TDO 20-21 Season Safety Measures – December 10 2020
Spring Season Update with New Options for Patrons
The Magic Flute Opens October 18th – Free Simulcast on Friday, November 1, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
The Dallas Opera is Proud to Present
THE MAGIC FLUTE
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Mozart’s Magical, Comical Celebration
Of the Human Spirit
OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 3, 2019
Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume
Directed by Kyle Lang in his TDO Debut
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Starring Paolo Fanale (Tamino), Andrea Carroll (Pamina), Jeni Houser (Queen of the Night), Morris Robinson (Sarastro), and Sean Michael Plumb (Papageno)
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FREE, LIVE COMMUNITY SIMULCAST
FRIDAY, NOV. 1, 2019 AT KLYDE WARREN PARK
Curtain Time: 7:30 p.m.
DALLAS, OCTOBER 15, 2019 – The Dallas Opera opens its 2019-2020 “Standing Ovation” Season on a high note this Friday with The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final operatic masterpiece, The Magic Flute.
The October 18, 2019 performance in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center will begin at 8:00 p.m. (please note the special curtain time) with subsequent performances at the usual times.
Conducted by Emmanuel Villaume (The Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director of The Dallas Opera) and directed by Kyle Lang (Ann Stuart Stage Director) in his company debut, The Eleanor Ford Penrose Mainstage Production boasts a superb international cast of singers who have captivated audiences from the Kennedy Center to Covent Garden.
Italian tenor Paolo Fanale and American soprano Andrea Carroll will make their house debuts as the spirited romantic leads, Tamino and Pamina, braving trials and separations in order to find love, wisdom and happiness together, at long last.
“Tamino demands a beautiful voice that radiates youthful ardor,” wrote Harper’s Bazaar, “and you’ll hear it from this ‘heart-throb Italian tenor (Paolo Fanale).” Meanwhile, Opera News noted that Miss Carroll is “a favorite of the Vienna State Opera, (lauded for her) vibrant soprano (with its) rich, low register and gleaming top.”
American soprano Jeni Houser will account for several of the performance’s high notes as the majestic Queen of the Night. She, too, earned exceptional praise from Opera News for her “focused expressive high soprano…nailing her killer Act II showpiece.”
The role of Papageno, a comic tour-de-force, marks the eagerly-awaited house debut of baritone Sean Michael Plumb, whose “elegant lyricism and responsive musicality” (The New York Times) have made this award-winning California native a welcome presence on many of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Dallas Opera favorite Morris Robinson, an American bass last seen on the Winspear stage as The Commendatore in our acclaimed 2018 spring production of Don Giovanni, “dominates the stage…with his firm, opulent tone that seems to pour forth from another world” (The Classical Review). He returns in the role of the mysterious Sarastro.
Casting the roles of the First, Second, and Third Lady is about choosing complementary voices capable of creating one of the great trios in opera. The Dallas Opera indulged in “luxury casting” across the board: The First Lady will be sung by American soprano Diana Newman, the Second Lady by American mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey (The Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star), and the Third Lady by American contralto Hannah Ludwig – all in their TDO debuts.
The troubled Monastatos, will be portrayed by character tenor Brian Frutiger with soprano Abigail Rethwisch as the charming Papagena and bass David Pittsinger as The Speaker.
Rounding out this outstanding cast are the First, Second and Third Boy sung by Keiland Holleman, Lukas Palys, and Michael Blumenthal, respectively.
The First Man in Armor will be sung by Aaron Short. Ryan Kuster will portray the Second Man in Armor. Sam Parkinson appears in the role of the First Priest, with Michael Christopher as the Second Priest.
This eighteenth-century masterpiece premiered in Vienna in 1791, and mixes popular song with show-stopping coloratura and a lilting touch of glockenspiel.
Tickets for Mozart’s The Magic Flute may be purchased by phone (214.443.1000), online (www.dallasopera.org) or at the door, starting at just $19.
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This production, originally directed by the late Sir Peter Hall, was designed by British cartoonist and illustrator extraordinaire, Gerald Scarfe, best known for a half century of scathing political cartoons for The Sunday Times and for directing and designing the animation sequence for Pink Floyd’s film and concert versions of The Wall. Mr. Scarfe has designed sets and costumes for opera companies from Seattle to New Zealand, as well as creating numerous books, exhibits, and acclaimed one-man shows.
Lighting design for this production is by Thomas C. Hase. Wig and make-up design is by Dawn Rivard.
As always, chorus preparation is by Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.
Performances of The Magic Flute continue on October 20(m), 23, 26, and November 1 (The Enrico Foundation Performance) and November 3(m), 2019. Evening performances in the Winspear Opera House begin at 7:30 p.m., (except for the opening night performance mentioned above) and the curtain rises on TDO Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. There is no late seating.
The Magic Flute will be performed in its original language, German, with English-language translations projected above the stage at every performance.
Student Rush Tickets are available at the box office 90 minutes prior to curtain – a valid student ID is required for each ticket.
Additionally, The Dallas Opera is Pleased to Announce its 18th Live Simulcast since 2010!
A FREE KLYDE WARREN PARK SIMULCAST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019
The Dallas Opera will present a free live simulcast of Mozart’s The Magic Flute at beautiful Klyde Warren Park. This special presentation takes place in the Dallas Arts District on Friday, November 1, 2019 (program begins at 6:00 p.m., curtain time – 7:30 p.m.) and is open to all.
This will be a live simulcast of that night’s performance in the Winspear Opera House, presented for park patrons on a large high-definition video screen.
“The free fall simulcast in Klyde Warren Park has quickly evolved into one of our most popular traditions,” explains Dallas Opera Director of Marketing and Ticket Sales Carrie Ellen Adamian. “It’s not merely a grand night for opera, it’s a marvelous opportunity to celebrate community life with your loved ones, children, and friends.
“For those who may never have experienced opera before, The Magic Flute is especially delightful with its combination of gorgeous arias and a fantastic storyline that will keep you on the edge of your…blanket.”
Klyde Warren Park is located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201. Sign up today for reminders and updates at www.dallasopera.org/simulcast. However, no reservations are required in order to attend the free November 1st simulcast, whether you’re coming alone or with 50 of your closest friends and family members!
The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1st with popular radio host Amy Bishop of WRR, “Classical 101” and Kristian Roberts, Education Administrator for The Dallas Opera. Activities include a trivia contest, behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast, and the high-definition screening of a 1950 classic cartoon, Rabbit of Seville (courtesy of WB Classics), directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. This short was voted #12 of the 50 all-time greatest cartoons ever created, in a survey of animation industry professionals.
The cartoon also “tips the hat” to our engaging season finale, The Barber of Seville (April 24th through May 10, 2020), Rossini’s hilarious comic masterpiece.
The public is encouraged to arrive with time to spare before the 7:30 curtain, and to bring blankets or low lawn-chairs to secure their spot on the lawn. A variety of nearby wining-and-dining options include Savor, serving New American cuisine and assorted food trucks.
Picnic baskets and pets are permitted, as well.
The 2019 Magic Flute Simulcast is made possible in part by The Enrico Foundation with additional support provided by Texas Instruments.
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The Dallas Opera Wishes to Express Our Gratitude to Those
Whose Generous Contributions Made Possible
This 2019 Production of The Magic Flute:
The Eleanor Ford Penrose Mainstage Production
Production Underwriters Cindy and Charlie Feld
Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, Oct. 18, 2019
The Enrico Foundation Performance, Nov. 1, 2019
Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star: Samantha Hankey
Ann Stuart Stage Director: Kyle Lang
ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA:
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation,
Texas Instruments, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture,
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.
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. 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. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $19 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit www.dallasopera.org.
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The Dallas Opera’s NORMA, April 21 thru May 7
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, March 28, 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
Our First Production of a bel canto Masterpiece
NORMA
By Vincenzo Bellini
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Starring Soprano Elza van den Heever in the Title Role
Tenor Yonghoon Lee and Soprano Marina Costa-Jackson
Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume
Directed by Nic Muni
OPENING FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017, 7:30 p.m.
The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
AT&T Performing Arts Center
Additional Performances: April 23(m), 26, 29 and May 7(m)
With Production Support from TACA
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Tickets start at $19
Call 214-443-1000 or Visit dallasopera.org
DALLAS, MARCH 28, 2017 – The Dallas Opera is thrilled to present—for the first time on our stage—Vincenzo Bellini’s suspense-filled masterpiece of the bel canto repertoire, NORMA, starring the phenomenal South African-born soprano Elza van den Heever in the title role of a Druid priestess wronged by the man she loves.
This 1831 masterpiece, with a libretto by Felice Romani, opens Friday, April 21, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center (conveniently located at 2403 Flora Street – in the heart of the Dallas Arts District). This towering period production, originally created by designer John Conklin for Cincinnati Opera, will command centerstage in four additional performances: April 23(m), 26, 29 and May 7(m), 2017. The final performance in May, during OPERA America week, will serve as the grand finale of our exciting 60th Season.
Tickets for NORMA begin at just $19 and may be purchased at www.dallasopera.org or by contacting the friendly professional staff at The Dallas Opera Ticket Office: 214-443-1000.
“For many years now,” notes Keith Cerny, The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, “Bellini’s NORMA has been a noticeable gap in the company’s repertoire.
“At last we are able to rectify that shortcoming, by bringing this influential work to life on the Winspear stage with a phenomenal international cast under the experienced leadership of Emmanuel Villaume.
“We know that our audiences will love seeing this classic work of the bel canto repertoire in Dallas. The excitement in the air as we begin the rehearsal process, is palpable.”
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Set during the Roman occupation of Gaul in 50 B.C., a passionate love triangle in the midst of a deepening culture clash leads to dangerous consequences. A Druid high priestess, Norma (soprano Elza van den Heever), is in the throes of despair after discovering that her longtime lover, a Roman proconsul for whom she has borne two children, may have been unfaithful. Pollione (sung by tenor Yonghoon Lee in his company debut) confesses to a friend that he no longer loves Norma. His amorous attentions are now focused on Adalgisa, a young novice priestess (portrayed by soprano Marina Costa-Jackson), who reluctantly returns his love. Pollione brushes aside a warning about Norma’s hair-trigger temper and capacity for rage.
Amid the turmoil of the occupation, personal betrayal, and impending revolution, Norma is driven to the very brink of insanity, convinced that her life is coming undone, and fearing what the future may hold for her disgraced “fatherless” children.
This production is generously supported by TACA.
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The dazzling South African soprano Elza van den Heever stars as Norma, in her first appearance on The Dallas Opera stage since her acclaimed 2010 TDO debut as Fiordiligi in “the Monte Carlo setting” of Mozart’s Così fan tutte. This versatile artist describes her vocal style as a “voyage of discovery.” That voyage has taken her—this season alone—to the Canadian Opera Company (Norma), Vienna State Opera (Ellen Orford in Britten’s Peter Grimes), Opera Frankfurt (Elvira, in concert performances of Verdi’s Ernani), and, most recently, to New York’s Metropolitan Opera, where she just scored a major triumph as Elletra in Mozart’s Idomeneo under the baton of Music Director James Levine, earning “the most enthusiastic ovation of the night” (David Salazar, Operawire) in this powerful dramatic role.
During the 2015-16 Season, Ms. van den Heever revisited the role of Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo (Opéra National du Rhin and Opéra National de Bordeaux, in a new production by director Robert Carsen), conquered the Metropolitan Opera stage as Elisabetta (a.k.a. Britain’s Queen Elizabeth I) in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda “with impressive authority of her own” (New York Classical Voice), and moved Frankfurt Opera patrons to tears in her role debut in the title role of Suor Angelica in Puccini’s one-act from Il Trittico (“The Triptych”).
Ms. van den Heever’s recent work on the symphonic stage includes Britten’s War Requiem, conducted by Semyon Bychkov in Cologne, Germany; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Beethoven Orchestra of Bonn; and an all-Mozart concert with the National Orchestra of Toulouse.
Christophe Rizoud, of Opéra Forum went to great lengths to describe her virtuosity: “Elza van den Heever moves us deeply, enthralls and captivates…she delighted us with her powerful and controlled voice, with a splendid midrange that does not exclude high notes. But those extreme notes are never sung without purpose; they are used to convey meaning, the same way as volume or colour offer expression.”
A dual citizen of France and South Africa, Elza van den Heever currently makes her home in Bordeaux, France.
Superb South Korean tenor Yonghoon Lee—one of opera’s busiest performers according to Bachtrack—stars as Norma’s lover, the Roman proconsul, Pollione, charged with maintaining the peace, by any means necessary in this far-flung corner of the Empire. According to Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times, Lee “is an outstanding tenor. Handsome and youthful, he is a natural onstage and a sensitive listener during duets and ensembles.”
In the 2015/16 season Mr. Lee performed at the Metropolitan Opera as Manrico in Il Trovatore and Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana. Lee also performed the same role in Cavalleria Rusticana at Covent Garden. He will soon be heard as Manrico in Il Trovatore at the Bavarian State Opera and Don Jose in Carmen with Opera Australia. Future engagements include Turiddu in Cavalleria Rusticana at The Paris Opera, and the title role in Andrea Chénier at San Francisco Opera.
Lee sang his first Andrea Chénier in Zurich in 2014. In the fall of 2013 Lee starred as Arrigo in the Hamburg State Opera’s new production of Verdi’s rarely performed La Battaglia di Legnano staged by David Alden and conducted by Simone Young. He subsequently sang Don Jose at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and returned to Munich as Calaf in Turandot. The same year he added Manrico in Il Trovatore to his repertoire in a new production at the Theater an der Wien during the Wiener Festwochen.
Highlights of recent seasons have also included Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera and for his debut in Zurich, Don Carlos in the original French version.
American soprano Marina Costa-Jackson was born in Las Vegas but raised in Palermo, Italy (Italian, in fact, is her first language). She sings the role of Adalgisa, the “other woman,” who Pollione has fallen deeply in love with, despite his lengthy relationship with Norma.
The New York Times praised Ms. Costa-Jackson for being dramatically and musically alluring…notable for her burnished timbre and subtle phrasing.” Others wrote about her “dramatic, burnished voice and subtle acting.”
Last season she made her professional debut as Musetta with Michigan Opera Theatre in La Bohème, debuted the role of Leonora in Il Trovatore in Hong Kong, and covered the role of Amelia in Simon Boccanegra at the Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Costa-Jackson also sang Verdi’s Requiem with Teatro Municipal de Santiago, and Fiora in L’amore dei Tre Re with the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where she graduated in May 2016. She also performed in concert with Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Minsk, with Andrea Bocelli in Madison Square Garden, debuted as one of the Costa-Jackson trio of opera-singing sisters in the International Festival “Palaces of St. Petersburg” concerts, and at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall.
Engagements this season include her debut with Opera de Paris as Micaela in Carmen, a return to the Metropolitan Opera as Mimì in La Bohème (cover), followed by Mimì at Opera Köln and with the Welsh National Opera.
American bass Christian Van Horn, acclaimed for his “sturdy voice and commanding presence…” (Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times) will portray Oroveso, Norma’s father and the leader of his clan. Mithra Mastropierro makes her TDO debut as Clotide, Norma’s confidante, and the role of Pollione’s friend, Flavio, will be sung by Charles Karanja (the Phyllis A. McCasland and Thomas H. McCasland, Jr. Young Artist).
Critically acclaimed international conductor and Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume leads The Dallas Opera Orchestra in one of Bellini’s greatest contributions to the bel canto repertoire. The maestro is concluding his fourth season with the company; a season in which he has conducted a wide variety of works reflecting different styles and periods: Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Moby-Dick (a revival of the Leonard Foglia production for The Dallas Opera that launched this worldwide success), Bellini’s Norma – and, still to come: Villaume will conduct a semi-staged performance of Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer’s Everest, a tremendously powerful 2015 Dallas Opera world premiere, as well as Talbot’s brand-new Everest Prelude.
“Keith Cerny and I are excited to program works that patrons have longed to experience just as much as we do. My energies are devoted to sharing this most relevant and revealing of art forms with North Texas and all the world,” comments Maestro Villaume.
“Norma is one of the most demanding soprano roles in the repertoire, but Elza has shown herself equal to the challenges. This opera truly represents what Bellini was capable of, as a composer at the peak of his powers, in its astonishing array of musical moods, duets, solo arias and ensembles. Audiences in Dallas have waited decades to hear this work; I am confident they will walk out of the Winspear Opera House satisfied that NORMA was well worth the wait!”
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NORMA is based on Norma, ou L’infanticide (“Norma, or, The Infanticide”) a play by Alexandre Soumet. The opera was first performed at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala the day after Christmas in 1831 to open Carnival Season, and got a “cold shoulder” from the opening night audience.
“Fiasco, fiasco, solemn fiasco” Bellini wrote afterwards. However, the audience indifference didn’t last, soon NORMA became one of the most popular operas of the 19th century, best known for the Act One soprano aria “Casta Diva.”
In the 20th century, the role became a showpiece for the very best and most courageous sopranos, including Rosa Raisa, Rosa Ponselle, Maria Callas, Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Shirley Verrett, Beverly Sills, Grace Bumbry, Renata Scotto, Jane Eaglen and Cecilia Bartoli.
Stage director Nic Muni makes his company debut in this period production. Mr. Muni served as artistic director of the A.J. Fletcher Opera Institute at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. His productions have graced the stages of San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, Canadian Opera Company (Toronto), Houston Grand Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Prague National Opera, and The Kurt Weill International Festival, among others.
Set and Costume Design is by renowned opera, Broadway and Off-Broadway designer John Conklin. Lighting design is by internationally acclaimed designer Thomas C. Hase. Wig and make-up design is by Stephanie Williams.
As always, the renowned Dallas Opera Chorus will be prepared for the performances by Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks, a free, pre-performance lecture, will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at all Norma performances. More perspective can be gained through “Opera Insights” presented by The Dallas Opera Guild. The informative panel discussion featuring artists, directors and/or designers for NORMA takes place Sunday, April 9, 2017, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in Hamon Hall (located off the main lobby concourse in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. For more details, visit dallasopera.org and look under “Upcoming Events.”
NORMA will be performed in Italian with English supertitles projected above the stage. For tickets or additional information, call 214.443.1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
2016-2017 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
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PHOTO BY MAXINE HELFMAN
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. 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 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 and Costume Designer: Michael Yeargan
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 and 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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The Latest on the Dallas Opera’s Klyde Warren Park Simulcast
Updated Curtain Time for CARMEN for Dallas Opera’s Klyde Warren Park Simulcast – 8:00 P.M.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
KLYDE WARREN PARK, PROUDLY ANNOUNCES
AN EVENING OF OPEN-AIR OPERA ON THE LAWN:
THE DALLAS OPERA’S
2013 OPENING NIGHT
“SIMULCAST IN THE PARK!”
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BIZET’S “CARMEN” LIVE!
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013
THE LINDA AND MITCH HART
SEASON OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE
Big Screen Action Begins at 6:00 PM
Special Features at 6:30 PM
Live Opera Performance at 8:00 PM
(Half-Hour Later Than the Usual Curtain)
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WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT
DALLAS, TX, JULY 9, 2013 – The Dallas Opera, in partnership with Klyde Warren Park and with support from The Dallas Arts District, is delighted to announce our first-ever artistic collaboration: a live simulcast of one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, Georges Bizet’s 1875 masterpiece, CARMEN, starring the gorgeous and gifted French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine in her American debut!
The Klyde Warren Park Simulcast, the sixth simulcast presented by the Dallas Opera since 2010, will enable music lovers (as well as those who just want to be part of a fun-filled major event) to bring blankets and picnics—or take advantage of the variety of available dining options ranging from an on-site restaurant to nearby eateries and food trucks (beer and wine will be available for purchase as well)—and enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment, live, from the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center!
Attendees will, in fact, be asked to become participants in the evening as the Dallas Opera stages a “Toreador Song Sing-a-long,” and other ways to keep things lively in the hour-and-a-half prior to curtain. For those who prefer people-watching in the park, you will have twice the opportunity, as the action in the park will be supplemented by glamorous live shots from FIRST NIGHT and interviews conducted backstage at the Winspear.
The curtain for CARMEN will be half-an-hour later than usual, at 8:00 p.m.
“Klyde Warren Park was conceived and designed for these types of activities—activities that bring the performing and visual arts to everyone. These programs help provide a way to promote and showcase art to those who may not otherwise experience these performances,” remarked Jody Grant, Chairman, Woodall Rogers Park Foundation.
“It has been clear from the day Klyde Warren Park officially opened,” commented Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, “that it was attracting huge and impressively diverse crowds to the Arts District; people seeking a community oriented green-space capable of serving as a much-needed Central Park. However, it answers other needs as well: the layout is perfect to accommodate hundreds (even thousands) for the Dallas Opera’s Opening Night Simulcast of Carmen, being performed live in the Winspear—just around the corner.”
“With enthusiastic support from The Dallas Arts District and the park’s management team,” he adds, “we hope to draw an exciting mix of Klyde Warren Park fans and dedicated opera lovers that Friday night, to thrill to the music and drama of one of the world’s best-loved operas in this extraordinary open-air setting.”
“All are welcome in the Dallas Arts District, which works to be inclusive and collaborative at every opportunity and continues to set new attendance records each year,” notes Dallas Arts District Executive Director Catherine Cuellar. “Through this partnership with our stakeholders at The Dallas Opera and Klyde Warren Park, we are helping to cultivate the next generation of opera fans,” she added, “and what better way to do it than with Carmen? It’s got many of opera’s greatest hits. Even people who don’t yet know they like opera will recognize these songs from ‘Looney Tunes’ cartoons and have fun singing along.”
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The 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season officially opens with our first CARMEN to be performed in the critically acclaimed acoustic of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House.
Renowned mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine, hailed as “Best Newcomer” in the 2011 French Classical Music Awards, Margaine will have her hands full with two head-turning, heart-melting Don Josés: tenors Brandon Jovanovich, who last captivated us as Pinkerton, and Bruno Ribeiro (making his company debut).
This truly phenomenal cast, from Mary Dunleavy in the role of Micaëla to Dwayne Croft as Escamillo the Toreador, will bring on the sizzle—as well as the steak!
Featuring classic Jean-Pierre Ponnelle scenery from the San Francisco Opera, this production conducted by Maestro Emmanuel Villaume, the Dallas Opera’s highly acclaimed new music director, will make all the other good/bad girls of opera seem tame, if not lame, in comparison.
Georges Bizet’s colorful, sensual and passionate nineteenth-century masterpiece will be staged by veteran American director Bliss Hebert, who last directed our critically acclaimed 2012 production of La traviata, the notable U.S. debut of Greek soprano Myrtò Paptanasiu, our “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year.”
American tenor Brandon Jovanovich will sing the role of Don José on Oct. 25 (the evening of the Klyde Warren Park Simulcast), Oct. 27, and 30, while TDO newcomer, Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro will portray the obsessed lover on Nov. 2, 8 and 10, 2013.
This outstanding international cast includes soprano Danielle Pastin in her company debut as Frasquita; mezzo Audrey Babcock in her Dallas Opera debut as Mercédès; bass Kyle Albertson (another company debut) as Zuniga; baritone Stephen LaBrie as the smuggler, La Dancaire; tenor Victor Ryan Robertson as Remendado and baritone John David Boehr in his TDO debut as Moralès.
Mr. Jovanovich, who enthralled Dallas audiences in our 2010 production of Madame Butterfly (described by Huffington Post’s Rodney Punt as the definitive Pinkerton of our time), has been dazzling critics recently in the title role of Wagner’s Lohengrin. San Francisco Chronicle Classical Music Critic Joshua Kosman wrote: “Jovanovich combined sweet-toned lyricism and ardent heroism in just the proportions required for this tricky role. His singing was thrillingly pure and tireless, his stage presence simultaneously tender and aloof.”
Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro, on the other hand, “gives rich voice to soulful pleadings” and has been praised for allowing “vulnerability to color his expressive tenor” (examiner.com).
Soprano Mary Dunleavy “melds outstanding acting ability with a flexible and gorgeous voice” (William Thomas Walker, cvnc.org), characteristics on display in her tour de force portrayal of all four love interests in the Dallas Opera’s 2005 production of Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, earning rave reviews and that season’s “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award.”
Bass-baritone Dwayne Croft swept Dallas Opera goers off their feet as Marcello in our 2009 production of La bohème. A singer praised by The Classical Review for his “musical intelligence” and an onstage presence that is both “dashing and ardent.”
Soprano Danielle Pastin impressed reviewer James O. Welsch with her “stunning lyrical beauty and tone.” And Catherine Reese Newton of The St. Louis Tribune praised mezzo-soprano Audrey Babcock as “a vocal and dramatic knockout.” Bass Kyle Albertson, on the other hand, was applauded by ConcertoNet for his “splendid interpretation” of the role of Henry Kissinger in Long Beach Opera’s production of Nixon in China; while baritone Steven LaBrie caught the ear of The Opera Critic “with his rich yet flexible voice, good looks and charismatic personality” and tenor Victor Ryan Robertson “made a fine impression” on Opera News. Baritone John David Boehr earned the praise of Michael Anthony of MinnPost.com for his “welcome energy and adroit singing” at Minnesota Opera.
As for Maestro Villaume, Lawrence A. Johnson recently wrote that “he displayed his considerable bona fides in French repertoire once again, conducting a performance that conveyed the melodic richness of Bizet’s music with elegance, delicacy and dramatic point as needed.”
Costume design is by Werner Iverke in his company debut, with lighting design by Thomas C. Hase.
The Dallas Opera Chorus will be prepared by Chorus Master Alexander Rom and the children’s chorus by Children’s Chorus Master Melinda Cotten.
CARMEN will be sung in French, with English language translations projected above the stage and on the simulcast screen at Klyde Warren Park.
This will be the Dallas Opera’s sixth production of CARMEN in our 56-year-history.
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Subscriptions for the Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season are on sale now, starting at just $76 for all four mainstage productions, through the Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or online at www.dallasopera.org.
Single tickets will go on sale July 8th, starting at just $19. Student Rush best-available tickets can be purchased at the lobby box office for $25 to $50, depending on the section, (one per valid Student I.D.) ninety minutes prior to each performance.
About The Dallas Arts District:
The Dallas Arts District is the largest arts district in the nation, spanning more than 73 acres and 19 contiguous blocks in the heart of downtown. With stunning architecture, including four buildings designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects, world-class exhibits and exemplary cultural programming, the Dallas Arts District has become the landmark that defines the heart of the city of Dallas.
Established in 2009 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization as the AT&T Performing Arts Center neared completion, today’s Dallas Arts District serves residents and patrons of the district, increasing awareness of and access to arts and the District. Operating under the umbrella of Downtown Dallas, Inc. as advocate, steward and representative, The Dallas Arts District serves stakeholders including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center, Klyde Warren Park, Nasher Sculpture Center, The Dallas Opera, The Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Hall Financial, MetroArts Corporation and One Arts Plaza, among others.
The Dallas Arts District is funded by grants, voluntary membership dues, sponsorships and donations. To learn more about how you can help support your Dallas Arts District, visit www.dallasartsdistrict.org.
About Klyde Warren Park
Klyde Warren Park serves as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy in the heart of the city. The 5.2-acre deck park, designed by the Office of James Burnett, creates an urban green space over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul Streets in Downtown Dallas. The park includes a performance pavilion, restaurant, shaded walking paths, a dog park, a children’s park, great lawn, water features, and an area for games, providing year-round activities to all citizens of Dallas. Klyde Warren Park is privately operated and managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
For more information on volunteering or donations, please visit www.KlydeWarrenPark.org or call 214-716-4500.
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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “JUNE AT THE DALLAS OPERA”
IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS
For high-resolution, digital photographs suitable for print
To arrange an interview
Or for additional information
Please contact Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
214.443.1014 or suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
The Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season
Is Coming Soon to an Opera House Near You!
THE DALLAS OPERA WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS GRATITUDE TO OUR EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS:
AMERICAN AIRLINES – OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE DALLAS OPERA
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Ticket Information for the 2013-2014 Dallas Opera Season
All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Subscriptions are now on sale to the general public, starting at just $76. Single Tickets starting at $19 and Flex Subscriptions will be going on sale Monday, July 8. Family performances are $5 (Family Performance Subs are $12 for three family performances) and are on sale now. 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 2013-2014 SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Seventh 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 will 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.
CARMEN by Georges Bizet
October 25 (special time, 8:00 p.m.), October 27(m), 30, November 2, 8 & 10(m), 2013
The most irresistible bad girl in opera—How can you possibly say “non”?
An opera in four acts first performed in Paris on March 3, 1875
Text by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée
Time: 19th century
Place: Seville, Spain
Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
Stage Director: Bliss Hebert
Scenic Design: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Costume Design: Werner Iverke
Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
Starring: Clémentine Margaine**(Carmen), Brandon Jovanovich (Don José Oct. 25, 27, 30), Bruno Ribeiro* (Don José Nov. 2, 8, 10), Mary Dunleavy (Micaëla), Dwayne Croft (Escamillo), Danielle Pastin*(Frasquita), Audrey Babcock*(Mercédès), Kyle Albertson*(Zuniga), Steven LaBrie (Le Dancaïre), Victor Ryan Robertson (Remendado), John David Boehr*(Moralès).
DEATH AND THE POWERS by Tod Machover
February 12, 14, 15 & 16(m), 2014
Science fiction and poignant family drama combine in a major regional premiere!
An opera in one act first performed in Monte Carlo, Monaco at the Salle Garnier on September 24, 2010.
Text by Robert Pinsky, based on a story by Pinsky and Randy Weiner
Time: Unknown time in the future
Place: Earth, the home of billionaire Simon Powers
Conductor: Nicole Paiement
Stage Director: Diane Paulus*
Associate Director: Andrew Eggert*
Scenic Design: Alex McDowell*
Costume Design: David Woolard*
Lighting Design: Don Holder
Choreography: Karole Armitage*
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Starring: Robert Orth (Simon Powers/Robot One), Joélle Harvey (Miranda/Robot Four), Patricia Risley(Evvy/Robot Three), Hal Cazalet*(Nicholas/Robot Two), Frank Kelley*(The United Way), David Kravitz*(The United Nations), Tom McNichols*(The Administration).
DIE TOTE STADT (“THE DEAD CITY”) by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
March 21, 23(m), 26, 29 and April 6(m), 2014
The Hitchcock-like tale of one man’s dark obsession with the woman he loved and lost.
An opera in three acts first performed in Hamburg & Cologne, Germany on December 4, 1920
Text by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Paul Schott based on a novel by Georges Rodenbach, Bruges la morte
Time: End of the 19th century
Place: The city of Bruges in northwestern Belgium
Conductor: Sebastian Lang-Lessing*
Stage Director: Mikael Melbye
Scenic Design: Mikael Melbye*
Costume Design: Dierdre Clancy*
Video Design: Wendall Harrington*
Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Choreography: Matthew Ferraro*
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Anne Petersen**(Marietta) , Jay Hunter Morris (Paul), Morgan Smith (Fritz), Weston Hurt (Frank), Katherine Tier*(Brigitta), Andrew Bidlack (Albert), Jan Lund**(Victorin), Jennifer Chung (Juliette), Angela Turner Wilson (Lucienne).
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini
March 28, 30(m), April 2, 5, 11 & 13(m), 2014
Figaro, a scheming barber and jack-of-all-trades plots to release a headstrong girl from her gilded cage!
An opera in two acts first performed in Rome on February 20, 1816
Text by Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais, from his comedy Le Barbier de Séville
Time: 18th century
Place: Seville, Spain
Conductor: Giuliano Carella*
Stage Director: Herb Kellner
Original Production: John Copley
Scenic Design: John Conklin
Costume Design: Michael Stennet
Lighting Design: TBD
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Nathan Gunn (Figaro), Isabel Leonard*(Rosina), Alek Shrader*(Count Almaviva), Donato DiStefano (Dr. Bartolo), Burak Bilgili*(Don Basilio), Nathan De’Shon Myers (Fiorello), Christian Teague*(Ambrogio).
DALLAS OPERA FAMILY PERFORMANCES
Jack and the Beanstalk: October 26, 2013 and April 5, 2014
Family Concerts: November 3, 2013 and February 1, 2014
The Elixir of Love: November 9, 2013 and April 12, 2014
* Dallas Opera Debut
** American Debut
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The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; TACA; 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 Mrs. William W. Winspear and the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for their continuing support.
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