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    Announcing FIRST NIGHT – Opening Night Events!

    THE DALLAS OPERA’S 2016-2017  SEASON OPENING NIGHT EVENTS

    FIRST NIGHT!
    Presented by Deutsche Bank Wealth Management

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    FESTIVITIES BEGIN FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016 AT 5:30 PM
    THE MARGOT AND BILL WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE
    AT THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

    Red Carpet Arrival
    Gourmet Delights by Wolfgang Puck

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    The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night
    Performance of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin
    Curtain Time, 8:00 p.m.

    Glittering After Party with Cast

    FIRST NIGHT CHAIRS
    ELLEN AND DON WINSPEAR

     Honorary Chairs Joyce and Harvey Mitchell

    DALLAS, August 2, 2016 – Celebrating its dazzling 60th Season, The Dallas Opera presents FIRST NIGHT—part of the magnificent kick-off of the 2016-2017 Season.

    Devoted philanthropists Ellen and Don Winspear chair the festivities and Joyce and Harvey Mitchell are Honorary Chairs. The Presenting Sponsor is Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. 

    Patrons will be immersed in the celebrity treatment with a red carpet entrance outside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House on Friday, October 28, 2016 beginning at 5:30 p.m. A lovely tent in Sammons Park is the setting for the elegant Pre-Performance Dinner which starts at 6:00 p.m. Creative culinary genius Wolfgang Puck will cater the event which is chaired by Matrice Ellis-Kirk and Ambassador Ron Kirk.

    The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin begins at 8:00 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

    The celebrations continue with the FIRST NIGHT After Party with the cast from 11:00 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The dancing and dining with the principal performers of Eugene Onegin is sure to be a highlight of the kick-off events!

    The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is located in the heart of the Arts District at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

    “Don and I are extremely honored to chair this year’s season opening events. Both of our parents were so deeply involved with the opera, we see this as a way to honor them in addition to the entire opera family who have made the past 60 years possible, said Ellen Winspear.

    “Sixty years is a tremendous milestone for The Dallas Opera! The growth of this company, from Maria Callas’ 1957 inaugural concert to current day when we beam our productions around the globe by satellite, is a testimony to the innovation we have experienced and our dedication to ensuring that opera remains appealing and relevant,” added Don Winspear.

    FIRST NIGHT - The WINSPEAR FAMILY - Photo by Lara Bierner L-R Erika and Frank Winspear, Don and Ellen Winspear, Ryan and Catherine Winspear (800x533)
    FIRST NIGHT Elegance and Excitement! (L-R) Erika and Frank Winspear, Event Chairs Don and Ellen Winspear, Ryan and Catherine Winspear (Photo by Lara Bierner, FIRST NIGHT 2015

    “We certainly have much to celebrate as we begin our 60th Season!  Not only are we proud to present a diverse group of classic and lesser-known operas this season, but we are honored to reflect on all the success of the previous decades. It is also a unique opportunity to express our thanks to our many dedicated patrons and sponsors who have supported this company throughout the years. It is through their commitment to this magnificent art form that we continue to bring the experience of international caliber opera to North Texas. Please join us!” explains Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO for The Dallas Opera.”

    The ambiance of the black-tie Pre-Performance Dinner will be inspired by the opera Eugene Onegin, and catered by Wolfgang Puck. Tables for the dinner range from $25,000 to $7,500 with individual tickets available for $1,000. All dinner tickets include After Party tickets. Please visit www.dallasopera.org/firstnight to purchase tickets.

    “Deutsche Bank has always been an engaged partner in support of the arts community in Dallas,” said Mark LaRoe, Head of Dallas Private Bank office Deutsche Bank Wealth Management. “On a personal note, FIRST NIGHT at The Dallas Opera is one of the highlights of the year for Dianne and me.”

     In Tchaikovsky’s lush opera, Eugene Onegin, innocence and passion collide. Set in 19th century Russia, a naïve young country girl becomes smitten with an aristocrat, Onegin. Tatyana (soprano Svetlana Aksenova) confesses her love in a letter to the arrogant Onegin (baritone Andrei Bondarenko) who rejects her affections. Pride and jealousy lead to a confrontation between Onegin and his friend Lensky (Stephen Costello), who is in love with Tatyana’s sister Olga (Kai Rüütel), resulting in a fatal duel. Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will lead The Dallas Opera Orchestra in this beautiful Israeli Opera production.

    Performances will continue on October 30(m), November 2 and 5, 2016 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. All evening performances (other than the Opening Night of the Season) will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m.  Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. A free, pre-performance lecture (“The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks”) will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at most performances. 

    The After Party offers a fun opportunity to mingle with the incredible performers of Eugene Onegin while enjoying the fabulous entertainment of the Hunter Sullivan Big Band. A very popular group in Dallas, it specializes in danceable Big Band classics. The fete also features delectable noshes, desserts, coffee and specialty cocktails by Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory.

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    QUICK FACTS

    2016-2017 FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT
    PRESENTED BY THE DALLAS OPERA
    FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon
    NorthPark Center Presenting Sponsor
    Thursday, October 27, 2016
    11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

    Kick-Off Event for 60 Year Celebration
    Chairs: Ellen and Don Winspear
    Honorary Chairs: Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
    Luncheon Chairs: Tiffany Divis, Kara Goss, Rhonda Marcus
    Featuring: Fashions by Italian Luxury Brand Versace
    Catering: Wolfgang Puck
    Location: Winspear Opera House
    Tickets: Start at $300
    www.dallasopera.org/firstsight

     

    FIRST NIGHT
    Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Presenting Sponsor
    Pre-Performance Dinner and After Party
    Friday, October 28, 2016
    5:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

    Celebrating the 60th Year of The Dallas Opera
    Chairs: Ellen and Don Winspear
    Honorary Chairs: Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
    First Night Dinner Chairs: Matrice Ellis-Kirk, Ambassador Ron Kirk
    Featuring: Red carpet glamour; gourmet black tie dinner prior to the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Eugene Onegin
    Location: Sammons Park in Front of the Winspear Opera House – Tent
    Catering: Wolfgang Puck
    Tickets start at $1000
    www.dallasopera.org/firstnight

     

    AFTER PARTY
    Friday, October 28, 2016; 11:00 pm to 1:30 am

    Location: Sammons Park in Front of the Winspear Opera House – Tent
    Featuring: The Hunter Sullivan Big Band
    Catering: Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory, Open Bar
    Tickets: Included with First Night Ticket Purchase

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    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT EVENTS AT THE DALLAS OPERA
    IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
    VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS

    2016-2017 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

    EUGENE ONEGIN
    By Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
    October 28, 30(m), November 2, 5, 2016

    MOBY-DICK
    By Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer
    November 4, 6(m), 9, 12, 18, 20(m), 2016

    MADAME BUTTERFLY
    By Giacomo Puccini
    March 10, 12(m), 15, 18, 24, 26(m), 2017 

    THE TURN OF THE SCREW
    By Benjamin Britten
    March 17, 19(m), 22, 25, 2017 

    NORMA
    By Vincenzo Bellini
    April 21, 23(m), 26, 29, May 7(m), 2017

    Season subscriptions are on sale and prices start at $95 for all five opera productions. The benefits of becoming a Dallas Opera subscriber include substantial savings off single ticket prices, priority seating, lost ticket replacement, ticket exchanges and invitations to special events. For more information, please contact the friendly staff in The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214-443-1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.

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    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera.  Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera.  Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News.  A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

     

    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA
    IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7.  VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG
    FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS
    Contact Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and PR at suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
    Or Celeste Hart, Communications Manager at celeste.hart@dallasopera.org

     

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    LEGENDARY PHILANTHROPIST PASSES AWAY IN DALLAS

    DALLAS, OCTOBER 21, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is sad to announce the death yesterday of Mrs. William W. Winspear at an assisted living facility in Dallas, Texas, following a long illness.  Margot Winspear was 83 years old.

    “It was with profound sorrow that The Dallas Opera learned of the passing of Margot Winspear, the late Bill Winspear’s wife, partner and muse; the much-loved mother of five children and grandmother to many more.  Although these were the roles of which she was undoubtedly most proud, Margot was also a dedicated and passionate music lover, a longtime member of The Dallas Opera Board, and an extraordinary benefactor who, along with her husband, gave the history-making $42 million dollar gift that sparked the construction of their namesake opera house at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.  It was a long-held dream come true.

    “Besides crucial leadership roles in the arts in Dallas, Margot and Bill Winspear established an endowment for UNT’s College of Music and generously supported young, emerging talents, including the internationally renowned soprano Latonia Moore.  They were instrumental in the construction of UNT’s performance hall at the Murchison Performing Arts Center and donated additional millions to UT Southwestern Medical Center for Alzheimer’s research.

    “They were inspirational in other ways as well: they loved life, remembered where they came from, sought the best for their community, gave generously and wisely, and cherished each other always.

    “Our hearts go out to Don and Ellen Winspear and to all the grieving friends and family members.  We will never forget Margot’s warmth, her quiet grace, or her ever-present smile. 

    “She was, and is, irreplaceable.”

     

    Steve Suellentrop, Chairman

    The Dallas Opera

     

    Funeral arrangements for Margot Winspear are pending.

    A memorial service is being planned with details to be announced at a later date. 

     

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    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from:  Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).  American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera.  Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera.  Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News.  A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

     

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