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    Opening Weekend Has Begun!

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Wednesday, October 23, 2013

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

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

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

    “SHEILA AND JODY GRANT OPERA DISCOVERY” PROGRAM!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    FIRST NIGHT Presenting Sponsor
    NGP Energy Capital Management

    FIRST SIGHT Presenting Sponsor – J.P. Morgan

    FIRST SIGHT/NIGHT Media Partner – Modern Luxury

    Platinum Sponsor ($25,000)
    Deloitte

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

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

    Individual Sponsorships

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

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

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

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

    FIRST SIGHT – FIRST NIGHT / KEY PERSONNEL

    Lynn Mock, Chair, FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT

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

    Larry Leathers, Event Designer, Event Design Co-Chair

    Rhonda Sargent Chambers, Fashion Show Producer and Chair

    Mary Beth and Jay Marshall, Dinner Chairs

    Rhonda and Fraser Marcus, After Party Chairs

    Don McDermett and Garry Cox, Table Sales Chairs

    Patty and Marty Weiland, FIRST SIGHT Table Sales Chairs

    Elizabeth Z. Naftalis, Luncheon Chair

    Presley Mock, Underwriting Chair

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

    Stacie Whitley, Pre-Events Chair

    John Gage, Arrangements Chair

    Scott Chase and Greg McConeghy, Arrangements Vice-Chairs

    Kaki Hopkins, Advisory Committee Chair

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

    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    ###

    FIRST NIGHT 2013 at the Dallas Opera

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

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Monday, September 30, 2013

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

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

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

    October at TDO: “Just the facts, ma’am.”

    Coming back from a wind-swept, sea salt, sun-addled holiday weekend, we thought many of you could use a little help in sorting through the upcoming events in October. Get out your Day Planner (digital or otherwise) and have at it!

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Tuesday, September 3, 2013
    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014
    Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
    suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
    megan.meister@dallasopera.org

    A FASHION-FORWARD AND STYLISH OCTOBER
    AT THE DALLAS OPERA!
    ~~~~
    FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon:
    Thursday, October 24 at 10:00 a.m.
    ~~~~
    FIRST NIGHT Festivities Begin
    Friday, October 25 at 5:30 p.m.
    ~~~~
    Season Opening Opera: Bizet’s CARMEN
    Friday, October 25, 2013 / Curtain Time: 8:00 p.m.!
    ~~~~
    2013-14 Season to Launch with FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon, a Free Simulcast at Klyde Warren Park, The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, and FIRST NIGHT Dinner, celebrations, and After Party at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in the AT&T Performing Arts Center!

    DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 3, 2013 – Get out your dancing shoes, try on the tux, and select your most stylish ensemble or your most outlandish Carmen costume, as Dallas gets ready for a fabulous new season of opera during a particularly fashion-forward month of October!

    The Dallas Opera will present an extraordinarily diverse 57th International Season, “By Love Transformed,” sponsored by Texas Instruments Foundation, which will officially kick off when the curtain rises on Friday, October 25, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. (please note the unusual curtain time). The Dallas Opera’s 2013-2014 Season will open with Georges Bizet’s 1875 masterpiece CARMEN in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Single tickets for the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance and subsequent Sunday matinees and evening performances begin at the low price of just $19 and are on sale now.
    Full season subscriptions are now available for as little as $76 for all four outstanding mainstage productions. The Dallas Opera also has two-performance and three-performance subscriptions available as well.
    FIRST NIGHT festivities, presented by NGP Energy Capital, get underway at 5:30 p.m. on the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House Red Carpet at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District. The lavish dinner is 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. followed by Carmen at 8:00 p.m. The emcees will be faces—and voices—you already know and love, and celebrity guests that evening will include a contingent of top-tier fashion designers accompanying their head-turning models. Together, they will elevate people-watching to the status of art with their “opera-inspired” couture gowns!
    Special pre-performance activities will take place in front of a giant outdoor screen in Klyde Warren Park in the Dallas Arts District, including a “Carmen Costume Contest” for men, women and pets—and a “Toreador Song Sing-a-long.” The public is invited to bring a blanket and a picnic basket, and enjoy the evening’s events as they unfold at our free simulcast of CARMEN. Read more →

    A “Sweet” Article by Our FIRST NIGHT Chair

    FIRST NIGHT/FIRST SIGHT Chair Lynn Mock lends a warm-yet-elegant air to the proceedings wherever she goes–whether in the real world or in cyberspace. She gives us her personal take on the newly developed FIRST SIGHT high fashion event, the inspiring Dallas Opera season, and the black-tie extravaganza that is FIRST NIGHT on Jeanne Prejean’s must-read philanthropy blog: “My Sweet Charity.”

    Enjoy the article right here.
    Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and Public Relations

    Surpassing Expectations? Always!

    Getting some enthusiastic response to the introduction of FIRST SIGHT, a fashion-centric prelude (if you will) to our traditional FIRST NIGHT celebrations. Here’s the take on things from Culture Map Dallas and Rachael Abrams.

    Suzanne Calvin, Director Media & PR

    Dallas Opera Introduces FIRST SIGHT

    Will it be fashion-inspired love at FIRST SIGHT?  Get your tickets today for the brand-new event that will kick off the 2013-2014 Season festivities!

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
    Wednesday, July 17, 2013
    Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
    suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org
    THE DALLAS OPERA IS THRILLED TO INTRODUCE
    AN EXCITING FASHION-FORWARD ELEMENT TO THE
    GLAMOROUS 2013-2014 SEASON OPENING FESTIVITIES
    FIRST SIGHT
    ~~~~
    Season-Opening Reception, Opera-Inspired Creations,
    ESCADA Fashion Show and Luncheon
    ~~~~
    PRESENTED BY J.P. MORGAN
    ~~~~
    THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 AT 10:00 a.m.
    The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
    At the AT&T Performing Arts Center
    “America’s finest opera house”
    ~~~~
    CHAIR, LYNN MOCK
    Event Architect, Jeffrey Horn FPLtd
    Event Designer, Larry Leathers
    Fashion Show Producer, Rhonda Sargent Chambers
    ~~~~
    With Media Support from Modern Luxury

    DALLAS, TX, JULY 17, 2013 – The Dallas Opera, inspired by the incredible success of FIRST NIGHT festivities that mark the opening of each new season, is delighted to introduce an extraordinary spin-off: The FIRST SIGHT Fashion Show and Luncheon featuring the work of five outstanding and internationally renowned Dallas-based designers with their breathtaking interpretations of the operas that will take centerstage next season in addition to sumptuous fashions by ESCADA, an international brand synonymous with the highest quality and luxury. This celebration of great opera and fabulous fashion will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2013 in the acclaimed Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, presented by J.P. Morgan.
    The pre-show reception beginning at 10:00 a.m. will set the mood for the fun that follows as the Shannon and Ted Skokos Stage is transformed into a glamorous high-fashion runway to showcase the imagination and talent of five of fashion’s most creative designers:

    ELIZABETH ANYAA
    MICHAEL FAIRCLOTH
    ABI FERRIN
    KHANH NGUYEN
    And NICOLAS VILLALBA

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

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

    Following their unveiling at FIRST SIGHT, these one-of-a-kind creations inspired by the operas and theme of the 2013-2014 “By Love Transformed Season” will lend an additional air of excitement to the red carpet on Opening Night.
    Several fashion-savvy style leaders are lending their expertise to the Dallas Opera’s inaugural FIRST SIGHT, including Event Architect Jeffrey Horn FPLtd. and Event Designer Larry Leathers.

    “There is nothing more glamorous and elegant than our talented designer creations, with ESCADA fashion; all showcased inside the beautiful Winspear Opera House,” says Fashion Show Producer Rhonda Sargent Chambers. “I am thrilled!”

    Table sales packages are now available for FIRST SIGHT & FIRST NIGHT that offer additional invitations to exclusive patron parties and events. Individual seats will be made available at a later time (subject to availability). For more information or to reserve your table now, please contact Dallas Opera Special Events Manager Tracy Mott at tracy.mott@dallasopera.org or by calling 214.443.1063.

    FIRST SIGHT DESIGNERS

    Elizabeth Anyaa, Fashion and Textile Designer: Born in Sierra Leone in West Africa, Elizabeth Anyaa began sewing her own clothes by the age of seven. The winner of scholarships and grants to study textile design in Finland, after earning her B.A. in Fine Arts, she became the head textile designer for a prestigious Scandinavian architectural firm before emigrating to the U.S. in 1996. Ms. Anyaa pursued graduate studies in fine art, marketing and fashion design in Maryland and Texas, winning the “Best of Show” Career Day fashion competition organized by Fashion Group International and a scholarship which enabled her to continue her studies in London. Today, she is a resident artist at South Side at Lamar in Dallas. Her fashions have appeared on singer Erykah Badu, and in publications including Women’s Wear Daily and The Dallas Morning News.

    Michael Faircloth, Fashion Designer: Michael 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.”

    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 better boutiques and retailers like Nordstrom. Elements of her collection are made by Cambodian women rescued from the sex trade and, through the philanthropic arm of her company, The Freedom Project, they are provided with counseling, training, shelter and alternatives to abusive employment. Abi includes a hand-crafted Freedom Project element on every Made-in-the-USA garment, bringing her motto, Fashion+Freedom+Purpose, full circle.

    Khanh Nguyen, Fashion Designer: She is the award-winning Creative Director and Designer of her own label, Nha Khanh, consisting of designs that focus on modern glamour, inspired by art, architecture and most importantly, nature. The designs are ethereal; meticulously constructed, and host an ease about them that allows for an effortless sensibility. The company offers seasonal “advanced contemporary” ready-to-wear; a custom Atelier collection, which hosts one-of-a-kind and custom pieces; as well as a bridal line. The Nha Khanh mission is to empower a woman with inner-strength through her clothing with a focus on “elegance with a modern edge”.

    Nicolas Villalba, Couturier and Fashion Designer: The international award-winning owner and principal designer of Nicolas Villalba – COUTURE. Originally an evening wear designer, Nicolas now specializes in all things custom, including bridal, menswear, costumes, and linens. After graduating with a BFA in Fashion Design, Nicolas 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.” He was also honored with the Fashion Group International “Rising Star Award,” the “Excellence in Design” award and the DIFFA “Legend of Style” award. He was a two-time winner in the 2011 Dallas Voice Reader’s Choice Awards for Best Designer – a first for the magazine. .Villalba does private label work for Stanley Korshak, Neiman-Marcus, TODD Events, and other high-end retailers. He can be reached at his design studio for new client consultations.

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    ESCADA Today: Today ESCADA has interpreted its brand values in a new, updated way: cool glamour, sensual femininity and modern elegance are the hallmarks of the ESCADA brand line. ESCADA stands for fashion dressing women appropriately for every occasion. The brand offers a lifestyle concept filled with everything from must-have everyday items for business and leisure to red carpet occasions. The ESCADA women is naturally drawn to the limelight and loves a feminine and glamorous yet fresh, modern style. The ESCADA SPORT line today creates casualwear for sexy, dynamic women with a youthful spirit who love an easy, uncomplicated and relaxed chic. The collection focuses on knitwear, jersey, outerwear and denim and offers items that can be mixed and matched. Exclusive, enchanting color palettes highlight seasonal trends and prints in every collection. Innovative fabrics, high-quality detailing and embroideries as well as excellent fit and exclusive workmanship reinforce the high-end level of all ESCADA collections.

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    EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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

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

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

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

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

    Ticket Information for the 2013-2014 Dallas Opera Season

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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