Archives for August 2012
Winning Commentary
August 31, 2012
Jo Staffelbach Heinz, the President and CEO of Dallas-based STAFFELBACH, has an engaging opinion piece in D Magazine’s new commercial real estate blog, RealPoints. It should make those of us lucky enough to work in the Arts District proud (as indeed we are!). Catch the post right here. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
Conversations@the Opera
If you haven’t made time to attend one of these, you’re losing out. Some of the most fascinating and meaningful conversations about music and art I’ve had the pleasure to attend in the past year are happening right in front of our noses – in Hamon Hall at the Winspear Opera House. Keep scrolling for... Read more →
FIRST NIGHT Back for Seconds
Last year’s FIRST NIGHT generated such a unanimous standing ovation from press and public alike that we’re coming back for more. Jeanne Prejean of “My Sweet Charity” has the story. (Designer Geoffrey Henning and model D’Andra Simmons on last season’s Red Carpet) Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media and PR
WRR and TDO Take You to the Opera
August 30, 2012
The Dallas Opera and the premier Classical Music Radio Station in Texas are taking you to the opera this October – and you don’t even have to put on your shoes. It’s part of the station’s ongoing “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” series, at noon each Saturday, but for the month leading up to... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Glimmerglass Part III
August 29, 2012
Yesterday was a busy but rewarding day, starting in the morning with auditions with the rest of the apprentice artists. There were many colleagues joining me at Glimmerglass this weekend, and these auditions were attended by representatives from several artists’ managements, schools of music and various opera companies. There were two very interesting singers, mezzo-soprano... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Glimmerglass Part II
August 28, 2012
The opera house at Glimmerglass. Yesterday morning before the apprentice auditions I was able to make a quick stop at the Fenimore Art Museum, renowned home of the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art (a part of which was recently shown at the Dallas Museum of Art) for a special opera exhibition. ... Read more →
Corporate Citizenship, Indeed!
August 27, 2012
The Texas Instruments Foundation has deep roots in our community and they were made deeper still by the foundation’s generous allocation of $1.5 million in vital grant monies to a dozen key arts organizations–including the Dallas Opera. Commitment is easily talked about, but rarely so well expressed. Read all about it on the Texas Instruments... Read more →
Safe for All Ages and Budgets
After looking at a friend’s tickets for a single pre-season game for a major sports franchise; I don’t want to hear any more complaints about opera being “too expensive.” In fact, I want you to more-or-less empty your wallet, grab the kids or grandkids, and come to the Winspear for some outstanding family friendly programs at... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Glimmerglass Part I
Otsego Lake, the setting for the Glimmerglass Festival. The Glimmerglass Festival in upstate New York is my last stop on my summer travels. This is only the second season under general and artistic director Francesca Zambello and is filled with interesting repertoire in unusual productions. Last night was Jean-Baptiste Lully’s ARMIDE, first performed in 1686,... Read more →
FIRST Things First
August 24, 2012
If you were anywhere in the vicinity of the intersection of Flora Street and Jack Evans on the evening of October 21, 2011 – you already know what a blockbuster of an event this was. The great thing is, having pulled it off in spectacular fashion once, it should be even better this go... Read more →
Sweet!
August 20, 2012
There’s nothing quite as gratifying as having someone else (preferably respected, savvy, and the go-getter behind a must-read blog) to tout your outstanding ticket options. We lucked out and found ourselves in the spotlight, courtesy of Jeanne Prejean, blog maven par excellence, at “My Sweet Charity”. Check it out…here. Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media and PR
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Opera Part VI
Last night was the second of two apprentice concerts showcasing the young singers who participate in this extraordinary program. These forty young artists are selected from across the country (I was told that this year there were nearly one thousand applicants) and last night’s program was every bit as interesting and exciting as the first... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Opera Part V
August 18, 2012
Last night’s performance of Richard Strauss and Hugo von Hoffmannsthal’s ARABELLA was utterly delightful. Wonderfully directed by British director Tim Albery (who returns to Dallas in April to stage THE ASPERN PAPERS) and conducted with romantic sweep by Sir Andrew Davis, this was Santa Fe Opera at its best. Long known for its tradition of... Read more →
It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity
August 17, 2012
Actually, hope for the future of opera is expressed in varying DEGREES in this KERA “Art and Seek” piece on “Taking Opera’s Temperature.” Arts producer/reporter Jerome Weeks lets other pundits do the talking on the NPR segment produced by Tom Huizenga. However, he does note that, when queried about the most dynamite new opera of... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Opera Part IV
I was invited yesterday to a small luncheon being given in honor of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who you may know is a huge opera fan. I was delighted to discover that she had toured the Winspear Opera House last year when she was in Dallas for a speaking engagement at SMU, but... Read more →
All That Brass
August 15, 2012
Dallas Opera Orchestra Trombone Player Tony Baker is moonlighting during the opera off-season in a rather familiar spot: the orchestra pit of the Winspear Opera House where he is regaling audiences as part of the house orchestra for “Chicago,” which just opened as part of the AT&T Performings Arts Center Lexus Broadway Series. Nancy Churnin... Read more →
Nothing to Do With Opera
Yes, nothing to do with opera; however, it has everything to do with the community in which we, too, invest a great deal of effort to create art, so it definitely caught my interest. How would you identify and explain “Art in the Public Square” in the City of Dallas? I’m not being argumentative, I’m... Read more →
Jonathan Pell, Artistic Director Santa Fe Opera, Part III
Last night’s performance of Polish composer Karol Szymanowski’s 1926 opera KING ROGER was one of those magical nights in the theatre that we all hope to experience but which in reality happens so rarely. Everything about the evening was extraordinary, including the piece itself, which I had never heard “live” before. The libretto is enigmatic,... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Opera Part II
August 14, 2012
The interior of the Santa Fe Opera House just before a performance of Bizet’s THE PEARL FISHERS. Last night didn’t start off too well. I had met one of my artist manager colleagues for an early dinner before the opera (his client, Eric Cutler was the tenor in the performance of PEARL FISHERS we were... Read more →
Single Tickets for AIDA on Sale September 10th
August 13, 2012
Subscriptions to the upcoming season start for as little as $75 and single tickets this year will go for as little as $19. However, they won’t be available all at the same time. Singles for performances of Verdi’s AIDA, as well as a host of $5 Family Performances and outstanding special recitals, concerts and events,... Read more →
Santa Fe Train of Thought
It isn’t quite like any other summer opera festival. And that is, no doubt, why it continues to draw devoted opera-philes from all parts of the U.S. (and beyond) to a serene spot in Northern New Mexico far from the overheated urban corridors. In addition to offering night after night of great opera, does Santa... Read more →
…To Create a Giant Community Footprint
“How to Win Friends and Influence Opera Goers: the Next Generation edition” That’s what’s at stake when we talk about the never-more-urgent need for opera and the performing arts to create a strong and indelible community footprint. The task can be approached in a variety of ways from a number of different angles. But one... Read more →
Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Opera Part 1
I am convinced that Santa Fe must be a suburb of Dallas (or maybe it is the other way around?) but it seems as if I have run into half of the people I know since I got here two days ago! Last night was the first of two Apprentice Concerts that showcase the aspiring... Read more →
Megan’s Musings Volume 11: Jack and the Beanstalk Cast II
August 8, 2012
I am sitting down with Lauren Smith (Jack), Laura Begley (Mother/Wife) and Christian Teague (Giant/Trouble). They are performing in the TDOpage2stage production of the children’s opera Jack and the Beanstalk. The first public performance of this John Davies opera is on Saturday, October 27.
Putting His Foot Down
…On the path to inspired (and inspiring) leadership. Dallas arts writer and reviewer Marilee Vergati takes a closer look at Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny’s multifaceted vision for the company and the success of his ongoing mission in Dallas. In the current economy, it’s not all coming up roses; but Keith appears to be a... Read more →
Calling Miss Deshorties!
August 7, 2012
Kind words from Crew at COMMANDOpera on our recent casting of French soprano Alexandra Deshorties as the aging and reclusive former opera singer in THE ASPERN PAPERS, getting a new production early next year. The event will mark the 25th anniversary of the Dallas Opera world premiere of Dominick Argento’s opera. Miss Deshorties is stepping... Read more →