FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Megan Meister 214.443.1071
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org megan.meister@dallasopera.org
A RADIANT OCTOBER
AT THE DALLAS OPERA!
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Season Launch: Friday, October 26 with Verdi’s A?DA!
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“Pursuits of Passion” Season Opens With a Free Simulcast, The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance, and Fashion-Forward FIRST NIGHT Season Celebrations!
DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 4, 2012 – The Dallas Opera has an action-packed month planned for music lovers of all ages: free or low-cost performances, illuminating free discussions and a free Opening Night simulcast of one of the world’s most popular operas, paired with a star-studded opening night celebration of the Dallas Opera’s FIRST NIGHT!
The 2012-2013 “Pursuits of Passion” Season, sponsored by Texas Instruments Foundation, opens on Friday, October 26th at 7:30 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at AT&T Performing Arts Center with Verdi’s 1871 enormously popular drama, A?DA. Single tickets for the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance and subsequent matinees and evening performances begin at the new low price of just $19 and go on sale on Monday, September 10th at 10:00 a.m.
Full season subscriptions are now available for as little as $75 for all three outstanding mainstage productions!
FIRST NIGHT festivities get underway at 6:00 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 emcees will be faces you 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!
All the action will be broadcast live to a giant outdoor screen in Sammons Park, immediately in front of the Winspear Opera House. The public is invited to bring a blanket and a picnic basket, and enjoy the fashion buzz as the evening unfolds in front of you, followed by a free Simulcast of A?DA.
The Dallas Opera is proud to present a star-studded revival of Giuseppe Verdi’s grand and glorious AÏDA, starring Texas-born soprano Latonia Moore, The Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star, in the coveted title role; Bulgarian mezzo-soprano Nadia Krasteva in her company debut as Amneris; Italian tenor Antonello Palombi as Radames; and baritone Lester Lynch as Amonasro, King of Ethiopia.
With English subtitles projected onto the screen, you won’t miss a moment of the exotic action, passion, drama, or romance!
October’s Calendar of Events includes “Conversations with Keith” in partnership with KERA’s Art&Seek on Tuesday, October 9th at 6:30 p.m. when General Director and CEO Keith Cerny welcomes Fort Worth Opera General Director Darren Woods for an in-depth conversation on the challenges and rewards of commissioning new works, moderated by Art&Seek Producer-Reporter and a longtime observer of the North Texas arts scene, from visual to theatrical, Jerome Weeks.
Our “Pursuits of Passion” Season Preview Day will start at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 20th. Join us for a sneak peek at what this season has to offer.
On Sunday, October 21st at 3:00 p.m. in Hamon Hall meet the cast of AÏDA at “Dallas Opera Guild’s Opera Insights.” TDO Artistic Director Jonathan Pell will lead the discussion while you get an in-depth look at story, the people, and the creative minds behind AÏDA.
Our popular noon-time recital series, brownbags@theopera, in partnership with CultureMap Dallas, will take place on Wednesday, October 10th at noon featuring tenor Zach Hess and Wednesday, October 24th at noon featuring soprano Shelby Hendryx.
A listing of the major Dallas Opera-sponsored-or-related events for the month of October may be accessed below or by visiting our website, dallasopera.org or by contacting the friendly professionals at Dallas Opera Ticket Services, 214.443.1000. You can access even more information online, 24/7, at dallasopera.org.
October Calendar of Events
1.) Saturday, October 6, 2012
“Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” for the month of October will be hosted by Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny on WRR 101 FM. The opera in focus on the 6th will be Giuseppe Verdi’s FALSTAFF recording from 1964 with Sir Georg Solti conducting the RCA Italiana Opera Orchestra and Chorus. Geraint Evans in the title role, Giulietta Simionato as Mistress Quickly, Mirella Freni as Nannetta, Robert Merrill as Ford and Alfredo Kraus as Fenton
Time: 12:00 PM
Listen: WRR 101.1 FM
2.) Saturday, October 6, 2012
JACK & THE BEANSTALK at NorthPark Mall
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: NorthPark Mall, North Court
8687 N Central Expressway
Dallas, TX 75225
Cost: Free, open to the public, dallasopera.org/RSVP to receive an event reminder
3.) Sunday, October 7, 2012
“Laura Claycomb in recital at the Dallas Museum of Art”
Join the Dallas Opera as we present Laura Claycomb in Recital. Soprano Laura Claycomb enchants in adventurous repertoire, ranging from baroque music and belcanto masterpieces to contemporary creations. Her delicacy, refinement and theatricality in high-flying repertoire has defined her career as the leading American lyric coloratura.
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Dallas Museum of Art
1717 North Harwood Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: $25, includes FREE General Admission to the museum
4.) Tuesday, October 9, 2012
“Conversations with Keith” Join the Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny as he welcomes Fort Worth Opera General Director Darren Woods for an in-depth conversation about the process of discovering and commissioning new works in the 21st century.
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Hamon Hall, Winspear Opera House
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: Free, open to the public, dallasopera.org/RSVP to receive an event reminder
5.) Wednesday, October 10, 2012
“Brownbags@theopera” Join us in Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center for a free noontime recital featuring Zach Hess, a rising star of the opera world, performing a variety of musical selections. Bring lunch or purchase from one of the many area food trucks; tables and chairs provided.
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Sammons Park
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE
6.) Saturday, October 13, 2012
“Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” for the month of October will be hosted by
Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny on WRR 101 FM. The opera in focus on the 13th will be John Adam’s NIXON IN CHINA. Edo de Waart conducts the Orchestra of St. Luke’s James Maddalena as Nixon, Sanford Sylvan as Chou En-lai, Carolann Page as Pat Nixon, John Duykers as Mao T’se-tung, and Trudy Ellen Craney as Madame Mao
Time: 12:00 PM
Listen: WRR 101.1 FM
7.) Saturday, October 20, 2012
“Pursuits of Passion” 2012/13 Season Preview Day & Meet Your Seat:
New to opera and want to know what all the buzz is about? Have your season tickets and want to enhance your opera going experience? Then join us and learn about the mainstage operas from Dallas Opera Experts including Director of Production John Toia along with Michael Heaston, Head of Music Staff and Assistant Conductor. New this year will be the live performances with excerpts from our new family subscription series as well as the “greatest hits” from the upcoming season. There will also be an opportunity to test drive your seat and make any changes with our friendly box office staff ready and waiting to serve you and answer all you ticketing questions.
Time: 11:30 Michael Heaston discusses the music of Giuseppe Verdi
12:30 Family preview excerpts from DOCTOR MIRACLE
1:00 John Toia presents a model presentation of the new production celebrating the 25th anniversary of THE ASPERN PAPERS
Also an opportunity to meet your seat
2:00 Highlight of the Season’s Greatest Hit’s
Location: Sammons Park
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: Free, open to the public, dallasopera.org/RSVP to receive an event reminder
8.) Saturday, October 20, 2012
“Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” for the month of October will be hosted by
Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny on WRR 101 FM. The opera in focus on the 20th will be Benjamin Britten’s THE TURN OF THE SCREW. Sir Colin Davis conducts Members of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; starring Helen Donath as the Governess, Heather Harper as Miss Jessel, Robert Tear as Quint, Ava June as Mrs. Grose, Michael Ginn as Miles, Lilian Watson as Flora, and Philip Langridge singing the Prolog
Listen: WRR 101.1 FM
9.) Sunday, October 21, 2012
Dallas Opera Guild Opera Insight AIDA
Learn about Giuseppe Verdi’s AIDA with a panel discussion with the cast and production team, moderated by Dallas Opera Artistic Director Jonathan Pell.
Time: 3:00 PM
Location: Hamon Hall, Winspear Opera House
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE
10.) Wednesday, October 24, 2012
“Brownbags@theopera” Join us in Sammons Park at the AT&T Performing Arts Center for a free noontime recital featuring Shelby Hendryx, a rising star of the opera world, in a variety of musical selections. Bring lunch or purchase from one of the many local food trucks; tables and chairs provided.
Time: 12:00 PM
Location: Sammons Park
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: FREE
11.) Friday, October 26, 2012
“The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of the Dallas Opera: AIDA”
The pursuit of passion leads to divided loyalties in the ancient capital of Memphis, where Aïda, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by conquering Egyptians, struggles to reconcile her love of country with her searing desire for the heroic captain, Radames. Complicating matters, the Egyptian princess Amneris carries a fiery torch for the same military commander, whose love for the alluring “slave girl” (sung by the acclaimed Latonia Moore) could cost him his honor — or his life! An international ensemble cast will breathe new life into Verdi’s enormously popular drama. Call for tickets now!
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
2403 Flora Street,Dallas,TX75201
Cost: Single tickets start at $19 online. Subscriptions start at $75 for all three productions. Call 214.443.1000 or visit us online at dallasopera.org/tickets
12.) Friday, October 26, 2012 (11:00 – 12:00 AM)
“FIRST NIGHT: The Dallas Opera’s 2012 Opening Night Celebrations”
FIRST NIGHT celebrates the operas of the 56th International Season throughout the glamorous evening, beginning with a red-carpet extravaganza featuring exquisite creations from Dallas’ top designers. Top names in fashion have designed gowns inspired by the unforgettable divas from this season’s operas. Be there to applaud them and to enjoy the “fashion show”. There is much in store for the evening’s festivities, a fun and lively private pre-performance reception, and a cosmopolitan, late-night dining experience in a lavishly decorated tent. Join us for FIRST NIGHT and celebrate the opening of the Dallas Opera’s 56th anniversary season and the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance. Tickets for FIRST NIGHT begin at $500 per person, please contact Morgan Vaughn, Special Events Manager at morgan.vaughn@dallasopera.org
Location: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
13.) Friday, October 26, 2012 (5:30 – 10:30 PM)
The Dallas Opera Plazacast of AIDA – Opening Night Performance (curtain time: 7:30 p.m.). Join us for the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance for our fourth FREE live simulcast! Bring a blanket, picnic basket and your friends and family to enjoy AIDA broadcast live as it happens on stage. Come! Rain-or-shine, the show will go on and TDO will be ready with rain ponchos should the weather attempt to dampen the festivities. Some concessions will be available for purchase. Picnics welcome!
Cost: Free, open to the public, dallasopera.org/RSVP to receive a free electronic study guide & event reminder
Location: Sammons Park Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201
14.) Saturday, October 27, 2012
“Saturday Afternoon at the Opera” for the month of October will be hosted by
Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny on WRR 101 FM. The opera in focus on the 27th will be Richard Wagner’s TRISTAN UND ISOLDE and the recording will be an exclusive broadcast of the Dallas Opera’s critically acclaimed 2012 production of Wagner’s groundbreaking masterpiece, with a stellar international ensemble cast:
Jeanne-Michèle Charbonnet, Clifton Forbis, Mary Phillips, Jukka Rasilainen,
Kristinn Sigmundsson, Stephen Gadd, Aaron Blake and Quincy Roberts.
Music Director Graeme Jenkins conducted the Dallas Opera Orchestra and Chorus.
Production Conceived, Directed and Designed by Christian Räth.
Projections designed by Elaine J. McCarthy, Austin Switser, and Vita Tzykun.
Time: 12:00 PM
Listen: WRR 101.1 FM
15.) Saturday, October 27, 2012
“JACK AND THE BEANSTALK”
Join TDOpage2stage at the Winspear Opera House as we explore the world of Jack and the Beanstalk through TDO’s Kids Book Club in the lobby with a surprise special guest followed by a performance of John Davies’ operatic interpretation of the classic children’s tale. It will be an afternoon of imagination and magic beans!
Time: 12:30 PM Lobby Activities
2:00 PM Performance
Location: Winspear Opera House
2403 Flora Street
Dallas, TX 75201
Cost: $5 performance, lobby activities FREE and open to the public (on sale 9/10/12)
16.) Sunday, October 28, 2012
“AIDA: Sunday Matinee I”
The pursuit of passion leads to divided loyalties in the ancient capital of Memphis, where Aïda, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by conquering Egyptians, struggles to reconcile her love of country with her searing desire for the heroic captain, Radames. Complicating matters, the Egyptian princess Amneris carries a fiery torch for the same military commander, whose love for the alluring “slave girl” (sung by the acclaimed Latonia Moore) could cost him his honor — or his life! An international ensemble cast will breathe new life into Verdi’s enormously popular drama. Call for tickets now!
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
2403 Flora Street,Dallas,TX75201
Cost: Single tickets start at $19 online. Subscriptions start at $75 for all three productions. Call 214.443.1000 or visit us online at dallasopera.org/tickets
17.) Wednesday, October 31, 2012
“AIDA: Mid-week Performance”
The pursuit of passion leads to divided loyalties in the ancient capital of Memphis, where Aïda, an Ethiopian princess enslaved by conquering Egyptians, struggles to reconcile her love of country with her searing desire for the heroic captain, Radames. Complicating matters, the Egyptian princess Amneris carries a fiery torch for the same military commander, whose love for the alluring “slave girl” (sung by the acclaimed Latonia Moore) could cost him his honor — or his life! An international ensemble cast will breathe new life into Verdi’s enormously popular drama. Call for tickets now!
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
2403 Flora Street,Dallas,TX75201
Cost: Single tickets start at $19 online. Subscriptions start at $75 for all three productions. Call 214.443.1000 or visit us online at dallasopera.org/tickets
EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “SEPTEMBER AT THE DALLAS OPERA”
IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS
Or dallasopera.org/summer
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 2012-2013 “Pursuits of Passion Season”
Is Presented 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
CARTIER – OFFICIAL JEWELER & WATCHMAKER OF THE DALLAS OPERA
Ticket Information for the 2012-2013 Dallas Opera Season
All performances are in the new Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Subscriptions start at just $75 and are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale September 10, 2012, starting at just $19. For more information, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.
THE DALLAS OPERA 2012-2013 SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Sixth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in downtown Dallas. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance. Assistance is available for the hearing impaired.
AIDA by Giuseppe Verdi
October 26: The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance
Featuring Latonia Moore, The Charron and Peter Denker Rising Star (2012)
October 28(m), 31, November 3, 9, 11(m), 2012
Verdi’s Complex and Intimate Love Story Set in Spectacular Ancient Egypt!
An opera in four acts first performed at Khedivial Opera House, Cairo on December 24, 1871.
Text by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette.
Time: Old Kingdom
Place: Egypt
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Stage Director: Garnett Bruce
Costume Design: Peter J. Hall
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Latonia Moore (Aïda), Antonello Palombi (Radames), Nadia Krasteva* (Amneris), Lester Lynch (Amonasro), Orlin Anastassov* (Ramfis), Ben Wager (The King of Egypt), Jonathan Yarrington* (Messenger), and NaGuanda Nobles* (Priestess).
TURANDOT by Giacomo Puccini
April 5, 7(m), 10, 13, 19 & 21(m), 2013
Puccini’s Last Masterpiece—Riddled with Passionate Romance and Unforgettable Music!
An opera in three acts first performed in Milan at La Scala, April 25, 1926
Text by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni, based on Carlo Gozzi’s fable, Turandot.
Time: Legendary times
Place: Peking, China
Conductor: Marco Zambelli
Stage Director: Garnett Bruce
Production Design: Allen Charles Klein
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Lise Lindstrom* (Princess Turandot), Antonello Palombi (Calaf), Hei-Kyung Hong (Liu), Christian Van Horn* (Timur), Jonathan Beyer (Ping), Joseph Hu (Pang), Daniel Montenegro* (Pong), Ryan Kuster* (A Mandarin), Steven Haal (Emperor Altoum).
THE ASPERN PAPERS by Dominick Argento
April 12, 14(m), 17, 20, 28(m), 2013
The Games People Play—Both Young and Old—To Achieve Their Twisted Desires!
An opera in two acts first performed in Dallas, November 19, 1988.
Text by Dominick Argento, based on a Henry James novella.
Time: Legendary
Place: Lake Como, Italy
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Stage Director: Tim Albery
Scenic Design: Andrew Lieberman*
Costume Design: Constance Hoffman*
Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Assistant Director: Michael Mori
Starring: Susan Graham* (Tina), Alexandra Deshorties (Juliana Bordereau), Nathan Gunn (The Lodger), Joseph Kaiser* (Aspern), Dean Peterson (Barelli), Sasha Cooke* (Sonia), Eric Jordan* (A painter), Jennifer Youngs* (Olimpia).
* 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. 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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