Archives for February 2011
A Voice from the Pit
February 27, 2011
Maestro Marco Zambelli, in his Dallas Opera debut, has made a strong first impression on patrons and critics alike. And the buzz has grown louder with each performance. Note the intriguing follow-up interview with Gregory Sullivan Isaacs of “Theater Jones.” Let’s try this again…Note the intriguing follow-up interview, etc. (Image of Mr. Zambelli courtesy of Opera... Read more →
Season Finale a Hot Ticket – Nationwide
February 22, 2011
The Dallas Opera’s 2011 Season Finale, Mussorgsky’s epic of Medieval Russia, “Boris Godunov” has made the very short list of MUST-SEES from “The Huffington Post.” Others on the list include “Nixon in China” at the Met. Get your tickets for “Boris” now and skip the last minute crush, the hotels, the transporation, etc. Suzanne Calvin,... Read more →
“Another Opening, Another Show!”
Actually, the Opening Night of an opera season isn’t like any other and that’s rarely been more obvious than at this season’s opening of “Don Giovanni.” The stellar (and slightly damp) evening included the Dallas Opera’s first free public simulcast in Annette Strauss Square, as well as the red-carpet glamour. In case you missed it, here’s a... Read more →
The Other Oh-So-Fabulous Juliet
February 17, 2011
Dallas Opera favorite Ava Pine returns to our stage, starting tomorrow, for the title role of Juliet in our four School Performances of Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet” onstage in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. Thousands of students attend these abridged mainstage productions (Yes, we cut the steamy stuff) and Ava is paired with our... Read more →
Kahn!
February 16, 2011
Sounds like a climactic William Shatner line from “Star Trek: The Wrath of You-Know-Who.” In any event, stage director Michael Kahn, who serves as artistic director of Washington, D.C.’s renowned Shakespeare Theatre Company, is catching the attention of the media during his Dallas sojourn. Here’s the latest from Jane Horwitz of “The Washington Post” as... Read more →
The Critics Speak, Part One
February 15, 2011
(Photo by production photographer Karen Almond) More proof that we’re not in bed with the critics. Yes, romantics everywhere, the jury is in…or at least, dribbling in, one by one. The critics have spoken on the Dallas Opera’s production of “Romeo & Juliet” with Charles Castronovo, Lyubov Petrova, Robert Lloyd and Joshua Hopkins and the... Read more →
Charles Castronovo – Hot Leading Man!
February 12, 2011
Charles Castronovo is a tenor in demand! Last fall he played opposite of Placido Domingo in the World Premiere of IL POSTINO at LA Opera. And starting on Friday (2/11) he effortlessly moves into the role of Romeo in TDO’s production of ROMEO & JULIET.
Charles Castronovo as Romeo in the Dallas Opera’s ROMEO & JULIET
February 10, 2011
A Major Appointment
February 9, 2011
The Dallas Opera is pleased to announce the appointment of John Toia (pronounced: TOY-yuh) as Director of Production for the Dallas Opera. This appointment is effective immediately. Mr. Toia, a native of Detroit, Michigan, came to the Dallas Opera in August of 2009 to assume the newly created post of Associate Director of Production. As... Read more →
Final Dress Rehearsal Cancelled This Evening (2/9/2011)
The final Dress Rehearsal this evening (7:30 PM) for ROMEO & JULIET has been cancelled this evening due to inclement weather. TDO is looking forward to a TERRIFIC opening night on Friday, February 11th when it will be much warmer outside and VERY steamy on stage between our young lovers! Tickets to all performances of... Read more →
By Any Other Name
February 8, 2011
Sorry, my head is totally focused on our upcoming production of “Romeo and Juliet” opening this Friday at the Winspear Opera House. The actual question raised by this Anthony Tommasini piece in “The New York Times” is: Will the term “wallcast” really catch on? Tony thinks so, but by that same logic a broadcast would... Read more →
Brush Up Your Shakespeare!
Actually, it couldn’t be easier as the Bard commands the stage all across North Texas. Yes, Shakespeare’s tragedy is the basis for Charles Gounod’s lovely operatic version of “Romeo and Juliet” opening Friday evening at the Dallas Opera, but, as Theater Jones reports, that’s just the tip of the looming Wm. Shakespeare iceberg. (Image courtesy... Read more →
Thank you, TACA!
February 7, 2011
Christmas always comes a bit late to arts groups in North Texas, in the form of annual distributions from TACA. Details on this year’s major boost to the local arts economy from Jeanne Prejean at “My Sweet Charity.” http://mysweetcharity.com/2011/02/taca-distributes-1-million-to-art-groups-again/ Social Media Initiative managed by Spredfast
Laura, At Last!
February 5, 2011
Laura, At Last!An interview by Suzanne Calvin Soprano Laura Claycomb’s official biography tells us that “Her delicacy, refinement and theatricality in high-flying repertoire make her one of the foremost lyric coloraturas of her generation.” All of which is perfectly true – but that just barely scratches the surface. In addition to Miss Claycomb’s phenomenal natural... Read more →
The Composer Was No Romeo
February 4, 2011
The Composer Was No RomeoBy Olin Chism As numerous passages in his plays decisively confirm, William Shakespeare was a great music-lover. Just consider the following from The Merchant of Venice: “The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils; the... Read more →