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Applications Open for The Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, January 13, 2020
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
Celebrating Our Proud Texas Heritage!
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Applications Are Now Open for
THE DALLAS OPERA GUILD BIENNIAL LONE STAR
VOCAL COMPETITION
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A New Competition
For Accomplished Young Artists with Texas Connections
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2020 Competition Chair Dr. Susan Fleming
Honorary Chair, Martha Allday
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Same Day Semi-Finals and Finals: May 9, 2020
Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
The AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, Texas
DALLAS, JANUARY 13, 2020 – The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for a newly-revived, state-based vocal competition to alternate every other year with The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition.
The Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2020 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas, TX.
General Director and CEO Ian Derrer notes, “The Dallas Opera Guild has always had a special affection for homegrown talent. It’s easy to understand why the membership wished to return to that proud tradition and recreate that sense of excitement in an entirely new way.
“This new competition has our full support and should complement—beautifully—The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition in 2021, which will continue to feature the full Dallas Opera Orchestra,” Derrer adds.
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The state competition is open to singers, age 18 through 30 (as of May 9, 2020), who are Texas residents or students. Applicants may not have participated in any Young Artist or Resident Artist Program with a professional opera company, or, had any prior principal artist contract with an opera company.
Applications will be accepted only through YAP Tracker. Applications will close on February 14, 2020, and the competition semi-finalists will be announced on March 15, 2020.
In order to apply, go to: https://www.yaptracker.com/applications/dallas-opera-comp-2020. There is a $20 application fee per entry.
The Spring 2020 Competition will offer thousands of dollars in prize monies to Texas-based singers. The winner will also be guaranteed a spot in the Semi-Finals Round of The Dallas Opera’s national vocal competition taking place the following year, along with the chance to perform for an audience of Dallas Opera Board and Trustees.
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This competition also marks the return of former Dallas Opera Artistic Director Jonathan Pell (long associated with the original statewide competition) as a member of the blue-ribbon judges panel, along with TDO’s Director of Artistic Administration David Lomeli and renowned arts administrator, educator and adjudicator Dr. Brian Zeger.
On the faculty of The Juilliard School since 1993 and its Artistic Director of Vocal Arts since 2004, Dr. Zeger, who will head the panel, is also the former Executive Director of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.
2020 Competition Chair Dr. Susan Fleming remarked, “The Dallas Opera Guild is extremely proud of the many professional voices in development that we have fostered for more than three decades. We are eager to hear those who will be selected to compete this year and look forward to hosting an enthusiastic hometown crowd in the Winspear next May!
“We encourage YOU to come be part of the Lone Star cheering section!”
This year’s Honorary Chair is longtime Dallas Opera supporter and Guild Member Martha Allday.
Now in her fifth year as a member of The Dallas Opera Board, Martha Allday has given her enthusiastic support to The Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors, as well as the annual vocal competition.
With her husband, Dr. Robert Allday, Martha served as Guild Co-President during our second season in the Winspear Opera House (2010-2011). It was in that capacity that she became involved in the Guild’s annual vocal competition.
Beginning in the spring of 2010 with the world premiere production of Heggie and Scheer’s Moby-Dick, the Alldays have hosted numerous visiting artists (and, at times, their families) in their home during extended stays in Dallas.
“Every artist has a unique story about how they came to their careers in opera, and vocal competitions are frequently a part of that story,” Martha Allday observes. “Recognizing the importance of the competitions to artists in the critical, nascent stages of their careers, I feel it is incumbent upon us to support their development in this way.”
“Patsy and I,” writes Dallas Opera Guild Co-Chair Bob Brooks, “along with Susan Fleming, as this year’s vocal competition chairperson—and the entire Dallas Opera Guild—are excited to sponsor this return to a biennial Texas-based competition to complement The Dallas Opera’s national vocal competition.”
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HISTORY OF THE DALLAS OPERA GUILD VOCAL COMPETITION:
In February of 1987, then-Dallas Opera Guild Presidents Connie and Jerry Klemow proposed establishing a Guild-sponsored scholarship fund to financially assist qualified singers seeking a career in opera. With the approval of TDO management and the enthusiastic support of Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Nicola Rescigno, a committee comprised of Chair Connie Klemow, Pat Blankenship, Nora Sands and Maria Santarelli, was entrusted to formulate a plan. Soon, the committee welcomed the assistance of then-General Director Plato Karayanis, company dramaturg Roger Pines and Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic John Ardoin.
Mr. Ardoin suggested a grants program be established in lieu of a scholarship fund or a competition. His suggestion was considered and the concept accepted. It was decided to focus on applicants from North Texas, ages 18-35 with some professional experience. Roger Pines named the program “The Career Development Grant for Singers” (CDGS), and after 20 months of planning the first CDGS program was presented on October 8, 1988 at SMU’s Caruth Auditorium.
However, for any program to remain dynamic, change and growth must occur. During these past 27 years there have been many changes. From the initial grants program, the concept evolved into The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition which, until 2014, was focused on vocalists with a Texas connection, both natives and temporary residents. A “People’s Choice Award” and Encouragement Awards were added and, today, financial awards are given directly to the winners to use at their discretion. Through this event, the Guild continues to recognize and honor members of The Dallas Opera community who have demonstrated a special interest in promoting the careers of talented young singers, or, have given exceptional support to The Dallas Opera and the Guild. Jonathan Pell led the Judge’s panel for the first 26 years.
The vocal competition was significantly re-imagined and expanded in its 27th year to allow applicants from all 50 states and U.S. Territories. Dr. Brian Zeger began chairing a judge’s panel that includes leading figures in American Opera administration and classical music.
The national competition was reorganized to take place over a two-day period. Finalists were accompanied by The Dallas Opera Orchestra under the direction of the Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume through 2018 and under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Frizza in 2019.
Now, the competition has evolved yet again to serve the needs of accomplished young artists at both the statewide and national level.
The Dallas Opera Guild remains dedicated to its original commitment to recognize, honor and support exceptionally talented young singers. The distributed award monies are funded anew each year. Guild members graciously donate their time, energy, money and talents to ensure that these prestigious competitions, both national and Texas-centric, succeed in cultivating the next generation of world-class opera artists.
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ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA:
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
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EVENTS, GUESTS, ARTISTS and PROGRAMMING ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation;
Texas Instruments; the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture;
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.
NorthPark Center, the official shopping center of The Dallas Opera
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees 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.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $19 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
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The Dallas Opera Hart Institute for Women Conductors 2019 Concert
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 28, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
In Concert – For One Night Only!
The Dallas Opera Hart Institute
For Women Conductors Showcase
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Celebrating 5 Years of Transformational Success
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 at 7:30 p.m.
The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
At the AT&T Performing Arts Center
Reserved Seats: $25 & $50
214.443.1000 or dallasopera.org/harttickets
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Featuring Singers from
“Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World”
In the Organization’s First U.S. Collaboration
DALLAS, OCTOBER 28, 2019 – The Dallas Opera is pleased to present an evening of splendid arias and sweeping orchestral favorites on Saturday, November 9th at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, AT&T Performing Arts Center. This one-time concert event, celebrating five years of program success, will feature The Dallas Opera Orchestra and international opera artists conducted by the six women chosen for the fifth annual residency of The Dallas Opera Hart Institute for Women Conductors taking place Oct. 27 through Nov. 9, 2019 at the Dallas Opera.
The spotlight will be on 2019 conductors:
- Tiffany Chang (USA)
- Jane Kim (USA)
- Tamara Dworetz (USA)
- Marta Kluczyńska (Poland)
- Madeline Tsai (Taiwan)
- Molly Turner (USA)
Seeking to address a long-standing issue of gender imbalance, The Dallas Opera in 2015 launched a unique, new residential program—one of only three in the world—designed to provide training and career support for distinctively talented women conductors on the cusp of major international careers.
“Big D is my Big W,” observed Polish conductor Marta Kluczyńska. “I feel awesome.”
Concert repertoire includes popular works by Rossini, Puccini, Mozart, and Bizet; as well as moving selections by Verdi, Donizetti, Delibes and Handel (see the complete program listings on p. 4).
Reserved seating for The Dallas Opera Hart Institute Showcase Concert on November 9, 2019 is available for $25 or $50 per person (depending on the section) and can be purchased at https://dallasopera.org/harttickets or through The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000.
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A new and exciting aspect of this year’s Hart Institute is The Dallas Opera’s partnership with the “Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World” program. Outstanding opera artists will rehearse and perform with the institute conductors and The Dallas Opera Orchestra, in the organization’s first collaboration in the U.S.
“Opera for Peace is a new cultural movement reflecting the reality of today’s globalized world,” the organization states. “We believe in the strength of connecting nations. Artistic development occurs through a unique and personalized global schedule of high level training projects, concerts, masterclasses, educational exchanges, special cultural diplomatic projects and events. We give special support to artists from disadvantaged backgrounds and promote diversity, social justice and equality. We provide a platform for our artists and partners to speak about social issues facing our world.” For more information visit operaforpeace.org.
“Opera for Peace—Leading Young Voices of the World is delighted to collaborate with The Dallas Opera Hart Institute for Women Conductors on their fifth annual residency,” adds Opera for Peace General Director Julia Lagahuzère. “Sharing the same values, vision and ambitions, our partnership will further advance our art form and give new opportunities to talented artists.
“The Hart conductors will lead young international singers,” she noted, “alongside world-famous Peace Ambassador tenor Brian Jagde in a celebration of equality, diversity and artistic excellence.”
Mr. Jagde, a native of New York and graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Adler and Merola programs, returned to the War Memorial stage last season where his Cavaradossi in a new production of Tosca was acclaimed the highlight of the evening. He will reprise the role this season at both Vienna State Opera and at the Metropolitan Opera, where his performance will be seen “Live in HD” around the world.
The phenomenal Ukrainian baritone, Andrei Kymach, the 2019 First Prize Winner of the BBC Cardiff “Singer of the World” Competition and a recent graduate of the Bolshoi Young Artist program, will also be performing in concert.
American mezzo-soprano Raehann Bryce-Davis, praised by The San Francisco Chronicle for her “electrifying sense of fearlessness,” will make her LA Opera debut in the world premiere of Aucoin and Ruhl’s Eurydice. Another exceptionally talented young artist, Puerto Rican tenor Ángel Vargas (who, earlier this year, was awarded his master’s degree from Rice University), a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions – Puerto Rico District and a finalist in the Gulf Coast Regionals, will also share the Winspear stage.
Additional soloists on the program include Nicaraguan-American soprano Gabriella Reyes, the 2018 recipient of the Sara Tucker Study Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation and grand finalist in the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions; Korean-American countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim, renowned for his interpretation of the music of Mozart and the Baroque Era; South African baritone Chuma Sijeqa, a Link Artist of the Royal Opera House’s 2018-19 Jette Parker Young Artists Programme in the U.K.; and soprano Meryl Dominguez, now in her final year of residency at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
Artists engaged in the program will work and rehearse with the Hart conductors throughout the second week of the Institute.
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“Even for the most talented artists, a journey to the forefront of the conducting profession is difficult, and particularly so for women,” wrote Taiwanese conductor Madeline Tsai. “The Dallas Opera Hart Institute gives its residents a strong gust of wind forward as they sail toward their dreams on the horizon.
“I am immensely grateful and honored for this incredible opportunity to learn from an amazing faculty and other talented artists at the Institute.”
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Naming Support for the Institute from Linda and Mitch Hart
Initial Support from the Richard and Enika Schulze Foundation
Additional Support from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,
Baker Botts LLP, Cindy and Charlie Feld, Jenifer and Peter Flynn,
Susan and Mark Geyer, Holly and Tom Mayer, J.P. Morgan,
Betty and Steve Suellentrop, and Martha and Max Wells,
Debra Witter and Scott Chase, and Texas Women’s Foundation
Made Possible by an OPERA America Innovation Grant
Supported by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation
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REPERTOIRE FOR THE 2019 HART INSTITUTE CONCERT:
Overtures to The Marriage of Figaro, The Barber of Seville, Don Giovanni, William Tell, La forza del destino, Prelude to Act III of Manon Lescaut
“O mio Fernando” from La favorita (Donizetti)
“O soave fanciulla” from La bohème (Puccini)
“Ombra mai fu / Se bramate d’amar chi vi sdegna” from Xerxes (Handel)
“Addio! mio caro bene” from Teseo (Handel)
“Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre” or the Toreador Song from Carmen (Bizet)
“Au fond du temple saint” from The Pearl Fishers (Bizet)
“La calunnia” from The Barber of Seville (Rossini)
“Se tradirmi tu potrai…Tu che vedi il pianto mio” from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
“Tu, che di gel sei senta” or the Death of Liù from Turandot (Puccini)
“Parigi o cara” from La traviata (Verdi)
“Dôme épais le jasmin” or the Flower Duet from Lakmé (Delibes)
“Donna non vidi mai” from Manon Lescaut (Puccini)
(Please note: 2019 Hart Showcase Concert repertoire selections are subject to change)
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ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA:
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
~~~~
EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation;
Texas Instruments; the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture;
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.
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees 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.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $19 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
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THE GOLDEN COCKEREL Opens Friday, Oct. 25th
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
The Dallas Opera is Delighted to Present
THE GOLDEN COCKEREL
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Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Brilliant Political Satire about Sex, War, and Power
OCTOBER 25 – NOVEMBER 2, 2019
Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume
Directed by Paul Curran
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Starring Nikolay Didenko (King Dodon), Olga Pudova (Queen of Shemakha), Kevin Burdette (General Polkan), Barry Banks (Astrologer), Lindsay Ammann (Amelfa), Viktor Antipenko (Prince Guidon), Corey Crider (Prince Afron) and Jeni Houser as the Voice of the Golden Cockerel
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DALLAS, OCTOBER 23, 2019 – The Dallas Opera’s 2019-2020 “Standing Ovation” Season scales new comedic heights this Friday with the opening of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s hilarious-yet-thought-provoking final opera, The Golden Cockerel.
The October 25, 2019 performance in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Conducted by Maestro Emmanuel Villaume (The Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director of The Dallas Opera) and directed by Paul Curran (The James R. Seitz, Jr., Stage Director), this rarely-performed work has not been seen on The Dallas Opera stage since 1973.
This opulent new co-production garnered rave reviews when it opened in Santa Fe during the 2017 summer opera festival. “Gary McCann’s vibrant and kitschy costumes,” wrote Arya Roshanian for OperaWire, “inspired by Russian matryoshka dolls, contain some of the most fabulous and original costumes of the season.”
Opera Warhorses praised Maestro Villaume’s “majestically-contoured, sensitive performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Orientalist score.” And Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News had high praise for the score itself: “The orchestral writing mixes bright-colored Russian impressionism and echoes of Russian folk idioms. The Queen weaves her spell with showcase vocalism alternately slithery and flickering.”
Rimsky-Korsakov’s turn-of-the-century cautionary tale about lust and power (or the lust for power) may be more relevant than ever.
The Golden Cockerel, a three-act satirical masterpiece, premiered in Moscow in 1909 after initially being banned by government censors. The composer, Rimsky-Korsakov, did not live to see his work on stage.
Tickets for The Golden Cockerel may be purchased by phone (214.443.1000), online (dallasopera.org) or at the door, starting at just $19.
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Russian bass Nikolay Didenko (who, according to The New York Sun, “regularly steals the show with his seemingly effortless subterranean voice” will make his Dallas Opera debut as the delusional King Dodon.
Russian coloratura soprano Olga Pudova will be making her company debut as the exotic and sultry Queen of Shemakha. Ms. Pudova is an audience favorite at the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, where this season alone, she sings the roles of Tytania in Benjamin Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nanetta in Falstaff, Adina in L’elisir d’amore and the title role in Ruslan and Lyudmila.
Bass Kevin Burdette (Everest, Great Scott), described by The New York Times as “the Robin Williams of opera,” is the king’s loyal commander, General Polkan.
Renowned mezzo-soprano Lindsay Ammann sings the role of Amelfa, while English tenor Barry Banks, a favorite of Metropolitan Opera audiences, makes his TDO debut as the Astrologer who seems to know and (possibly) control all.
Russian tenor Viktor Antipenko in his Dallas Opera debut, and American baritone Corey Crider will sing the roles of Dodon’s backstabbing, bone-headed sons, Prince Guidon and Prince Afron.
Last but certainly not least, soprano Jeni Houser (currently appearing in TDO’s season opener, The Magic Flute, as the Queen of the Night) is the voice of the Golden Cockerel.
The other principals in this production are Jay Gardner and Christopher Harrison as Boyars. Samuel P.J. Lopez will sing the tenor solo.
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All four performances of The Golden Cockerel will be conducted by internationally-acclaimed Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, praised for the sensitivity of his conducting by Zachary Woolfe of The New York Times.
Wayne Lee Gay of Texas Classical Review noted in his analysis of last season’s Carmen, “Even in the opening phrases of the Overture…Villaume’s command of the nuance and unique musical language of Bizet signaled an outstanding performance in the making.”
This season, in his recent review of The Magic Flute, Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell observed that “Villaume got well disciplined, suave playing from The Dallas Opera Orchestra. Ensemble singing in the first act was impressively precise.” Meanwhile, Gregory Sullivan Isaacs of TheaterJones.com wrote, “Emmanuel Villaume’s extensive research into the score presents a refreshing new take…that will delight those familiar with the music.”
Scottish director/choreographer Paul Curran, who made a dazzling 2015 Dallas Opera debut with the world premiere of Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus, is reviving his own production of Cockerel here in Dallas.
Set and costume designs are by famed British designer Gary McCann, whose jaw-dropping designs for The Dallas Opera’s 2015 world premiere of Mark Adamo’s Becoming Santa Claus were the talk of the town. Recent and upcoming projects include designing Der Freischütz and Macbeth for Vienna State Opera; Killology for the Royal Court Theatre; Carmen for Opera Philadelphia; and the sets for My Fair Lady for Teatro San Carlo in Naples.
Lighting design for this production is by Paul Hackenmueller with projections designed by Driscoll Otto. Wig and make-up designs are by Dawn Rivard.
As always, The Dallas Opera Chorus will be prepared by The Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.
Sung in Russian (the original language) with English supertitles projected above the stage, The Golden Cockerel can also be enjoyed at additional performances on October 27(m), 30, and November 2, 2019.
Dallas Opera evening performances begin promptly at 7:30 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. Student Rush Tickets are available at the box office 90 minutes prior to curtain – a valid student ID is required for each $15 or $25 ticket (price varies by seat location).
The complete season schedule, artist and production team bios, synopses and more can be found online, anytime, at dallasopera.org.
The Dallas Opera Wishes to Express Our Gratitude to Those
Whose Generous Contributions Made Possible
This 2019 Production of The Golden Cockerel:
The James R. Seitz, Jr. Stage Director in Honor of John Gage: Paul Curran
Additional Special Support Provided by:
Robert L. and Myra Barker Hull
James R. Seitz, Jr.
Joanna L. and T. Peter Townsend
ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA:
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
~~~~
EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation,
Texas Instruments, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture,
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.
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees 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.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $19 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit dallasopera.org.
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The Magic Flute Opens October 18th – Free Simulcast on Friday, November 1, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
The Dallas Opera is Proud to Present
THE MAGIC FLUTE
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Mozart’s Magical, Comical Celebration
Of the Human Spirit
OCTOBER 18 – NOVEMBER 3, 2019
Conducted by Music Director Emmanuel Villaume
Directed by Kyle Lang in his TDO Debut
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Starring Paolo Fanale (Tamino), Andrea Carroll (Pamina), Jeni Houser (Queen of the Night), Morris Robinson (Sarastro), and Sean Michael Plumb (Papageno)
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FREE, LIVE COMMUNITY SIMULCAST
FRIDAY, NOV. 1, 2019 AT KLYDE WARREN PARK
Curtain Time: 7:30 p.m.
DALLAS, OCTOBER 15, 2019 – The Dallas Opera opens its 2019-2020 “Standing Ovation” Season on a high note this Friday with The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s final operatic masterpiece, The Magic Flute.
The October 18, 2019 performance in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center will begin at 8:00 p.m. (please note the special curtain time) with subsequent performances at the usual times.
Conducted by Emmanuel Villaume (The Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director of The Dallas Opera) and directed by Kyle Lang (Ann Stuart Stage Director) in his company debut, The Eleanor Ford Penrose Mainstage Production boasts a superb international cast of singers who have captivated audiences from the Kennedy Center to Covent Garden.
Italian tenor Paolo Fanale and American soprano Andrea Carroll will make their house debuts as the spirited romantic leads, Tamino and Pamina, braving trials and separations in order to find love, wisdom and happiness together, at long last.
“Tamino demands a beautiful voice that radiates youthful ardor,” wrote Harper’s Bazaar, “and you’ll hear it from this ‘heart-throb Italian tenor (Paolo Fanale).” Meanwhile, Opera News noted that Miss Carroll is “a favorite of the Vienna State Opera, (lauded for her) vibrant soprano (with its) rich, low register and gleaming top.”
American soprano Jeni Houser will account for several of the performance’s high notes as the majestic Queen of the Night. She, too, earned exceptional praise from Opera News for her “focused expressive high soprano…nailing her killer Act II showpiece.”
The role of Papageno, a comic tour-de-force, marks the eagerly-awaited house debut of baritone Sean Michael Plumb, whose “elegant lyricism and responsive musicality” (The New York Times) have made this award-winning California native a welcome presence on many of the world’s most prestigious stages.
Dallas Opera favorite Morris Robinson, an American bass last seen on the Winspear stage as The Commendatore in our acclaimed 2018 spring production of Don Giovanni, “dominates the stage…with his firm, opulent tone that seems to pour forth from another world” (The Classical Review). He returns in the role of the mysterious Sarastro.
Casting the roles of the First, Second, and Third Lady is about choosing complementary voices capable of creating one of the great trios in opera. The Dallas Opera indulged in “luxury casting” across the board: The First Lady will be sung by American soprano Diana Newman, the Second Lady by American mezzo-soprano Samantha Hankey (The Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star), and the Third Lady by American contralto Hannah Ludwig – all in their TDO debuts.
The troubled Monastatos, will be portrayed by character tenor Brian Frutiger with soprano Abigail Rethwisch as the charming Papagena and bass David Pittsinger as The Speaker.
Rounding out this outstanding cast are the First, Second and Third Boy sung by Keiland Holleman, Lukas Palys, and Michael Blumenthal, respectively.
The First Man in Armor will be sung by Aaron Short. Ryan Kuster will portray the Second Man in Armor. Sam Parkinson appears in the role of the First Priest, with Michael Christopher as the Second Priest.
This eighteenth-century masterpiece premiered in Vienna in 1791, and mixes popular song with show-stopping coloratura and a lilting touch of glockenspiel.
Tickets for Mozart’s The Magic Flute may be purchased by phone (214.443.1000), online (www.dallasopera.org) or at the door, starting at just $19.
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This production, originally directed by the late Sir Peter Hall, was designed by British cartoonist and illustrator extraordinaire, Gerald Scarfe, best known for a half century of scathing political cartoons for The Sunday Times and for directing and designing the animation sequence for Pink Floyd’s film and concert versions of The Wall. Mr. Scarfe has designed sets and costumes for opera companies from Seattle to New Zealand, as well as creating numerous books, exhibits, and acclaimed one-man shows.
Lighting design for this production is by Thomas C. Hase. Wig and make-up design is by Dawn Rivard.
As always, chorus preparation is by Dallas Opera Chorus Master Alexander Rom.
Performances of The Magic Flute continue on October 20(m), 23, 26, and November 1 (The Enrico Foundation Performance) and November 3(m), 2019. Evening performances in the Winspear Opera House begin at 7:30 p.m., (except for the opening night performance mentioned above) and the curtain rises on TDO Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m. There is no late seating.
The Magic Flute will be performed in its original language, German, with English-language translations projected above the stage at every performance.
Student Rush Tickets are available at the box office 90 minutes prior to curtain – a valid student ID is required for each ticket.
Additionally, The Dallas Opera is Pleased to Announce its 18th Live Simulcast since 2010!
A FREE KLYDE WARREN PARK SIMULCAST
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2019
The Dallas Opera will present a free live simulcast of Mozart’s The Magic Flute at beautiful Klyde Warren Park. This special presentation takes place in the Dallas Arts District on Friday, November 1, 2019 (program begins at 6:00 p.m., curtain time – 7:30 p.m.) and is open to all.
This will be a live simulcast of that night’s performance in the Winspear Opera House, presented for park patrons on a large high-definition video screen.
“The free fall simulcast in Klyde Warren Park has quickly evolved into one of our most popular traditions,” explains Dallas Opera Director of Marketing and Ticket Sales Carrie Ellen Adamian. “It’s not merely a grand night for opera, it’s a marvelous opportunity to celebrate community life with your loved ones, children, and friends.
“For those who may never have experienced opera before, The Magic Flute is especially delightful with its combination of gorgeous arias and a fantastic storyline that will keep you on the edge of your…blanket.”
Klyde Warren Park is located at 2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway, Dallas, TX 75201. Sign up today for reminders and updates at www.dallasopera.org/simulcast. However, no reservations are required in order to attend the free November 1st simulcast, whether you’re coming alone or with 50 of your closest friends and family members!
The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 1st with popular radio host Amy Bishop of WRR, “Classical 101” and Kristian Roberts, Education Administrator for The Dallas Opera. Activities include a trivia contest, behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast, and the high-definition screening of a 1950 classic cartoon, Rabbit of Seville (courtesy of WB Classics), directed by Chuck Jones and written by Michael Maltese. This short was voted #12 of the 50 all-time greatest cartoons ever created, in a survey of animation industry professionals.
The cartoon also “tips the hat” to our engaging season finale, The Barber of Seville (April 24th through May 10, 2020), Rossini’s hilarious comic masterpiece.
The public is encouraged to arrive with time to spare before the 7:30 curtain, and to bring blankets or low lawn-chairs to secure their spot on the lawn. A variety of nearby wining-and-dining options include Savor, serving New American cuisine and assorted food trucks.
Picnic baskets and pets are permitted, as well.
The 2019 Magic Flute Simulcast is made possible in part by The Enrico Foundation with additional support provided by Texas Instruments.
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The Dallas Opera Wishes to Express Our Gratitude to Those
Whose Generous Contributions Made Possible
This 2019 Production of The Magic Flute:
The Eleanor Ford Penrose Mainstage Production
Production Underwriters Cindy and Charlie Feld
Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, Oct. 18, 2019
The Enrico Foundation Performance, Nov. 1, 2019
Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star: Samantha Hankey
Ann Stuart Stage Director: Kyle Lang
ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA:
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation,
Texas Instruments, the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture,
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.
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees 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.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $19 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit www.dallasopera.org.
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2019 FIRST NIGHT at The Dallas Opera
Media Release from The Dallas Opera
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO HOST
FIRST NIGHT 2019
WITH PRESENTING SPONSOR,
TOLLESON WEALTH MANAGEMENT
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KIM AND GREG HEXT, CHAIRS
CAROL AND DON GLENDENNING, DINNER CHAIRS
The Winspear Family, Honorary Chairs
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In Partnership—for the FIRST time—with the Dallas Zoo!
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The Dallas Opera’s
Season-Opening Celebrations
Marking Our Tenth Anniversary in the WOH
Friday, October 18, 2019
The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
AT&T Performing Arts Center, Dallas TX
DALLAS, TX, OCTOBER 10, 2019 – The Dallas Opera is proud to present the pinnacle of a two-day celebration to mark the opening of the Dallas Opera’s 2019-2020 “Standing Ovation” Season: FIRST NIGHT, presenting sponsor, Tolleson Wealth Management, on Friday, October 18, 2019 at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
FIRST SIGHT and FIRST NIGHT 2019 are the official opening events of a season-long observance of TDO’s tenth anniversary in the internationally-acclaimed Winspear Opera House. After more than half a century of legendary performances in the Music Hall at Fair Park, The Dallas Opera moved into a spectacular new venue in the Dallas Arts District in October 2009.
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Kim and Greg Hext are serving as Chairs for this elegant, eagerly-anticipated evening.
“In a remarkably short time, FIRST NIGHT has come to represent the quintessential Opening Night celebration with its potent combination of glamour, theatricality, great music, and fine cuisine—in a truly magical setting,” says Chair Kim Hext.
“Greg and I were so honored to be asked to Chair this year’s FIRST SIGHT and FIRST NIGHT, coinciding with the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House and performances of Mozart’s The Magic Flute. We would love for this season’s spectacular kick-off events to ‘raise the bar’ on the next decade of Dallas Opera Opening Weekends.”
Honorary Chairs (as befits the tenth anniversary in one of the world’s most beautiful new opera houses) are the members of The Winspear Family, for whom the opera house is named.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the memory of Margot and Bill Winspear and their passion for great opera,” explained Honorary Chair Don Winspear. “Our family takes personal pride in my parents’ vision for a world-class opera house, achieved through the hard work and efforts of many, many benefactors, artists and professionals. Together, they created a performance venue that has and will continue to welcome all the people of Dallas for generations to come.”
For the FIRST time in its ten-year history in the Winspear Opera House, The Dallas Opera will “take a walk on the wild side” and partner with the nationally-renowned Dallas Zoo, which will have special two-and-four-footed representatives present for the Opening Night festivities.
Zoo sponsors for FIRST NIGHT are Diane and Hal Brierley.
“We are tremendously excited about this unprecedented partnership and the attention it will bring to the living treasures we have at the Dallas Zoo,” notes Honorary Chair Ellen Winspear.
“Mozart’s masterpiece includes a charming scene in which a fantastical collection of wild animals is tamed by the sound of a magic flute. Dallas Opera patrons on October 18 will find the live versions in the Winspear even more impossible to resist!”
The people watching begins at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 2019 with a red carpet entrance and private reception. The arrivals will be followed at 6:00 p.m. with a seated theme dinner carefully prepared by Wolfgang Puck Catering and Chaired by Carol and Don Glendenning.
“Don and I love to gather friends from near and far to sit down to dine together,” explains Chair Carol Glendenning. “Hosting this superb dinner party is a chance for us to raise a glass with all the many friends of The Dallas Opera, in support of the hard work and phenomenal artistry that make world-class productions, like this fall’s The Magic Flute and The Golden Cockerel, possible.
“I’m sure we can anticipate an unforgettable culinary experience on Opening Night,” she adds.
The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Mozart’s The Magic Flute will begin at 8:00 p.m. (please note the special time) featuring a star-studded international cast conducted by Maestro Emmanuel Villaume, The Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director.
Following the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of Sir Peter Hall’s acclaimed production of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Magic Flute, FIRST NIGHT celebrations will resume around 11 p.m. with an exuberant After Party featuring the popular dance band, Professor D, and a chance for patrons to hobnob with members of the cast and each other!
Hand-crafted libations and delicious culinary bites will keep guests of The Dallas Opera energized from the first notes through to the last dance. Wolfgang Puck Sweet & Savory will provide the delicious noshes, desserts, coffee and specialty cocktails.
For additional details, visit www.dallasopera.org. To purchase tickets to FIRST NIGHT, or if you have additional questions, please contact Dallas Opera Special Events Manager Tracy Mott at tracy.mott@dallasopera.org.
ABOUT THE DALLAS ZOO
The Dallas Zoo is dedicated to creating a better world for animals. Named one of the nation’s Top 10 Zoos by USA Today, it is the largest zoological experience in Texas. The zoo has been accredited continuously by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums since 1985, and features a 106-acre park, thousands of animals, and an education department that offers programs for all ages. The zoo is located at 650 S. R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-35 at Marsalis) and is open 364 days a year. For more information, visit DallasZoo.com or call 469.554.7500.
ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA
One of the leading opera companies in the country, The Dallas Opera has an extraordinary legacy of world-class productions and thrilling premieres featuring the greatest operatic artists of our time. Inaugurated in 1957 with a concert featuring the incomparable Maria Callas, TDO is known for the notable U.S. debuts of a host of legendary artists including Plácido Domingo, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jon Vickers, Franco Zeffirelli, and Sir David McVicar. The company has long been an industry leader and innovator through groundbreaking initiatives like the Hart Institute for Women Conductors, free public simulcasts, acclaimed art song recitals, the national vocal competition, special concerts, and outstanding family and award-winning education programs. TDO’s home is the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, a jewel in the Dallas Arts District. As one of the largest performing arts employers in North Texas, TDO is proudly committed to diversity, onstage and off, and is a major contributor to the economic vitality and international cultural reputation of this region.
2019-2020 SEASON SPONSOR
The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family
EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Elsa von Seggern Foundation;
Texas Instruments; the City of Dallas Office of Arts and Culture;
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.
All performances in The Dallas Opera’s 63rd International Season will take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, unless otherwise indicated. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. (Opening Night of The Magic Flute begins at 8 p.m.) and Sunday matinees start 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.
The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain at most performances. Full and Flex subscriptions are designed to meet the needs of every budget. Prices range from just $57 (for three performances of your choice) to a top orchestra floor price of $777 for all five mainstage productions. Single tickets are priced from $25 to $289 (a few box seats may be higher). For additional information or to make your purchase, call 214.443.1000 or visit www.dallasopera.org.
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