Houston Grand Opera (HGO) is gearing up to kick off its 2023-24 season with an electrifying world premiere that promises to captivate audiences from October 20 to November 3 at the Wortham Theater Center. As the 75th company-commissioned original opera by HGO, "Intelligence" is set to make history as the very first world premiere to mark the beginning of a new season. Don't miss this extraordinary event—secure your tickets today at HGO.org.

The creative powerhouse behind "Intelligence" comprises composer Jake Heggie, librettist Gene Scheer, and director/choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. Together, they have woven a mesmerizing tapestry of music, prose, and dance, delivering an American epic that promises to redefine the boundaries of opera. Drawing upon meticulous historical research, this opera delves into a gripping, yet relatively unknown, narrative: the tale of two remarkable female spies operating in Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War.

Elizabeth Van Lew, hailing from a prominent Confederate family, and Mary Jane Bowser, a remarkable figure born into slavery who became a clandestine operative in Jefferson Davis's Confederate White House, are the central characters of this narrative. Their untold story is brought to life on the operatic stage, shedding light on their daring and courageous actions during a tumultuous era in American history.

Composer Jake Heggie shares his enthusiasm for this groundbreaking production: "Together, Jawole, Gene, and I have sought to move forward in this enormously flexible art form. We're exploring a new possibility for opera where words, music, and movement are essential. In service of that concept, the score is fresh, rhythmic, and lyrical; the language is contemporary, and the movement and dance are bold, inhabiting every corner of the story."

Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, founder of the renowned New York dance ensemble Urban Bush Women, embarks on her first operatic venture with "Intelligence." She expresses her excitement for this new artistic horizon: "This is my first opera, but not my last. The art form provides an opportunity to go forward into these big, sustained emotional places, which is very exciting for me. I feel Jake's music on a visceral level, in the heart, the gut, and the mind. That is a match for the style that I create, the physicality that I bring, as we share this complex story, this American story, that must be told."

Librettist Gene Scheer underlines the significance of opera in illuminating historical narratives: "The real story behind 'Intelligence' is one that scholars are continuing to uncover. In fact, we learned of the discovery of new source materials in the middle of writing the opera. As historians probe the details of what happened in the past, opera infuses it with life, providing a kind of emotional archaeology that allows us to explore the human experience. What did it feel like for these two women to risk their lives to help the Union? And what might have been the nature of the relationship between these two women? This is something we all thought an opera could illuminate brilliantly."

Be part of this historical moment in Houston's cultural landscape. Join Houston Grand Opera for the world premiere of "Intelligence" on October 20, and witness the magic of opera, history, and artistry converge in a mesmerizing spectacle that will leave you spellbound.