In the midst of a live satellite radio broadcast of “Don Pasquale” from New York’s Metropolitan Opera last night, it was announced that conductor James Levine was “unable to continue” and would be replaced for the remainder of the performance by assistant conductor Joseph Colenari. After undergoing back surgery in 2009, the 67-year-old Levine returned, [...]
I will freely admit that my chief interest in the Metropolitan Opera’s revival of “Il trovatore” isn’t the marvelous Patricia Racette (a stunning Jenufa at the Dallas Opera a few seasons back) or the equally compelling artistry of Zeljko Lucic (who sang Nabucco as a force of nature in our grand production designed by Frances Bagley and [...]
Word via “Theater Mania” that Paulo Szot, currently starring in the title role of our production of “Don Giovanni” will soon be back onstage at the Met. He’s singing the role of Escamillo the Toreador in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of “Carmen” starting on January 5th. Anita Rachvelishvili will be making her Met Opera debut [...]
Peter J. Hall, the Resident Costume Designer for the Dallas Opera and a renowned theatrical designer and artist known throughout the world, died Thursday, May 27th in Dallas from cardiac complications following a prolonged illness. He was 84 years old. Born in Bristol, England, Mr. Hall showed an early interest in theater, pursuing his dream [...]
Peter J. Hall, the Resident Costume Designer for the Dallas Opera and a renowned theatrical designer and artist known throughout the world, died Thursday, May 27th in Dallas from cardiac complications following a prolonged illness. He was 84 years old. Born in Bristol, England, Mr. Hall showed an early interest in theater, pursuing his dream [...]
I remember a few years back, being shocked to see a top prize winner walk onstage with a score to a very simple piece by Mozart – and proceed to use it throughout his piano recital. Evidently, something of the same feeling of uneasiness settled over the Met the other night, when it became clear [...]
A few seasons back, we had an assistant conductor who was championing a rarely seen 19th century work by Ambroise Thomas, “Hamlet,” and who completely convinced me of the need to see it revived and fully staged. He must be an extremely happy camper today, as the Metropolitan Opera hosts a touring production of the [...]
The Metropolitan Opera production of Dmitri Shostakovich’s bitter satire, “The Nose,” based on a 19th-century short story by Gogol, is of special interest to Dallas Opera patrons because the starring role is being performed by baritone Paulo Szot…the same Tony Award winner who will sing the title role in next fall’s season opener, “Don Giovanni.” Classical [...]
The Metropolitan Opera production of Dmitri Shostakovich’s bitter satire, “The Nose,” based on a 19th-century short story by Gogol, is of special interest to Dallas Opera patrons because the starring role is being performed by baritone Paulo Szot…the same Tony Award winner who will sing the title role in next fall’s season opener, “Don Giovanni.” Classical [...]
Here at The Dallas Opera, we get asked about casting decisions all the time. For those of you curious about the process, this article from “The New York Times” on the opera world’s version of three-dimensional chess will be an eye-opener. Suzanne Calvin, Assoc. Dir. of Marketing, The Dallas Opera
