Archives for March 2010

March 29, 2010

(Karen Almond Photo) There were a lot of crestfallen faces on music lovers when silver-tongued soprano Ava Pine announced her inevitable move to greener career pastures. But, it makes her homecomings all the more special and there’s one coming up the weekend before the MOBY-DICK world premiere. Ava will present “a delightful program of song,” […]

March 25, 2010

March 23, 2010

Crewmantle at COMMANDOpera has rightly deduced that the cult television series “Dallas” has all the necessary components (sex, greed, murder) to be considered a natural for the opera stage.  And on this 30th anniversary of the most famous episode of them all, “Who Shot J.R.?”, I’d be interested in knowing your casting choices for the leading […]

McKenzie, Sally Freeman Born September 16, 1928 to Sam and Pearl Freeman of Paris, Texas, Sarah Humphries Freeman McKenzie died Sunday, March 14, 2010 at the age of 81. An only child, Sally graduated from Paris High School in 1945 and was her class Valedictorian. She continued her education at Hockaday Junior College, graduating with […]

March 22, 2010

A genuinely thoughtful essay by Philip Kennicott in the current issue of “Opera News” online.  I think he’s correct in his opinion that great opera releases us from the frenetic time-trap in which we find ourselves these days. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR

March 21, 2010

      There are toothpicks propping open my eyes, but it was, all in all, a terrific evening of song.  Read on for details while I try to spot my car in the snow….                 DALLAS, MARCH 21, 2010 –The Dallas Opera Guild concluded it’s 22nd annual competition for young opera singers late […]

March 19, 2010

The clock is ticking.  Well, I think it is – I can’t really tell by looking. In any event – tomorrow is the Dallas Opera’s annual celebration of young Texas singing talent: The 22nd annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition with thousands of dollars in prize monies on the line.  This is a free event, […]

March 18, 2010

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 […]

March 17, 2010

The Dallas Opera’s peripatetic Music Director Graeme Jenkins isn’t observing the British equivalent of “Spring Break” (which is, in all probability, “Spring Break”).  Today, with about 25 thoroughly jazzed members of the Dallas Opera Guild in attendance, he’ll be conducting THE FLYING DUTCHMAN in Vienna.  Friday, Maestro Jenkins will take the podium for his Dresden debut of DER […]

March 11, 2010

Here at the Dallas Opera, we can’t claim any of the credit but all of us certainly took pride in the announcement that our Interim General Director, John T. Cody, Jr. was one of two recipients of this year’s coveted TACA Silver Cup Award.  The best account of last Friday’s awards luncheon comes from Jeanne Prejean over at D […]

March 10, 2010

The mad, sad and tumultuous life of former Texan Vicki Lynn Hogan (a.k.a. Anna Nicole Smith) will be the subject of a new opera by Mark-Anthony Turnage (“The Silver Tassie”) and librettist Richard Thomas (“Jerry Springer the Opera”), scheduled to premiere at Covent Garden in 2011.  Thanks to Patron Services Coordinator Shelly Garcia for the heads-up.  […]

March 8, 2010

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 […]

March 5, 2010

(Photo by Dallas Opera Production Photographer Karen Almond) The latest acclaim for this marvelous revival comes from the international media: Canada’s highly regarded music magazine, “La Scena Musicale.”  Here’s the review by Paul E. Robinson, who wrote: “…the production was excellent: the cast was first-rate; the sets and costumes by the late Jean-Pierre Ponnelle were just […]

Looking to make new friends, a little dough, and hang out at the top of your profession? Okay, it’s probably more like a hobby than a profession; something you pursue on weekends – but it’s climbing, nevertheless. As Dallas Morning News columnist Steve Blow reports, the Dallas Opera is looking for a few good men […]