Creativity Continues

The Texas arts groups offering virtual access to music, museums, and more

Ticket-holders can watch a taped performance of the Alley Theatre's 1984.

Photo by Lynn Lane

Everything's canceled, but that doesn't mean you're limited in what you can enjoy from home right now. Arts groups all across Texas are streaming concerts, opera, dance, and even museum tours for free during the coronavirus quarantine, and we're adding more as they come in.

The Alley Theatre
Patrons can watch a taped performance of the recently canceled 1984. Current ticket holders will be sent a password protected link, and those who would like to still watch are welcome to purchase tickets to gain access to the link.

Houston Symphony
You can listen to Houston Public Media broadcasts and national broadcasts anytime on the symphony's website, or tune in to I Heart Radio to hear selected albums.

ROCO
The Houston-based music ensemble has its entire archive of audio and video recordings available online, including a number of its more than 100 world-premiere commissions (and several of which were also included in the Grammy-winning debut album Visions Take Flight).

Ars Lyrica Houston
The early music ensemble has created two new series: Musical Moments and Concerts & Conversations. All of their content will be aired on their social media platforms as well as newsletters and YouTube. They will be posting new content on Mondays and Fridays at 10 am.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Following the closing of the Origins: Fossils from the Cradle of Humankind exhibition, you can now virtually explore real fossils that belonged to two very ancient relatives: Homo naledi (a.k.a. Neo) and Australopithecus sediba (a.k.a. Karabo). Plus follow the extraordinary journey of the scientists actively working on and researching these two new fascinating species. The 360-degree tour is available here.

The Cliburn
The esteemed classical piano music organization has announced three new online initiatives: Cliburn Watch Party, to relive some of the best moments of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition; Cliburn Kids, music fun for little ones; and Cliburn Amateur Spotlight, performance videos submitted by the 72 amateur pianists who were accepted as competitors or festival participants. Weekly schedules will be announced each Sunday.

Fusebox Festival
The Austin festival originally scheduled for April 15-19 will now go digital; keep an eye on the Facebook page for updates about how to watch and listen.

Black Fret
Celebrate the Austin music scene in a safe and responsible way through a livestream of Austin Love & Lightstream, a local response to the cancelation of SXSW. Closed to the public and taking place on a sterilized outdoor sound stage at Scholz Garten, Austin bands and personalities will be livestreamed six hours a day starting at 4 pm each day, beginning March 17. Viewers can access the Facebook Live stream from the Black Fret website.

Erykah Badu
The singer is performing her Quarantine Concert Series: Live From My Bedroom on Instagram, with each concert only costing a dollar to watch.

Dallas Theater Center
A video was taken of the final dress rehearsal for American Mariachi, a new work by José Cruz Gonzalez about a young woman who forms the first all-female mariachi band in the 1970s, despite disapproving relatives and going against social norms. Patrons are encouraged to pay-what-you-can — starting at $15 — to receive a link and a password to access the recording within 24 hours. Purchasers will have up to two weeks to watch the video. Dallas Theater Center is allowed to sell the video up to the original close date of April 5, 2020; after that, it will be deleted. The number of videos for sale is the same as the number of seats available throughout the run, so patrons are encouraged to buy their "tickets" soon.

Avant Chamber Ballet
Watch the 360-degree world premiere video of 19th Amendment recorded on February 15, 2020, at Moody Performance Hall, spotlighting choreographer Katie Puder and composer Quinn Mason.

American Baroque Opera Company
Enjoy the full-length production of La Serva Padrona by Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.

Dallas Museum of Art
Browse more than 25,000 works of art from all cultures and time periods.

Thin Line Fest and Dallas VideoFest
The Denton-based multidisciplinary festival will be streaming its selection of documentaries online March 25-29, while Dallas VideoFest will host its Alternative Fiction festival April 3-5. Featuring a curated collection of over 50 documentary features and shorts, Thin Line Fest's film division will stream all screenings and Q&A sessions online. Attendees will be able to login at www.thinline.us and then choose which "theater" to stream live. The fest will still hold its Photography & Film Award Ceremony, which will be live-streamed on March 29.

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If you have a virtual concert or artwork that can be enjoyed from home during this time, email lindseyw@culturemap.com and we'll add you to the ever-growing list.

movies museums video theater dance music concerts

Ride the Wave

Houston Grand Opera's new album spotlights groundbreaking production

Ryan McKinny holding Lauren Snouffer in a scene from HGO's Breaking the Waves

Photo by Lynn Lane

Lauren Snouffer and Ryan McKinney lead a star-studded cast in Breaking the Waves, the latest album release from Houston Grand Opera, available August 7.

A groundbreaking opera is finally getting a recording, and Houston Grand Opera is behind it. Breaking the Waves, by composer Missy Massoli and librettist Royce Vavrek, originally premiered in 2016. The opera’s regional premiere at HGO during the 2024 - 2025 season was captured for the album release. It will be available starting August 7 in both physical and digital formats, with streaming offered on major platforms including Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify.

This album is the third release from the Houston Grand Opera label, created in partnership with the London Symphony Orchestra’s LSO Live. The label’s first album — for company-commissioned world-premiere opera Intelligence — won the 2026 GRAMMY Award for Best Opera Recording.

It features a star-studded cast led by soprano Lauren Snouffer and bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, accompanied by the HGO Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of HGO Music Director Emeritus Patrick Summers.

Breaking the Waves is set in Calvinist 1970s Scotland, and tells the story of the impressionable young Bess (Snouffer) and offshore oil rigger Jan (McKinny). After they marry, Bess embarks on a journey of sexual exploration that, following a series of shocking events, ends in tragedy. Based on the art film of the same name by Lars von Trier, it won the inaugural Best New Opera Award from the Music Critics Association of North America and was shortlisted for Best World Premiere at the International Opera Awards.

“Breaking the Waves is a fearless, devastating, and utterly singular landmark of contemporary American opera from one of the most compelling compositional voices of this generation,” HGO General Director and CEO Khori Dastoor said in a statement. “Alongside Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek, our company’s incredible cast, orchestra, and chorus have brought their own fearlessness to this piece, rising to meet its challenges with passionate artistry. This album brilliantly captures the electricity of these sublime live performances, preserving their energy in every measure. HGO launched this label to bring bold American works to the world, and there is no better testament to that mission than what you will hear here.”

In addition to Snouffer and McKinny, the cast features soprano Michelle Bradley as Mother, mezzo-soprano Maire Therese Carmack as Dodo McNeill, tenor David Portillo as Dr. Richardson, baritone Michael Mayes as Councilman, bass-baritone Sam Dhobhany as Terry, bass Johnny Salvesen as Sadistic Sailor, tenor Andrew Surrena as Young Sailor, and Jon Janacek as Tenor Solo.

“Breaking the Waves is one of the most important operas of the 21st century, a work of incredible beauty, dramatic power, and profound lessons,” said Summers. “I am deeply honored to conduct its first recording.”

The recording was made possible by Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc., Juan Moreno, Kristine Vikmanis and Denny Creighton, Alexander Sanger, and David Gindler.

“I’m so grateful that Houston Grand Opera has captured this extraordinary cast and creative team in this recording of Breaking the Waves. Opera is an art form that not only takes a village, but a small city, and this performance is filled with artists who gave themselves completely to this emotional, dramatic whirlwind,” said Mazzoli.

Photo by Lynn Lane

Lauren Snouffer and Ryan McKinney lead a star-studded cast in Breaking the Waves, the latest album release from Houston Grand Opera, available August 7.

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