Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has launched a three-year initiative in collaboration with Novum Energy, the Novum Foundation, and Novum Energy CEO Alfredo Vilas to advance the careers of Latin American opera artists and expand diverse programming. The initiative includes underwriting performances by leading Latin American artists, fostering emerging talent, and creating a new Spanish-language opera.

As part of this effort, Novum Energy will sponsor performances by Mexican conductor Roberto Kalb, leading West Side Story, and Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, debuting as Mimì in La bohème during HGO's 2025 season. Additionally, the Novum Foundation will support an annual fellowship program with HGO’s Butler Studio, offering personalized training for Latin American artists.

The initiative also includes commissioning a Spanish-language opera with a culturally relevant story, continuing HGO’s legacy of creating impactful works that resonate with Houston’s diverse communities. This commitment builds on HGO's history of commissioning acclaimed Spanish-language operas and mariachi productions.

To celebrate, HGO will host its inaugural Noche de Ópera performance of West Side Story on February 15, 2025, featuring bilingual supertitles and cultural programming. More details are available at HGO.org.

Novum Energy, under Vilas’s leadership, has supported HGO for over a decade, including underwriting the 2015 mariachi opera El Pasado Nunca Se Termina. The new initiative further solidifies their commitment to fostering diverse artistic expression and mentoring rising talent in the world of opera.