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    Dallas Opera Announces 2017 Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year

    Marina Costa-Jackson in her award-winning role as Adalgisa in The Dallas Opera’s NORMA.  Photo by Karen Almond, Dallas OperaNormaFinal_170 (640x427)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Thursday, June 15, 2017
    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Celeste Hart at 214.443.1071
    suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org celeste.hart@dallasopera.org

    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
    AMERICAN SOPRANO
    MARINA COSTA-JACKSON

    HONORED TONIGHT AS THE 2017
    “MARIA CALLAS DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR”
    ~~~~
    SINGER RAISED IN PALERMO, ITALY, CAPTIVATED NORTH TEXAS AUDIENCES WITH HER
    BEAUTIFULLY SUNG, DRAMATICALLY COMPELLING PERFORMANCES IN NORMA

    DALLAS, JUNE 15, 2017 – The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce the winner of the 2017 “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award: luminous Italian-American soprano Marina Costa-Jackson.
    This prestigious award, named after one of the most renowned opera artists of the 20th century, is given to a single performer each season in recognition of a particularly memorable and outstanding company debut. The winner was announced earlier this evening at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner held in the Crescent Ballroom of the Hotel Crescent Court in Dallas, TX.
    Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, but raised in Palermo, Italy, the vocally gifted and strikingly beautiful artist initially resisted the idea of following in the footsteps of two successful sisters who sing opera. That changed when Marina Costa-Jackson was admitted into the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and advanced through various competitions to become the Metropolitan Opera National Council winner (2015), winner of the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation International Vocal Competition (2015) and the second place winner of the 2016 Operalia.
    In recent years, she has also performed in concert overseas with Dmitri Hvorostovsky and with Andrea Bocelli at Madison Square Garden.
    Responding to her recent portrayal of Mimi in Welsh National Opera’s production of La Bohème, critic Nigel Jarrett for Wales Art Review proclaimed that Ms. Costa-Jackson “was the real find here. She’s clearly a powerhouse, her voice beautifully modulated to reflect Mimi’s tubercular character.” Bachtrack’s Rohan Shotton expressed awe at her “wonderfully full, rich tone…By the end of Act IV, she was almost translucent in her consumption but demanded one’s attention at the centre of the drama.”

    Here in Dallas, critics responded to her TDO debut as the conflicted young priestess, Adalgisa, in our April/May production of Bellini’s Norma, with unbridled enthusiasm:
    “Marina Costa-Jackson proved to be a gloriously-voiced Adalgisa,” wrote William Burnett of Opera Warhorses. “She was hauntingly beautiful in the passages that begin Mira, o Norma, the most famous of Adalgisa’s great duets with Norma…Costa-Jackson perfectly matched Elza van den Heever’s vocal fireworks.”
    Reviewing for The Dallas Morning News, Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell noted, “as the junior priestess Adalgisa, (Costa-Jackson) is, if anything, even more powerful vocally, with a brilliant, but never cutting, edge on her soprano: she can also buff off the gleam for a warm satin finish.”
    Monica Smart, reviewing for the Dallas Observer, found her the perfect complement to Elza van den Heever’s Norma: “The lightness and delicacy of Costa-Jackson’s singing, with its floating and spinning high note, was a perfect balance to van den Heever. Each made the other’s performance shine and their stunning duet was a high point of the evening.”

    “Patrons flocked to our first Norma keenly anticipating Elza van den Heever’s acclaimed mastery of the title role,” explained Keith Cerny, The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, “but Marina Costa-Jackson added an extra element of surprise to these performances with her extraordinarily nuanced acting and thrilling vocalism.
    “Dramatically, she proved to be a breathtaking ‘mirror image’ of the anguished and more world-weary high priestess, and Adalgisa’s emotional struggle to balance love and loyalty had wrenching impact in Miss Costa-Jackson’s expressive and sympathetic portrayal.
    “I’m not at all surprised,” Cerny added, “that our subscribers were moved to select her for this prestigious award.”

    ~~~~

    The voting for the Callas Award was conducted entirely online by electronic ballot and was open to season subscribers only. The results were verified by the independent accounting firm of Armanino, L.L.P.
    The winner will receive a beautiful etched-crystal plaque created by award-winning designers from Tiffany & Co. for The Dallas Opera. The plaque bears the likeness of The Dallas Opera’s unofficial Godmother, Greek soprano Maria Callas. “La Divina” launched The Dallas Opera with a 1957 recital at the Music Hall in Fair Park and continued to grace TDO’s stage in those early years with a series of now-legendary performances.

    The 2017 award recipient responded to the news, by email, with a statement read to the dinner guests this evening by General Director and CEO Keith Cerny:

    “Debuting with The Dallas Opera as Adalgisa was a dream come true!

    Now, the unexpected honor of being selected as the 2017 recipient of the Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award has left me breathless! “La Divina” has long been my inspiration—a figure who fuels my passion and aspirations as a singer.
    I wish to express my heartfelt thanks to the outstanding Dallas Opera season subscribers for this expression of support and encouragement. Throughout the run of Norma, I felt the Dallas audiences exhibited such incredible warmth and receptiveness. Thank you to the Dallas Opera for allowing me to participate in that joy!

    Again, with abundant gratitude and love to all, I remain humbly yours,

    Marina Costa-Jackson
    ~~~~

    Ms. Costa-Jackson’s upcoming engagements include performances this summer at Paris National Opera in the role of Micaëla in Carmen, followed by star turns as Violetta in Cologne Opera’s La Traviata, Fiordiligi in Seattle Opera’s production of Così Fan Tutte (with sister Ginger Costa-Jackson singing the role of Dorabella), and Maria in the bel canto rarity, Maria di Rohan, for Washington Concert Opera.

    There were twenty-one additional 2016-2017 Season nominees for the Callas Award (artists making outstanding company debuts in a principal role)—listed below in alphabetical order:

    ADDITIONAL NOMINEES FOR 2017 MARIA CALLAS AWARD

    Svetlana Aksenova – “Tatyana” – Eugene Onegin
    Lindsay Ammann – “Quartet” – Arjuna’s Dilemma
    Emma Bell – “The Governess” – The Turn of the Screw
    Tony Boutté – “Arjuna” – Arjuna’s Dilemma
    Jacqueline Echols – “Pip” – Moby-Dick
    Ashley Emerson – “Flora” – The Turn of the Screw
    Katrina Galka – “Quartet” – The Turn of the Screw
    Hui He – “Cio-Cio-San” – Madame Butterfly
    Humayun Khan – “Krishna” – Arjuna’s Dilemma
    Yonghoon Lee – “Pollione” – Norma
    Alexandra LoBianco – “Miss Jessel” – The Turn of the Screw
    Alyssa Martin – “Quartet” – Arjuna’s Dilemma
    Mithra Mastropierro – “Clotilde” – Norma
    Peter McGillvray – “Stubb” – Moby-Dick
    Lucas Meachem – “Sharpless” – Madame Butterfly
    Oliver Nathanielsz – “Miles” – The Turn of the Screw
    Musa Ngqungwana – “Queequeg” – Moby-Dick
    Kai Rüütel – “Olga” – Eugene Onegin
    Reginald Smith, Jr. – “The Bonze” – Madame Butterfly
    Gianluca Terranova – “B. F. Pinkerton” – Madame Butterfly
    Dolora Zajick – “Mrs. Grose” – The Turn of the Screw

    ~~~~

    The “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award” was launched during the 1991-1992 Dallas Opera Season.
    The first recipient was Sharon Sweet for her impressive performance in the title role of Aida. The list of subsequent winners reads like an opera’s “Who’s Who” from Susan Graham, Cecilia Bartoli, Mary Dunleavy, Elizabeth Futral, Hei-Kyung Hong, Denyce Graves, Indira Mahajan, Mary Mills, Patricia Racette, Latonia Moore, Christopher Ventris, Catherine Naglestad, James Valenti, and Ben Heppner, to Greek-born Soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu (Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata), mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard (Rosina in The Barber of Seville), Ekaterina Scherbachenko (the title role in Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta) and last year’s winner, superstar mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato for the title role in Great Scott, a 2015 Dallas Opera world premiere by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally.

    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 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
    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 Valery), 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!

    VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR & THE RING OF POLYKRATES
    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 Kwiecie? (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
    __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    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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    Ekaterina Scherbachenko Wins Maria Callas Award!

    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE

    Soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko
    HONORED AS THE 2015 “MARIA CALLAS DEBUT ARTIST OF THE YEAR”

    RECEIVED RAVE REVIEWS FOR HER PERFORMANCE
    IN THE TITLE ROLE OF TCHAIKOVSKY’S FINAL OPERA     IOLANTA

                DALLAS, MAY 21, 2015 – The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the winner of the 2015 “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year” Award: incandescent Russian soprano Ekaterina Scherbachenko.

                This prestigious award, named after one of the most renowned opera artists of the 20th century, is given to a single performer each season in recognition of a particularly memorable and outstanding company debut. The winner was announced earlier this evening at the annual Dallas Opera Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner held in The Gold Room at the The Fairmont Dallas Hotel.

                The Russian beauty had earned glowing notices this spring for her portrayal of the blind princess, Iolanta, in the rarely performed 1892 opera of the same name by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

                 One of Ms. Scherbachenko’s signature roles at Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theatre, she deftly transformed the title character from an isolated young woman who is kept in the dark about her condition—to one who strives for the truth, becomes enlightened and is ready to sacrifice everything for love.       

                Laurie Lynn Lindemeier of The Column raved “This woman was a treat to behold with her striking voice and fine acting skills to boot—the full package! Although this is a shorter opera, it is still an endurance test for this character that does much of the singing. Ms. Scherbachenko consistently sang with sincerity and penetrating lyricism. Although her character is blind throughout, the singer clearly saw into Iolanta’s core and relayed that to the audience and to her fellow characters. I never sensed fatigue in her voice and once Iolanta received the cure and could see her lover, she looked directly into his eyes and sang to him.”

                Catherine Womack of D Magazine/Front Row noted: “Ekaterina Scherbachenko has a flexible voice that is equally strong when it simmers and boils with power and when it delicately floats with vulnerability. She quickly captured my attention in the opening scene…”  

                Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News described her complex portrayal of Iolanta as “convincing…Her ample soprano supplies parallel nuances of dewy simplicity and surging ardor.”

                Gregory Sullivan Isaacs of Theater Jones wrote that “the cast is uniformly first rate” and that Ms. Scherbachenko “delivers a voice with some hint of spinto heft.”

                Alicia Chang of the Dallas Voice summed up Ms. Scherbachenko’s performance as “wonderful!”

    ~~~~

              “Hailing from Russia, the stunning Ekaterina Scherbachenko is the quintessential Iolanta, with the vocal prowess and acting credibility so integral for this unique role,” explained Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.  “The Dallas Opera was thrilled to bring a superb cast to our community to perfectly portray this rarely produced gem that included Sergey Skorkhodov, Andrei Bondarenko, and Mikhail Kolelishvili.  As the title character, Ms. Scherbachenko gave a remarkable performance that moved our audience deeply.”

               “We are delighted to continue the acknowledgment of spectacular talent with The Callas Award, and greatly appreciate our subscribers’ enthusiastic response in choosing the winner.  Ms. Scherbachenko truly inspired these devoted patrons in a competition filled with many incredible singers,” said Cerny.          

    ~~~~  

               The voting for the Callas Award was conducted entirely online by electronic ballot and was open to season subscribers only. The results were verified by the independent accounting firm of Travis, Wolff & Company, L.L.P.

               The winner will receive a beautiful etched-crystal plaque created by award-winning designers from Tiffany & Co. for The Dallas Opera.  The plaque bears the likeness of The Dallas Opera’s unofficial Godmother, Greek soprano Maria Callas. “La Divina” launched The Dallas Opera with a 1957 recital at the Music Hall in Fair Park and continued to grace TDO’s stage in those early years with a series of now-legendary performances.

                The 2015 recipient responded to the news, by email, with a statement read this evening by Keith Cerny:

               To the Board and Trustees of The Dallas Opera, the Company staff and all the wonderful subscribers:

               “It was a great pleasure to perform with The Dallas Opera in the title role of IOLANTA.  To then be selected for the “Maria Callas Award” is a tremendous honor and I’m truly grateful for this recognition.  The character of Iolanta is very near and dear to my heart and to have your patrons choose me for this award is especially meaningful!  I have great admiration for the legendary Maria Callas and sincerely appreciate this acknowledgement.

               Thank you so much for this lovely award!

               Warm regards,

               Ekaterina Scherbachenko

    ~~~~

                There were nineteen additional 2014-2015 Season nominees for the Callas Award (artists making outstanding company debuts in a principal role)—all the contenders are listed below in alphabetical order):

    ADDITIONAL NOMINEES FOR 2014 MARIA CALLAS AWARD

    Susan Bickley – “Herodias” – Salome

    Andrei Bondarenko – “Robert” – Iolanta

    Kevin Burdette – “Beck Weathers” – Everest

    Nicole Car – “Countess Almaviva” – The Marriage of Figaro

    Melissa Citro – “Wally” – La Wally

    Emily Fons – “Cherubino” – The Marriage of Figaro

    Rodrigo Garciarroyo – “Giuseppe Hagenbach” – La Wally

    Greer Grimsley – “Jokanaan” – Salome

    Diana Montague – “Marcellina” – The Marriage of Figaro

    Tamara Mumford – “Marta” – Iolanta

    Arnold Rawls – “Giuseppe Hagenbach” – La Wally

    Beate Ritter – “Susanna” – The Marriage of Figaro

    Davinia Rodriguez – “Musetta” – La bohème

    Sergey Skorokhodov – “Count Vaudemont” – Iolanta

    Vladislav Sulimsky – “Ibn-Hakia” – Iolanta

    Craig Verm – “Doug Hansen” – Everest

    Alexander Vinogradov – “Colline” – La bohème

    Deborah Voigt – “Salome” – Salome

    Mary Elizabeth Williams – “Wally” – La Wally

    ~~~~

               The “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award” was launched during the 1991-1992 Dallas Opera Season. 

               The first recipient was Sharon Sweet for her impressive performance in the title role of Aida. The list of subsequent winners reads like an opera’s “Who’s Who” from Susan Graham, Cecilia Bartoli, Mary Dunleavy, Elizabeth Futral, Hei-Kyung Hong, Denyce Graves, Indira Mahajan, Mary Mills, Patricia Racette, Latonia Moore, Christopher Ventris, Catherine Naglestad, James Valenti, and Ben Heppner, to Greek-born Soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu (Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata) and last year’s winner, mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who redefined the role of “Rosina” in our smash hit, The Barber of Seville.

    ~~~~

    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “MAY AT THE DALLAS OPERA”

    IS CONVENIENTLY 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 

    ~~~~

    TEXAS INSTRUMENTS, 2015-2016 SEASON SPONSOR FOR THE DALLAS OPERA’S
    “SEEKING THE HUMAN ELEMENT” SEASON

     

    Ticket Information for the
    2015-2016 Dallas Opera Season

               All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise described.  Single Tickets range from $19 to $275 and will be available July 15.  Full and Flex Subscriptions are on sale now starting at $75.  Family performance tickets (available June 1) 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 2015-2016 FALL SEASON INFORMATION

               The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Ninth 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.

    GREAT SCOTT by Jake Heggie

    October 30, November 1(m), 4, 7 & 15(m), 2015

    A Thrilling Dallas Opera World Premiere!

    Libretto by Terrence McNally*

    Time: Present Day

    Place: A Major American City

    Conductor: Patrick Summers

    Stage Director: Jack O’Brien*

    Production Design: Bob Crowley

    Lighting Design: TBA

    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

    Starring: Joyce DiDonato* (Arden Scott), Ailyn Pérez (Tatyana Bakst), Frederica von Stade (Mrs. Edward “Winnie” Flato), Nathan Gunn (Sid Taylor), Anthony Roth Costanzo* (Roane Heckle), Kevin Burdette (Eric Gold), Garrett Sorenson* (Anthony Candolino) and Michael Mayes* (Wendell Swan)

    A Brand-New Dallas Opera Production!

     

    TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini

    November 6, 8(m), 11, 14, 20 & 22(m), 2015

    A passionate and timeless masterpiece in a beloved period production

    An opera in three acts first performed in Rome, Italy on January 14, 1900

    Text by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa after Victorien Sardou’s 1887 French-language play, La Tosca

    Time: Early 19th century

    Place: Locations in and around the City of Rome

    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

    Stage Director: Ellen Douglas Schlaefer*

    Production Design: Ulisse Santicchi

    Lighting Design: TBA

    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

    Children’s Chorus Master: TBA

    Starring: Emily Magee (Floria Tosca), Giancarlo Monsalve* (Mario Cavaradossi), Raymond Aceto (Baron Scarpia), William Ferguson (Spoletta), Dale Travis* (A Sacristan) and Ryan Kuster (Angelotti)

    One of The Dallas Opera’s Most Popular!

     

    BECOMING SANTA CLAUS by Mark Adamo

    December 4, 6(m), 9 & 12, 2015

    An Eagerly Awaited Dallas Opera World Premiere!

    Libretto by the composer, Mark Adamo

    Time: Where time divides into “before” and “after”

    Place: An Elven kingdom in the far, far north

    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

    Stage Director: Paul Curran

    Production Design: Gary McCann*

    Video Design: Elaine J. McCarthy

    Lighting Design: TBA

    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

    Starring: Jennifer Rivera* (Queen Sophine), Juan José de León (Prince Nicky), Matt Boehler* (Donkey)

    Another New Dallas Opera Production

     

    * Dallas Opera Debut

    ** American Debut

    ________________________________________________________________________

    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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