The Dallas Opera makes its gripping 2015 production of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca available free of charge for home viewing.
Registration details in this press release; link below.
TDO Tosca Simulcast Stream – February 10 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
Changing the Face of Classical Music
The Dallas Opera Hart Institute
For Women Conductors
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Celebrating 5 Years of Transformational Success
OCTOBER 27 – NOVEMBER 9, 2019
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Outstanding New Faculty include: Ana De Archuleta,
Elizabeth Buccheri, Rona Eastwood, Julia Lagahuzère,
Sophie Joyce, Lee Anne Myslewski, and Dmitry Vdovin
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In Partnership with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s
Women in Classical Music Symposium
DALLAS, OCTOBER 9, 2019 – The Dallas Opera is preparing to host twelve distinguished professionals (six conductors, three administrators, and three American Observers) selected to participate in the fifth annual residency of the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera taking place Oct. 27 – Nov. 9, 2019 in Dallas, Texas. The six conductors are:
Seeking to address a long-standing issue of gender-imbalance at the podium, The Dallas Opera in 2015 launched a unique multifaceted program—one of a handful in the world—designed to provide training and career support for distinctively talented women conductors on the cusp of major international careers.
“I was beyond thrilled to hear of my acceptance to the 2019 Dallas Opera’s Hart Institute” wrote U.S. participant Tamara Dworetz. “The opportunity to learn from world-class conductors, instrumentalists, opera singers and leaders will strengthen my skills and broaden my dimensionalism as a conductor while bolstering my career and professional network; I cannot thank Linda and Mitch Hart and The Dallas Opera enough for initiating and supporting this progressive and powerfully impactful program.”
Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO explains: “Providing career advancement opportunities makes it possible for these talented women to compete for top-level positions in classical music. This is one of the most important contributions we could make to this art form, and it will be needed for years to come. After five years, the support and passion of the TDO Family burns brighter than ever.”
A total of 90 women conductors and professional musicians heeded the call in 2019, despite even more stringent admissions requirements initiated last year. Applicants from 27 countries included music directors, principal and assistant conductors, concertmasters and music staff from top-ranked symphonies, opera companies, and conservatories.
“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’s Linda and Mitch 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.”
As is the case each year, talented U.S. Observers were chosen to audit the 2019 Institute: Rebecca Henry, Sarah Klein and Rachel Waddell.
Reserved seating for the 2019 Hart Institute Showcase Concert at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 9, 2019 is available for $25 or $50 per person (depending on the section) and can be purchased through The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 or by visiting dallasopera.org/harttickets.
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The Dallas Opera Hart Institute in 2019 will consist of hands-on master classes with the Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director, Emmanuel Villaume; TDO’s Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement and Carlo Montanaro, a renowned Italian conductor. Returning faculty include a variety of industry leaders and members of The Dallas Opera Senior Staff.
Sessions include career advancement seminars; topical industry discussions; intensive one-on-ones and a variety of networking opportunities.
American conductor Molly Turner noted: “As a young conductor, getting into the Hart Institute opens so many doors traditionally left open only for older and often male conductors.”
“I’m humbled to have such a dedicated opportunity to focus on a genre and repertoire that are least familiar to me and to engage artistically with the excellent musicians and administration of The Dallas Opera” added US conductor Tiffany Chang.
NEW HART FACULTY IN 2019:
Ana De Archuleta is president and CEO of ADA Artist Management and has quickly established herself as one of the most sought-after managers in the operatic field, representing a thriving roster of vocalists, conductors and directors worldwide.
Elizabeth Askren, Franco-American conductor, has guest conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Orchestre de Chambre de Paris.
Elizabeth Buccheri, chamber musician and vocal coach, was assistant conductor of Lyric Opera of Chicago from 1987 to 2013. A dedicated teacher, Ms. Buccheri has given master classes at The Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, AMFS, Lawrence Conservatory, and the music academies of Lithuania and Latvia.
Lisa Bury, Chief Advancement and Strategy Officer for The Dallas Opera, previously served in senior positions at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Florida Grand Opera.
Rona Eastwood is Senior Associate Director of Conductors at Askonas Holt. The move across to artist management followed, initially assisting Martin Campbell-White with conductors and occasional touring projects. She has remained with the company ever since, ultimately building an independent list of artists.
Sophie Joyce is the Director of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, the Metropolitan Opera’s elite program for leading young singers on the cusp of international opera careers.
Julia Lagahuzère is the General Director of “Opera for Peace” and former Deputy Casting Director for Opéra National de Paris in the two theatres of Opéra de Bastille and Palais Garnier. She is also artistic consultant to the Queen Sonja International Music Competition in Oslo, Norway.
Charlotte Lee is the President and Founder of Primo Artists, a boutique classical music agency in New York.
Thomas Maddrey is the founding partner and lead attorney for Maddrey PLLC, a boutique firm dedicated to art law and creative business law.
Lee Anne Myslewski oversees all aspects of Wolf Trap Opera, an artist-centric program whose alumni are singing in every opera house in the nation and in the most prestigious houses in the world and also serves as the executive producer and co-host of Center Stage from Wolf Trap, a nationally-syndicated radio program.
Paolo Petrocelli serves as the Cultural and Music Diplomacy Officer for the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates and has become a leading member of some of the most prestigious international organizations, including the United Nations, UNESCO, and the World Economic Forum. He also acts as Director of Institutional Relations and International Affairs for UNESCO’S “Opera for Peace.”
Stephanie Rhodes Russell, a renowned opera collaborator, is a Conducting Fellow with the Fort Worth Symphony and Associate Conductor for the Grand Teton Music Festival.
Jennifer Spencer is currently working alongside Ivan Fischer on the artistic and touring planning for the Budapest Festival Orchestra, and (in October 2017) she created a small conductor roster which she operates in conjunction with IMG Artists Ltd from London.
Beth Stewart is the founder of Verismo Communications, a classical music PR firm that prizes authenticity over plasticity, creates space and opportunity in clients’ lives, and operates with unswerving integrity.
Dmitry Vdovin is founder and artistic director of the Bolshoi Theatre Young Artist Program. He is also the Artistic Director of UNESCO’S “Opera for Peace” initiative.
Jenna Wolf, Development and Communications Consultant for “Opera for Peace – Leading Young Voices of the World” as well as the PR and Marketing Director for Lenny’s Studio, New York, New York.
This year’s Hart Institute for Women Conductors is also partnering with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s inaugural “Women in Classical Music Symposium” taking place November 6-9, 2019 in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center, in order to provide even greater resources and connections for women in the field.
“I am delighted to work alongside our colleagues at The Dallas Opera as the Dallas Symphony launches its Women in Classical Music Symposium. The Hart Institute has established itself as an important event for women conductors, and their input while designing the symposium has been invaluable,” said Kim Noltemy, President & CEO of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. “Together, we are showing that the Dallas performing arts community is committing to a sustained effort to make changes in the industry.”
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“The Hart Institute has and will continue to transform the field, with alumnae being singled out for important appointments, projects, and commissions in both the opera and symphonic world,” notes TDO’s Director of Artistic Administration David Lomeli.
Hart Institute alumnae accomplishments in just the past year include the appointment of Anna Skryleva as Music Director of the Magdeburg Opera and as the first female Chief Conductor of the Klassik Philharmonie Hamburg, Tianyi Lu as Welsh National Opera’s first “Female Conductor in Residence,” the appointment of Lina Gonzalez-Granados as a 2019-2020 Conducting Fellow for both Seattle Opera and the Philadelphia Orchestra; Chicago Opera Theater’s Lidiya Yankovskaya (Artistic Director of the Refugee Orchestra Project) leading refugee musicians in a performance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the naming of Stephanie Mercier to the position of Director of Artistic and Production Operations at Washington National Opera, and the promotion of another Hart Administrator, Jennifer Rivera, to the position of Executive Director and CEO of Long Beach Opera.
Additionally, two Hart Institute conductors (and one faculty member, Nicole Paiement) made the list of the “Top 20 Women Conductors in the World” in 2019 (Norman Lebrecht, Slipped Disc).
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While the Hart Institute began with a focus on supporting talented conductors, the challenges faced by women opera administrators remain equally daunting. To address this imbalance, The Dallas Opera added a new component to the Hart Institute: through 2022, TDO will invite between two and four American opera administrators to participate each season. These women will be selected on the basis of their potential to become leaders of one of America’s top opera companies.
The 2019 Hart Institute Administrators are:
The selected opera administrators will have access to all group sessions and special sessions during the annual residency in Dallas.
One of the goals of the program is to construct a wide network of influential female leaders in the administrative offices of performing arts organizations, both large and small, as well as onstage and in the orchestra pit.
HART INSTITUTE – NEW CONDUCTING FELLOW
JANE KIM (USA) is the recipient of the 2018 Charles Schiff Conducting Prize. She currently serves as Assistant Conductor with the Little Orchestra Society. She has appeared with the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, and, as cover conductor, she works with the New York Philharmonic, Canadian Opera Company, Juilliard Orchestra, and other ensembles. Previously, Jane served as Music Director of the Juilliard Pre-College String Ensemble and conductor of the Juilliard Lab Orchestra. Her summer activities include Aspen Music Festival, which she attended as a Conducting Fellow, and Pierre Monteux Music Festival, where she was named a Bernard Osher Scholar. Jane holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from The Juilliard School.
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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, 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
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 Foundation; the 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.
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 $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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The numbers are in, regarding the Dallas Opera’s successful Opening Night Festivities. Keep scrolling!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, November 18, 2011
Contact: Suzanne Calvin
214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA & DELOITTE PRESENT
AN UNFORGETTABLE AND SUCCESSFUL
“FIRST NIGHT”
MARKING OPENING NIGHT OF THE 2011-2012
“TRAGIC OBSESSIONS” SEASON SPONSORED BY
THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION
KAKI HOPKINS, FIRST NIGHT Chair
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LINDA AND MITCH HART SEASON OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE, ENDOWED SUPPORT
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FIRST NIGHT Honorary Chairs: Joy & Ronald Mankoff,
Holly & Tom Mayer, Enika & Richard Schulze,
Joanna & Peter Townsend, Ellen & Don Winspear
And the Dee & Charles Wyly Family
DALLAS, NOVEMBER 18, 2011 – The Dallas Opera is extremely pleased to announce that the company’s sold-out FIRST NIGHT celebrations, chaired by Kaki Hopkins and presented by TDO and Deloitte, brought in more than $315,000.
The festivities were one facet of the Dallas Opera’s highly successful opening of the 2011-2012 Season, which included the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Performance of a critically acclaimed revival of Gaetano Donizetti’s 1835 bel canto masterpiece, Lucia di Lammermoor, starring Romanian soprano Elena Mosuc in the title role, as well as the Dallas Opera’s “Plazacast at the Center,” a free public simulcast of the performance on the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House lawn—in partnership with the AT&T Performing Arts Center.
The October 21st FIRST NIGHT celebrations attracted more than 350 paying guests for pre-performance cocktails in Nancy B. Hamon Hall and a prime view of the paparazzi-ready red carpet action dominated by celebrity models (D’Andra Simmons, Elizabeth Kimple, Tanya Foster, Shannon Skokos, and Linda Ivy) showcasing five original couture gowns inspired by the Dallas Opera’s “Tragic Obsessions” Season.
The internationally acclaimed designers who agreed to participate in support of the Dallas Opera were Geoffrey Henning, Khanh Nguyen, Michael Faircloth, Abi Ferrin, and Nicolas Villalba. Their stunning Dallas Opera fashion statements can be viewed online in “Fashion@the Opera” postings on the Dallas Opera blog.
Party-goers joined the rest of the Opening Night crowd in the Margaret McDermott Performance Hall, as those attending the simulcast settled onto their blankets and lawn chairs outside, for a riveting performance of the Dallas Opera’s Lucia, conducted by Music Director Graeme Jenkins and staged by director Garnett Bruce. The production featured sets by Henry Bardon, spectacular period costumes by the late Peter J. Hall, and lighting design by Marie Barrett.
The Dallas Opera’s revival was praised by a legion of critics as “…firing on all cylinders” (Star-Telegram), “…up to the monumental challenge” (Pegasus News), and “…a very strong start to the season” (DFW Renaissance). Ms. Mosuc, in particular, earned rave reviews for her extraordinary portrayal of mad Lucia, prompting D Magazine critic Wayne Lee Gay to predict that she is “likely to enter the ranks of the great artists of our time.”
“One of the marvelous things about great opera is its ability to transport us to another time and place,” explains Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.
“In this beautifully detailed classical presentation of Lucia di Lammermoor, we completely brought to life Sir Walter Scott’s romanticized vision of late-17th century Scotland. Add to that a remarkably strong cast whose acting skills were as notable as their singing, and it’s no wonder that audiences were visibly swept away, performance after performance.
“Our mission as a prominent American opera company is to provide a wide range of opera experiences from Baroque to Contemporary, both mainstage and chamber operas,” adds Mr. Cerny. “While we will generally present operas set in their original periods, on occasion we will showcase operas in modern dress or in period updating that remain true to the spirit of the original. TDO’s 2010 production of Mozart’s Così fan tutte comes to mind.”
“However we approach an existing work in the repertoire, we will make those decisions carefully, thoughtfully, respectfully, and responsibly—while seeking to raise the bar, artistically speaking, with every Dallas Opera season.”
Red Carpet Co-Chairs Rhonda Sargent Chambers and Marisa Huckin organized the glittering grand entrance which featured a host of local notables and celebrities. Miss Chambers, of RSC Productions, announced Red Carpet arrivals while the emcee, WFAA Television’s Ron Corning, conducted on-the-spot interviews during pre-performance festivities broadcast live to a huge screen in nearby Sammons Park.
Emily Wyly, escorted by Niven Morgan, represented the Wyly Family on the red carpet.
The cocktail reception, chaired by Jackie and Michael George, served as an “appetizer” for the rest of the evening, beginning with a star-studded Opening Night performance of Donizetti’s popular romance: Lucia di Lammermoor, which, in addition to Ms. Mosuc in the title role, starred American tenor Bryan Hymel as Edgardo di Ravenswood, and Italian baritone Luca Grassi in his American debut as Enrico Ashton.
Following the opera, the Dallas Opera’s special guests adjourned to Annette Strauss Square next door, for a sold-out, cosmopolitan, late-night dining experience chaired by Amy and Vernon Faulconer and hosted by presenting sponsor Deloitte’s Blaine Nelson.
Well over 320 patrons entered a lavishly decorated tent to dine with the cast of Lucia on superb fare prepared by Wolfgang Puck Catering. The glamorous finish to the evening featured a host of exceptional wines in one of five, magnificent seating areas designed and distinctively decorated with one of the 2011-2012 Season operas in mind.
Following opening remarks by Board Chairman Elect Don Winspear and Mr. Cerny, the guests settled in for a first course of “Lammermoor Castle Amuse,” consisting of Scottish Salmon on pumpernickel and dill squares, a wild mushroom tower, and leek tartlets; after which, they savored delicious lobster bisque and a lobster-filled barque, Steak au Poivre, vegetables, coffee and dessert—concluding with the after-dinner “Tragic Obsessions” chocolate truffle!
“FIRST NIGHT was a blast to do from the moment the name hit me until we devoured our ‘Tragic Obsessions’ chocolate truffle and said our good-byes,” explains FIRST NIGHT Chair Kaki Hopkins. “It was fun to create an event that kept its focus on our remarkable opera company and its 2011-2012 Season! There were so many moving pieces and so much cooperation from outside groups who found themselves caught up in the magic. Something like 50 paparazzi snapped photos of those walking the Red Carpet; along with our special fans lining the concourse and those participating in the WFAA simulcast, they brought so much energy and excitement to these FIRST NIGHT celebrations!
“But the biggest kudos go to our glamorous models and enthusiastic and talented designers,” added Ms. Hopkins, “both the fashion designers whose work was the highlight of the Red Carpet and the floral designers whose opera-themed centerpieces turned our tent into a wonderland! It was thrilling to see their work.”
Spectacular floral designs by Rusty Glenn Event Design, Dr. Delphinium, Branching Out, Blumengarten, GRO Designs, and Urban Flower/Grange Hall graced the proceedings.
Although she has a tough act to follow, Kaki Hopkins has agreed to Chair next season’s FIRST NIGHT celebrations for the Dallas Opera in October of 2012. Said Ms. Hopkins, “How could I pass up the opportunity to have so much fun, and to work with such special talent?”
“An event is only as extraordinary as the inspiration behind it,” explained Dallas Opera General Director & CEO Keith Cerny prior to the event, “and the foundations of the Dallas Opera’s FIRST NIGHT celebrations are the fertile imaginations, the phenomenal talent and the creative genius of many of opera’s greatest names: Mozart, Verdi, Wagner, Donizetti, and Maxwell Davies, as well as some of the brightest stars in music, fashion, and contemporary design.”
“Everyone associated with this event should be proud of their tremendous contributions to the company, to the future of the performing arts, and to this community we love,” added Mr. Cerny. “In fact, each of our chairs, hosts and committee members has demonstrated, many times over, that the art of self-giving may be the most valuable art form of all.”
THE DALLAS OPERA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES
THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION,
PRESENTER OF THE 2011-2012 SEASON
FIRST NIGHT Presenting Sponsor – Dinner and Opening Night Festivities
DELOITTE
SEASON OPENING NIGHT UNDERWRITERS
Linda and Mitch Hart
FIRST NIGHT Supporting Partners
Cartier
Lockheed Martin
Holly and Tom Mayer
Edgemere
Elizabeth and Scott Kimple
Terry Cook and Steve Yevich
Patricia and Scott Granowski
PaperCity, Media Sponsor
Heritage Auctions
Marie Dean Public Relations
Smart Water
Smith Limousine
FIRST NIGHT Hosts
Martha and Robert Allday
Sally and Buford Berry
Delilah and Sam Boyd,
Diane and Hal Brierley
Anne R. & Alan Bromberg
Kay and Elliot Cattarulla,
Patti and John Cody
Arlene and John Dayton
Heidi and William Dillon,
Lissie and Stephen Donosky
Patsy Donosky
Sally and Tom Dunning
Amy and Vernon Faulconer
Cindy and Charles Feld
Jackie and Michael George
Carol and Don Glendenning
Carmen and Brown Glenn
Patricia and Scott Granowski
Winnie and Davis Hamlin
Jack Harrod
Linda and Mitch Hart
Kaki and Shelton Hopkins
Jolie and Bart Humphrey
Linda and Steve Ivy
Emily Jefferson and Marilyn Smith
Jessica and Bill Jesse
Elizabeth and Scott Kimple
Lebowitz Family Foundation
Joy and Ronald Mankoff
Bobbi and Richard Massman
Holly and Tom Mayer
Margaret McDermott
Pat and Charles McEvoy
Jane and David McGinnis
Tincy and Vance Miller
Joyce and Harvey Mitchell
Joyce and C.H. Moore
Alice and Erle Nye
Tanya Roberts
Deedie and Rusty Rose
Vivian and Maxwell Scarlett
Enika and Richard Schulze
D’Andra Simmons
Cole Smith and Sherry Hayslip-Smith
Gloria and Juan Ernesto Snead
Betty and Stephen Suellentrop
Joanna and Peter Townsend
Patty and Marty Weiland
Marnie and Kern Wildenthal
Ellen and Don Winspear
“Tragic Obsessions” Theme
Joy and Ronald Mankoff, Honorary Chairs
Geoffrey Henning, Fashion Designer
D’Andra Simmons, Model
Lucia di Lammermoor
Holly and Tom Mayer, Honorary Chairs
Nha Khanh, Fashion Designer
Liz Kimple, Model
Tristan & Isolde
Enika and Richard Schulze, Honorary Chairs
Abi Ferrin, Fashion Designer
Tanya Foster, Model
La traviata
Joanna and Peter Townsend, Honorary Chairs
Michael Faircloth, Fashion Designer
Shannon Skokos, Model
The Magic Flute
Don and Ellen Winspear, Honorary Chairs
Nicolas Villalba, Fashion Designer
Linda Ivy, Model
Dallas Opera Chamber Opera Series: The Lighthouse
A Dallas Opera production in collaboration with the Dallas Theater Center
Dee and Charles Wyly Family, Honorary Chairs
Advisory Chair: Joyce Mitchell
Advisory Committee: Sally Berry, Linda Custard, Bess Enloe, Gene Jones,
Margaret McDermott, Tincy Miller and Caren Prothro
Executive Committee: Martha Allday, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Elaine Blaylock, Delilah Boyd, Diane Brierley, Mary Brinegar, Scott Chase, Linda Claycomb, Kay Copp, Garry Cox, Nicole Dabbert, Marie Dean, Heidi Dillon, Lissie Donosky, Patsy Donosky, Sally and Tom Dunning, Lauren Embrey, Laura Freeland, Carmen Glenn, Nancy Gopez, Patricia and Scott Granowski, Sheila and Jody Grant, Jolie Humphrey, Gayle Johansen, Gianna Madrini, Greg McConeghy, Jo Anne McCullough, Pat McEvoy, Tom McGurren, Shirley and Bill McIntyre, Lynn Mock, Joyce Moore, Ani and Pedro Noznik, Tanya Roberts, Maria Santarelli, D’Andra Simmons, Gloria McCall Snead, Tamareh Tuma, Tucean Webb, Jeanette Wharton, Marnie and Kern Wildenthal, Ellen Winspear
Red Carpet Manager, John Gage
Special Representatives: Jane and David McGinnis, Dallas Opera Guild
And Susan Robinson, The Women’s Board of the Dallas Opera
KEY BIOS
Kaki Hopkins, Chair, FIRST NIGHT: Seasoned chair of fundraising events for the arts, medicine and education; with leadership positions on the boards of the Dallas Opera, Dallas Theater Center (a leading actress/director with DTC for a decade), Chiapas International, and Vickery Meadow Learning Center, among others, and various auxiliary organizations for the arts and medicine. Kaki has been honored with numerous awards for leadership, both locally and nationally, and has taught acting, stage movement and voice at Trinity U. (San Antonio) and U. of New Mexico. She also served her country as Director of Music and Theater for the 7th Army Training Center in Germany for more than two years.
Blaine Nelson, FIRST NIGHT Presenting Sponsor Representative for Deloitte: Blaine Nelson has been a partner with Deloitte for more than 23 years, serving as Lead Client Service Partner or Advisory Partner on several of Deloitte’s large audit or consulting and advisory clients. He is presently serving as the Managing Partner of the North Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas practices for Deloitte. Previously, Blaine served as the Mid America Regional Managing Partner of Strategic Clients; and, prior to that, held the position of Deloitte’s Mid America Regional Managing Partner for all Tax Services.
Joyce Mitchell, Advisory Chair, FIRST NIGHT: A valued member of the Dallas Opera Board of Directors and the only woman to have served as President and Chairman of that group, Joyce Mitchell chaired the two-year commemoration of the company’s 50th Anniversary with events and concerts that exceeded all fund-raising goals before turning her attention to Ovation!, the celebrations surrounding TDO’s move into the Winspear Opera House in 2009.
Amy and Vernon Faulconer, Co-Chairs, FIRST NIGHT Dinner: Amy and Vernon Faulconer have long focused their philanthropic efforts on education and the arts.
Mr. Faulconer currently serves on the boards of the Dallas Museum of Art, the Chinati Foundation, and nationally renowned Grinnell College in Iowa. He also sponsors an education program in Tyler, Texas—the Faulconer Scholars—which has provided scholarships and incentives for hundreds of disadvantaged students seeking a four-year college degree. Mrs. Faulconer serves on the board of the Dallas Opera and contributes money, time and talent to both the Nasher Sculpture Center and the DMA. She previously served numerous performing arts organizations in Tyler.
Jackie and Michael George, Co-Chairs, FIRST NIGHT Reception: Michael L. George, former CEO of George Group (which he sold to Accenture) developed Lean Sigma Six, a quality control/efficiency process that has saved private companies and government agencies billions of dollars by cutting waste and improving quality. Subsequently, Mr. George has written seven books on the subject, published by McGraw Hill. Dallas Opera Trustee Jacqueline (Jackie) George is also a Board Member at the Dallas Arboretum. She sits on the Women’s Board of the Dallas Opera and on the Board of Governors for TACA.
Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Co-Chair, FIRST NIGHT Red Carpet: As a model, instructor, and speaker, Rhonda Sargent Chambers has been a respected figure in the fashion community for over 30 years. In addition to her work with Dallas-based Kim Dawson Agency and top international modeling agencies, she produces fashion shows and events through her company, RSC Show Productions. Rhonda is also regular contributor on the subjects of fashion and style to WFAA’s “Good Morning Texas” and ParkCitiesMom.com.
Marisa Huckin, Co-Chair, FIRST NIGHT Red Carpet: A former professional show jumper with a Master’s degree in psychology from the University of Dallas, Marisa Huckin is a member of the Children’s Cancer Fund Board of Directors who co-chaired the organization’s 2010 luncheon—netting more than a quarter-of-a-million dollars for the cause. She went on to chair the 2010 Dallas Children’s Theater annual cabaret gala fundraiser and will return in the fall to chair a new event for CCF she describes as “just jeans and a lot of fun.”
John Gage, Red Carpet Manager: Dallas Opera’s former Director of Production John Gage began his career in opera production as Stage Manager of St. Paul Opera for their 1972 summer season. He served in similar roles with the Opera companies of Santa Fe, Milwaukee, Miami, and Dallas, where her served as the Production Stage Manager for three years, beginning in 1978. In May 1980, he assumed the position of General Director of the Florentine Opera company in Milwaukee, a job he held for the next nine years. He then spent several years guiding the Columbus, Ohio, opera company through a financially difficult period, before returning to The Dallas Opera. Mr. Gage created the Director of Production position, retiring earlier this year.
Geoffrey Henning, Fashion Designer: Canadian-born Geoffrey Henning has been VP of Design for Women at JCPenny for nine years, in addition to custom design for an elite clientele. Henning is a frequent guest on NBC “Weekend Today” and was featured as a man of style in Modern Luxury magazine. He serves as chairman of Dallas Fashion Incubator and on the boards of Texas Next Top Designer and Starlight Foundation. Most recently, he received the coveted Legend of Style, Fashion Legacy Award from DIFFA Dallas.
D’Andra Simmons, model for Mr. Henning: Named one of the “10 Most Beautiful Women in Dallas in 2008” by D magazine and by Modern Luxury as a “Fresh Face of Fashion,” D’Andra Simmons has graced the covers of two local magazines, Grand Luxe and Le Mode, in addition to photo spreads in W, People, Entertainment Weekly, Vanity Fair and other prestigious publications. Her new skin care line, Hard Night Good Morning, was selected by Fashion Group International for the 2011 Beauty Award and D’Andra has poured even more of her energies into a host of charitable causes, ranging from Junior League of Dallas to Aids Interfaith Network, as well as her daily talk show, Ultimate Living with D’Andra and Dee on KTAQ.
Khanh Nguyen, Fashion Designer: Emigrated to the U.S. from her native Vietnam when she was twelve, Khanh Nguyen earned numerous awards enroute to a degree in Fashion Design from UNT, including the Top Achievement Award at Dallas Career Day which allowed her to study in Paris with the world’s leading fashion professionals. Her label, Nha Khanh, inspired by art, architecture and nature, is carried at Forty Five Ten.
Liz Kimple, model for Miss Nguyen: An SMU alum who later earned a degree in Fashion Design from The Art Institute of Dallas, Liz Kimple’s passion for fashion took her from a job as a store buyer and manager for a high-end boutique to overseeing accounts in Texas and Florida for Diane Von Furstenberg. A supporter of the Dallas Opera, DSO, DMA, TACA and TITUS, she has been actively involved for six years in the efforts of Family Legacy Missions, traveling to Africa five years ago to minister to orphans in Zambia.
Abi Ferrin, Fashion Designer: An award-winning designer who strives to empower women to look and feel their best, Abi Ferrin’s brand is being launched nationally by Nordstrom’s. Elements of her collection are made by Asian women rescued from the sex trade and, through the philanthropic arm of her company, Freedom+Purpose and the Freedom Project, they are provided with counseling, training, shelter and alternatives to abusive employment. Abi includes a hand-crafted element on every Made-in-the-USA garment, bringing the message of Freedom+Purpose full circle.
Tanya Foster, model for Miss Ferrin: A seasoned fund-raiser who has chaired the Junior League of Dallas Ball, as well as Cattle Baron’s Ball, Tanya Foster is currently on the committee for the Crystal Charity Ball. This UNT graduate now serves as President and CEO of Dallas Film Society, a non-profit dedicated to the education and celebration of film and filmmakers, and as Executive Director of the annual DALLAS International Film Festival. Her dance credentials include director/choreographer of a dance team that performed at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and five years as the Assistant Director and Choreographer of the Dallas Mavericks Dancers.
Michael Faircloth, Fashion Designer: Mr. Faircloth opened his first couture salon in Dallas thirty years ago and today enjoys an international clientele that heralds his sense of cut, and discriminating eye for graceful detail. Former First Lady Laura Bush, a long-established client, thrust him into the national media spotlight when she asked Michael to design her first inaugural wardrobe. His elegant designs are geared toward women who recognize the beauty of a refined aesthetic: “mix the classic with the dramatic and come out with something really feminine.”
Shannon Skokos, model for Mr. Faircloth: A Governor’s Scholar and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Arkansas who represented her state in the Miss America Pageant, Shannon Skokos used her platform as Miss Arkansas to establish a statewide, youth-motivational program honored in the State House and Senate. After earning a law degree with high honors, she distinguished herself during eight years as a trial attorney. Upon moving to Dallas, her life took an artistic turn: Shannon traveled to Africa to photograph animals in their natural state and authored a book entitled, “Ask God’s Creatures and They Will Teach You.” Together with her husband, she founded The Ted and Shannon Skokos Foundation, principally benefiting charities that advance education, the arts, science and religion.
Nicolas Villalba, Fashion Designer: The international award-winning owner and principal designer of Nicolas Villalba Couture. Originally an evening wear designer, the Nicolas line now includes wedding and business attire, home décor and custom linens. After graduating from UNT with a BFA in Fashion Design, he was chosen to represent the U.S. in the European design competition, “Etoilles de la Mode” where he became the first American to win the “Prix du Public.” In 2010, this winner of the DIFFA Legend of Style Award launched his own men’s wear line. Villalba also does private label work for Stanley Korshak, Neiman-Marcus and other high-end retailers.
Linda Ivy, model for Mr. Villalba: An active community volunteer who serves on the boards of Kidney Texas, Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, and Nexus, as well as on TACA’s Board of Governors; Linda Ivy has been the Honorary Chair of TITAS, American Foundation for the Blind and Mad Hatter’s for the Arboretum. Linda and her husband, Steve, are owners in Heritage Auctions (founded by Steve, who is co-chairman and CEO), the third-largest collectible and fine art auction house in the world. Heritage has offices in Dallas, New York, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, Geneva, Dusseldorf, and Paris, with plans to open a Hong Kong office in the near future. An active investor, Linda handles several trust accounts and partnership and belongs to Dallas Twenty Women’s investing group.
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To arrange an interview
Or for additional information
Please contact Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
214.443.1014 or suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
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Ticket Information for the 2011-2012 Dallas Opera Season
All mainstage performances are in the acoustically acclaimed Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The Lighthouse will be presented in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre. Season subscriptions start at just $76, FLEX subscriptions (three performances) begin at $75—and are on sale now. Single tickets, starting at just $25 apiece, are also on sale. For more information, contact the friendly staff at The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit TDO online, 24/7 at www.dallasopera.org. Principal cast members and events may be subject to change. All ticket sales are final.
THE DALLAS OPERA 2011-2012 SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Fifth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in downtown Dallas. With the exception of Tristan & Isolde, evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tristan’s evening performances will start at 7:00 p.m. and matinees at 2:00 p.m. Performances of The Lighthouse (new chamber opera series) will take place in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre located directly across the street from the Winspear in the AT&T Performing Arts Center. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance. Assistance is available for the hearing impaired.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR by Gaetano Donizetti
Dead Men DO Wear Plaid!
October 21, 23(m), 26 & 29, and November 6(m), 2011
An opera in three acts first performed at Teatro San Carlo, Naples on September 26, 1835.
Text by Salvatore Cammarano, based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel, The Bride of Lammermoor.
Time: Around 1700
Place: Scotland
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Stage Director: Garnett Bruce
Costume Design: Peter J. Hall
Lighting Design: Marie Barrett
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Fight Choreographer: Bill Lengfelder
Starring: Elena Mosuc* (Lucia Ashton), Bryan Hymel* (Sir Edgardo di Ravenwood), Luca Grassi** (Lord Enrico Ashton), Jordan Bisch* (Raimondo Bidebent), Scott Quinn (Normanno), Aaron Blake (Lord Arturo Bucklaw), and Cynthia Hanna* (Alisa).
TRISTAN & ISOLDE by Richard Wagner
February 16, 19(m), 22 & 25, 2012
A Special Opera-in-Concert, with projections by Moby-Dick’s Elaine McCarthy!
Ancient Myths, Modern Cine-Magic! And a special curtain time: 7:00 p.m.!
An opera in two acts first performed in Munich, June 10, 1865.
Text by Richard Wagner, based on an ancient Celtic and Icelandic legend.
Time: Legendary
Place: A ship at sea; outside King Marke’s palace, Cornwall; Tristan’s castle at Kareol
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Stage Director: Christian Räth
Video Design: Elaine McCarthy
Lighting Design: Alan Burrett
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet (Isolde), Clifton Forbis (Tristan), Mary Phillips (Brangäne), Jukka Rasilainen** (Kurvenal), Kristinn Sigmundsson* (King Marke), Stephen Gadd** (Melot), and Aaron Blake (A Young Sailor/A Shepherd).
THE LIGHTHOUSE by Peter Maxwell Davies
Inaugural production of the Dallas Opera Chamber Series
Presented in collaboration with the Dallas Theater Center
In the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
March 16, 17 & 18(m), 2012
A chilling supernatural and psychological thriller!
Time: December 1900
Place: Edinburgh Court of Enquiry, Fladda Isle Lighthouse off the Scottish coast
Conductor: Nicole Paiement*
Stage Director: Kevin Moriarty* (opera directorial debut)
Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt*
Costume Design: Claudia Stephens*
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi
April 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 & 29(m), 2012
Let’s Party Like it’s 1849!
An opera in three acts first performed in Venice at Teatro La Fenice, March 6, 1853
Text by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Alexandre Dumas’ play, La dame aux camélias
Time: 19th century
Place: Paris
Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Stage Director: Bliss Hebert
Production Design: Allen Charles Klein
Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
Choreographer: Rosa Mercedes*
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Myrtò Papatanasiu** (Violetta Valéry), James Valenti (Alfredo Germont), Laurent Naouri* (Giorgio Germont), Amanda Crider* (Flora Bervoix), Timothy Mix* (Baron Douphol), Mark McCrory (Marchese D’Obigny), Ethan Herschenfeld* (Doctor Grenvil), and Susan Nicely (Annina).
THE MAGIC FLUTE by W.A. Mozart
April 20, 22(m), 25, 28, May 4 & 6(m), 2012
Hearts Tested, Tried and True!
An opera in two acts first performed in Vienna, September 30, 1791.
Text by Emanuel Schikaneder
Time: Legendary
Place: Mythological Egypt
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Production: August Everding
Stage Director: Matthew Lata
Scenic Design: Jörg Zimmermann*
Costume Design: Renate Kalanke*
Lighting Design: Duane Schuler
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
Starring: Ava Pine (Pamina), Shawn Mathey* (Tamina), Patrick Carfizzi (Papageno), L’ubica Vargicová* (The Queen of the Night), Raymond Aceto (Sarastro), Kevin Langan (The Speaker), David Cangelosi (Monostatos), Angela Mannino* (Papagena), Caitlin Lynch* (First Lady), Lauren McNeese* (Second Lady), Maya Lahyani* (Third Lady), Aaron Blake (First Man in Armour) and Darren K. Stokes* (Second Man in Armour).
* Dallas Opera Debut
** American Debut
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The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; TACA; 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. Cartier is the official jeweler and watchmaker of The Dallas Opera. Rosewood Crescent Hotel is the official hotel of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to Mrs. William W. Winspear and the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for their continuing support.
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