Reimagining Opera: A Journey Beyond the Stage

What if going to the opera meant leaving your seat behind, and visiting a museum meant becoming part of the performance? For Mexican-American composer Nathan Felix, an opera doesn't have to begin when the curtain rises, and the best acoustics for an aria might just be in the gallery of a museum.

Felix, a Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts Visiting Artist for the 2026–2027 season, is set to premiere La Gran Esperanza, a short, immersive opera, at the University of Houston’s Blaffer Art Museum this fall. Commissioned and produced by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, the project reflects the center's role as an interdisciplinary resource for the university and general public.

La Gran Esperanza brings together two of the Mitchell Center's five academic units, the Moores School of Music and the Blaffer Art Museum, in collaboration for the production. University of Houston students and alumni are among the cast and crew.

Centered on finding hope and determination in the face of adversity, La Gran Esperanza follow the journey of three childhood friends and one boy’s dream of baseball. Felix says the idea began two years ago when he first considered a coming-of-age story revolving around Hispanic youth climbing out of poverty. “It stemmed from my childhood where I saw a group of my peers inspired by someone from our community on the border of Laredo, be the first to achieve a level of success as a professional athlete,” he recounts. Freddie Benavidez, whose career provides loose inspiration for the opera, is widely regarded as the first professional athlete from Laredo, Texas. “It always stuck with me and Houston felt like the right city to tell it in because Houston has a huge Hispanic population and they love their baseball!”

A woman in a black dress standing next to a woman wearing a cream-colored dress. On the table in front of them is a black object, and in the background there is a wall with an exit board attached to it. The woman in the black dress is identified as Julia Starr, and the image is likely related to her graduation ceremony.

Soprano Julia Starr, in the role of Mary-Louise, is conducted by Jilin Dong.

Joshua Thomas, wearing a green shirt and glasses, standing at a podium with a microphone in front of him and a board attached to a stand. The background is blurred, suggesting he is in a room.

Bass-Baritone Joshua Thomas rehearses in his roll as Freddie.

A woman sitting at a piano in front of a mirror, wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. Behind her, another woman is standing, and in the background there are curtains and a wall.

Pianist Alisiya Boiko plays during rehearsal.

Two men standing next to each other in front of a piano. They are both wearing glasses and one of them is wearing a cap. Behind them, there are chairs and a wall.

Tenor Jonatan Reyes (left) plays the part of Jose.

A man sitting at a desk with a laptop computer in front of him. On the desk there is a laptop, a name board, a bowl of candies, a glass with pens, and other objects. To the left of the desk is another person, and in the background there are chairs and a wall.

Composer and Director, Nathan Felix, gives feedback during rehearsal.

A group of people sitting around a table in a room. There are chairs arranged in a semi-circle around the table, with some people standing on the floor. On the right side of the image, there is a curtain, and on the left side, there are a few people sitting on the chairs. In the background, we can see a wall, a door, a board, and lights on the ceiling.

Rehearsal for La Gran Esperanza at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston

A man and woman standing next to each other in front of a microphone. The man is wearing a green t-shirt and the woman is holding an object in her hand. In the background, there is a curtain and a wall.

Mezzo Sarah Dyer-Jones plays the role of Virginia.

Two men sitting at a table looking at a tablet computer. The man on the left is wearing a green shirt and is holding a food item in his hand, while the other man is wearing spectacles and a cap. In the background, there is a woman and a curtain.

Joshua Thomas (left) and Jonatan Reyes (right) share notes during rehearsal.

Many Houstonians may know the thrill of watching a baseball game from the stands, but La Gran Esperanza offers no such distance between audience and performance. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to experience the production alongside the performers, moving throughout Blaffer Art Museum. Felix has premiered more than fifteen operas and worked across ten countries. He is widely recognized for his immersive operas, which he describes as curated pop-ups that utilize space, movement, and acoustics to activate environments in a way that has yet to be explored. “They revolve around blurring the line between performer and audience by having musical performers move in and around an audience,” he explains. “I’m always looking for interesting site lines for the performers so I can spread them out to create a surround effect.”

Although he doesn’t want to give too much away, Felix says he’s looking forward to staging La Gran Esperanza at Blaffer and is particularly excited to activate the Louise J. Moran Courtyard, located just outside the museum’s rear entrance. “I have something special up my sleeve for that area!” he promises.

In addition to his immersive operas, Felix’s creative practice includes country music, classical scores, and experimental films. Opera, however, continues to hold a particular fascination for him. He especially values the opportunity to compose music for singers who have spent years developing a rare and refined skillset. “I put a lot of thought into how I produce my operas and how I can engage the audience in ways that are unexpected,” he says. “While I think most people would be blown away by the sheer power and beauty of an opera singer standing in the corner, it’s not enough for me, which is why I explore immersive productions.”

Despite opera’s reputation for grandeur and tradition, Felix doesn’t believe audiences need any prior knowledge of the art form to engage with his work. “I describe my work more as performance art that revolves around music,” he says, “and staging [operas] in museums allows for a less intimidating environment.”

For those who have never seen an opera, La Gran Esperanza extends the invitation to leave your expectations—and your seat—behind.

A woman standing at a podium in front of a microphone, with a chair and a curtain in the background. She appears to be giving a presentation, as indicated by the text on the podium.

Conductor, Jilin Dong, guides rehearsal.

A woman in a black sari standing next to a piano, with a wall and curtain in the background. She appears to be in a state of distress, likely due to the fact that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

Julia Starr rehearses.

A group of three people standing next to each other in front of a microphone. The person in the front is wearing a black t-shirt and a cap, while the person to the left is holding a paper in their hand. In the background, there is a curtain and a wall.

From left to right: Sarah Dyer-Jones, Joshua Thomas, and Jonaten Reyes.

La Gran Esperanza is composed by Nathan Felix and conducted by Jilin Dong and features University of Houston student performers alongside professional musicians from the greater Houston community.

Please be aware that this is an interactive performance with no seating. Attendees will move with the performers throughout the museum, which includes stairs leading to the second level. An accessibility survey will be provided with ticket confirmation.

The opera will be presented for one night only on October 10 at Blaffer Art Museum from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Tickets are Limited, Reserve Yours Now!

In the event of a sold-out performance, any unclaimed tickets will be released to walkups on a first come, first served basis. Please arrive fifteen minutes early if you are seeking admission without a ticket

Nathan Felix will be a guest on Hello Houston Wednesday, October 7th. Listen live on air at 88.7 or catch the replay online.

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