Houston Grand Opera Named Finalist in 2025 International Opera Awards

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HGO stands as only American nominee for Opera Company of the Year

Houston Grand Opera (HGO) was named a finalist for Opera Company of the Year at the prestigious International Opera Awards 2025.The annual awards celebrate outstanding achievement in opera and recognize companies, artists, and productions that embody the highest levels of artistic excellence.

The finalists for this year’s awards span more than 25 countries on five continents, with HGO as the only American house recognized in the Opera Company of the Year category—and the only American company in history to be nominated three times, following prior recognitions in 2017 and 2019. The category’s other 2025 nominees include Deutsche Oper Berlin (Germany), GöteborgsOperan (Sweden), MusikTheater an der Wien (Austria), Opernhaus Zürich (Switzerland), and Teatro alla Scala (Italy).

Photo: Michael Bishop

“This is an incredible day for our company and our city,” said HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor. “Houston dreams big, and HGO shares those dreams with audiences through world-class opera that resonates far beyond our stage. This nomination not only reflects Houston’s place on the global opera map—but it’s also a testament to the extraordinary artists, administrators, board members, and supporters who make this work possible. We are deeply grateful to the International Opera Awards jury for honoring our collective effort. This moment belongs to all of us, and I could not be prouder.”

Founded in 2012, the International Opera Awards are widely regarded as one of the field’s most distinguished honors. The 2025 shortlist was curated by an international jury of opera critics, administrators, and performers, chaired by John Allison, editor of Opera Magazine with Opera News. Winners will be announced on November 13, 2025, in Athens, Greece, at a ceremony hosted by the Greek National Opera that will be livestreamed internationally on OperaVision. The full shortlist is available at operaawards.org.

Featured Photo: Lynn Lane

Events, Fine Arts