We had the good fortune of connecting with Kinga Ferguson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Kinga, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The success of Ars Lyrica Houston is grounded in our commitment to artistic excellence and our dedication to building a strong, inclusive community around early music. Over the past two decades, we’ve established ourselves not only as an organization that brings 17th and 18th-century music to life but as one that values making these incredible Baroque works accessible to everyone, from seasoned patrons to young, first-time listeners.
A defining aspect of Ars Lyrica’s journey has been the fact that we embrace both local engagement and global reach. While our mainstage season performances are the core pillar of what we do, they’re complemented by accessible outreach initiatives, which bring Baroque music to parks, hospitals, airports, schools, and community centers across Houston. In addition, our robust virtual offerings have allowed us to connect with audiences worldwide.
Ars Lyrica has garnered a loyal audience through the quality of our performances, from our critically acclaimed recordings, which include a GRAMMY-nominated opera, to biennial fully-staged Baroque operas. Each performance is carefully crafted to highlight not only beloved Baroque works but also overlooked gems—an approach that keeps our repertoire fresh and meaningful, appealing to both seasoned listeners and those just beginning their journey with early music.
At Ars Lyrica, we believe that Baroque music has a unique power to inspire and move. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that this art form not only survives but also thrives in contemporary culture, making a lasting impact both in Houston and beyond.
What should our readers know about your business?
Ars Lyrica Houston (ALH) presents distinctive musical programming that serves the local community in multiple ways. An annual subscription series of six mainstage programs features music principally from the 17th and 18th centuries, the “golden age” of lyric art, on period instruments. ALH also produces annually numerous outreach programs—from interactive educational experiences to ambassadorial efforts for the City of Houston—that seek to educate new audiences and make classical music more accessible.
Over the years ALH has also built a larger, worldwide platform for its programming through livestreams of all subscription programs, national touring, appearances at major festivals, and invitations to perform at conventions of international scholarly and professional organizations. Such activities have done much to enhance Houston’s reputation as a center for excellence in historically informed performance.
Since incorporation in 2004, ALH has created a singular brand by spotlighting neglected gems alongside more familiar musical repertoire. Collaborations with leading stage directors, choreographers, choirs, and more specialized organizations such as the New York Baroque Dance Company have produced numerous Houston premieres of superb though seldom encountered Baroque operas, ballets, and oratorios. This focus distinguishes Ars Lyrica from other local organizations, as do our critically acclaimed commercial recordings, one of which was honored with a Grammy nomination for Best Opera 2011.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston’s Hidden Gem: The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern is a former underground drinking water reservoir built in 1926 for the City of Houston. Recognizing its historical and architectural significance, Buffalo Bayou Park retained the Houston-based architecture and repurposed the Cistern into the magnificent public space for tours, performances, and art installations. This is a unique experience that takes you back in time and to a different world, right in the heart of Houston! I especially enjoy music performances at the Cistern, with its haunting acoustics and a 17-second echo. Ars Lyrica will be curating a series of immersive music experiences
at the Cistern during the 2025 Holiday Season. https://buffalobayou.org/location/the-cistern/
Tex-Mex food is a must in Houston:
My personal favorite Tex-Mex restaurants are El Tiempo Cantina and Ninfa’s. Downtown, there is a more upscale restaurant called Xochi that is focused on Oaxacan food, has nice mezcal cocktails, and has been nominated for multiple James Beard awards.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Matthew Dirst, Founder and Artistic Director, Ars Lyrica Houston
Website: https://www.arslyricahouston.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arslyricahouston/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArsLyricaHouston
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg5tuXK67ifyVGcgYNOf5gw
Image Credits
Photos by Pin Lim, Lynn Lane, Lauren Ross for Ars Lyrica Houston