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    Meet Rachel Sterrenberg

    Meet one of the Stars! Meet soprano Rachel Sterrenberg, who will be making her Dallas Opera debut in La Traviata as Annina, Violetta’s maid.

    When you heard the news that you’d been cast in this role, what were your thoughts on making your Dallas Opera debut?

    My first thought was how FUN this will be to spend some time in a part of the country I have not yet explored! I have heard nothing but wonderful things about The Dallas Opera, and I know the city itself has so much to offer. Something awesome I learned this past week is that Dallas has the longest consecutive Arts District in the entire country! I think that is amazing; so much to culturally explore for the city’s residents and visitors.

     

    How do you prepare yourself for a role and do you have any advice for young singers on how to approach a new piece of music?

    For a new role, I always look at the words first. What the storyline is and where my character fits into that story. If the piece is in another language (which is usually the case in opera!), I will then translate the piece and work through the diction and correct pronunciation for my lines and lyrics. Next, I dive into the music!! At this point, I will have noticed in the music score which areas seem to show the most vocal challenge, so I start at that point, then move through the piece in that order.

     

    What is your favorite role to perform and are there any roles you dream of performing someday?

    So far, my favorite role I have performed is a close tie: Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carméites and Anne Trulove in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress. I just love the journeys these two characters take, and the music is GLORIOUS!  As of right now, my dreams roles are Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and the title role in Massenet’s Cendrillon. But to be fair, my dreams roles change all the time!!

     

    Who is the singer you admire the most and why?

    Two singers come to mind who are current international stars. Joyce DiDonato and Sondra Radvanovsky are such honest, giving musicians and artists. I think the vulnerability these two particular women show in their work on stage (and off!) is exactly what modern audiences need!

     

    How did you come to realize you wanted to be an opera singer?

    I was not really introduced to opera and the concept of being an opera singer as a career until college. I was a music major at the University of Kentucky, and had incredible mentors who taught me a solid vocal technique and opera education. I caught the bug and have not looked back since!

     

    What is your earliest memory of opera?

    My grandmother really likes opera, so I think my earliest memory was likely a CD or record of her playing opera in their home when I was really young!

     

    What are you most excited about for this production?

    I am so thrilled to be singing with such incredible colleagues!! Georgia Jarman, René Barbera, and the entire group are incredible artists, and it is always very inspiring to be alongside people of such talent. My character, Annina is one of the smalller (but mighty!) roles in the production, so I get to spend a lot of time observing my cast-mates. I end up learning so much in opportunities like this!

     

    What is your favorite piece of music right now?

    The album that has been on repeat on my iPhone lately has actually been the opposite of opera!! Chance the Rapper’s latest album is so catchy and fun; it is my go-to! In terms of classical music, Debussy’s Pelleas et Melisande has been a favorite on my Spotify!

     

    What do you do in your spare time when you are not singing?

    I love cooking, I love plants, and I love yoga! I think when you spend so much of your time traveling and being away from home as an opera singer, doing “home” things becomes a very joyful experience. My husband and I have a huge collection of indoor plants and succulents, and yoga is a daily practice that has become a huge mainstay in my life. Namaste!

     

    Is this your first time in Dallas? Are you enjoying your time here?  What’s been your favorite experience while visiting?

    This is my first time staying in Dallas! I have family who live in Grapevine, so whenever I have come to visit in the past, it has been in the outskirts of the actual city. So far, I am loving Dallas! This town is humongous and has just about anything you could think of to offer visitors. I love food, so obviously the incredible food scene in Dallas has been a big treat for me! My favorite type of food is Mexican, so I think I am in just about the best part of the country for that. I am also looking forward to exploring the art museums downtown once we move the production to the Winspear Opera House!

    The Dallas Opera’s LA TRAVIATA Opens Oct. 27th

    La Traviata 2004 by Karen Almond

    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO PRESENT
    GIUSEPPE VERDI’S HEARTBREAKING 1853 MASTERPIECE
    LA TRAVIATA
    LIBRETTO BY FRANCESCO MARIA PIAVE
    ~~~~
    STARRING
    SOPRANO GEORGIA JARMAN AS VIOLETTA, TENOR RENÉ BARBERA AS ALFREDO, AND BELARUSSIAN BARITONE VLADISLAV SULIMSKY AS GIORGIO GERMONT

    ~~~~
    CONDUCTED BY MAESTRO CARLO MONTANARO
    IN HIS DALLAS OPERA DEBUT
    ORIGINAL DIRECTION BY FRANK GALATI
    2017 REVIVAL DIRECTED BY STEFANIA PANIGHINI
    IN HER AMERICAN DEBUT
    ~~~~
    OPENING NIGHT: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017
    7:30 PM IN THE WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE

    ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES
    October 29 (m), November 1, 4, 10 & 12 (m)
    ~~~~
    PRODUCTION UNDERWRITER:
    TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION

    DALLAS, OCTOBER 10, 2017 – The Dallas Opera is proud to present the second mainstage production of the 2017-2018 “Motives Unmasked!” Season: Giuseppe Verdi’s tender and bittersweet romance, LA TRAVIATA, opening on Friday, October 27, 2017 (The Amy and Vernon Faulconer Performance) at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Downtown Dallas. Verdi’s tragic-yet-beautiful tale of a “fallen woman” consistently appears at or near the top of the list of the world’s most popular operas.
    This sumptuous production from Lyric Opera of Chicago stars American soprano Georgia Jarman as the doomed Paris courtesan, Violetta Valéry; American tenor René Barbera in his company debut as Alfredo, the naïve young man who falls head-over-heels for her; and Belarussian baritone Vladislav Sulimsky as Alfredo’s deeply concerned father, Giorgio Germont.
    In their Dallas Opera debuts, acclaimed Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro guides the performance from the podium and Stefania Panighini—in her American debut—directs the 2017 revival of a production originally staged by director Frank Galati.
    This production is made possible through the generosity of the Texas Instruments Foundation.
    Subsequent performances of LA TRAVIATA will take place on October 29(m), November 1, 4, 10 and 12(m), 2017. Single tickets start at $19. Contact the Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or purchase online, 24/7, at dallasopera.org.

    Based on the play La dame aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas fils (the Younger) who originally presented the tragic love story as a novel, Verdi’s 1853 masterpiece overflows with some of the opera’s most sensuous and beautiful melodies, the most memorable characters, and the most heart-rending drama, making it a popular favorite from that day to this.

    Praised for her “crystalline tone and uncommon attention to detail” combined with “rhapsodic voluptuousness” (Opera), Georgia Jarman studied at Boston University and the Manhattan School of Music before captivating opera audiences across the U.S. in performances at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Boston Lyric Opera, Atlanta Opera, New Orleans Opera, Florentine Opera—as well as her 2010 Dallas Opera debut as Donna Elvira opposite Paolo Szot’s dangerously charming Don Giovanni. Since her initial bow at English National Opera, Ms. Jarman has conquered audiences throughout Europe and has become a favorite of audiences at Covent Garden. Her triumphs there include her portrayal of all four heroines in the Richard Jones production of The Tales of Hoffmann, for which The Independent (U.K.) hailed her as the “discovery of the year.”
    Ms. Jarman’s mastery of both lyric coloratura and bel canto repertoire has earned critical acclaim and left audiences “gasping” with pleasure.
    Romantically linked with Miss Jarman’s Violetta is tenor René Barbera, the first sole recipient of all three awards of the Operalia Competition in 2011. He sang performances of Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola in his debuts with Seattle Opera and Los Angeles Opera, and was heard as Almaviva at the Stanislavsky Music Theatre in Moscow. Mr. Barbera made his 2013 Santa Fe Opera debut as Rodrigo in Rossini’s La Donna del Lago. Recent highlights include Almaviva with the Opéra National de Paris, Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Almaviva and Iopas in Les Troyens in San Francisco, Tonio in La Fille du Régiment with Greensboro Opera, Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Los Angeles Opera, Giannetto in La Gazza Ladra and Narciso in Il Turco in Italia at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro. He also appeared as the Italian Tenor in Der Rosenkavalier at the Lyric Opera of Chicago; made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri, conducted by James Levine, prompting Classical Source to write: “He melted hearts with (his) ardent tone and thrilling high notes.”
    Mr. Barbera sang his first Alfredo in La Traviata in Palermo, Italy.
    This season, René Barbera will make a number of additional house debuts: Deutsche Oper Berlin as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, at Teatro all Scala Milan as Ernesto in Don Pasquale with conductor Riccardo Chailly, and for the Bayerische Staatsoper Munich as Ramiro in Rossini’s version of the Cinderella story, La Cenerentola. Other notable upcoming engagements include I Puritani at the Staatstheater Stuttgart and a return to the Opéra National de Paris as Almaviva.

    ~~~~
    This celebrated production also marks the welcome return of Belarussian baritone Vladislav Sulimsky to the Dallas Opera stage in the wake of a show-stopping appearance on the Winspear stage as Ibn-Hakia in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta. A member of the famed Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where he has sung countless roles since 2004, the Grammy-nominated Mr. Sulimsky made a strong impression on Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell: “With a dignified presence and a substantive polished baritone, Vladislav Sulimsky is deeply sympathetic.”

    “I am confident that Georgia Jarman and René Barbera will captivate audiences with their profound artistry and, together, they should create some of the most exciting chemistry onstage this season,” says Dallas Opera General Director & CEO Keith Cerny. “Just when you think Georgia can’t possibly sing any better—she astounds you by giving even more to her performances; and René’s star is rising so quickly in the opera firmament, he’s practically in orbit.
    “This is one TRAVIATA,” Mr. Cerny adds, “that will be talked about for many seasons to come.”
    American mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis will be making her Dallas Opera Debut as Violetta’s closest friend and confidante, Flora Bervoix. Earlier, Ms. Levis made quite a splash in the trousers role of Cherubino (at Wolf Trap and elsewhere) prompting Opera News to write that she “sailed through the role…leaving an impressive vocal glow in her wake.” Ms. Levis has been widely praised for her talent, versatility and fearlessness. She was awarded First Prize in the 2017 Klaudia Taev Competition and spent a full season with the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program at Los Angeles Opera.
    Tenor Brenton Ryan will make his first appearance on the Winspear stage as Alfredo’s friend Gastone. Hailed by Opera News for his “remarkable tonal suavity and refined phrasing,” Mr. Ryan is the winner of the Birgit Nilsson Prize of the 2016 Operalia competition and will be seen this season as Spoletta in a new Metropolitan Opera production of Tosca being broadcast to theaters around the world.
    Bass-baritone Dale Travis will return to the Dallas Opera in the role of Baron Douphol.
    Baritone Daniel Armstrong will make his house debut as the Marchese D’Obigny along with soprano Rachel Sterrenberg as Annina (Violetta’s loyal maid). In his second appearance on the TDO stage this season, bass-baritone Ryan Kuster returns in the role of the sympathetic Doctor Grenvil.
    Rounding out the cast is tenor Brian Rosewell as Violetta’s servant, Giuseppe; baritone Bobby L. Tinnion as Flora’s manservant; and bass Kyle Hancock as the Messenger.

    All six performances will be led by renowned Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro in his official Dallas Opera debut.
    After serving as music director of Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki from 2011 to 2014, Montanaro made house debuts at Opéra de Monte Carlo (Tosca), Rigoletto at Warsaw Opera, Seattle Opera (Maria Stuarda), Sydney Opera House, and San Francisco Opera where he conducted Puccini’s La Bohème. Mark Mandel of Opera News observed that Montanaro conducted with “Muti-like verve and sprung rhythms,” while a rave review of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra in Seen and Heard International drew attention to the “astounding job (Montanaro) did with this ensemble” and his terrific interaction with the singers. The review concluded, “Who says conductors don’t matter anymore?”
    Maestro Montanaro regularly conducts high-level master classes for women conductors on the cusp of major careers, as part of the prestigious Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera.

    This lushly romantic Lyric Opera of Chicago production was designed by Desmond Heeley with lighting design by Alan Burrett, and wig and make-up designs by Dawn Rivard.
    The choreographer is John de los Santos.
    Chorus Master Alexander Rom has the task of preparing the superb Dallas Opera Chorus.
    ~~~~

    Set in 19th-century Paris, where the young heir to a distinguished family name falls passionately in love with a woman of uncertain virtue, LA TRAVIATA is one of the most soulfully romantic works in the opera canon.
    Modeled after the too-short life and times of one of Paris’ best-known 19th century beauties, Marie Duplessis (who later went on to have a torrid affair with composer Franz Liszt); this is the story of her sometimes stormy relationship with writer Alexander Dumas the Younger, who immortalized her as “The Lady of the Camellias” after she succumbed to tuberculosis at the tender age of 23. After her death, the frenzied sale of her remaining jewels and belongings paid-off her outstanding debts and provided a tidy bequest to her niece in Normandy, who inherited Marie’s ill-gotten gains on the condition that she never set foot in Paris.
    In Dumas’ book, which served as the basis for his later play, his fictional heroine tells us, “I built a future life on your love; I dreamed of the country, of purity.” In Verdi’s opera, Alfredo (the stand-in for Dumas fils) was raised far from the wicked city-life and, in his naiveté, barely comprehends the choices that Violetta has been forced to make, in order to survive.
    However, composer Giuseppe Verdi, who at the time was living in his own “scandalous” and unconventional arrangement with Giuseppina Strepponi, understood these characters completely and renders them indelibly upon our hearts.
    For additional information about the cast, artistic/production team, and synopsis, or to purchase this “hot ticket”—visit www.dallasopera.org today.

    ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA
    Founded in 1957, The Dallas Opera is an internationally-recognized innovator dedicated to the overall advancement of the operatic art form and the support of established and emerging artists, as well as the education and development of new opera audiences in North Texas—and beyond. These goals are achieved by commissioning and producing world-class opera; through groundbreaking institutes, national competitions and topical programs; and by presenting opera in both traditional and non-traditional formats and venues in order to attract patrons of every background, educational level, and ethnicity—while engaging with more than 87,000 people in our community each year. TDO is equally committed to the task of responsible stewardship and is managed with efficiency and accountability, to the highest possible standards.

    ~~~~
    2017-2018 SEASON SPONSOR
    The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
    ~~~~
    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

    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation, Texas Instruments Foundation, the 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.

    The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by
    Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, and
    The Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund

    TDO Family Performances are a part of the
    Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

    TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2017-2018 DALLAS OPERA SEASON
    All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated. Single Tickets range from $19 to $289. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

    THE DALLAS OPERA 2017-2018 SEASON MAINSTAGE INFORMATION
    The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixty-First International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. With the exception of FIRST NIGHT, The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances.

    SAMSON & DALILA by Camille Saint-Saëns
    October 20, 22 (m), 25, 28, and November 5 (m), 2017
    A passionate drama of biblical proportions!
    Libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire
    Time: 1150 B.C.E.
    Place: Ancient Palestine
    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume / Pierre Vallet*
    Director: Bruno Berger-Gorski*
    Set Designer: Peter Dean Beck*
    Costume Designer: Carrie Robbins*
    Lighting Designer: Alan Burrett
    Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Choreographer: Nycole Ray*
    Starring: Olga Borodina* (Dalila), Clifton Forbis (Samson), Richard Paul Fink (High Priest of Dagon), Michael Chioldi* (Abimélech) and Ryan Kuster (Old Hebrew)
    A traditional period production from Pittsburgh Opera!

    LA TRAVIATA (“The Fallen Woman”) by Giuseppe Verdi
    October 27, 29 (m), November 1, 4, 10 and 12 (m), 2017
    Come toast the greatest love story in all of opera!
    Time: Mid-19th century
    Place: Paris, France and the French countryside
    Conductor: Carlo Montanaro*
    Original Director: Frank Galati*
    Revival Director: Stefania Panighini**
    Production Designer: Desmond Heeley
    Lighting Designer: Alan Burrett
    Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Choreographer: John de los Santos
    Starring: Georgia Jarman (Violetta Valéry), René Barbera* (Alfredo Germont), Vladislav Sulimsky (Giorgio Germont), Abigail Levis* (Flora Bervoix), Brenton Ryan* (Gastone), Dale Travis (Baron Douphol), Daniel Armstrong* (Marchese D’Obigny), Ryan Kuster (Doctor Grenvil) and Rachel Sterrenberg* (Annina)
    A gorgeous, classic production from Lyric Opera of Chicago!

    THE RING OF POLYKRATES & VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR
    A sweeping Viennese concerto paired with a charming domestic comedy!
    By Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    February 9, 11 (m), 14 and 17, 2018
    Violin Soloist (KORNGOLD CONCERTO): Augustin Dumay*
    The Dallas Opera Orchestra conducted by Emmanuel Villaume

    THE RING OF POLYKRATES
    Sumptuous Viennese music laced with orchestral color and wit!
    Libretto by Leo Feld
    Time: Early 20th century
    Place: Vienna, Austria
    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
    Director: Peter Kazaras
    Set Designer: Donald Eastman*
    Costume Designer: Tommy Bourgeois
    Lighting Designer: Krista Billings
    Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard
    Starring: Paul Groves* (Wilhelm Arndt), Laura Wilde* (Laura), Brenton Ryan (Florian Döbllinger), Susannah Biller* (Lieschen), and Craig Colclough* (Peter Vogel).
    One of the most rarely performed opera gems! In its third professional U.S. production!

    SUNKEN GARDEN by Michel van der Aa
    March 9, 11 (m), 14 and 17, 2018
    A phenomenal visual, musical and emotional adventure – live and in 3-D!
    Libretto by David Mitchell
    Time: Present Day
    Place: Unknown
    Conductor: Nicole Paiement
    Director: Michel van der Aa*
    Set Designer: Theun Mosk**
    Costume Designer: Astrid Schulz**
    Lighting Designer: Theun Mosk**
    Sound Designer: Tom Gelissen*
    Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard
    Starring: Roderick Williams* (Toby Kramer), Katherine Manley* (Zenna Briggs), and Miah Persson* (Iris Marinus).
    Combining live actors and 2-D and 3-D film, to take you where opera has never gone before!

    DON GIOVANNI by W.A. Mozart
    April 13, 15 (m), 18, 21, 27 and 29 (m), 2018
    Mozart’s operatic masterpiece brought vividly to life under the baton of Music Director Emmanuel Villaume!
    Time: 20th century
    Place: Seville, Spain and the surrounding countryside
    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
    Director: Robert Falls*
    Set Designer: Walt Spangler*
    Costume Designer: Ana Kuzmanic*
    Original Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler
    Lighting Designer: Chris Maravich*
    Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Starring: Mariusz Kwiecień (Don Giovanni), Laura Claycomb (Donna Anna), David Portillo* (Don Ottavio), Ellie Dehn* (Donna Elvira), Kyle Ketelsen* (Leporello), Virginie Verrez (Zerlina), Craig Verm (Masetto), and Morris Robinson (The Commendatore).
    An evocative and thrilling production from Lyric Opera of Chicago!

    * Dallas Opera Debut
    ** American Debut

    ____________________________________________________________________________________________

    ###

    Free Simulcast of LA TRAVIATA at Klyde Warren Park!

    Live from the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House

    At The AT&T Performing Arts Center

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2017, 7:30 p.m.

    ~~~~

    Pre-Performance Activities and Entertainment includes Looney Tunes Cartoon For Scent-imental Reasons

    Opening night simulcast made possible by support from

    The Rosemary and Roger Enrico Foundation

    DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 1, 2017 – The Dallas Opera announces a free public simulcast at beautiful Klyde Warren Park featuring the classic romance LA TRAVIATA, by Giuseppe Verdi. The special presentation takes place in Downtown Dallas Friday, October 27, 2017 (program begins at 6:30 p.m., curtain at 7:30 p.m.). It is a live opera simulcast of the production being performed in the Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center and is presented on a large high definition video screen. The opening night simulcast is made possible in part by The Rosemary and Roger Enrico Foundation. This event will mark the 16th live simulcast presented by The Dallas Opera.

    Klyde Warren Park Simulcast by The Dallas Opera - Photo by Karen Almond KA2_8594 (640x320)
    Klyde Warren Park Simulcast photo by Karen Almond

    Klyde Warren Park is located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201. Sign up today for reminders and updates about activities at www.dallasopera.org/simulcast.  This is a free, public space and no reservations are required to attend.

    The public is encouraged to arrive early, bring blankets or chairs, and secure their spot on the lawn. A variety of wining-and-dining options include Savor, serving New American cuisine; Relish, a take-away burger and hot dog kiosk; and other nearby eateries and food trucks. Those interested in attending are advised to mark their calendars and register at www.dallasopera.org/simulcast.

     La Traviata is the tale of a woman of questionable virtue sacrificing her happiness for the man she loves. Violetta Valéry is based on an actual person who was portrayed in the famed novel The Lady of the Camellias, which also inspired the movie “Pretty Woman” starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Newcomers will likely recognize much of the music in this renowned opera, featured prominently in that popular 1990 romantic comedy.

    “It is part of our mission at The Dallas Opera to serve the community through programs like our free public simulcasts, and we are delighted to present this classic Italian opera in Klyde Warren Park for our 16th Simulcast. For those who have yet to try opera, experiencing this magical art form in the relaxed setting of the park is a memorable and fun experience. Bring your friends and family, and we’re sure you’ll be cheering ‘bravo’ with thousands of other patrons by the end of the evening!” said Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera.

    “We are thrilled to host the Dallas Opera’s La Traviata simulcast this fall and hope our patrons will enjoy the simulcast as well,” said Klyde Warren Park President Tara Green. “We are thankful to celebrate our partnership with the Dallas Opera for the 5th year in a row.”

    The fun begins early at 6:30 p.m. with KLUV Radio’s popular morning jockey Jody Dean, who hosts the event with Kristian Roberts, Education Program Senior Manager for The Dallas Opera. Activities include a trivia contest, behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast, and a cartoon. The company will also be accepting donations for the non-profit organization, Locks of Love.

    The amorous antics of cartoon classic character Pepé Le Pew, the skunk, will be featured in the Looney Tunes short For Scent-imental Reasons from Warner Bros. Audience members of all ages will delight in the caper as Pepé tries to woo the lovely Penelope Pussycat. The 1949 cartoon, in which all voices were done by Mel Blanc, won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film.

    The Dallas Opera is proud to partner with Locks of Love, a non-pr-ofit organization that provides hairpieces to disadvantaged children with medical hair loss. Donations of hair will be accepted at the simulcast, and donors will receive a complimentary pair of opera tickets to see The Dallas Opera’s production of Samson & Dalila on Sunday, November 5. Hair must be at least 10” and bundled in a ponytail or braid. Each hairpiece by Locks of Love is crafted from human hair, custom-made for each child, and helps restore a sense of normalcy to their everyday lives. Please visit www.dallasopera.org/simulcast for complete information.

    Soprano Georgia Jarman, will sing the lead role of the fatally ill courtesan, Violetta Valéry. She’ll be making sparks with tenor René Barbera, who is making his Dallas Opera debut in the role of Alfredo, her true love. For another key role, Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, The Dallas Opera is bringing back an extraordinary baritone: Vladislav Sulimsky from Belarus. Two dynamic Italians will be making their company debuts, conductor Carlo Montanaro and director Stefania Panighini to lead the production. The chorus is a magnificent presence in this opera and will be prepared by acclaimed Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.

    Sung in Italian, with English language translations projected above the stage, La Traviata can also be experienced at five additional performances: October 29, November 1, 4, 10, 12, 2017 in the Winspear Opera House with tickets starting at just $19.  Tickets may be purchased online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org or by contacting The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000.


    About Klyde Warren Park

    Klyde Warren Park serves as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors. The 5.2 acre deck park, designed by the Office of James Burnett, is an urban green space built over the recessed Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul streets in downtown Dallas. Klyde Warren Park is a highly active space, providing daily free programming for the public ranging from yoga to lecture series to outdoor concerts and films. The park is privately operated and managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation. For more information on programming, volunteering or to make a donation to support free daily programs, please visit www.KlydeWarrenPark.org.

    ~~~~

                The complete season schedule, artist and production team bios, synopses and more can be found at www.dallasopera.org.

    ~~~~
    ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA

    Founded in 1957, The Dallas Opera is an internationally-recognized innovator dedicated to the overall advancement of the operatic art form and the support of established and emerging artists, as well as the education and development of new opera audiences in North Texas—and beyond. These goals are achieved by commissioning and producing world-class opera; through ground-breaking institutes, national competitions and topical programs; and by presenting opera in both traditional and non-traditional formats and venues in order to attract patrons of every age, background, educational level, and ethnicity—while engaging with more than 87,000 people in our community each year.  TDO is equally committed to the task of responsible stewardship and is managed with efficiency and accountability, to the highest possible standards.

    ~~~~

    2017-2018 SEASON SPONSOR

    The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family

    ~~~~

    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

    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation; Texas Instruments Foundation; the 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.

    The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by

    Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, and the Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund.

    TDO Family Performances are a part of the Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

    TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2017-2018 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

    All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated.  Single Tickets range from $19 to $289. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org. 

    THE DALLAS OPERA 2017-2018 SEASON MAINSTAGE INFORMATION

    The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixty-First International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated.  English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired.  With the exception of FIRST NIGHT, The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances.

    2017-2018 Season Announcement at NorthPark Center

    Traviata2_137_Final_LoRes

    Photo by Maxine Helfman 

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

    Thursday, January 26, 2017

    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014                            or Celeste Hart 214.443.1071

    suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org                                    celeste.hart@dallasopera.org

     

     

    THE DALLAS OPERA PROUDLY PRESENTS ITS

    61st INTERNATIONAL SEASON

    ~~~~

    FIVE AMAZING PRODUCTIONS

    INCLUDING THE U.S. PREMIERE OF

     MICHEL VAN DER AA’S SUNKEN GARDEN

    AND A DELIGHTFUL KORNGOLD RARITY:

    THE RING OF POLYKRATES

     

    2017-2018 Features Three Dazzling Classics

    Samson & Dalila (Oct. 20-Nov. 5, 2017)

    La traviata (Oct. 27-Nov. 12, 2017) and

    Don Giovanni (April 13-April 29, 2018)

    ~~~~

    SEASON SPONSOR

    The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family

    ~~~~

    Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance:

    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2017 AT 8:00 PM

    The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House

    At the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas TX

     

     

    DALLAS, JANUARY 26, 2017 –The Dallas Opera is proud to announce its ambitious 2017-2018 Season, “Motives Unmasked!” consisting of five entertaining and varied mainstage productions, including a dazzling U.S. premiere and a new Dallas Opera production of a very early opera by Viennese wunderkind Erich Wolfgang Korngold.

    The 61st Season of The Dallas Opera mixes classics with the cutting edge in both unfamiliar and favorite productions.

    Considered by many to be the ultimate art form, each opera will feature the powerful singing and acting of acclaimed international artists; outstanding conductors, directors and designers; The Dallas Opera Orchestra and The Dallas Opera Chorus; superb sets and costumes; imaginative technological enhancements and more.

    In an effort to present each work in its truest form as written by the composer and librettist, The Dallas Opera will continue to produce each opera in its original language with English supertitles projected above the stage for maximum enjoyment.

     

    2017-2018 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

     

    SAMSON & DALILA

    By Camille Saint-Saëns

    October 20, 22(m), 25, 28 and November 5(m), 2017

     

    LA TRAVIATA

    By Giuseppe Verdi

    October 27, 29(m) and November 1, 4, 10 and 12(m), 2017

     

    VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 35

    THE RING OF POLYKRATES

    By Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    February 9, 11(m), 14 and 17, 2018

     

    SUNKEN GARDEN

    By Michel van der Aa

    March 9, 11(m), 14 and 17, 2018

     

    DON GIOVANNI

    By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    April 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 and 29(m), 2018

     

    “We have enlisted the talents of some of the finest composers, singers, conductors, directors and designers to create visually arresting, intellectually and emotionally satisfying performances filled with a wide range of extraordinary music and drama,” explains Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera.

    “Our 61st International Season, “Motives Unmasked!” will include three beloved classics, a U.S. premiere, an exquisite concerto, and a delightful opera rarity so rare, that we believe it has only had two professional productions in this country since it originally premiered in Munich 100 years ago.”     

    ~~~~

             Subscription prices for the 2017-2018 Season start at $95 for all five mainstage opera productions and go on sale April 3, 2017. 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. Single Tickets, starting at the low price of $19, go on sale to the public in July.   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.

    Notable company debuts in the 2017-2018 Season will include:

    • Russian mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina as Dalila (Samson & Dalila)
    • German director Bruno Berger-Gorski (Samson & Dalila)
    • American baritone Michael Chioldi as Abimélech in Samson & Dalila
    • Italian director Stefania Panighini (La traviata)
    • American tenor René Barbera as Alfredo in La traviata
    • American mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis as Flora Bervoix in Traviata
    • Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro (La traviata)
    • American tenor Brenton Ryan as Gastone in La traviata
    • American baritone Daniel Armstrong as the Marchese D’Obigny (La traviata)
    • French violinist Augustin Dumay (Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major)
    • American tenor Paul Groves as Wilhelm Arndt in The Ring of Polykrates
    • American soprano Laura Wilde as Laura in The Ring of Polykrates
    • American soprano Susannah Biller as Lieschen in The Ring of Polykrates
    • American bass-baritone Craig Colclough as Peter Vogel in Polykrates
    • Dutch composer/director Michel van der Aa (Sunken Garden)
    • British baritone Roderick Williams as Toby Kramer in Sunken Garden
    • English soprano Katherine Manley as Zenna Briggs in Sunken Garden
    • Swedish soprano Miah Persson as Iris Marinus in Sunken Garden
    • American director Robert Falls (Don Giovanni)
    • American bass-baritone Kyle Ketelsen as Leporello in Don Giovanni

     

    Designer debuts next season will include:

    • Peter Dean Beck and Carrie Robins (Samson & Dalila)
    • Donald Eastman (The Ring of Polykrates)
    • Theun Mosk and Astrid Schulz (Sunken Garden)
    • Walt Spangler and Ana Kuzmanic (Don Giovanni).

     

    Returning international artists in the 2017-2018 Season will include:

    • French conductor and Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume leading performances of Samson & Dalila; Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 and The Ring of Polykrates; and Don Giovanni
    • French conductor and Dallas Opera Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement conducting the U.S. premiere of Michel van der Aa’s Sunken Garden
    • Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom (Samson, Traviata, Giovanni)
    • American tenor Clifton Forbis as Samson in Samson & Dalila
    • American baritone Richard Paul Fink as the High Priest of Dagon (Samson)
    • American bass-baritone Ryan Kuster as Old Hebrew (Samson & Dalila)
    • American soprano Georgia Jarman as Violetta in La traviata
    • Belarus baritone Vladislav Sulimsky as Germont in La traviata
    • American bass-baritone Dale Travis as Baron Douphol in La traviata
    • British designer Desmond Heeley (La traviata)
    • American director Peter Kazaras (The Ring of Polykrates)
    • Costume designer Tommy Bourgeois and lighting designer Krista Billings for The Ring of Polykrates
    • Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecie? as Don Giovanni
    • American soprano Laura Claycomb as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni
    • American tenor David Portillo as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni
    • American soprano Ellie Dehn as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni
    • French mezzo-soprano Virginie Verrez as Zerlina in Don Giovanni
    • American baritone Craig Verm as Masetto in Don Giovanni
    • American bass Morris Robinson as The Commendatore in Giovanni
    • Lighting designer Duane Schuler (Don Giovanni)

    “Great opera will always speak to us,” explains General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, “because it illuminates aspects of our nature and helps us define the times in which we live.

    “It is my aim to give Dallas Opera audiences the opportunity to better understand their world through the powerful mediums of music and drama.  I sincerely believe that the 61st International Season, filled with remarkable storytelling and unforgettable performances, will make good on that promise.”

     

    The Dallas Opera continues to expand and increase its reputation for producing important, world-class opera and the 2017-2018 season will be no exception.

    The company will also present internationally renowned conductors: Emmanuel Villaume, the Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director, at the podium for three operas, Nicole Paiement, the Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor, and Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro.

    Every mainstage production will be presented in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, located at 2403 Flora Street in the heart of the Dallas Arts District.

     

    ~~~~

     

    The Dallas Opera’s 2017-2018 Season, begins with The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance on Friday, October 20, 2017 at 8:00 p.m. (note the special time). Camille Saint-Saëns’ passionate and romantic SAMSON & DALILA will launch the new season by bringing the house down!

    Tenor Clifton Forbis and Russian soprano Olga Borodina—in her eagerly awaited Dallas Opera debut!—portray the doomed twosome, trapped in a love affair of biblical proportions.

    Samson is the only hope of his people, the Hebrews, in the oppressive grip of the Philistines.  Enter Dalila, the calculating seductress capable of capturing men’s hearts with ease.  Her temptation of Samson continues until she gets what she wants: the secret of his strength.  Camille Saint-Saëns’ opera builds to the familiar, spectacular climax, taken straight from the Book of Judges.

    Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will conduct the renowned Dallas Opera Orchestra in “one of the brightest jewels of French opera.”

    Recently, Maestro Villaume triumphed in a revival of Jonathan Kent’s production of Tosca at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; prompting Hannah Nepil of The Financial Times to praise Villaume for “teasing out sultry, sumptuous playing from his orchestra.”

    He also earned uniformly outstanding notices for his superb conducting of The Dallas Opera’s 2016 revival of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Moby-Dick, which prompted Gregory Sullivan Isaacs of Theater Jones to write, “…with Villaume on the podium, Heggie’s score comes across as much more neo-tonal, lush, magnificently constructed and neo-romantic opera than what I perceived in the score back then. Vocal lines soar, giving singers some great bel-canto phrases that are grateful for the voice.”

    Dramatic tenor Clifton Forbis has sung some of the most challenging roles in the operatic repertoire.  He has mesmerized Dallas Opera audiences as Siegmund in Die Walküre, as well as a “forceful and manly” Tristan.  Samson is a signature role for Mr. Forbis, who has performed this part at Bilbao, San Francisco Opera and the Met.

    He will star opposite the legendary Olga Borodina, the ultimate Dalila, according to London-based critic Rupert Christiansen of The Telegraph.  Adam Wasserman of Opera News observed “…to watch Borodina is to see the masterful emergence of a truly human, fully formed character…buttressed by some of the most luxurious, thrilling vocalism that one can hope to encounter in an opera house.”

    Other members of this cast include Grammy-winning baritone Richard Paul Fink as the High Priest of Dagon, baritone Michael Chioldi in his TDO debut as Abimélech (the Philistine provincial governor), and bass-baritone Ryan Kuster as the Old Hebrew.

    This Pittsburgh Opera production was designed by Peter Dean Beck (sets) and Carrie Robins (costumes) in their company debuts.

    The opera will be staged by German director Bruno Berger-Gorski in his house debut. As always, chorus preparation is by Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.

     

                Performances continue on October 22(m), 25, 28 and November 5, 2017 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.  Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m., (except for the opening night performance mentioned above) and the curtain rises on our Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.  There is no late seating.

    SAMSON & DALILA will be performed in its original language, French, with English-language translations projected above the stage at every performance.

    Tickets may be purchased by phone (214.443.1000), online (www.dallasopera.org) or at the door.  Student Rush Tickets are available 90 minutes prior to curtain – a valid student ID is required for each ticket.

    ~~~~

     

    Back by popular demand, the second production of The Dallas Opera’s 2017-2018 Season is Giuseppe Verdi’s heartbreaking 1853 masterpiece, LA TRAVIATA, opening on Friday, October 27, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. with an extraordinary cast.

    Performed in Italian with English supertitles projected above the stage, the romance continues with additional performances October 29(m), November 1, 4, 10 and 12(m), 2017 with evening performances beginning promptly at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2:00 p.m.

    It is a story that has been told for thousands of years in millions of ways, but, in this case, the tale of a woman of questionable virtue sacrificing her own happiness for the man she loves is based on an actual person. The famed “Lady of the Camillias” comes to life on the Winspear stage, under the guidance of two dynamic Italians: conductor Carlo Montanaro and director Stefania Panighini in their company debuts.

    Easily Giuseppe Verdi’s most romantic work, this revival of a magnificent Lyric Opera of Chicago production, originally directed by Frank Galati and designed by Desmond Heeley, is the perfect “Pretty Woman” night at the opera as well as a perennial crowd pleaser.

    Soprano Georgia Jarman, who possesses “a show-stealing coloratura with immaculate style” (The New York Times) will sing the lead role of the fatally ill courtesan, Violetta Valéry.  Praised by Opera magazine for her “crystalline tone and uncommon attention to expressive detail,” Ms. Jarman made her TDO debut in our steamy Don Giovanni opposite Paolo Szot.

    This time around, she’ll be making sparks with tenor René Barbera, who is making his Dallas Opera debut. Mr. Barbera has swiftly established himself as one of today’s most exciting young artists. He has performed with San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, and Opéra National de Paris.

    As Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont, The Dallas Opera is bringing back an extraordinary baritone: Vladislav Sulimsky from Belarus, bringing another of what Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News describes as “deeply sympathetic” portrayals to the Winspear stage.  His 2015 company debut as the mysterious Ibn-Hakia in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta was a show-stopper, even in the midst of a very strong cast.

    Mezzo-soprano Abigail Levis makes her Dallas Opera debut as Flora Bervoix.  Berkshirefinearts.com applauded her “warm and resonant mezzo voice” but went on to note: “She has the rare interpretive gift of using coloratura to highlight emotional truth rather than to simply show off.”

    Tenor Brenton Ryan, “singing with a fresh, clarion tone and dramatic aplomb” (Corinna de Fonseca-Wollheim, The New York Times) will also be making his TDO debut as Alfredo’s friend, Gastone.  Also featured in the ensemble cast are baritone Dale Travis as Baron Douphol, baritone Daniel Armstrong in his Dallas Opera debut as the Marchese D’Obigny, bass-baritone Ryan Kuster as the sympathetic Doctor Grenvil, and soprano Rachel Sterrenberg in her company debut as Violetta’s maid, Annina.

    The chorus is a strong presence in this opera and will be prepared by Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.

    The complete season schedule, artist and production team bios, synopses and more can be found online, anytime, at www.dallasopera.org.

    ~~~~

     

                The third production of The Dallas Opera’s 61st Season is a unique pairing of two works by one of the great proponents of the early twentieth century “Viennese sound,” composer Erich Wolfgang Korngold.  The Dallas Opera is proud to present Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1945) and The Ring of Polykrates (1916) opening Friday, February 9, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in the Winspear Opera House.

    Revered French violinist Augustin Dumay (with more than 40 recordings in his discography) will be the featured soloist with The Dallas Opera Orchestra. Dumay is considered “an absolute master of using changes in tone color as an expressive device” (Fanfare) and many of his recordings are considered the “gold standard” in their repertoire.  Heather Kurzbauer of The Strad put it simply: “This is the stuff that dreams are made of.”  As for his live concert hall performances, Geoffrey Norris of The Daily Telegraph writes: “Mr. Dumay is a violinist of remarkable individuality…excitingly musical, stimulatingly original, a marvelously fresh but idiomatic interpretation with a strength of personality that made it so powerfully communicative and memorable.”

    Critically acclaimed Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will conduct.

    The concerto will be paired with Korngold’s very first opera, The Ring of Polykrates, a one-act domestic comedy composed in 1913 when he was just sixteen years old.  The work premiered in 1916 on a double bill in Munich.

    The plot revolves around a musician, Wilhelm Arndt, whose career is on an upswing, along with his finances.  His happiness, he tells his wife, Laura, would be complete if only he could see his long-lost friend Peter Vogel again.  But you’re aware of the old saying, right? “Be careful what you wish for!”

    Conducted by esteemed Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, directed by Peter Kazaras, and starring tenor Paul Groves, soprano Laura Wilde and bass-baritone Craig Colclough in their TDO debuts.  This really is a once-in-a-lifetime musical event!

    Scenic Designer Donald Eastman will make his TDO debut.  This new Dallas Opera production will also feature period costumes by Tommy Bourgeois and lighting by Krista Billings.

                Performed in German with English translations projected above the stage, the Korngold program will have three additional performances on February 11(m), 14 (a romantic Valentine’s Day evening) and February 17, 2018.

    Tickets are likely to go quickly; renew your Dallas Opera subscription today!

    ~~~~

     

                The fourth production of The Dallas Opera’s 61st Season is SUNKEN GARDEN by Michel van der Aa with libretto by British novelist David Mitchell. This production opens on Friday, March 9, 2018, at 7:30 p.m. in the Winspear Opera House.

                The U.S. premiere of this groundbreaking opera will be directed by the composer himself–-in both 2-D and 3-D.  SUNKEN GARDEN will be performed in English with English supertitles projected above the stage.

    Michel van der Aa’s critically acclaimed contemporary operatic masterpiece, SUNKEN GARDEN, has been applauded by both critics and audiences as “a fantastical tale to set the ears and eyes popping” (New York Times headline).

    The work, described by its creator as an “occult mystery film opera,” fuses film and live performance (including 3-D and other visual effects) to deliver what Steve Smith of The New York Times called “a bold, rewarding venture” during its 2013 English National Opera world premiere at the Barbican.  The production coming to Dallas was reworked for a successful 2015 relaunch of the production at Opéra de Lyon.

    A film maker’s obsession with the disappearance of a young girl leads to the discovery of a walled garden, which is the barrier between life and death.  Does this place actually exist or is it just a stunning journey of the imagination?  Either way, it immerses audiences into a world of crime and mystery to create a one-of-a-kind production unlike anything you’ve ever experienced before.

    SUNKEN GARDEN was originally a co-production of ENO, Toronto’s Luminato Festival, Opéra de Lyon, the Holland Festival and London’s Barbican Centre.  This opera also marked the first collaboration between the Dutch composer and British novelist David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas).

    Heidi Waleson, reviewing for The Wall Street Journal described the experience: “The inventive and haunting music is acoustic and electronic, live and prerecorded, classical and pop…Film and music align seamlessly; neither would make sense without the other…When the live singers enter the 3-D garden, the music grows richer and more expansive…The images here are spectacular: the opulent trees and flowers; the quivering holograms of the two captives, Amber and Simon; and the vertical pool through which Zenna enters and departs, which explodes out toward the audience as a shower of droplets or a giant, whirling funnel.

    “The fine singers—live and on film—adeptly captured the ferocity and pathos in Sunken Garden.  And the lively actors…were completely believable…technical wizardry enhanced the humanity of the piece rather than overwhelming it,” Ms. Waleson added.

    Antony Craig of Gramophone (UK) emphasized that SUNKEN GARDEN is a compelling theatrical work: “This is real drama and it works dramatically. The mystery is as complex as TV film noir. The spoken interviews work as film and the 3D successfully drew me right into the sunken garden. Crucially, Sunken Garden works as opera, with Van der Aa’s fusion of musical styles matching the fusion of mediums.”

    And Andrew Clement of The Guardian added, “Van der Aa has directed the show as well as the often sumptuous-looking film sequences. As always he’s done it with immense technical skill, and both his orchestral writing and the electronic soundtrack are strikingly effective.”

     

    SUNKEN GARDEN will star English baritone Roderick Williams as Toby Kramer,

    British soprano Katherine Manley as Zenna Briggs, and renowned Swedish soprano Miah Persson as Iris Marinus.  All will be making their Dallas Opera debuts in this production.

    Williams has been praised for “his astonishing ability to perform highly emotional music…from the top of his vocal range (where he was clear as a bell and his diction impeccable) to rich, low notes that stirred the heart.” (Laura Kate Wilson, Bachtrack)

    Set and lighting design for SUNKEN GARDEN is by Theun Mosk with costumes by Astrid Schulz, both in their company debuts.

     

    SUNKEN GARDEN will be conducted by the Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement, who has developed an international reputation as a conductor of contemporary music and opera.

    Wayne Lee Gay of D Magazine’s Front Row wrote of The Dallas Opera’s 2015 world premiere of Everest: “(Paiement) combined old-fashioned precision and discipline with up-to-the-minute insight into the complex modernity of the score.”

     

    Three additional performances of Michel van der Aa’s SUNKEN GARDEN will take place on March 11(m), 14, and 17, 2018.  Season subscriptions will go on sale to the public on April 3, 2017.  Current season subscribers may renew at any time by contacting the friendly professionals in The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office, at 214.443.1000.

    ~~~~

     

    The final production of the 61st International Season is Mozart’s hell-raising operatic masterpiece, the comedy-drama, DON GIOVANNI, based on the exploits of the legendary Don Juan, opening Friday, April 13, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.

    After more than two centuries, the argument rages on as to whether DON GIOVANNI is the greatest of Mozart’s many masterpieces.  Decide for yourself as Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume conducts an all-star cast in this boldly provocative, R-rated production from Lyric Opera of Chicago.

    Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecie? stars as the insatiable womanizer who became a living legend.  William Burnett of Opera Warhorses writes, “Kwiecien was extraordinary, an utterly charming but lethally sociopathic bad boy…his Giovanni is a masterpiece.”  Added Michael White of The New York Times: “glamorous, handsome of voice and presence, (charismatic) and intelligent besides.  It’s the whole package and explains why he’s in such demand to play the part.”

    Soprano Laura Claycomb (Rigoletto) returns to the Winspear stage as Donna Anna, after captivating North Texas audiences as Gilda several seasons back, prompting Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News to praise her “limpid tone, dazzling technique and eloquence.”

    Tenor David Portillo is this production’s steadfast Don Ottavio, soprano Ellie Dehn will sing the bitter and betrayed Donna Elvira, bass Kyle Ketelsen is the irrepressible Leporello, with stars Virginie Verrez as the coquettish Zerlina, baritone Craig Verm (Everest) as her fiancé, Masetto, and bass Morris Robinson (Show Boat) as The Commendatore!

    Disguises and deceptions abound in Lorenzo Da Ponte’s scathing and often humorous portrait of this jaded and unrepentant anti-hero, directed by Robert Falls (Artistic Director of the famed Goodman Theater) in his eagerly awaited Dallas Opera debut.

                Critically acclaimed international conductor and TDO Music Director Emmanuel Villaume leads The Dallas Opera Orchestra in Mozart’s action-packed season finale.

    “One of the most satisfying perks of being a music director,” says Maestro Villaume, “is the opportunity to conduct productions that I find of particular interest—musically, dramatically, or both.  This season is no exception and I am thrilled to be conducting a masterpiece from the late Classical Period, a splendid example of 19th century French Romanticism, and a pair of works from the neo-Romantic Viennese School of the early 20th century.

    “I sincerely hope, when you leave the performance, you will feel as passionate about these works as we do.”

     

    Scenic Design for DON GIOVANNI is by Walt Spangler, with costumes by Ana Kuzmanic and lighting design by Duane Schuler.

               Performed in Italian with English translations projected above the stage, this acclaimed period production will command centerstage for five additional performances, April 15(m), 18, 21, 27 and 29(m), 2018.

    Don’t delay: mark your calendar, buy your tickets, and then padlock your doors—because there will be no “safe spaces” while Don Giovanni roams the streets of Seville.

     

    ~~~~

     

    Evening performances during the 2017-2018 Season will begin at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise stated (including the 8:00 p.m. curtain for the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance).  All Sunday matinees are slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.

    The “Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks,” a free background lecture designed to enhance your enjoyment of the opera being performed, takes place in Nancy B. Hamon Hall located just off the Winspear Opera House lobby, one hour prior to each performance, except for Opening Night of the Season.

    Dallas Opera performs mainstage works in their original languages.  Easy-to-read English translations are projected above the stage during every Dallas Opera performance—even those sung in English—and special headsets are available for the hearing impaired.

    No late seating is permitted at Dallas Opera performances once the house doors are closed.  Latecomers will be seated at the first available opportunity (usually, intermission).

     

    Flex subscriptions for three mainstage performances of your choice begin at $75 for the 2017-2018 Season.  Full Subscriptions begin at $95 for all five productions.  New subscriptions will become available on April 3, 2017.

                Single Tickets for next season will start at $19 and are expected to go on sale next July.  Group rates are available.

    For additional information about the “Motives Unmasked!” Season, call The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214-443-1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.

     

    ~~~~

    Put aside those computers, tablets, and smart phones—and grab the kiddoes—in order to take advantage of budget-minded, kid-friendly performances offered by The Dallas Opera in the 2017-2018 Season!

    In addition to presenting world-class opera, and to providing support for outstanding young artists, established stars, and up-and-coming female conductors; The Dallas Opera is also committed to introducing the joys of opera to as many people as possible, and to provide budget-minded, kid-friendly performances (mostly if not entirely in English) that can be enjoyed by North Texans of every age, educational level and background.

     

    The always popular Dallas Opera Family Performance Series is proudly presented by Texas Instruments, and made possible with additional generous support from the Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund and Lockheed Martin.

                TDO Family Performances are a part of the Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs.

                Five dollar single tickets will be available through The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or 24/7 at dallasopera.org/family.

    2017-2018 FAMILY PERFORMANCE SERIES

     

    Presenting Sponsor, Texas Instruments

     

    DONIZETTI AND COMPANY

    Sunday, October 15, 2017

    Sunday, February 18, 2018

     

    From sparkling, good-natured comedies to hanky-clutching tragedies, Gaetano Donizetti was one of the great masters of Italian bel canto. This incredibly prolific composer gave us 75 operas, including four that are highlights of the repertoire: Lucia di Lammermoor, The Daughter of the Regiment, The Elixir of Love and Don Pasquale.  Gather up the children (and grand-children) to experience the music of Donizetti, a man who lifted himself out of poverty through hard work, generosity, and extraordinary talent.  Featuring the acclaimed Dallas Opera Orchestra and a charismatic narrator, as well as outstanding young singers.

     

    THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

    Saturday, November 4, 2017

    Saturday, February 3, 2018

     

    Based on scenes and music from operas by W.A. Mozart, this production is an operatic version of the beloved children’s fairy tale, with adaptations by John Davies. The story reinforces the virtues of reading as one of the little pigs, Despina, successfully reads up on building a “huff-proof, puff-proof” house at the library.  As constructive as it is instructive!

    PÉPITO by Jacques Offenbach

    Sunday, November 19, 2017

    Saturday, February 10, 2018

     

    Vertigo, a jack of all trades (who introduces himself with a parody of Figaro’s entrance in The Barber of Seville) is rebuffed by the beautiful hostess of the local inn, Manuelita. She is waiting patiently for her fiancé Pépito to be released from military service. Miguel, a childhood friend, returns to their native village where he immediately falls for Manuelita’s charms.  He gets Vertigo out of the way, in order to flirt with the girl, yet Miguel’s advances are rejected.  In fact, Miguel is so impressed with Manuelita’s virtue and loyalty that he decides to take the young soldier’s place, so he can come home to marry.  However, a letter from Pépito drops a stunning piece of news on Manuelita and Miguel!  Learn who finally gets the girl in Offenbach’s charming, one-act comedy.

     

    $5 performances in the Winspear Opera House. Tickets may be purchased in advance or at the door.  Learn more online at www.dallasopera.org/family.

    ~~~~

     

    2016-2017 SEASON SPONSOR

    The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family

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    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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    The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by

    Texas Instruments and the Betty and Steve Suellentrop

    Educational Outreach Fund.

     

    TDO Family Performances are a part of the

    Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

     

    TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2016-2017 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

    All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated.  Single Tickets range from $19 to $275. Full Subscriptions (five opera productions) begin at $95; Flex Subscriptions (three-performances of your choice) begin at $75.  Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

     

     

     

    THE DALLAS OPERA 2016-2017 SPRING SEASON INFORMATION

    The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixtieth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated.  English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired.  The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

     

    MADAME BUTTERFLY by Giacomo Puccini

    March 10, 12(m), 15, 18, 24, & 26(m), 2017

    The must see, heart-wrenching Italian opera!

    Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica

    Time: 1904

    Place: Nagasaki, Japan

    Conductor: Donato Renzetti

    Stage Director: John Copley

    Set Designer: Michael Yeargan

    Costume Designer: Anita Yavich

    Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler

    Wig & Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

    Starring: Hui He* (Cio-Cio-San), Gianluca Terranova* (B.F. Pinkerton), Manuela Custer (Suzuki), Lucas Meachem* (Sharpless), David Cangelosi (Goro), Reginald Smith, Jr.* (The Bonze), Will Hughes (Prince Yamadori), Mark McCrory (Imperial Commissioner), Samuel P.J. Lopez (Registrar), Angela Turner Wilson (Kate Pinkerton), Sorrow (TBD)

    A classic, period production (new to Dallas) from the San Francisco Opera!

     

    THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Benjamin Britten

    March 17, 19(m), 22 & 25, 2017

    A dark and gripping tale!

    Libretto by Myfanwy Piper

    Time: 1950s

    Place: Bly, an English country house

    Conductor: Nicole Paiement

    Original Production: Jonathan Kent

    Stage Director: Francesca Gilpin*

    Set Designer: Paul Brown

    Costume Designer: Paul Brown

    Original Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson

    Lighting Design Recreated by: David Manion

    Wig and Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

    Starring: William Burden (Prologue/Peter Quint), Emma Bell* (Governess), Oliver Nathanielsz* (Miles), Ashley Emerson* (Flora), Dolora Zajick* (Mrs. Grose), Alexandra LoBianco* (Miss Jessel)

    An acclaimed production from Glyndebourne!

     

    NORMA by Vincenzo Bellini

    April 21, 23(m), 26, 29, May 7(m), 2017

    A thrilling and suspenseful masterpiece!

    Libretto by Felice Romani

    Time: 50 B.C.

    Place: Roman-occupied Gaul

    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

    Stage Director: Nic Muni

    Set Designer: John Conklin

    Costume Designer: John Conklin

    Lighting Designer: Thomas Hase

    Wig & Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

    Starring: Elza van den Heever (Norma), Marina Costa Jackson* (Adalgisa), Yonghoon Lee* (Pollione), Christian Van Horn (Oroveso), Mithra Mastropierro* (Clotilde), Charles Karanja (Flavio)

    An atmospheric production from Cincinnati Opera!

     

     

    * Dallas Opera Debut

    ** American Debut

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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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    From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe – Part VI

    This posting must be prefaced by confessing that if someone held a gun to my head and demanded to know what my favorite opera was, after much waffling back and forth, I would probably have to confess that it would be Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA.  It was music from this opera that first captivated me as a child of six and was the first recording I ever owned (with Albanese, Peerce and Merrill, conducted by Toscanini.)

    That having been said, tonight’s performance of Verdi’s 1853 masterpiece puzzled me.  There was so much about it that was wonderful, not the least of which were the stunning vocal performances and committed acting of soprano Brenda Rae and Michael Fabiano as “Violetta” and “Alfredo.” Read more →