Our Story

When Chris Holloway, a native Texan tenor, met Sasha Shirokov, a Ukrainian mezzo-soprano, they combined their rich performance experience spanning years of singing across international stages with their shared passion for exceptional music & theatre to create Opera Leggera in 2005.

​Remaining true to their mutual operatic backgrounds, the Holloways were inspired to include the word “opera” in the company’s name linked with “leggera,” the Italian word for “light,” capturing the lighter genres of music the theatre would present. ​In founding Opera Leggera, Chris and Sasha envisioned a unique musical theatre that would present a diverse repertoire, encompassing the styles of opera, operetta, pop, Broadway, & American-international classic standards to the North and Greater Houston communities. 

Our mission at Opera Leggera is to produce original musical/theatrical productions that preserve cultural values and enrich audiences of all ages and backgrounds while providing professional singers, musicians, dancers, and actors the opportunity to perform in a professional theatrical setting alongside local talents in a collaborative, educational, and inspiring atmosphere. 
In performing such an eclectic array of songs and music compositions onstage, Opera Leggera would share the splendor of America’s multicultural musical heritage with generations of audiences through educational and entertaining theatrical performances. Opera Leggera further prides itself in showcasing some of Houston’s most outstanding performers, singers, musicians, dancers, and actors alike, making musical excellence accessible to its audiences of all ages and backgrounds. In creating a collaborative, educational, and inspiring atmosphere for guest performers, Opera Leggera is also dedicated to providing local, aspiring talents the opportunity to perform in a professional theatrical setting alongside performers with decades of experience in the arts. 
On July 15, 2005, Opera Leggera presented its first official performance titled “Entertainment on the House” to a filled auditorium in the state-of-the-art venue in Kingwood, Texas, called The Nathaniel Center. From this momentous performance until today, Opera Leggera continues to produce exciting original musical extravaganzas– each presented by a phenomenal cast of singers, dancers, actors, and musicians arrayed in vivid costumes, performing on a beautifully adorned stage. Through the years, Opera Leggera has produced 30 shows and counting, each presented with a unique theatrical touch that attracts audience members from across Houston and beyond for an unforgettable musical experience that transforms the individual's appreciation of music and theatre into a life-long passion.