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! Read more →
From the Desk of Artistic Director Jonathan Pell – Santa Fe Part I
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 as the chorus, in smaller roles, and “cover” (or act as understudies) for leading roles. In addition to that, they receive private coaching from the music staff and visiting artists, and are given the opportunity to display their talent in these fully staged and costumed scenes. 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 the audience could have been too disappointed, though, since understudy Lori Phillips rose to the challenge magnificently. With weeks of observing rehearsals she knew the blocking, but with little musical rehearsal and absolutely no time with the orchestra or the conductor, this was an impressive feat. Read more →
Hurts to Even Talk About It
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, and once in a great while result in tragic consequences. Such appears to be the case at the Metrpolitan Opera where mezzo-soprano Wendy White is (evidently reluctantly) suing the company following her shocking plummet to the stage when a platform collapsed during a December 2011 performance of Gounod’s “Faust.”
Since the accident, Ms. White has undergone therapy but her lawyer says she has lost her ability to sing opera, effectively ending her career.
So terribly sad for all concerned. Here’s more from the “Daily News.”
Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and Public Relations
Question of the Week
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 RELEASE:
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA POPS THE QUESTION:
WHAT KIND OF CARMEN ARE YOU?
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CARMEN COSTUME CONTEST
To Take Centerstage at Klyde Warren Park
At 7:15 p.m., Prior to Friday, October 25th
Dallas Opera Simulcast of “Carmen”
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Carmens on two legs (or four) will parade before a live audience to compete for semi-fabulous prizes!
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Simulcast presented in partnership
With Klyde Warren Park and with
Support from The Dallas Arts District
DALLAS, TX, AUGUST 8, 2013 – The Dallas Opera is happy to announce that we will be staging a one-time-only “Carmen Costume Contest” which asks the earth-shattering question: “What Kind of Carmen Are You?”
Whether you envision yourself as a traditional Carmen, a Carmen Electra or a Carmen Miranda—male or female, on two legs or four—you’re being summoned to the Klyde Warren Park stage in your most imaginative Carmen finery to mark the Dallas Opera’s exciting season-opening production—streamed live to patrons on the lawn.
Judging will take place at the simulcast location at 7:15 p.m. on Friday, October 25, 2013 with prize winners to be determined the old-fashioned way: by audience acclaim. Competitors are advised to bring loud and enthusiastic friends.
Like Paris of old (the Trojan prince, not the French metropolis), popular 102.9 NOW Morning Show Host Chris Jagger will present costume contest winners with a prestigious golden apple—in addition to tickets to the exclusive FIRST NIGHT After Party to take place later that evening at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, immediately following the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance.
In the event of a four-legged winner, non-alcoholic treats will be awarded instead.
In the event of a tie, we’ll make something up on the spot.
All contestants are encouraged to remain for the free live Dallas Opera simulcast of Georges Bizet’s immortal CARMEN, beginning at 8:00 p.m. (please note the unusual curtain time) and to participate in the “Toreador Song Sing-a-long” as well as other highlights throughout the evening.
The Dallas Opera 2013 Opening Night Simulcast of CARMEN is presented in partnership with Klyde Warren Park, with support from the Dallas Arts District.
Blankets and picnic baskets are allowed; food, beer and wine may be purchased onsite and a variety of local food trucks will be stationed on the park’s perimeter throughout the evening.
Mark your calendars now and start planning your Carmen today.
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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.
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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “AUGUST 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
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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.
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