A Spring in its step: Divergence Vocal Theater plans celebration of new space

There is no other way to christen a new music venue than bombarding its walls with sounds, people and activities that exemplify the venue's raison d'être.

Divergence Music & Arts is Divergence Vocal Theater's new venue in the burgeoning Spring Street Studios in the Lower Washington Cultural Arts District, best described as an inspiring, non-traditional, funky, comfortable, lofty, garage-grungy warehouse studio space for chamber arts, specifically chamber music and chamber opera. 

And leave it to DVT's artistic director and soprano Misha Penton to put together an assemblage of Houston's most sought-out classical musicians, from the classically trained to the indy-chic, to spank its reverberant space with a sample of what's to come. On Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m., Penton and friends are opening Divergence Music & Arts in grandiose style with a Soirée & Open House, where dance, spoken word, music, theater and opera collide to expand the vocabulary of the respective artistic genres.

Joining Penton in this soiree will be singers Alison Greene, Natasha Manley, Shelley Auer, Lainie Diamond, Michael Walsh and Dennis Arrowsmith; pianists Kyle Evans and Jade Simmons; pianist and composer Hsin-Jung Tsai; composer Chris Becker; dancer Meg Brooker and actress Amy Guerin. The program reflects DVT's philosophy of bringing artists and people together to share in the experience of the arts.

Selkie, a Sea Tale was standing room only. Ditto for Klytemnestra: The Original Subversive Female. I expect this musical and social soiree to be packed and recommend reserving your spot early. Click here to do so. 

Watch CultureMap's exclusive tour of  Divergence Music & Arts: