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 in Santa Fe all last week with a large group of donors to attend performances and for the group to get to spend time with Emmanuel, who evidently charmed everyone. The Dallas Opera has begun what promises to be an exciting new chapter in its long and illustrious history!
Last night was the 4th in a run of five performances of the world premiere production of Theodore Morrison’s OSCAR, based on the tragic final years in the life of Oscar Wilde.
This was a co-commission and co-production with Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia, where it will be seen next year.
The libretto was by renowned British stage director John Cox (who was last in Dallas to stage a brilliant COSI FAN TUTTE in 2010) and the composer.
The wonderful cast was headed up by David Daniels in the title role, and also starred Dwayne Croft (due to begin rehearsals for “Escamillo” in the Dallas Opera production of CARMEN next month), William Burden (who was in L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI for Dallas Opera in the very last production in the Music Hall in the spring of 2009), and Heidi Stober, who has not yet sung in Dallas, but we hope someday will.
The conductor was Evan Rogister, who many of you will remember conducted a marvelous concert with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and tenor Marcello Giordani last February. I won’t be divulging too much to say that Mr. Rogister will be returning to conduct a production at the Dallas Opera in the fall of 2014, I suppose, as long as I don’t tell you what the opera is going to be…
The production of OSCAR was beautifully and imaginatively directed by Kevin Newbury and designed by David Korins (sets) and David C. Woolard (costumes) and Rick Fisher (Lighting.) David Woolard, by the way, is the costume designer for DEATH AND THE POWERS, which is part of the Dallas Opera’s exciting 2013 – 2014 season.
This afternoon I have been invited to a concert at the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, and this evening will be Mozart’s THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO, with a marvelous cast, many of whom have sung in Dallas and will be familiar names to you.
A report will follow soon.