GRAMMY Glory: Houston Grand Opera Celebrates ‘Intelligence’ Win
Houston Grand Opera took home a GRAMMY award at the 2026 ceremony. Here are all the details.
For the third time in Houston Grand Opera’s history, the company has cemented a win at the prestigious GRAMMY awards. The 2026 ceremony took place on February 1, and HGO took home the Best Opera Recording award for its production of “Intelligence.” The opera was commissioned by HGO—the award-winning performance was filmed during its world premiere in 2023 at the Wortham Theater Center. The performance was then released in August 2025, making it eligible for this year’s GRAMMY Awards.
It has been over 35 years since Houston Grand Opera took home a GRAMMY. The company won in 1978 for its production of “Porgy and Bess,” and in 1989 for “Nixon in China.” The CEO and director of Houston Grand Opera, Khori Dastoor, spoke with Ron Trevino from KHOU 11 before the GRAMMYs about the production. Dastoor said, “It’s an amazing story of bravery, of patience, and just the power one individual or two can have on the outcome of a country.” The cast was led by notable performers Jamie Barton, a mezzo-soprano, and Janai Brugger, a soprano. Maestro Kwamé Ryan led the orchestra itself.
In a statement issued following the HGO’s exciting win, Dastoor wrote: “This GRAMMY win is an affirmation of what Houston Grand Opera stands for—bold creativity, artistic excellence, and the power of American opera. We’re beaming with pride to see our city celebrated on the world stage. This award belongs to our brilliant cast, our virtuosic orchestra, and every artist and collaborator who brought this remarkable story to life. This award is not just a win for Houston Grand Opera—it’s a win for Houston. It’s a defining moment for our community and a celebration of the city’s world-class artistic talent.”
What is the GRAMMY-winning opera about?
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Houston Grand Opera’s GRAMMY-winning production of “Intelligence” was created by songwriter and librettist Gene Scheer and composer Jake Heggie. The pair collaborated with choreographer and director Jawole Willa Jo Zollar to bring their vision to life. The story centers on Elizabeth Van Lew and Mary Jane Bowser, who were Union spies during the Civil War. Bowser (played by Janai Brugger) was born into slavery and works in Van Lew’s (played by Jamie Barton) household. Van Lew sympathizes with Northerners in the battle, and talks Bowser into working at the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, where she can collect information and pass it on to Van Lew.
To watch the “Intelligence” team collect their GRAMMY at last night’s ceremony, click here.
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