Benjamin Manis conducts Tosca at Houston Grand Opera

Conductor Benjamin Manis returned to the Houston Grand Opera this month to conduct a riveting revival of Puccini favorite Tosca, directed by John Caird and starring soprano Tamara Wilson, tenor Jonathan Tetelman, and baritone Rod Gilfry. Manis joined the Houston Grand Opera (HGO) as Resident Conductor in September 2019. This season with HGO, he will also conduct performances of Romeo and Juliet and The Snowy Day. Recent performances at HGO include Rigoletto, El Milagro del Recuerdo, the 2020 world premiere of Marian’s Song, and the subsequent HGO Digital filmed version and Miller Outdoor Theatre performances of the same work. He received favorable reviews from the Houston press:

“Maestro Benjamin Manis, a former HGO resident conductor, whips up the orchestra into furious climaxes or subtle love coos, always finding the correct balance between lust and love, leaving the artists on stage with just the right amount of breathing room before the next outburst.”
Houston Press

“Conducted by Shepherd School alum Ben Manis, Puccini’s lush and immersive score flows from moments of great warmth and tranquility to deliciously exciting drama.”
Houston Chronicle

“For all the power and ferocity that the HGO Orchestra, conducted by Benjamin Manis, put into the score’s explosions, it was even more telling in the quiet scenes. From the glow of the strings in quiet moments to the silkiness of the clarinet solo launching “E lucevan le stelle,” the group savored Puccini’s tone-painting and glow.”
Texas Classical Review