Archives for October 2010
Up With the Volume – Off With Her Head!
October 29, 2010
Time’s a-wasting! Only a few more performances of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” left to enjoy. Here’s the latest review from Arnold Jones of “The Voice.” By the way, we will be broadcasting live this evening from the Winspear Opera House as we open the first of six performances of Donizetti’s renowned Tudor tragedy, “Anna Bolena” (a.k.a.... Read more →
Goya for Broke!
October 28, 2010
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... Read more →
Mirco Palazzi as Leporello in Don Giovanni
October 27, 2010
Barihunked, Again!
Barihunks, a site devoted to the most enticing baritones working in opera, has posted several of Karen Almond’s new photos of two of the head-turning gents appearing in our current production of “Don Giovanni.” Enjoy the view! Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
Juuuuuust Right!
At the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, I appreciated the thumbs-up the Winspear Opera House received from “Opera News” for being “pleasurably Euro-scaled.” Actually, it’s an altogether interesting article by Patrick Dillon on whether opera is better served by big voices or less hefty, more nuanced vocal instruments. Your opinions and anecdotes are equally welcome. Suzanne... Read more →
Tor-e-adore!
October 26, 2010
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... Read more →
Lawless, Not Wordless
Check out Gregory Sullivan Isaacs’ interview with “Anna Bolena” Director Stephen Lawless on both the opera and the roots of this new production at the Dallas Opera. Our thanks to Theater Jones! Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
The Critics Speak, Part Two
Wildly divergent opinions on the Dallas Opera’s current production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Dean Cassella of “DFW Renaissance” thought we did justice to the complexity implied by the term, dramma giocosa. The Associated Press was disappointed overall, here’s the review carried on WFAA.com. Mark-Brian Sonna of John Garcia’s “The Column” and Pegasus News thought it was... Read more →
Nothing Whatsoever Against the Rangers
October 24, 2010
…In fact, we’re thrilled that after all these years the home team is headed to the World Series! However, there were other thrills here in the Metroplex last Friday night, as the Dallas Opera presented its very first free public simulcast, coinciding with opening night of the season. Here’s the lowdown from George Abbott of... Read more →
The Critics Speak, Part One
We will, of course, talk more about the amazing simulcast on Friday night, but for those of you pondering whether to dash to this afternoon’s matinee of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” I thought I should start getting the reviews up on the site. Here’s what Wayne Gay of D magazine’s “FrontRow” blog had to say about... Read more →
What are You Doing Reading This?
October 22, 2010
When you could be getting ready to come down to Annette Strauss Square (between the Meyerson and the Winspear Opera House) at the AT&T Performing Arts Center for this evening’s FREE, LIVE SIMULCAST of Paulo Szot and company in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”? Doors open at 5:00, bring your own blanket if you haven’t reserved a... Read more →
More Opera Alfresco
October 21, 2010
The well-received world premiere of “Il Postino” has prompted LA Opera to bring the postman, if not to your door, close enough. The company has announced plans to present two pre-taped outdoor screenings of the new work to audiences in Downtown L.A. and Costa Mesa. There are only about 300 seats left for the remaining... Read more →
The Multifaceted Mr. Pascoe
October 20, 2010
I haven’t seen British Director/designer John Pascoe (upper right in the photo) move at anything less than warpspeed for the past week. Fortunately, he did have the chance recently to slow down and reflect on the meaning of “Don Giovanni” and the measure of this ensemble – with Theater Jones music critic and features producer Gregory Sullivan Isaacs.... Read more →
Dallas Opera Gave Her the Slip
– and a few days behind the scenes in our production of “Don Giovanni.” Check out this rather lovely slice of an abbreviated life in the theater by D magazine intern Valeria Turturro on the FrontRow blog. I hope she gets to come back and try it again…someday. (Photo by Miss Turturro) Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director... Read more →
Picture Worth a Thousand Woooos
From “The Observer,” with a tell-all photo of Paulo Szot as Don Giovanni and Georgia Jarman as Donna Elvira – by our own uber-talented production photographer Karen Almond. I certainly hope you’re planning to be here on opening night of the season this Friday, either in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House or enjoying... Read more →
Our One-of-a-Kind Guy
October 19, 2010
A glowing first report card from Adam Wasserman, the online editor for “Opera News.” The topic of his featured interview? Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. Simply reading this piece will raise your overall confidence in the current direction and future of the company. By the way, have you purchased your season subscription yet? Just askin’. Suzanne Calvin,... Read more →
La Stupenda
It isn’t commonly known that our General Director and CEO, Keith Cerny, actually performed (as a youngster in the famed San Francisco Boys Chorus) with Dame Joan Sutherland. He shared a few thoughts about this great lady with D magazine. Interestingly, immediately after making her American debut with the Dallas Opera in Franco Zeffirelli’s production... Read more →
Spotlight on Dallas Opera Orchestra Brass Players
A special fund-raiser this weekend to provide scholarships for music students at both UNT and Texas Woman’s University will also give patrons the opportunity to experience several fine musicians from the Dallas Opera Orchestra outside the pit. This concert performance of the Sundance Brass, which includes trumpeters John Holt and Keith Johnson, French horn player... Read more →
Dame Joan Sutherland, 1926-2010
October 11, 2010
We’ll have more to say on this remarkable artist and her era, but we want to get this news out to our patrons. Here’s the story from Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell of “The Dallas Morning News.” Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
The Best and the Rest
October 8, 2010
Yes, we realize that every major sports franchise in the area, including college teams, has an important game this weekend – and that an opera-company-to-be-named-later is presenting a new version of Wagner’s “Das Rheingold,” via the magic of HD technology, at a theater near you. Yes, yes, we know that – on top of all... Read more →
Capra + Opera = Capera
Passion and melodrama rule at the opera, so, it’s a wonder it took this long for someone to take a serious look at the films of legendary Depression Era film-maker Frank Capra for potential opera source material. Composer Daniel Catan (“Il Postino”) has announced he’s going to turn the 1941 Gary Cooper-Barbara Stanwyck classic, “Meet John Doe,”... Read more →
The Dallas Opera Goes Stag
October 7, 2010
We’re looking for a few good men. Not me personally; I like the one I have just fine. Why don’t I simply pass the bucks to local media professionals to explain, like KERA’s Jerome Weeks and D magazine’s Peter Simek? Hook ’em Horns! (stag photo courtesy of flickr.com) Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
Which is…Good Enough?
October 3, 2010
Dallas Opera Music Director Graeme Jenkins wants to…well, direct you to some insightful musical analysis. He’s asked me to invite you to listen to BBC’s “Building a Library” program because about 30 minutes in, we get Stephen Walsh’s recommendations regarding Modest Mussorgsky’s “Boris Godunov,” which will be presented at the end of the upcoming season... Read more →