See the latest performing arts productions and theater happenings opening across Houston from Monday, November 6 to Sunday, November 12, 2023.

Looking for ways to keep the theater calendar straight? We have you covered with this weekly roundup series tracking openings at theaters and performing arts institutions across the city of Houston.

Dig deeper for more ongoing performances happening on stages across Houston by checking out the 365 Houston Calendar.

Here’s our list of must-see openings:

Top Performing Arts Openings This Week: November 6 to 12, 2023

• Landscapes from Italy at Italian Cultural & Community Center | Wednesday, November 8 | FREE – Pianist Lucrezia Slomp performs music by Liszt composed during his travels in Italy, exploring pieces dedicated to the poets Petrarca and Dante, as well as music by Alessandro Scarlatti and Frederic Chopin, who was inspired by Italian opera for his piano compositions. 7pm.
• Lands: Portrait of the City of Houston at MATCH | Thursday, November 9 – French artists Jocelyn Cottencin and Emmanuelle Huynh present a unique production that starts outside MATCH with choreographed performances before being guided into the theater for a film that probes the personal and cultural memory embedded within Houston’s local geography. Pay-what-you-wish; suggested price of $25. 6:30pm.
• Musiqa presents Underground Sounds at Buffalo Bayou Cistern | Thursday, November 9 to Saturday, November 12 – Enjoy the world premiere of new music by artist board member Pierre Jalbert. This half-hour length composition was written to take advantage of the cistern’s unique acoustic reverberations. Please note: Performances are currently sold out, but in-person wait list reservations can be made beginning exactly 30 minutes before each concert. Showtimes vary.
• DaCamera presents Fire Shut Up in My Bones at Wortham Center | Friday, November 10 – Composer Terrance Blanchard brings a new suite of music from his groundbreaking opera, Fire Shut Up in My Bones, the first opera by a Black composer to be staged at the Met. This “opera in jazz” based on the memoir by Charles M. Blow is the coming of age story of a young man growing up in the face of adversity. $42.50 and up. 8pm.
• Houston Symphony presents Symphonic Dances Festival: Valčuha Conducts Rachmaninoff at Jones Hall | Friday, November 10 to Sunday, November 12 – This two-weekend concert event kicks off Friday with Rachmaninoff’s breathtakingly beautiful melodies. Pianist Behzod Abduraimov joins the symphony for the program, which also features G. Ortiz’s “Kauyumari” and the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2. $34 and up. Showtimes vary.
• ROCO in Concert: Infrared at the Church of St. John the Divine | Saturday, November 11 – Conductor Johannes Debus makes his ROCO debut in a program that includes Brazilian American composer Clarice Assad’s Ode to Carmen Miranda, “Nell ‘Inferno” by Richard Danielpour, as well as music by Mendelssohn, Mozart and Missy Mazzoli. Pay-what-you-wish. 5pm.
• Bella Gaia with William Close & the Earth Harp Collective at Miller Outdoor Theatre | Saturday, November 11 | FREE – Miller caps off its centennial year with a pre-show celebration featuring steampunk photo ops and entertainment, followed by a concert and visual art projection. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective will perform on two large-scale harps with accompanying musicians as Bella Gaia displays a visual work that reminds us of connection to the planet and one another. 5:30pm for the pre-show celebration; concert begins at 7:30pm.
• Houston Chamber Choir presents Byrds of a Feather at St. Thomas Episcopal Church | Saturday, November 11 – The choir sings works by composer William Byrd in honor of the 400th anniversary of his death. They will also perform selections by Byrd’s contemporaries Thomas Weelkes, Orlando Gibbons and Thomas Morely. $45. 7:30pm.
• Virtuosi Opening Night Concert at Hobby Center | Saturday, November 11 – Celebrating its 28th season, the city’s premier youth orchestra offers this concert to kick off the 2023-2024 season and showcase the artistry of its young performers. $34.50 and up. 7:30pm.
• Musica Tra Amici: The World of Johannes Brahms at MATCH | Sunday, November 12 – Explore the life and musical legacy of Johannes Brahms at this chamber concert in Midtown, featuring the emotionally riveting C minor piano quartet. $35. 7pm.

Final Performances This Week

The final show for Houston Grand Opera’s Falstaff arrives on Friday, November 10; and the last performances of Switzerland at Stages and Underground Sounds at the Buffalo Bayou Cistern are on Sunday, November 12.

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