recording of Breaking the Waves was made live in April and May 2025 at the Wortham Theater Center in Houston, Texas.
Cultural Impact
Houston Grand Opera (HGO), the performing company, has won a Tony Award, three Grammy Awards, and three Emmy Awards, making it the only opera company to win all three honors.
Composition History
Breaking the Waves, an opera by Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, was commissioned by Opera Philadelphia and Beth Morrison Projects.
Composer Biography
Missy Mazzoli, the composer, was one of the first two women to receive a commission from the Metropolitan Opera in 2018.
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