COVID-19: Frequently Asked Questions

Our cast and creative teams for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and Tosca are unchanged. Because we moved The Marriage of Figaro from the fall to the spring and Don Carlo from spring 2020 to spring 2021, some of our casting is different for the new dates. Be assured that we have not compromised on excellence with this new casting! Our 2020/2021 Season webpage has the most updated list of artists. Click on the performance you are interested in attending and view the “Cast and Creative” section at the bottom of the page.

Staging modifications will be made to protect the health and safety of the artists. Audiences can look forward to dramatically and musically exciting performances—albeit different from what they have experienced in the past and will see in the post-pandemic future. A specially designed set will allow for the creation of a unique visual landscape for every production, with a multitude of projections and lighting used to create and support each story’s atmosphere and dramatic action. Costumes, makeup, and hair design will be streamlined—conveying the essence of each individual character without requiring elaborate costumes and wigs. The creative team for each production can be found on our website here. Click on the performance you are interested in attending and view the “Cast and Creative” section at the bottom of the page.

The first opera in the season, Joby Talbot’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, is under 90 minutes in length, and the three operas that complete the season—Don Carlo, The Marriage of Figaro, and Tosca—will all be abridged to approximately 90 minutes in length. Most of the famous arias and ensembles in these final three operas will be maintained, but without the chorus because of social distancing requirements.

The music in each and every opera is as essential to the overall experience as the artists on stage. Our intent is to include the full orchestration for each opera to the extent possible. The Winspear’s orchestra pit will be expanded to allow for maximum distance between the orchestral players, and we will continue to evaluate social distancing requirements and devise creative solutions to provide the best artistic experience for our patrons while protecting the health and safety of our artists.

While live performances will resume in the spring, on-demand video streams of mainstage productions, which will be free for subscribers, will be available for purchase by individual-ticket buyers. And we may be adding yet to be announced special events that are not part of the mainstage season, so stay tuned! The company will continue to engage its audiences via its digital platform, TDO Network, which offers a wide variety of original content programming viewed to date by more than 50 million people in 50 different countries. Please also visit our Video Streaming page for free registration information about watching full performances of previous simulcast operas from the archives.

Single-ticket availability for the 2020/2021 Season will be announced after all subscribers and donors have been accommodated in the socially distanced Winspear theater. On-demand video streams of mainstage productions, which will be free for subscribers, will be available for purchase by individual-ticket buyers.

We currently expect that our spring 2020/2021 Season will move forward as planned. If schedule changes are required due to circumstances beyond our control, we will make a public announcement and inform all current ticket holders as soon as we are able. A link to the State of Texas guidelines for Fine Arts Performance Halls can be found here.

The health and safety of our patrons and artists is our number one priority. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, a maximum of 30 percent of the theater’s seating capacity (approximately 650 seats) will be used. Subscribers and donors are first in line to be accommodated in the socially distanced Winspear theater. We will continue to keep all patrons apprised as new information about seating assignments becomes available. Note: Subscribers will retain their same seat priority for the 2021/2022 season.

Yes. Rest assured, when we open our 2020/2021 Season in the Winspear, we will operate our public spaces in a manner that is compliant with best practices as recommended by the City, County, and State. Masks for everyone except for singers in performance will be compulsory; temperature checks and hand sanitizing will be mandatory for everyone entering the theater. Special ventilation protocols will be instituted in the Winspear to ensure maximum air circulation and outdoor air intake in the theater, lobbies, and backstage. There will be no intermissions in any of the operas. A full list of safety guidelines can be found on the AT&T Performing Arts Center website. All safety measures will be in compliance with mandated State Health and Human Services regulations for Fine Arts Performance Halls. We are working with the AT&T Performing Arts Center to provide the safest environment possible for our patrons. A full list of safety guidelines can be found on the AT&T Performing Arts Center website.

You can be sure that before we reopen, every aspect of operating a safe environment within and immediately outside the Winspear Opera House will be in place! Social distancing will be a top priority. We will work closely with the AT&T Performing Arts Center as they manage the daily operations of their campus facilities to provide guidelines for timed entry and exiting of the building and the performance hall, hand sanitation stations, queuing for restrooms, and more. We will continue to keep all patrons apprised as new information about seating assignments becomes available. A full list of safety guidelines can be found on the AT&T Performing Arts Center website.

To adhere to social distancing guidelines, a maximum of 30 percent of the theater’s seating capacity (approximately 650 seats) will be used. Due to these requirements for live performances in 2021, we are unable to guarantee your exact same seats. For the health and safety of our patrons and artists, we ask that subscribers be flexible to accommodate these new seating guidelines. If physical distancing requirements prevent us from providing your same seats, which is likely, we will do our best to keep you located in your seating section in comparable seats. We will continue to keep all patrons with tickets apprised as new information about seating assignments becomes available.

All subscribers can replace their cancelled fifth opera with VIVA DIVA! tickets at their current discounted subscription price. Subscribers not wishing to attend live performances will have the option of seeing all of the season’s operas via on-demand videos at no cost. Subscribers choosing not to attend live, or to view the videos, will have the option of having their ticket-purchase price applied to their 2021/2022 season subscription, contributing their purchase amount to TDO’s DOER fundraising campaign, or receiving a refund. Patrons may log in to their account for details regarding specific changes to their series; look for the “Log In” link in the menu on our homepage in the upper right corner. Exchanges into different performance dates are currently available by calling our Box Office at 214-443-1000 Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. Patrons may also email requests to info@dallasopera.org. Note that due to mandatory socially distanced seating, not all requests can be accommodated.

Subscribers not wishing to attend live performances will have the option of seeing all of the season’s operas via on-demand videos. Subscribers choosing not to attend live, or to view the videos, will have the option of having their ticket-purchase price applied to their 2021/2022 season subscription, contributing their purchase amount to TDO’s DOER fundraising campaign, or receiving a refund. Note: Patrons not wishing to attend in person may also request a credit on account, however, must decide how to apply the credit prior to June 30, 2021. Any value remaining on account after June 30, 2021, will be considered a tax-deductible donation.

The physical office location of The Dallas Opera is currently closed, and all staff are working remotely, including our Patron Services team. To speak with a Patron Services representative, call 214.443.1000 Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm. You may also email us at info@dallasopera.org. Note: Patron Services is closed for the winter holiday from Dec 24, 2020, through Jan 3, 2021.

We are working hard to provide the best customer service to all our subscribers. Credit card refund requests can take up to 30 days to process from the date requested. We thank you for your patience and understanding.

As a subscriber, you will always have access to priority seating. We cannot predict what social distancing guidelines will be in the future. If we can exchange your seats to a preferable location, we will. No matter what you decide for the 2020/2021 season, we will still retain your same seats in future seasons as long as you renew.

Single-ticket availability for the 2020/2021 Season will be announced after all subscribers and donors have been accommodated in the socially distanced Winspear theater. On-demand video streams of mainstage productions, which will be free for subscribers, will also be available for purchase by individual-ticket buyers. Subscribers and donors always have priority notification for purchasing single tickets in advance of the general public, so we’ll keep you apprised!

Your donation to the Dallas Opera Excellence and Resilience (DOER) Fund today provides vital support during the coronavirus pandemic. Your contribution ensures that your TDO artists and staff can bring you live opera for the spring 2020/2021 Season, while continuing to deliver enriching digital programs through TDO Network and the TDO Education Portal. Please provide critical financial relief by joining our family of DOERs today.

TDO Network content has been viewed by over 50 million people in 50 countries! Keep up with the opera world and your Dallas Opera, tune in, and enjoy the myriad specially produced shows. Be sure we have your current contact information so we can communicate any changes with you quickly and efficiently.