To be perfectly honest, we’re not entirely sure how many news outlets and organizations covered the appointment of French-born Maestro Emmanuel Villaume as the new music director of the Dallas Opera (only the third person to assume that role in our 56-year history) but it was too many to count during this busy season wrap-up. Among those who carried the story from the Associated Press were The Washington Post, Huffington Post, ABC News.com, Yahoo! News, Salon.com, The Vancouver Sun, Townhall.com, Dish Network News, The Houston Chronicle, Atlanta Journal-Consitution, San Francisco Chronicle Online, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and many more–well over a hundred, in fact. In addition to individual reporting and analysis from local blogs to French radio networks.
Closer to his new home in North Texas, Emmanuel Villaume’s first press conference at TDO seemed to spark optimism–even enthusiasm–from the normally cautious classical music press corps. The Observer’s Katie Womack offered helpful advice, much of which Villaume already knows in his bones. Art&Seek Producer/Reporter Jerome Weeks noted the Maestro’s taste in repertoire in his report, Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell called him “well respected in the opera business and critically acclaimed,” while Arnold Wayne Jones of Dallas Voice may have snagged the best photo of the day, although it’s a toss-up with these photos by My Sweet Charity’s Jeanne Prejean who also commented on the new music director’s gift for “working the room.” D Magazine Arts Editor Peter Simek (writing on the FrontRow blog) pondered Villaume’s potential long-term impact on the opera company and what future audiences will discover onstage.
The new guy makes his podium debut in October’s season-opener, Bizet’s Carmen (October 25-November 10) and in case you’re new around here, too – subscriptions go on sale to the public on May 13th, starting at just $76.
Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR