Archives for 2011

December 27, 2011

I hope you caught the Christmas Day article on Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny by respected “Dallas Morning News” business columnist and features writer Cheryl Hall. It has excellent insights into the man now leading this company and clues as to where we may be headed in future seasons. Well worth your […]

As the year ends at “Theater Jones,” critic Gregory Sullivan Isaacs selected the Dallas Opera’s 2011 revival of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” as the number one classical music event of the year! However, he admits it was something of a coin toss, as he was just about equally knocked out by our epic production of Modest Mussorgsky’s […]

December 22, 2011

Well, you can just imagine my delight (and yes, surprise) when I opened this morning’s Dallas Morning News and read that Scott Cantrell had selected the Dallas Opera production of BORIS GODUNOV as the number one classical music event of 2011! What a wonderful Christmas present for all of us at the Dallas Opera!

December 21, 2011

In this week’s Fashion@theOpera we look at the latest Modern Luxury’s issue.  In it we have coverage from First Night, Opening night of the ‘Tragic Obsessions’ Season on page 36 of the Digital Edition and TDO’s General Director and CEO is on page 97 of the Digial Edition in the feature “Art & Soul”.  Enjoy […]

December 20, 2011

The Dallas Opera is ending this year on a high note, three ‘high Cs” in fact: collaboration, as well as a commitment to excellence and community engagement explained by TDO’s Jennifer Schuder in this personal year-end essay for “Theater Jones.” Read. Remember. And above all – enjoy! (Photo of one of the Doctor Miracle casts in rehearsal […]

It couldn’t happen to a nicer and more talented lady.  No, you won’t find her in this photograph but you will find her in the concept behind this photograph. The Meadows Museum, according to D magazine Arts Editor Peter Simek, has awarded its annual Moss/Chumley Artist Award to the deserving Frances Bagley (who with her husband, […]

December 19, 2011

First the good news: mezzo-soprano Wendy White was not seriously injured in her onstage tumble from a raised platform during Act III of Gounod’s “Faust.” Now, the rest of the horrifying story from “The New York Times” Dan Wakin. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR

December 16, 2011

Check out the latest from “Travel + Leisure” magazine on the world’s top new landmarks. The Winspear Opera House where we perform is ranked Number Five, between Wembley Stadium, London, and Allianz Arena in Munich. Huh? Allow me to explain: the precise catagory was “Top Arenas and Performance Venues.” Here’s the entire list for your […]

December 15, 2011

It’s the ticket sale you’ve been waiting for–THE LIGHTHOUSE, now available to the general public in time for holiday gift-giving! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 15, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA IS PLEASED TO OFFER TICKETS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR THE EXCLUSIVE LIMITED ENGAGEMENT OF THE LIGHTHOUSE A CHAMBER OPERA BY […]

This month I sat down with Christian Räth, our Director for Tristan & Isolde, which opens Thursday, February 16th. Christian was last with the Dallas Opera in 2005 when he directed Verdi’s Luisa Miller and our critically-acclaimed 2002 production of Beethoven’s Fidelio.

December 14, 2011

I was delighted to open up this morning’s Dallas Morning News to read a column by Michael Granberry  announcing that one of this year’s winners of the Meadows Prize (and who will be in residence for four weeks at SMU in the fall of 2012) is Irish choreographer Michael Keegan-Dolan. Mr. Keegan-Dolan has been acclaimed […]

December 11, 2011

New York City Auditions, Day 5 My last day in New York was devoted to a theatrical double header to see the work of directors and designers who might be recruited to do an opera production. First up was OTHER DESERT CITIES, directed by Joe Mantello, who staged the world premiere of Jake Heggie’s first […]

New York City Auditions, Day 4 After a final day of New York auditions, a disappointing day in which I heard forty more singers, only a few of whom were interesting and none who caused my heart to beat faster, I had a transcendent theatrical experience this evening. I went to see Hugh Jackman in […]

December 10, 2011

COME TO THE TABLE! We eat to survive.  We feast, on the other hand, for a multitude of obvious and mysterious reasons. Feasting can be a display of wealth or prestige, power or political status.  It serves to underscore existing hierarchies within families (from the Seder, to Grandmother’s perfect pies, to Dad carving the Thanksgiving […]

December 9, 2011

 New York City Auditions Day 3 Wednesday night’s performance of Handel’s RODELINDA at the Metropolitan Opera was sumptuous—considering that there are only six soloists and no chorus, per capita it must be the most expensive production that this company ever mounted! Imaginatively staged by Stephen Wadsworth and beautifully conducted by Harry Bicket, the opera starred Renee Fleming, Andreas […]

December 8, 2011

Abi Ferrin designer for Tristan & Isolde (click on link) Enjoy this video from First Night, Opening Night Celebration Friday, October 21st.  We take a look at how designer Abi Ferrin took on the role of designing for such an epic opera like Wagner’s Tristan & Isolde. Tickets for Tristan & Isolde  are currently on […]

December 7, 2011

New York Auditions Day 2 & Faust Yesterday’s auditions were slow to get started, and it wasn’t until two hours into them that I heard a singer that I liked, and another hour after that before I heard a singer that I loved. Later in the day there were four or five interesting singers, but […]

One way and another, I seem to spend quite a lot of time in my car, and I make a special point of bringing along interesting CDs to listen to.   Most recently, I have been enjoying Naxos Records’ recording of Karol Szymanowski’s opera King Roger.  Having made its premiere in 1926, King Roger is an […]

December 6, 2011

New York City Auditions, Day 1 I arrived in New York over the weekend and had auditions all day yesterday.  I heard 42 singers from 10:00 in the morning until 6:00 at night, and the quality of singing ran the  gamut from excruciating to the sublime, with most of the singers falling somewhere in the […]

December 3, 2011

Last night I attended a terrific concert with Paul Phillips conducting the SMU Symphony Orchestra in excerpts from Wagner’s RING, featuring highlights from Act I of DIE WALKUERE with voice faculty members Virginia Dupuy and Clifton Forbis.   This was Virginia’s first foray into Wagner repertoire and a departure into dramatic soprano territory  from her usual […]

December 2, 2011

In the last two weeks there haven’t been a lot of opera performances to attend, so I utilized the time to catch up on my other great passion—going to the movies. So far I have seen The Descendants, Hugo, Happy Feet 2, My Week with Marilyn, Like Crazy, The Muppets and The Skin I Live […]

FIRST NIGHT, a.k.a. Opening Night of the Season, is always a glam affair and a terrific opportunity for fashionistas and people watchers alike to pick their personal favorites. Check out these photos from PaperCity Magazine and the dazzling couture creations and their celebrity models! Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR