Archives for August 2013
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe – Part VII
August 19, 2013
Yesterday afternoon at 4:00 under the auspices of the Santa Fe Concert Association composer Jake Heggie played a recital of some of his songs, accompanying tenor William Burden, soprano Heidi Stober and mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer, all of whom are singing with the Santa Fe Opera this summer. The only set of songs that I had... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe – Part VI
August 17, 2013
This posting must be prefaced by confessing that if someone held a gun to my head and demanded to know what my favorite opera was, after much waffling back and forth, I would probably have to confess that it would be Verdi’s LA TRAVIATA. It was music from this opera that first captivated me as a... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Part V
August 16, 2013
This is the fifth time in forty years that the Santa Fe Opera has mounted a production of Offenbach’s satirical operetta THE GRAND DUCHESS OF GEROLSTEIN, but this time it was done for mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who looked stunning in the lush period costumes, sang exquisitely (most notably in the beautiful aria “Dites-lui” which is... Read more →
A “Sweet” Article by Our FIRST NIGHT Chair
August 15, 2013
FIRST NIGHT/FIRST SIGHT Chair Lynn Mock lends a warm-yet-elegant air to the proceedings wherever she goes–whether in the real world or in cyberspace. She gives us her personal take on the newly developed FIRST SIGHT high fashion event, the inspiring Dallas Opera season, and the black-tie extravaganza that is FIRST NIGHT on Jeanne Prejean’s must-read... Read more →
Is Everything Relative After All?
An interesting conversation (or fight) starter from author Norman Lebrecht on his “Slpped Disc” blog. When directors create hated and despised new productions, does anybody else benefit from their “folly”? Lebrecht says “yes,” but I’ll let him tell you more of his theory on that. Perhaps I should go back and check the conductor’s reviews from... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe – Part IV
Although I had heard it in concert several years ago, until last night I had never seen a staged performance of Rossini’s “opera seria” (as opposed to his more celebrated comic operas) LA DONNA DEL LAGO, based on Sir Walter Scott’s THE LADY OF THE LAKE. To be perfectly honest, I have never been much... Read more →
Hot Ticket!
August 14, 2013
It’s not just the weather that’s heating up, it’s the first events of the fall season at the Dallas Opera – including a new “Music & Masterpieces” program in partnership with the Dallas Museum of Art. Details to follow: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, August 14, 2013 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071 suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org ... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Part III
I am often asked to judge the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions around the country and several years ago I found myself in New Orleans where we were to select someone to go to New York to compete in the semi-finals. The crop of singers that year wasn’t particularly good and at one point I... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, Santa Fe Part II
August 13, 2013
I spent most of the morning yesterday with Emmanuel Villaume, Dallas Opera’s new music director (who is in Santa Fe this summer conducting Offenbach’s LA GRANDE DUCHESSE) and general director Keith Cerny (who was back in Dallas but with whom we were meeting via a telephone conference call) discussing plans for the future. Keith was... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell – Santa Fe Part I
August 12, 2013
Last night was the first of two separate programs on successive Sunday evening’s that showcase the young artists who participate every summer in the Santa Fe Opera’s renowned apprentice program. These talented young singers are recruited from around the country (this summer there are more than forty of them) and they appear throughout the season... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell – Seattle Part III
Well, Alwyn Mellor’s “vocal allergy” was later diagnosed as a viral infection, and she had to cancel last night’s performance. At least the audience who came for this first of Seattle’s RING cycles (of three) had the pleasure of hearing her impressive Seattle debut in DIE WALKUERE on Monday evening. I doubt if anyone in... Read more →
Hurts to Even Talk About It
August 9, 2013
Speaking as a PR-type, nothing is more certain to make my internal organs do somersaults than the possibility—remote as it is—of someone getting injured on our stage. Live theater is a grand and glorious and rather dangerous business. We do everything possible, of course, to anticipate trouble spots and prevent accidents, but they do happen, nevertheless,... Read more →
Question of the Week
August 8, 2013
Thanks for Shelly Garcia for spotting on the Dallas Public Library site – We’re Topic #1 for the “Question of the Week”! Check it out! Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and Public Relations
What Kind of Carmen Are You?
Mais, oui? Why, yes, you may! Start getting your get-up together for the Dallas Opera’s “Carmen Costume Contest” at Klyde Warren Park on Friday, October 25th. Read on for further details. And get a load of the three Carmens mentioned in the heading of this post at socially savvy, fashionably connected “Oh So Cynthia.” FOR IMMEDIATE... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell – Seattle Part II
Last night’s performance of Wagner’s SIEGFRIED was filled with surprises, both expected and unplanned. The physical production is still breathtaking (scenery by Thomas Lynch, costumes by the late Martin Pakledinaz and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski), and the singing at a remarkably high level. German tenor Stefan Vinke in his Seattle debut sang the title role... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell – Seattle
August 7, 2013
The curtain call from last night’s DIE WALKUERE in Seattle Two down and two to go—I am halfway through the Seattle RING cycle, and so far it has been a terrific journey! This RING is the last one produced by Seattle Opera’s long time general director Speight Jenkins (originally from Dallas, by the way) and... Read more →
Artistic Changes Announced
August 5, 2013
Changes afoot as the Dallas Opera prepares for the upcoming season: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, August 5, 2013 Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071 suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org THE DALLAS OPERA ANNOUNCES CHRIS ALEXANDER RETURNING TO STAGE “CARMEN” ~~~~ TENOR WILLIAM FERGUSON TO MAKE DALLAS OPERA DEBUT IN THE ROLE OF “REMENDADO” ~~~~ 2013-2014 Season... Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell
August 1, 2013
Tenor Sean Panikkar, “Cassio” TDO Otello 09 Karen Almond, Photo Credit I have heard that some of my loyal readers have been wondering where I have been this summer since there haven’t been any postings since the beginning of July. Well, I should report that I just returned from the Galapagos Islands, where I was auditioning... Read more →
Lunching with Emmanuel
What’s not to like about doing lunch with a charming and intelligent Frenchman? Well, escargot, perhaps. The convivial company of Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume in Santa Fe, where he is currently conducting Offenbach’s “Grand Duchess,” was duly noted by the Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic on yesterday’s blog post. Check it out here. Suzanne Calvin,... Read more →