Archives for September 2011
Inner Circle Kick Off Event
September 30, 2011
The Dallas Opera had an opportunity to thank members of our Inner Circle at the 2011-12 Kick-Off Celebration hosted at Komali Restaurant on September 25. This annual party, a benefit exclusive to donors who support the Opera with an annual contribution of $3,000-plus, was hosted by Keith Cerny, General Director and CEO, Jonathan Pell, Artist... Read more →
Fashion@theOpera
Abi Ferrin did not take a predictable career path, but her story proves that the America dream is alive and well. Born and raised in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Abi wasn’t exactly “in line” to become a big hit in the fashion world. While she began sewing when she was 5, and did in fact win... Read more →
Dallas Morning News, KRLD, and Broadway World
More on the emerging turnaround at the Dallas Opera under the leadership of General Director and CEO Keith Cerny and the Dallas Opera Board: from Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell of the “Dallas Morning News” (click here) and “Broadway World” (click there). I’m looking at dismal financial stories from arts organizations around the country this morning and it’s... Read more →
Dallas Business Journal on TDO
DBJ’s take on the Dallas Opera’s current financial status and the progress made towards erasing our accumulated deficit without sacrificing artistic quality. Read more here. Our thanks to DBJ’s Bill Hethcock for giving this story the coverage it deserves. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
Megan’s Musings Volume 1: The Three American Tenors
September 29, 2011
On Tuesday, September 27th I was lucky enough to be able to sit down with our “3 American Tenors” singing in Lucia di Lammermoor. Making his TDO debut is Bryan Hymel singing Sir Edgardo di Ravenswood, Scott Quinn, our former Resident Young Artist, singing the role of Normanno and Aaron Blake, our current Resident Young... Read more →
Extraordinarily Well-Deserved Honors
It was a gorgeous late summer evening in the Winspear yesterday, as members of the Dallas Opera Board and Trustees gathered to witness the unveiling of the new 21st Century Wall of Honor (see the release for full details) in the West Lobby of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing... Read more →
THE DALLAS OPERA ANNOUNCES MEETING OF KEY MILESTONES IN THE PLANNED TURNAROUND OF THE COMPANY’S FINANCES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA ANNOUNCES MEETING OF KEY MILESTONES IN THE PLANNED TURNAROUND OF THE COMPANY’S FINANCES ~~~~ NEW ARTISTIC STRATEGY, AGGRESSIVE RESTRUCTURING OF TDO’S OPERATIONS, AND SUCCESSFUL FUND-RAISING EFFORTS PAYING OFF; PROJECTED DEFICIT FOR FISCAL YEAR LESS THAN HALF OF PREVIOUS YEAR’S BUDGET... Read more →
The Dallas Opera’s 21st Century Wall of Honor
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE REMARKABLE GENEROSITY OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS ON THE DALLAS OPERA’S 21st CENTURY WALL OF HONOR ~~~~ HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE MADE MULTI-MILLON DOLLAR COMMITMENTS TO TDO IN THE 21ST CENTURY, CONTRIBUTING TO THE ARTISTIC... Read more →
Costello Triumphs (Again) at the Met
September 27, 2011
Tony Tommasini was favorably impressed. With Anna Netrebko as the doomed Ann Boleyn but also with Stephen Costello, reprising the role he sang so beautifully with the Dallas Opera last season: “The tenor Stephen Costello won a hearty ovation for his Riccardo (Lord Percy, Anna’s former lover). This was a big assignment for the gifted... Read more →
TDO Family Series: DOCTOR MIRACLE
September 26, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 26, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org A REMINDER FROM THE DALLAS OPERA THAT TICKETS ARE ON-SALE NOW FOR PERFORMANCES OF GEORGES BIZET’S CHARMING ONE-ACT COMEDY, SUNG IN ENGLISH DOCTOR MIRACLE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DALLAS CHILDREN’S THEATER ~~~~ STARRING OUTSTANDING YOUNG SINGERS FROM SMU’S MEADOWS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AND UNT’S... Read more →
Bel Canto Man
Diva, Schmeeva. Look who’s kow-towing at Netrebko’s pretty feet! A familiar face here at the Dallas Opera – including in our last Donizetti bel canto masterpiece: “Ann Boleyn” just last season. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
Dallas Opera’s 21st Century Wall of Honor, September 28th Unveiling
September 23, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, September 23, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE REMARKABLE GENEROSITY OF SEVEN INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS THROUGH THE UNVEILING OF THE DALLAS OPERA’S 21st CENTURY WALL OF HONOR ~~~~ HONOREES HAVE MADE MULTI-MILLON DOLLAR COMMITMENTS TO TDO IN THE 21ST CENTURY, CONTRIBUTING TO BOTH THE... Read more →
Fashion@theOpera
Khanh Nguyen, the Creative Director and Designer of the Nha Khanh collection, has been surrounded by fashion and art throughout her life. Born to Vietnamese, artisan parents, and raised in Dallas, Texas, Khanh has always been exposed to what is beautiful and refined. At the age of five, she began to mimic what she saw... Read more →
Brass Lovers Alert
September 22, 2011
Dallas Opera Principal Trumpet John Holt will be giving both a master class and a recital at Stephen F. Austin State University later this month. He will be collaborating with pianist Ron Petti. More details, in case you can make it, right here. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
D Goes Dickens on TDO
In the October issue of D magazine, just hitting the newsstands, a feature detailing the challenges confronting the Dallas Opera and the man at the top, doing just that. Willard Spiegelman’s take on things is occasionally barbed, yet thoughtful. Feel free to weigh-in after you read the entire piece right here. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media &... Read more →
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR Opening Oct. 21 at TDO
September 21, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO PRESENT THE COMPANY’S BLAZING 2011-2012 SEASON OPENER: GAETANO DONIZETTI’S BEL CANTO MASTERPIECE LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR LIBRETTO BY SALVATORE CAMMARANO ~~~~ STARRING ROMANIAN SOPRANO ELENA MOSUC IN HER DALLAS DEBUT AS LUCIA, TENOR BRYAN HYMEL IN HIS COMPANY DEBUT... Read more →
Clif Forbis: Still a Star, now a Chair
Word from the Division of Music, Meadows School of the Arts at SMU that tenor Clifton Forbis, last heard here in the title role in our inaugural production of Verdi’s OTELLO in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, has been appointed Chair of the Voice Department. Mr. Forbis succeeds Joan Heller, who is retiring... Read more →
October at the Dallas Opera
September 19, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, September 19, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org OCTOBER SPARKLES AT THE DALLAS OPERA! ~~~~ Season Launch: Friday, October 21 with Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR—Indoors and Out! ~~~~ “Tragic Obsessions” Season Opens With an Exciting, Free Plazacast@theCenter, the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, and Dazzling FIRST NIGHT Season Celebrations... Read more →
Lucia’s Heart of Darkness
Lucia’s Heart of Darkness “When we remember that we are all mad, the mysteries disappear and life stands explained.” – Mark Twain, Notebook, 1898 Readers in early nineteenth-century Europe loved a good yarn; a plot rich with violence and scandal, particularly if shaded with romance and a moral undertone, it would be an all-but-guaranteed best... Read more →
Yarning @the Winspear
September 16, 2011
If you have driven or walked by the Margot & Bill Winspear Opera House within the last few days you will see that Sammons Park has been decorated with Yarn. Dallas Opera Chorister Jolie Stratton is one of the lucky ones that has her artwork for all to see. Enjoy!
The Kimbell: Year One
The fact is, we are incredibly lucky, here in North Texas, to have proximity and access to an amazing number of extraordinary art museums and collections. This ain’t booster talk; when you stop to think of the DMA, the Meadows Museum, the Crow Collection, the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Amon Carter Museum, the Fort Worth... Read more →
Eh? What Was That You Said?
Okay, so I’m no musician. Music may not save your life but musicianship just might save your hearing. Or, at least, the ability to differentiate between conversation and background noise. It’s all in the brain, according to Canadian researchers reporting in the journal “Psychology and Aging.” More details in this article in Miller-McCune. Suzanne Calvin,... Read more →
FIRST NIGHT Celebrations October 21st
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, September 15, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA & DELOITTE PRESENT “FIRST NIGHT” THE OPENING NIGHT CELEBRATION OF THE 2011-2012 SEASON, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE OF “LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR,” WITH ENDOWED SUPPORT UNDERWRITTEN BY LINDA AND MITCH HART ~~~~ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 ~~~~ THE MARGOT... Read more →
Fashion@theOpera
Canadian born, Geoffrey Henning started in Toronto in fashion for Alfred Sung and others before moving to NYC, where he worked for Ann Taylor and New York and Company. He has been VP of Design for Women for JCPenney for nine years. He also does custom design for private clients. He is a frequent... Read more →
The Donation Clock is Ticking
September 15, 2011
It’s a great day to give to the Dallas Opera and all your other favorite charities and non-profits! A million dollars in matching funds has been raised and today is the big day. DonorBridge has been swamped since early this morning and, putting server issues aside, they are valiantly handing your much-appreciated phone donations at 214.346.5500.... Read more →
From the desk of General Director Keith Cerny
September 14, 2011
Richard Wagner would be delighted to know that more than 125 years after his death, his signature Festspielhaus in Bayreuth still plays to sold-out audiences, with 10-year waiting lists to buy tickets. Thanks to the generosity of the Dallas Wagner Society, its President Roger Carroll, and its Treasurer Greg McConeghy, I was privileged to attend all five... Read more →
The Dallas Opera: Outside Regular Office Hours
September 13, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org DALLAS OPERA REMINDERS ~~~~ Single Tickets Now On-Sale, Starting at $25 ~~~~ “Dallas Opera Encore Performances” Begins Tonight at 7:00 on WRR, With 2011’s Luminous Production of Gounod’s Romeo & Juliet, Starring Tenor Charles Castronovo, Soprano Lyubov Petrova, Bass Robert Lloyd and Baritone Joshua... Read more →
Free Public Plazacast October 21st!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA & THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE “PLAZACAST AT THE CENTER” A FREE, PUBLIC SIMULCAST OF TDO’S 2011 OPENING NIGHT, INCLUDING A PERFORMANCE OF DONIZETTI’S LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR! ~~~~ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2011 Red-Carpet Coverage Starting at 6:20 p.m. Performance... Read more →
Jonathan Pell, Summer of Opera, Part 27
September 7, 2011
I am getting ready to leave for the airport for the long flight back to Dallas, and thanks to American Airlines and its partnership with Qantas, it can now be done non-stop. My time in Australia has been wonderful and I think very productive and might lead to some interesting collaborations in the future. We’ll... Read more →
Moby-Dick Reviewed “Down Under”
September 6, 2011
Overall, it’s a good review of the Southern Hemisphere premiere of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s marvelous “Moby-Dick.” But, admittedly, the reviewer lost me in the final moments with the comment that “It is questionable whether this plot provides all that a modern opera needs to tell a compelling story which gives hope and means... Read more →
Jonathan Pell, Summer of Opera, Part 26
September 1, 2011
Yesterday was a long, but exciting day, beginning with a tour of Opera Australia’s Opera Centre, which is comparable in some ways to our Karayanis Rehearsal Center, but on a much more elaborate scale. Sue Olden, their Technical Director, showed me around their scene, prop and costume shops, the individual coaching rooms, the large staging... Read more →