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    Thousands Fill Klyde Warren Park for “Carmen” Simulcast

    It was one of the greatest block parties I’ve ever seen. Hope you were there, too!

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Monday, October 28, 2013
    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
    suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org
    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE
    THE OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE ESTIMATE FOR
    AN EVENING OF OPEN-AIR OPERA ON THE LAWN:
    3,764 Patrons
    Fill Klyde Warren Park to View
    TDO’s Free Simulcast of Carmen!
    ~~~~
    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013
    ~~~~
    WITH SUPPORT FROM THE DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT

    DALLAS, TX, OCTOBER 28, 2013 – The Dallas Opera, in partnership with Klyde Warren Park and with support from The Dallas Arts District, is delighted to announce the success of our first-ever artistic collaboration: a live simulcast of one of the most popular operas in the repertoire, Georges Bizet’s 1875 masterpiece, CARMEN, starring the gorgeous and gifted French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine in her American debut!
    The Klyde Warren Park Simulcast, the sixth simulcast presented by the Dallas Opera since 2010, enabled at least 3,764 patrons to enjoy an evening of spectacular entertainment, live from the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center!
    According to Klyde Warren Park, which monitored the North and South entrances to the Park and conducted clicker counts from the end of the First Act until early in the Second Act, at least 3,764 people saw some portion of the live simulcast last Friday evening. Following the official count, anecdotal evidence from multiple sources indicated the crowd continued to grow.
    Early attendees were treated to a silent film rarity, “Carmen Junior,” starring Baby Peggy Montgomery and a WB Classics Tom and Jerry cartoon – “Carmen Get It!” in addition to a Carmen Costume Contest and “Toreador Song Sing-a-Long” hosted by 102.9 Now Radio Personality Jagger and opera expert Dr. Stephen Dubberly.
    Backstage interviews were conducted by WFAA’s Ron Corning and Colleen Coyle and views of the red carpet action at the Winspear, where FIRST NIGHT was in full-swing, also added to the sense of “being there.”
    The curtain went up promptly at 8:00 p.m. and the crowd rose to its feet for the national anthem, conducted by Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, prior to the performance.

    “One of my primary goals as head of the company continues to be discovering effective new ways to share this extraordinary art form with as broad an audience as possible, while building on an extensive network of collaborations within the Arts District—and beyond,” explained Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.
    “I was delighted, and staggered, to see the astonishing turnout we had last Friday for the first ever simulcast in Klyde Warren Park. This event proved, as if there were any doubts, that opera performed to the highest standard appeals to people of every age and background.
    “We were pleased to work closely with our colleagues at Klyde Warren Park and the Dallas Arts District to make our vision for community engagement such an unqualified success!”

    “Klyde Warren Park was conceived and designed for these types of activities—activities that bring the performing and visual arts to everyone. These programs help provide a way to promote and showcase art to those who may not otherwise experience these performances,” remarked Jody Grant, Chairman, Woodall Rogers Park Foundation.

    Tara Green, President of Klyde Warren Park agreed: “The unique location of the Park, reconnecting our too-long-disconnected Downtown area to Uptown and the rest of the city, makes us especially conscious of our responsibility to serve all the people of Dallas. Our mission is to be a tremendous showcase—as well as a great green space—and productive collaborations with organizations like the Dallas Opera are key.
    “We are so deeply grateful that Keith Cerny of the Dallas Opera approached us with this idea and we truly hope it will mark the first of many memorable and joyful collaborations to come!”

    “I saw my dream come true with literally thousands of people in Klyde Warren Park watching an opera with rapt fascination,” said Sheila Grant, co-creator of the “Sheila and Jody Grant Opera Discovery” program.
    “Families with their small well-behaved children had their eyes glued to the screen. Everyone was so happy: people were offering their chairs and blankets to complete strangers and offering them, wine and food as well.
    “I have not been this thrilled or overjoyed since the opening of the Park. Thousands of patrons were clearly enjoying themselves immensely. For many, it was the chance of a lifetime to see a live performance with their families; people of every race, creed and age.
    “While I personally can’t sing a note,” Sheila Grant added, “my heart will be singing for months because of this extraordinary evening.”

    “All are welcome in the Dallas Arts District, which works to be inclusive and collaborative at every opportunity and continues to set new attendance records each year,” notes Dallas Arts District Executive Director Catherine Cuellar.
    “Through this partnership with our stakeholders at The Dallas Opera and Klyde Warren Park, we are helping to cultivate the next generation of opera fans,” she added.
    ~~~~

    CARMEN was sung in the original French, with English language translations projected above the stage and on the simulcast screen at Klyde Warren Park.
    This performance and simulcast launched the Dallas Opera’s sixth production of CARMEN in our 56-year-history.
    ~~~~

    Subscriptions for the Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season are on sale now, starting at just $76 for all four mainstage productions, through the Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or online at www.dallasopera.org. Single tickets start at just $19. Student Rush best-available tickets can be purchased at the lobby box office for $25 to $50, depending on the section, (one per valid Student I.D.) ninety minutes prior to each performance. All simulcasts are free of charge.

    About The Dallas Arts District:

    The Dallas Arts District is the largest arts district in the nation, spanning more than 73 acres and 19 contiguous blocks in the heart of downtown. With stunning architecture, including four buildings designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects, world-class exhibits and exemplary cultural programming, the Dallas Arts District has become the landmark that defines the heart of the city of Dallas.
    Established in 2009 as a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization as the AT&T Performing Arts Center neared completion, today’s Dallas Arts District serves residents and patrons of the district, increasing awareness of and access to arts and the District. Operating under the umbrella of Downtown Dallas, Inc. as advocate, steward and representative, The Dallas Arts District serves stakeholders including the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Theater Center, Klyde Warren Park, Nasher Sculpture Center, The Dallas Opera, The Perot Museum of Nature & Science, Hall Financial, MetroArts Corporation and One Arts Plaza, among others.
    The Dallas Arts District is funded by grants, voluntary membership dues, sponsorships and donations. To learn more about how you can help support your Dallas Arts District, visit www.dallasartsdistrict.org.
    About Klyde Warren Park
    Klyde Warren Park serves as a central gathering space for Dallas and its visitors to enjoy in the heart of the city. The 5.2-acre deck park, designed by the Office of James Burnett, creates an urban green space over the existing Woodall Rodgers Freeway between Pearl and St. Paul Streets in Downtown Dallas. The park includes a performance pavilion, restaurant, shaded walking paths, a dog park, a children’s park, great lawn, water features, and an area for games, providing year-round activities to all citizens of Dallas. Klyde Warren Park is privately operated and managed by the Woodall Rodgers Park Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
    For more information on volunteering or donations, please visit www.KlydeWarrenPark.org or call 214-716-4500.

    ~~~~
    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “OCTOBER AT THE DALLAS OPERA”
    IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
    VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS

    For high-resolution, digital photographs suitable for print
    To arrange an interview
    Or for additional information
    Please contact Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
    214.443.1014 or suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org

    The Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season
    Is Sponsored by Texas Instruments Foundation

    THE DALLAS OPERA WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS GRATITUDE TO OUR EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS:

    AMERICAN AIRLINES – OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE DALLAS OPERA
    LEXUS – OFFICIAL VEHICLE OF THE DALLAS OPERA

    ~~~~

    Ticket Information for the 2013-2014 Dallas Opera Season

    All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Subscriptions are now on sale to the general public, starting at just $76. Single Tickets starting at $19 and Flex Subscriptions are also on sale. Family performances are $5 (Family Performance Subs are $12 for three family performances) and are on sale now. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

    THE DALLAS OPERA 2013-2014 SEASON INFORMATION
    The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Seventh International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired.

    CARMEN by Georges Bizet
    October 25 (special time, 8:00 p.m.), October 27(m), 30, November 2, 8 & 10(m), 2013
    The most irresistible bad girl in opera—how can you possibly say “non”?
    An opera in four acts first performed in Paris on March 3, 1875
    Text by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée
    Time: 19th century
    Place: Seville, Spain
    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
    Stage Director: Chris Alexander
    Scenic Design: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
    Costume Design: Werner Iverke
    Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
    Starring: Clémentine Margaine**(Carmen), Brandon Jovanovich (Don José Oct. 25, 27, 30), Bruno Ribeiro* (Don José Nov. 2, 8, 10), Mary Dunleavy (Micaëla), Dwayne Croft (Escamillo), Danielle Pastin*(Frasquita), Audrey Babcock*(Mercédès), Kyle Albertson*(Zuniga), Steven LaBrie (Le Dancaïre), William Ferguson* (Remendado), John David Boehr*(Moralès).

    DEATH AND THE POWERS by Tod Machover
    February 12, 14, 15 & 16(m), 2014
    Science fiction and poignant family drama combine in a major regional premiere!
    An opera in one act first performed in Monte Carlo, Monaco at the Salle Garnier on September 24, 2010.
    Text by Robert Pinsky, based on a story by Pinsky and Randy Weiner
    Time: Unknown time in the future
    Place: Earth, the home of billionaire Simon Powers
    Conductor: Nicole Paiement
    Stage Director: Diane Paulus*
    Associate Director: Andrew Eggert*
    Scenic Design: Alex McDowell*
    Costume Design: David Woolard*
    Lighting Design: Don Holder
    Choreography: Karole Armitage*
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Starring: Robert Orth (Simon Powers/Robot One), Joélle Harvey (Miranda/Robot Four), Patricia Risley(Evvy/Robot Three), Hal Cazalet*(Nicholas/Robot Two), Frank Kelley*(The United Way), David Kravitz*(The United Nations), Tom McNichols*(The Administration).

    DIE TOTE STADT (“THE DEAD CITY”) by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    March 21, 23(m), 26, 29 and April 6(m), 2014
    The Hitchcock-like tale of one man’s dark obsession with the woman he loved and lost.
    An opera in three acts first performed in Hamburg & Cologne, Germany on December 4, 1920
    Text by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Paul Schott based on a novel by Georges Rodenbach, Bruges la morte
    Time: End of the 19th century
    Place: The city of Bruges in northwestern Belgium
    Conductor: Sebastian Lang-Lessing*
    Stage Director: Mikael Melbye
    Scenic Design: Mikael Melbye*
    Costume Design: Dierdre Clancy*
    Video Design: Wendall Harrington*
    Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Choreography: Matthew Ferraro*
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Starring: Anne Petersen**(Marietta) , Jay Hunter Morris (Paul), Morgan Smith (Fritz), Weston Hurt (Frank), Katherine Tier*(Brigitta), Andrew Bidlack (Albert), Jan Lund**(Victorin), Jennifer Chung (Juliette), Angela Turner Wilson (Lucienne).

    THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini
    March 28, 30(m), April 2, 5, 11 & 13(m), 2014
    Figaro, a scheming barber and jack-of-all-trades plots to release a headstrong girl from her gilded cage!
    An opera in two acts first performed in Rome on February 20, 1816
    Text by Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais, from his comedy Le Barbier de Séville
    Time: 18th century
    Place: Seville, Spain
    Conductor: Giuliano Carella*
    Stage Director: Herb Kellner
    Original Production: John Copley
    Scenic Design: John Conklin
    Costume Design: Michael Stennet
    Lighting Design: TBD
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Starring: Nathan Gunn (Figaro), Isabel Leonard*(Rosina), Alek Shrader*(Count Almaviva), Donato DiStefano (Dr. Bartolo), Burak Bilgili*(Don Basilio), Nathan De’Shon Myers (Fiorello), Christian Teague*(Ambrogio).

    DALLAS OPERA FAMILY PERFORMANCES
    Jack and the Beanstalk: October 26, 2013 and April 5, 2014
    Family Concerts: November 3, 2013 and February 1, 2014
    The Elixir of Love: November 9, 2013 and April 12, 2014

    * Dallas Opera Debut
    ** American Debut
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

    ###

    Crazy for Carmen

    It marked her American debut so the pressure was on, but French mezzo-soprano–in two performances last weekend–showed herself more than capable of handling the heat, and generating a few extra gigawatts herself.

    The reviews are pouring in, including this one from Olin Chism of KERA’s “Art & Seek” who called Sunday’s matinee “a magnificent hello by Villaume and the company” in Emmanuel Villaume’s first appearance as music director of the Dallas Opera. Chism also praised Clementine Margaine as “a joy to hear…a gifted actress who managed, somehow, to make the Gypsy seductress not only sexily fiery and steel-willed, but even occasionally vulnerable.” Read Olin’s review here.

    Over at the Dallas Observer, music critic Katie Womack wrote “TDO’s production of Carmen (borrowed from the San Francisco Opera) is traditional, with hefty sets, warm lighting and vibrant period costumes. The chorus — especially the women — sounded strong and confident on Sunday and the children’s choir performed beautifully as both singers and actors, adding some much needed movement and energy to crowd scenes….other highlights included the trio of Margaine with her female cohorts in crime (Audrey Babcock and Danielle Pastin as Mercédès and Frasquita respectively). Babcock and Pastin not only held their own in scenes with the mezzo star, but added to the beauty with stunning vocals that resulted in a sumptuous blend of sound. As the pitiful Micaela, who loses her lover to Carmen’s grasp, Mary Dunleavy also sang with impressive technique.”  Read Katie’s take on the production here.

    Gregory Sullivan Isaacs, the Classical Music Critic for “Theater Jones,” was thrilled by the performance of Maestro Villaume:  “Expectations were high as Villaume took the podium for the first time, to sustained applause, and he didn’t disappoint. Right from the first energetic downbeat, brimming with confidence, Villaume took change of the production and with that same gesture, he also assertively took charge of the Dallas Opera itself. As a conductor, Carmen was a triumph for the new maestro. As a Music Director, affirming his credentials of all to see, it gave him a solid launching pad for the future.”

    And Gregory considered Brandon Jovanovich’s Don José crucial to the success of the performance, writing, “…tenor Brandon Jovanovich dominated the production. His supple Wagner-sized stentorian tenor produced both thrilling high notes and a gorgeous soft sound. The climax at the end of his flower aria (“La fleur que tu m’avais jetée”), usually blasted, floated like gossamer. Even better, he is a superb actor. His disintegration from stiff soldier to crazed madman was completely believable, physically as well as vocally.”  Read his “Theater Jones” review right here.

    “Dallas Morning News” Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell applauded the casting of the secondary principle roles: “Secondary roles are splendidly cast: Danielle Pastin and Audrey Babcock as Carmen’s friends Frasquita and Mercédès, Kyle Albertson and John David Boehr as the officers Zuniga and Moralès, William Ferguson and Steven LaBrie as the smugglers Le Remendado and Le Dancaïre.”  He also appreciated Villaume’s leadership at the podium, writing: “The orchestra’s playing was mostly quite fine, Villaume giving it finely considered focus, direction, expression and drama.”  Read Scott’s complete review here.

    Over at D Magazine’s “Front Row” blog, reviewer Wayne Lee Gay was captivated by Carmen herself, Clementine Margaine in her American debut: “The sheer force of Margaine’s voice impresses when she turns up the volume. She possesses, at the same time, the magical ability to project apianissimo above the orchestra. She delivers all of this with a beauty of tone that holds up throughout her range.  Margaine likewise infuses her rendition of Carmen with high-heat eroticism, from her constantly surprising interaction with the other performers—yes, even in this most familiar of all operas—to her intriguing caressing of French consonants. There have been many great Carmens of many different nationalities through the years, but Margaine brings a French linguistic and cultural insight that adds unique breadth to the role.”  Read Wayne’s commentary on the production here.

    David Weuste, writing for the online publication “Opera Pulse,” also had high praise for Don José: “Brandon Jovanovich as Don José brought perhaps the best voice to the stage (perhaps only second to Mary Dunleavy as Micaëla), with a powerful tenor that rang out over even the most powerful parts of Bizet’s fantastic score. He easily melded his voice throughout the performance to match his fellow singers whether it was the bright Dunleavy or the darker Margaine, and his phrasing always seemed to be in touch with Villaume’s direction of the orchestra.”  Read David’s entire take on the production here.

    More to come…better get your tickets now.

    Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and Public Relations

    Opening Weekend Has Begun!

    It’s here! The new Dallas Opera season kicks off in a whole new way tomorrow morning with the inaugural edition of FIRST SIGHT, a reception, fashion show and luncheon sponsored by J.P. Morgan. And that’s just the beginning of what should be a truly landmark weekend. Read on and start planning your picnic now.

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Wednesday, October 23, 2013

    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
    Suzanne.Calvin@dallasopera.org
    Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
    Megan.Meister@dallasopera.org

    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO PRESENT
    “FIRST SIGHT”
    Thursday, Oct. 24th Fashion Show
    And Opening Weekend Festivities
    10 a.m. in the Winspear Opera House
    PRESENTED BY J.P. MORGAN
    ~~~~
    Followed on Friday, Oct. 25th at 8:00 p.m. by
    GEORGES BIZET’S 1875 MASTERPIECE
    CARMEN
    THE LINDA AND MITCH HART
    SEASON OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE
    ~~~~
    “FIRST NIGHT 2013”
    5:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
    At the AT&T Performing Arts Center
    NGP ENERGY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, Presenting Sponsor
    ~~~~
    The Dallas Opera’s Free Klyde Warren Park Simulcast with Support From the Dallas Arts District – Special Features Begin at 6:30 p.m.

    Including Tom and Jerry in “Carmen Get It!” and Costume Contest
    Park Patrons will also be Introduced to the Exciting

    “SHEILA AND JODY GRANT OPERA DISCOVERY” PROGRAM!

    DALLAS, OCTOBER 23, 2013 – The Dallas Opera, inspired by the incredible success of FIRST NIGHT festivities that mark the opening of each new season, is delighted to introduce an extraordinary spin-off: The FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon featuring the work of five outstanding and internationally renowned Dallas-based designers with their breathtaking interpretations of the operas that will take centerstage this season in addition to fashions by ESCADA, an international brand synonymous with the highest quality and luxury. This celebration of great opera and fabulous design will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2013 in the acclaimed Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented by J.P. Morgan.
    The pre-show reception beginning at 10:00 a.m. will set the mood for the fun that follows as the Shannon and Ted Skokos Stage is transformed into a glamorous high-fashion runway to showcase the imagination and talent of five of fashion’s most creative designers:

    ELIZABETH ANYAA
    MICHAEL FAIRCLOTH
    ABI FERRIN
    KHANH NGUYEN
    And NICOLAS VILLALBA
    Followed by
    “RESORT 2014”
    PRESENTED BY ESCADA

    The fabulous fashion show will be capped by a sit-down luncheon at 11:45 a.m. in the C. Vincent Prothro Lobby, artfully prepared by Puck Catering.

    Explains FIRST SIGHT & FIRST NIGHT Chair, Lynn Mock: “The overwhelming public interest in the fashion element of FIRST NIGHT prompted us to expand our vision to match the creativity of an iconic brand, ESCADA, as well as these five incredible designers. By giving them the spotlight, exclusively, in this very special event, we hope to excite and engage our patrons while giving art and fashion their due.
    “It’s a perfect extension of the FIRST NIGHT celebrations,” Ms. Mock adds.

    Following their unveiling at FIRST SIGHT, these one-of-a-kind creations inspired by the operas and theme of the 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed Season” will lend an additional air of excitement to the red carpet on Opening Night.
    Several fashion-savvy style leaders are lending their expertise to the Dallas Opera’s inaugural FIRST SIGHT, including Event Architect Jeffrey Horn FPLtd. and Event Designer Larry Leathers.
    “There is nothing more glamorous and elegant than our talented designer creations, with ESCADA fashion; all showcased inside the beautiful Winspear Opera House,” says Fashion Show Producer Rhonda Sargent Chambers. “I am thrilled!”
    ~~~~

    The Dallas Opera is pleased to revive—by popular demand—the exciting festivities marking the opening of a new season, known as FIRST NIGHT. The one-night-only celebrations presented by NGP Energy Capital Management will take place both inside and outside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District, on Friday, October 25, 2013 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a lavish black-tie dinner at 6:00 provided by Puck Catering in a beautifully appointed tent in Sammons Park (located just off the main promenade to the Winspear Opera House).
    The menu and dinner music, as well as the artistic design, will reflect the cultural influences that dominate the 2013-2014 Season – “By Love Transformed” (season presenting sponsor Texas Instruments Foundation).
    Sophisticated models will show off their extraordinary opera-inspired couture gowns, designed especially for the occasion. Several of the gowns and original sketches will be auctioned online by FIRST SIGHT sponsor, Heritage Auctions, beginning on October 25th.

    Adding to the excitement of the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance is the buzz about the Dallas Opera’s new music director, Maestro Emmanuel Villaume, who will be making his podium debut—as music director—in that evening’s performance (Mr. Villaume has previously conducted productions for the Dallas Opera as a visiting guest conductor). The occasion will also mark the hotly anticipated American debut of award-winning French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine in the title role of Georges Bizet’s 1875 masterpiece, CARMEN.

    “FIRST NIGHT has extended the Dallas Opera’s Season Opening Production far beyond the confines of the Winspear Opera House,” explains Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. “People picnicking on blankets in Klyde Warren Park, enjoying the Dallas Opera’s High-Definition Carmen simulcast, will also share in the excitement of the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance and the energy and enthusiasm of this newly expanded event.
    “We are all tremendously grateful to NGP Energy Capital Management, FIRST SIGHT / FIRST NIGHT Chair Lynn Mock and everyone involved in underwriting, planning and executing this extraordinary, multifaceted experience designed to attract people of all ages and backgrounds: patrons, donors and music lovers. This year, we’re expanding our opening night events in Sammons Park, in order to include as many interested patrons as possible—both for our very first pre-performance black-tie dinner and the distinctive After-Party.”

    Elements of the Klyde Warren Park Simulcast, supported by the Dallas Arts District, include a presentation of a rarely seen silent comedy, “Carmen Junior,” starring Baby Peggy Montgomery; the Tom and Jerry WB Classic cartoon, “Carmen Get It!” and a Carmen Costume Contest open to all comers! Hosted, beginning at 6:30 p.m., by KDMX radio personality Jagger along with the popular lecturer and head of UNT’s Opera Program, Dr. Stephen Dubberly.
    The occasion will also mark the introduction of an exciting new adventure in 21st century community outreach: The Sheila and Jody Grant Opera Discovery program, designed to transform outdoor enthusiasts and opera lovers enjoying a performance on the Klyde Warren Park lawn to new patrons experiencing opera in the magnificent setting of the Winspear.
    Learn more about this fabulous program at Klyde Warren Park this coming Friday night!

    Food and drink will be available for purchase onsite; however, picnic baskets and blankets are welcome on the lawn.
    ~~~~

    FIRST NIGHT Red Carpet arrivals will begin at 5:30 p.m. Friday evening supported by FIRST NIGHT Red Carpet Sponsor, Deloitte. The black-tie dinner is from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., CARMEN curtain is 8:00 p.m. (please note the special time) and the fabulous After Party will commence in the Sammons Park tent adjacent to the Winspear Opera House immediately following the final curtain call.
    Modern Luxury is the exclusive media partner for the Dallas Opera’s 2013 FIRST SIGHT and FIRST NIGHT.
    FIRST NIGHT complimentary valet service will be provided on the Flora Street side of the Winspear Opera House for all dinner guests.
    ~~~~

    She’s the woman no man can resist and, as performed by renowned French mezzo-soprano Clémentine Margaine in her American debut, who would want to say “non”? Hailed as “Best Newcomer” in the 2011 French Classical Music Awards, Margaine will have her hands full with two head-turning, heart-melting Don Josés: tenors Brandon Jovanovich, who last captivated us as Pinkerton in the Dallas Opera’s 2010 production of Madame Butterfly, and Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro making his eagerly anticipated company debut.
    This truly phenomenal cast, from American soprano Mary Dunleavy in the role of Micaëla to bass-baritone Dwayne Croft as Escamillo the Toreador, will bring on the sizzle—as well as the steak! Featuring classic Jean-Pierre Ponnelle scenery from the San Francisco Opera, this production conducted by Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, an artist of international stature, will make all the other good/bad girls of opera seem tame, if not lame, in comparison.
    CARMEN will be staged by American director Chris Alexander, The James R. Seitz, Jr., Stage Director in Honor of John Gage, who earned critical praise in his 2005 Dallas Opera debut for his staging of Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, starring Mary Dunleavy and Marcus Haddock. Mr. Alexander was welcomed back in the spring of 2009 to direct the company’s final performances in the Music Hall at Fair Park: a delightful and daffy rendering of Rossini’s The Italian Girl in Algiers (L’italiana in Algeri).
    American tenor Brandon Jovanovich will sing the role of Don José on Oct. 25, 27, and 30, while TDO newcomer, Portuguese tenor Bruno Ribeiro will portray the obsessed lover on Nov. 2, 8 and 10, 2013.
    This outstanding international cast includes soprano Danielle Pastin in her company debut as Frasquita; mezzo Audrey Babcock in her Dallas Opera debut as Mercédès; bass Kyle Albertson (another company debut) as Zuniga; baritone Stephen LaBrie as the smuggler, La Dancaire; tenor William Ferguson in his Dallas Opera debut as Remendado and baritone John David Boehr in his TDO debut as Moralès.

    Mr. Jovanovich, who enthralled Dallas audiences in our 2010 production of Madame Butterfly (described by Huffington Post’s Rodney Punt as the definitive Pinkerton of our time) and who will perform the role on FIRST NIGHT, has been dazzling critics recently in the title role of Wagner’s Lohengrin. San Francisco Chronicle Classical Music Critic Joshua Kosman wrote: “Jovanovich combined sweet-toned lyricism and ardent heroism in just the proportions required for this tricky role. His singing was thrillingly pure and tireless, his stage presence simultaneously tender and aloof.”
    The season Opening Night Performance of Carmen receives endowed support from Linda and Mitch Hart.
    Additional support is provided by Alice W. and Richard D. Bass, Joy S. and Ronald Mankoff, Betty and Steve Suellentrop, Joanna and Peter Townsend and James R. Seitz, Jr.
    ~~~~
    Corporate Sponsorships

    FIRST NIGHT Presenting Sponsor
    NGP Energy Capital Management

    FIRST SIGHT Presenting Sponsor – J.P. Morgan

    FIRST SIGHT/NIGHT Media Partner – Modern Luxury

    Platinum Sponsor ($25,000)
    Deloitte

    Silver Sponsors ($10,000)
    Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP
    Heritage Auctions
    KPMG
    Mary Kay
    Thompson and Knight

    Bronze Sponsors ($5,000)
    Weaver
    PT Petroleum, LLC

    Individual Sponsorships

    Platinum ($2,500 Individual to $25,000 Table)
    Alice and David Court
    Mary and Dick Covington
    Cindy and Charlie Feld
    Mary Beth and Jay Marshall
    Lynn and Presley Mock
    Elizabeth and Richard Naftalis
    Robert J. Vladem

    Gold ($1,500 Individual to $15,000 Table)
    Patti and John Cody
    Patsy Donosky
    Susan and Mark Geyer
    Bobbi and Richard Massman
    Tincy Miller
    Tanya Roberts
    Enika and Richard H. Schulze
    Anne and Steven Stodghill
    Betty and Steve Suellentrop
    Joanna and T. Peter Townsend
    Patty and Marty Weiland
    Ellen and Don Winspear

    Silver ($1,000 Individual to $10,000 Table)
    Alice and Richard Bass
    Hilary L. Roberts and J.B. Brinkmann in honor of
    The Dallas Opera Chorus Master, Alexander Rom
    Lucinda Councilman
    Jacqueline and Jim Deeken
    Bobbi and Leo Fields
    Lisa and David Genecov
    Carol and Don Glendenning
    Jack Harrod
    Kaki and Shelton G. Hopkins
    Myra and Robert L. Hull
    Elizabeth and Scott Kimple
    Mike and Barbara Lynn Philanthropic Fund of
    The Dallas Jewish Community Foundation
    Rhonda and Fraser Marcus
    Holly and Tom Mayer
    Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
    The Northern Trust Company
    Mildred M. Oppenheimer
    Katherine and Michael Phillips
    The Rosewood Corporation
    Gloria and Juan Ernesto Snead
    Sandra Tucker
    Agnes Whitley
    Stacie and Mark Whitley
    Marnie and Kern Wildenthal

    Bronze ($500 Luncheon to $7,500 Dinner Table)
    Catherine Ann Carr
    Linda Claycomb
    Mary Ann Cree
    Nick Even
    Harriett Gibbs
    Faye Gould
    Jolie D. Humphrey
    Don J. McDermett and Garry Cox
    Danna Orr
    Betty Secker

    FIRST SIGHT – FIRST NIGHT / KEY PERSONNEL

    Lynn Mock, Chair, FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT

    Jeffrey Horn FPLtd, Event Architect, Event Design Co-Chair

    Larry Leathers, Event Designer, Event Design Co-Chair

    Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Fashion Show Producer and Chair

    Mary Beth and Jay Marshall, Dinner Chairs

    Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, After Party Chairs

    Don McDermett and Garry Cox, Table Sales Chairs

    Patty and Marty Weiland, FIRST SIGHT Table Sales Chairs

    Elizabeth Z. Naftalis, Luncheon Chair

    Presley Mock, Underwriting Chair

    Debbie and David Burch, Mary and Dick Covington, Cindy Feld, Keith Laycock and Dawna Richter: Underwriting Vice-Chairs

    Stacie Whitley, Pre-Events Chair

    John Gage, Arrangements Chair

    Scott Chase and Greg McConeghy, Arrangements Vice-Chairs

    Kaki Hopkins, Advisory Committee Chair

    Advisory Committee: Diane Brierley, Patti Cody, Patsy Donosky, Carol Glendenning, Holly Mayer, Lynn McBee, Tincy Miller, Joyce Mitchell, Shannon Skokos, Anne Stodghill, Betty Suellentrop and Ellen Winspear
    ~~~~
    Single tickets for the 2013-2014 Season are subject to dynamic pricing (the earlier they are purchased, the lower the price) and are on sale now – for as little as $19. Subscriptions start at just $76. Boxes and Inner Circle seating may be priced higher.

    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

    ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “OCTOBER AT THE DALLAS OPERA”
    IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
    VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS

    For high-resolution, digital photographs suitable for print
    To arrange an interview
    Or for additional information
    Please contact Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media & Public Relations
    214.443.1014 or suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org

    The Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed” Season
    Is Sponsored by Texas Instruments Foundation

    THE DALLAS OPERA WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS GRATITUDE TO OUR EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS:

    AMERICAN AIRLINES – OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE DALLAS OPERA
    LEXUS – OFFICIAL VEHICLE OF THE DALLAS OPERA

    THE DALLAS OPERA 2013-2014 SEASON INFORMATION
    The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Seventh International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. For more information or to make your ticket purchase, contact the friendly professionals at the Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

    CARMEN by Georges Bizet
    October 25 (special time, 8:00 p.m.), October 27(m), 30, November 2, 8 & 10(m), 2013
    The most irresistible bad girl in opera—How can you possibly say “non”?
    An opera in four acts first performed in Paris on March 3, 1875
    Text by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy based on the novella by Prosper Mérimée
    Time: 19th century
    Place: Seville, Spain
    Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
    Stage Director: Chris Alexander
    Scenic Design: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
    Costume Design: Werner Iverke
    Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
    Starring: Clémentine Margaine**(Carmen), Brandon Jovanovich (Don José Oct. 25, 27, 30), Bruno Ribeiro* (Don José Nov. 2, 8, 10), Mary Dunleavy (Micaëla), Dwayne Croft (Escamillo), Danielle Pastin*(Frasquita), Audrey Babcock*(Mercédès), Kyle Albertson*(Zuniga), Steven LaBrie (Le Dancaïre), William Ferguson* (Remendado), John David Boehr*(Moralès).

    DEATH AND THE POWERS by Tod Machover
    February 12, 14, 15 & 16(m), 2014
    Science fiction and poignant family drama combine in a major regional premiere!
    An opera in one act first performed in Monte Carlo, Monaco at the Salle Garnier on September 24, 2010.
    Text by Robert Pinsky, based on a story by Pinsky and Randy Weiner
    Time: Unknown time in the future
    Place: Earth, the home of billionaire Simon Powers
    Conductor: Nicole Paiement
    Stage Director: Diane Paulus*
    Associate Director: Andrew Eggert*
    Scenic Design: Alex McDowell*
    Costume Design: David Woolard*
    Lighting Design: Don Holder
    Choreography: Karole Armitage*
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Starring: Robert Orth (Simon Powers/Robot One), Joélle Harvey (Miranda/Robot Four), Patricia Risley(Evvy/Robot Three), Hal Cazalet*(Nicholas/Robot Two), Frank Kelley*(The United Way), David Kravitz*(The United Nations), Tom McNichols*(The Administration).

    DIE TOTE STADT (“THE DEAD CITY”) by Erich Wolfgang Korngold
    March 21, 23(m), 26, 29 and April 6(m), 2014
    The Hitchcock-like tale of one man’s dark obsession with the woman he loved and lost.
    An opera in three acts first performed in Hamburg & Cologne, Germany on December 4, 1920
    Text by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Paul Schott based on a novel by Georges Rodenbach, Bruges la morte
    Time: End of the 19th century
    Place: The city of Bruges in northwestern Belgium
    Conductor: Sebastian Lang-Lessing*
    Stage Director: Mikael Melbye
    Scenic Design: Mikael Melbye*
    Costume Design: Dierdre Clancy*
    Video Design: Wendall Harrington*
    Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Choreography: Matthew Ferraro*
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Starring: Anne Petersen**(Marietta) , Jay Hunter Morris (Paul), Morgan Smith (Fritz), Weston Hurt (Frank), Katherine Tier*(Brigitta), Andrew Bidlack (Albert), Jan Lund**(Victorin), Jennifer Chung (Juliette), Angela Turner Wilson (Lucienne).

    THE BARBER OF SEVILLE by Gioachino Rossini
    March 28, 30(m), April 2, 5, 11 & 13(m), 2014
    Figaro, a scheming barber and jack-of-all-trades plots to release a headstrong girl from her gilded cage!
    An opera in two acts first performed in Rome on February 20, 1816
    Text by Pierre-Augustin de Beaumarchais, from his comedy Le Barbier de Séville
    Time: 18th century
    Place: Seville, Spain
    Conductor: Giuliano Carella*
    Stage Director: Herb Kellner
    Original Production: John Copley
    Scenic Design: John Conklin
    Costume Design: Michael Stennet
    Lighting Design: TBD
    Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
    Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
    Starring: Nathan Gunn (Figaro), Isabel Leonard*(Rosina), Alek Shrader*(Count Almaviva), Donato DiStefano (Dr. Bartolo), Burak Bilgili*(Don Basilio), Nathan De’Shon Myers (Fiorello), Christian Teague*(Ambrogio).

    DALLAS OPERA FAMILY PERFORMANCES
    Jack and the Beanstalk: October 26, 2013 and April 5, 2014
    Family Concerts: November 3, 2013 and February 1, 2014
    The Elixir of Love: November 9, 2013 and April 12, 2014

    * Dallas Opera Debut
    ** American Debut
    ______________________________________________________________________________________
    The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for its continuing support.

    ###

    Are You Ready for the Simulcast?

    At this point, Friday night looks as though it will be a bit chilly but dry – perfect weather to enjoy a free evening of opera on the lawn at Klyde Warren Park, connecting Downtown and Uptown. Get a sneak peek from this report on WFAA and then make your plans to attend the Dallas Opera’s CARMEN.

    Suzanne Calvin, Director Media and Public Relations

    How the Destruction of Bizet’s Paris Led to His Greatest Creation

    The years immediately preceding the composition of Carmen brought unprecedented disaster to France, and, especially, to Paris. Emperor Napoleon III’s ill-advised provocation of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870 resulted in quick humiliation on the battlefield, followed by the emperor’s abdication and the German siege of Paris—during which, faced with starvation, the citizenry was reduced to slaughtering pets and zoo animals. After accepting degrading conditions of surrender, the people of Paris reacted by setting up an insurrectionist “commune,” which was quickly and brutally crushed by the national government.

    When the smoke cleared, a dazed and traumatized Paris pulled itself together and resumed its role at the center of European culture. Hugo, Renoir, Monet, Manet, Gounod, Franck, Fauré, Massenet, Cézanne, and a host of other artistic, musical, and literary titans of the era were in residence. Deliberately forgetting the dark days of the siege and the suppression of the commune, Paris reinvented itself as the “City of Light. “ The culture of cafés and cabaret emerged, the galleries flourished. Musically, the Paris Opera continued, as it had for decades, to furnish grand opéra with massive productions based on lofty historical subjects, while the Opéra-comique entertained with vivid characters and a mixture of sung and spoken material. It was to the Opéra-comique that the wealthy and powerful families brought their sons and daughters for the very serious business of match-making in the presence of amusing and appropriately respectable musical theater. Read more →

    FIRST NIGHT 2013 at the Dallas Opera

    Something for everyone on FIRST NIGHT at the Dallas Opera! Read on…

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Monday, September 30, 2013

    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
    Suzanne.Calvin@dallasopera.org
    Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
    Megan.Meister@dallasopera.org

    THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE
    “FIRST NIGHT 2013”
    “BY LOVE TRANSFORMED”
    ~~~~
    FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013 AT 5:30 P.M.
    THE MARGOT AND BILL WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE AT THE AT&T PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
    ~~~~
    NGP ENERGY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, Presenting Sponsor
    ~~~~
    Lynn Mock, FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT Chair
    ~~~~
    Pre-performance black-tie dinner at 6:00 followed by 8:00 p.m. Performance of Carmen, concluding with on-site After Party
    ~~~~
    LINDA AND MITCH HART SEASON OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE, ENDOWED SUPPORT

    DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 – The Dallas Opera is thrilled to revive—by popular demand—the exciting festivities marking the opening of a new season, known as FIRST NIGHT. The one-night-only celebrations presented by NGP Energy Capital Management will take place both inside and outside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District, on Friday, October 25, 2013 beginning at 5:30 p.m. with a lavish black-tie dinner at 6:00 provided by Puck Catering in a beautifully appointed tent in Sammons Park (located just off the main promenade to the Winspear Opera House).
    The menu and dinner music, as well as the artistic design, will reflect the cultural influences that dominate the 2013-2014 Season – “By Love Transformed.”
    Sophisticated models will show off their extraordinary opera-inspired couture gowns, designed especially for the occasion by five internationally acclaimed fashion designers: Elizabeth Anyaa, Michael Faircloth, Abi Ferrin, Khan Nguyen and Nicolas Villalba. Several of the gowns and original sketches will be auctioned online by FIRST SIGHT sponsor, Heritage Auctions, beginning on October 25th. Read more →