Founded in 1998 by harpsichordist and conductor Matthew Dirst, Ars Lyrica Houston presents a diverse array of music in its original context while creating connections to contemporary life. Imaginative programming features neglected gems alongside familiar masterworks, and extracts the dramatic potential, emotional resonance, and expressive power of music. Its local subscription series, according to the Houston Chronicle, “sets the agenda” for early music in Houston. Ars Lyrica appears regularly at international festivals and conferences because of its distinctive focus, and its pioneering efforts in the field of authentic performance have won international acclaim.

Ars Lyrica Houston’s 2026/27 season, Visions & Visionaries, explores the power of imagination through music that transforms stories, emotions, and ideas into vivid experiences. The season ranges from the mythological drama of Charpentier’s Actéon and the supernatural intensity of Haunted Spirits to works by Haydn and Marianna Martines in Viennese Dreamers and a new commissioned work inspired by Central American Maya folk traditions, Soy la Diosa. The season culminates with a fully staged production of Handel’s Oreste, continuing Ars Lyrica’s commitment to bringing rarely heard Baroque opera to Houston audiences.

https://www.arslyricahouston.org/