(Photo by Dan Rest for Lyric Opera of Chicago)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014 Or Celeste Hart 214.443.1071
suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org celeste.hart@dallasopera.org

THE DALLAS OPERA PRESENTS
ONE OF MOZART’S MOST MEMORABLE COMEDIC OPERAS
THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO
(“Le nozze di Figaro”)
LIBRETTO BY LORENZO DA PONTE AFTER
THE PLAY BY PIERRE-AUGUSTIN CARON DE BEAUMARCHAIS
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CONDUCTED BY MUSIC DIRECTOR EMMANUEL VILLAUME
STAGED BY DTC ARTISTIC DIRECTOR KEVIN MORIARTY
IN HIS WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE DEBUT
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STARRING ITALIAN BASS-BARITONE MIRCO PALAZZI AS FIGARO,
SOPRANO BEATE RITTER AS SUSANNA, BARITONE JOSHUA HOPKINS AS COUNT ALMAVIVA, AND SOPRANO NICOLE CAR AS COUNTESS ALMAVIVA
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OPENING NIGHT: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2014 AT 8:00 PM
(NOTE SPECIAL TIME) WITH ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES
Oct. 26(m), 29, Nov. 1, 7, 9(m)
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LINDA AND MITCH HART SEASON OPENING NIGHT PERFORMANCE OF THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

DALLAS, SEPTEMBER 17, 2014 —The Dallas Opera’s thrilling season-opening production of the 2014-2015 “Heights of Passion” Season is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, a revolutionary romantic comedy filled with memorable music and unforgettable characters. The Marriage of Figaro opens on Friday, October 24, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center located in the Dallas Arts District at 2403 Flora Street.
Opening Night festivities begin with a magnificent red carpet entrance and a sumptuous FIRST NIGHT Pre-Performance Dinner (beginning at 6:00 p.m.) co-chaired by Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger.
The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance of The Marriage of Figaro will begin at 8:00 p.m. with subsequent performances scheduled on October 26(m), 29, November 1, 7, and 9(m), 2014.
A high-spirited After Party, co-chaired by Jenifer Strauss and Robert Weatherly, begins just as the opera ends. For more information about all FIRST NIGHT events, please visit our website at www.dallasopera.org/support/special-events/first-night.
Flex subscriptions begin at $75 for the 2014-2015 Season, with full subscriptions starting at $95. Single tickets are also available and start at $19. Contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214-443-1000 or purchase online, 24/7 at www.dallasopera.org.

After a series of entertaining twists and turns over the course of one day, Figaro finally weds his true love. At first glance, The Marriage of Figaro appears to be a story about love and desire. Yet beneath the romantic comedy, there is another tale—that of the servant class cleverly outwitting the upper class—a concept that was nothing short of revolutionary in its day. In this 1786 opera buffa, the music conveys the characters and storyline as effectively as Da Ponte’s brilliant libretto, based on the groundbreaking play by Beaumarchais. Patrons will also tap along to one of the best-known overtures in Western Music.
Our distinguished music director, Emmanuel Villaume, will take the podium to conduct this acclaimed 18th century masterpiece. According to a recent review by The Financial Times, Maestro Villaume is “the seasoned specialist on the podium, (who) conveyed equal parts savoir-faire and inspiration. He sustained reasonable momentum…and reinforced a delicate balance between lyrical restraint and dramatic exuberance.”
“I have a special connection to Le nozze di Figaro: it is the first opera I conducted, in 1990, for the Spoleto Festival USA,” explains Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume. “A promising young soprano was singing the countess; her name was Renée Fleming.
“Mozart takes the wit and craziness inherent in Beaumarchais marvelous play and elevates it to another level. The rhythm and pace of the opera are dizzying! Dramatic and musical constructions complement each other in a rare balance of sophistication, grace and expressive power.
“In the end,” adds Maestro Villaume, “The Marriage of Figaro is one of those rare musical achievements that not only depicts the human condition in all its ambivalence and beauty, but is in itself a near-miraculous work of genius. Mozart’s brilliant interpretation is packed with profound insights which reveal how the world works and, in doing so, change it.”

Joining Maestro Villaume in crafting this masterpiece is Stage Director Kevin Moriarty, the acclaimed Artistic Director of the Dallas Theater Center, in his Winspear Opera House debut.

“This will be my first opportunity to direct a major work of the standard repertoire, and will allow everyone involved to kick up our heels with laughter at the hilarious plot, marvel at the musical wonders of Mozart’s beautiful score, and delve into bringing these wonderfully rich characters to life on the Winspear stage.
“What a joy it will be!” exclaimed Mr. Moriarty.

“I am so proud to have this opportunity to bring together two of the most talented and original artists at work today in the Arts District,” adds Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. “Emmanuel and Kevin have earned the admiration and high esteem of music and theater lovers everywhere, and their first collaboration seems likely to result in a truly memorable and intelligent production—with a phenomenal cast. If I didn’t already have my tickets, I’d be online making that purchase right now.”

Starring as Figaro is Italian bass-baritone Mirco Palazzi, who made his U.S. debut with The Dallas Opera in 2010 starring as the cagey Leporello, opposite Paulo Szot, in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. The Associated Press hailed his performance as showing “great spirit and comic timing”.
Our female leading lady is the lovely Austrian soprano Beate Ritter, starring as Susanna, Figaro’s love interest and bride-to-be. She makes her American debut in this production after establishing herself as an audience favorite in Europe, specializing in Mozart roles, including The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute and Blonde in The Abduction from the Seraglio. Her character, Susanna, conspires with Countess Almaviva to set up the Countess’ husband in order to expose his lustful desires.
Described by Opera Insider as “sensational, with one of the most beautifully lyric, full-bodied and honeyed voices I have ever heard”, lovely Australian soprano Nicole Car stars as the deceived Countess. She is making her exciting American debut with this performance after thrilling audiences “down-under” with several spectacular leading lady portrayals for Opera Australia.
For our philandering Count Almaviva, The Dallas Opera has cast “one of the twenty-five artists poised to define opera for this generation,” (Opera News)—Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins. He has also been described as “…an outstanding young baritone with a virile, vigorous yet velvety sound and an immediately evident dramatic authority,” by The Globe and Mail (U.K.).
The vivacious “pants role” of Cherubino, a young man who becomes enamored with every woman he meets, will be performed by mezzo-soprano Emily Fons. The Chicago Tribune asked “has there ever been a more winning impersonation? Her ‘Voi che sapete’ is enough to melt the Countess’ heart, and our own as well.”
This exceptional ensemble also includes bass Kevin Langan, who stars in the buffo role of Doctor Bartolo. As one of America’s most sought-after basses, he has performed with The Dallas Opera in 11 productions including his debut in 1985 in La Fanciulla del West.
The other principal artists in this outstanding cast are world renowned British mezzo-soprano Diana Montague who makes her long-awaited TDO debut as Marcellina, acclaimed character tenor Doug Jones as Don Basilio, soprano Deanna Breiwick in her company debut as Barbarina, bass Adam Lau in his TDO debut as Antonio, the gardener, and tenor Jon Kolbet as Don Curzio.
Production design for The Marriage of Figaro is by John Bury in this classic stage setting from Lyric Opera of Chicago. Joel Ferrel, the Associate Artistic Director of the Dallas Theater Center, is the production choreographer. The Dallas Opera Chorus will be prepared by Chorus Master Alexander Rom.
Performances will continue on October 26(m), 29, November 1, 7 & 9(m), 2014 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, selected by Southern Living as the best new venue for opera. All evening performances besides the Opening Night of the Season will begin promptly at 7:30 PM. Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 PM.
A free pre-performance lecture (“The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks”) will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at most performances. The Dallas Opera Guild also hosts “Opera Insights,” a lively panel discussion featuring artists, directors and designers, on the Sunday afternoon prior to opening. For more details, visit dallasopera.org.
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TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION, SEASON SPONSOR
FOR THE DALLAS OPERA’S “HEIGHTS OF PASSION” SEASON

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO KEY BIOS:

EMMANUEL VILLAUME (Conductor)
(Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director in honor of Graeme Jenkins)
Emmanuel Villaume is in his second season as music director of Dallas Opera and will conduct Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Tchaikovsky’s Iolanta this season. He made his debut with the company in 1998 conducting Faust and returned to conduct Le nozze di Figaro. He is a frequent guest conductor at the world’s leading opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, the Washington National Opera, Santa Fe Opera, London’s Royal Opera, the Paris Opera, Monte Carlo Opera, Venice’s La Fenice, the Munich Staatsoper, Berlin’s Deutsche Oper, the Hamburg Staatsoper, Madrid’s Teatro Real, and Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colon. He has led the Montreal Symphony in Montreal and at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the orchestras of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, St. Louis, Detroit, Minnesota, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Beethovenhalle Orchestra of Bonn, and the China National Opera Orchestra for the 2008 Olympic Games. He is currently Chief Conductor of the National Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra. He served as the Spoleto Festival USA’s Music Director for Opera and Orchestra from 2001 to 2010. Maestro Villaume has recorded for Deutsche Grammophon, Decca and EMI.
Kevin Moriarty (Stage Director)
Kevin Moriarty is the artistic director of Dallas Theater Center, where he has directed It’s a Bird … It’s a Plane … It’s Superman, The Who’s Tommy, The Wiz, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Henry IV, The Tempest, Fat Pig, Next Fall, his original adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Oedipus el Rey. He made his operatic directing debut with The Lighthouse (2012) for the Dallas Opera. For DTC he headed up the move into the Wyly Theatre, the creation of the Brierley Resident Acting Company, and an extensive series of productions of new plays. Mr. Moriarty is the Vice-Chair of the Dallas Arts District, Theatre Communications Group, and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, and is a Trustee for the Booker T. Washington Advisory Board.

Mirco Palazzi (Figaro)
Bass Mirco Palazzi made his American debut in 2010 at The Dallas Opera as Leporello in Don Giovanni in 2010. Born in Rimini, he graduated from Rossini Conservatory in Pesaro. He has sung with the most important opera houses in Italy (Bologna, Naples, Rome, Parma, Genova, Turin, Venice, Florence, La Scala) and abroad (Edinburgh, Barcelona, London, Liège, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Bilbao, Koln, Athens and Moscow). Some of his most recent engagements include La damnation de Faust in London and at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Maometto II in Rome, Guillaume Tell in Amsterdam Turin, and at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Lucia in Washington, La gazza ladra and L’Italiana in Algeri in Verona. His discography includes Zelmira, Adelaide di Borgogna, Sofonisba, and Il diluvio universale (Opera Rara), and Lucia di Lammermoor (DVD TDK).

Beate Ritter (Susanna)
Austrian soprano Beate Ritter makes her U.S. operatic debut as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro for The Dallas Opera. Ms. Ritter debuted at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien in Pelléas et Mélisande. She later debuted at the Vienna Volksoper as Blonde in Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seragli and has performed with its ensemble as the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte, Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Carmina Burana, and Adele in Die Fledermaus. Other notable appearances include Blonde at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Angers, and Nantes, along with Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute for Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, and upcoming performances in Leipzig. In 2015, she will make her debut as Fiakermilli in Arabella at the Cologne Opera.
Joshua Hopkins (Count Almaviva) Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins returns to Dallas Opera for the first time since his company debut as Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette. Recent performances include Marcello in La bohème for the Canadian Opera Company, and Schaunard for the Metropolitan Opera; Argante in Händel’s Rinaldo and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro for the Glyndebourne Festival. Mr. Hopkins also sang in recital at Carnegie Hall with pianist Julius Drake. Highlights of past seasons include performances at the Metropolitan Opera in a new production of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, La bohème with the Houston Grand Opera, Le nozze di Figaro with the Verbier Festival, and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte at Santa Fe Opera. Mr. Hopkins’ first recital disc, Let Beauty Awake, has been released by ATMA Classique label.
Nicole Car (Countess Almaviva)
Australian soprano Nicole Car marks her United States debut with these performances at Dallas Opera. In 2013 she was the winner of the prestigious international Neue Stimmen competition in Germany. She has portrayed the roles of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimi in La Bohème, the Italian Singer in Capriccio, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Leila in The Pearl Fishers, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni for Opera Australia. Her performance as Micaela in Carmen from Sydney Harbor was internationally broadcasted and is now available on CD and DVD. In 2009 she debuted as Donna Anna in Victorian Opera’s production of Don Giovanni. Concert appearances have included Brahms’ Deutsches Requiem, and Mozart’s Requiem.

Kevin Langan (Dr. Bartolo)
American bass Kevin Langan returns to The Dallas Opera for Dr. Bartolo, a role he first sang with the company in 2002. He debuted here in 1986 as Ashby in La fanciulla del West and returned for performances in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Hoiby’s The Tempest, Ariodante, Roméo et Juliette, Turandot and Die Zauberflöte. His career spans 35 years and almost 1,300 performances covering a vast repertoire of over 80 roles. Mr. Langan recently became the first artist to reach 300 performances in leading roles at San Francisco Opera. For Lyric Opera of Chicago he has given over 125 performances and over 165 performances with the Santa Fe Opera. Other engagements have included Colline in La bohème and Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Metropolitan Opera.

EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

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

Ticket Information for the 2014-2015 Dallas Opera Season

All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise described. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275 and Flex Subscriptions are on sale starting at $75. Family performance tickets are just $5. 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 2014-2015 SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Eighth 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 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 begins one hour prior to curtain, at most performances excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
October 24 (The Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance), Oct. 26(m), 29, November 1, 7 and 9(m), 2014
In a single crazy, romantic day, doors will be locked and unlocked, disguised donned, kisses exchanged and innermost hearts revealed—to some of the most memorable music Mozart ever composed.
An opera in four acts first performed in Vienna on May 1, 1786
Text by Lorenzo Da Ponte after the 1784 play La folle journée, ou Le mariage de Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais
Time: The late 18th century
Place: Aguasfrescas near Seville, Spain, the Almaviva’s country house
Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
Stage Director: Kevin Moriarty
Production Design: John Bury*
Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Choreography: Joel Ferrell*
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Mirco Palazzi (Figaro) , Beate Ritter** (Susanna), Joshua Hopkins (Count Almaviva), Nicole Car** (Countess Almaviva), Emily Fons (Cherubino), Diana Montague* (Marcellina), Kevin Langan (Doctor Bartolo), Doug Jones (Don Basilio), Angela Mannino (Barbarina), Adam Lau* (Antonio) and Jon Kolbet (Don Curzio).
Production Owned by Lyric Opera of Chicago

SALOME by Richard Strauss
October 30, November 2(m), 5, 8, 2014
Once in a great while, the term “over the top” doesn’t seem nearly high enough.
An opera in one act first performed in Dresden, Germany on December 9, 1905
Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of Oscar Wilde’s French language play
Time: During the time of Jesus Christ
Place: King Herod’s palace on the Sea of Galilee
Conductor: Evan Rogister*
Stage Director: Francesca Zambello
Original Production: Francesca Zambello
Scenic Design: Peter J. Davison*
Costume Design: Anita Yavich
Lighting Design: Mark McCullough
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Choreography: Yael Levitin*
Starring: Deborah Voigt* (Salome), Robert Brubaker (Herod), Greer Grimsley* (Jokanaan), Susan Bickley* (Herodias), Scott Quinn (Narraboth), Heather Johnson* (Herodias’Page), Bradley Garvin (First Nazarene), Grigory Soloviov* (First Soldier), Jason Grant (Second Soldier), Joseph Hu (First Jew), Jay Gardner (Second Jew), John Robert Lindsey (Third Jew), Steven Haal (Fourth Jew), Patrick Guetti* (Fifth Jew), Tyler Simpson* (Second Nazarene), NaGuanda Nobles (A Slave) and Matthew Stump* (A Cappadocian).
Production Owned by Washington National Opera

A RARE DALLAS OPERA DOUBLE BILL:

LA WALLY by Alfredo Catalani
January 30, February 1(m), 4 and 7, 2015
The Climactic Final Act!
First performed in Milan, Italy on January 20, 1892
Text by Luigi Illica after Wilhelmine von Hillern’s story, Die Geyer-Wally
Time: Around the year 1800
Place: The Austrian Alps
Conductor: Anthony Barrese
Stage Director: Candace Evans
Scenic Design: Robert Brill
Costume Design: David C. Woolard
Lighting Design: Christopher Akerlind
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Latonia Moore (Wally), Carl Tanner* (Giuseppe Hagenbach) and Jennifer Chung (Walter)
A Brand-New Dallas Opera Production!

With EVEREST by Joby Talbot
January 30, February 1(m), 4 and 7, 2015
A Dallas Opera World Premiere!
Text by Gene Scheer
Time: Modern Day
Place: In the Death Zone on Mount Everest
Conductor: Nicole Paiement
Stage Director: Leonard Foglia
Scenic Design: Robert Brill
Costume Design: David C. Woolard
Video Design: Elaine J. McCarthy
Lighting Design: Christopher Akerlind
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Andrew Bidlack (Rob Hall), Sasha Cooke (Jan Arnold), Kevin Burdette* (Beck Weathers) and Craig Verm* (Doug Hansen).

LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini
March 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 and 29(m), 2015
A passionate and timeless masterpiece in a beloved period production
An opera in four acts first performed in Turin, Italy on February 1, 1896
Text by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after Henry Murger’s novel Scènes de la vie de bohème
Time: mid-19th century
Place: The Latin Quarter of Paris, France
Conductor: Riccardo Frizza*
Stage Director: Peter Kazaras
Scenic Design: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle
Costume Design: Peter J. Hall
Lighting Design: Thomas C. Hase
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotton
Starring: Ana Maria Martinez (Mimi), Bryan Hymel (Rodolfo), Davinia Rodriguez* (Musetta), Jonathan Beyer (Marcello), Alexander Vinogradov* (Colline), Stephen LaBrie (Schaunard) and Stefan Szkafarowsky (Benoit).
One of the Dallas Opera’s Most Popular!

IOLANTA by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
April 10, 12(m), 15 and 18, 2015
A rarely performed Tchaikovsky gem, set in Medieval Provence!
First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 18, 1892
Text by Modest Tchaikovsky based on the Danish play King Rene’s Daughter by Henrik Hertz
Time: The 15th century
Place: Provence, a mountainous region in Southern France
Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume
Stage Director: Christian Räth
Scenic Design: Christian Räth
Costume Design: Susan Cox
Video Design: Elaine J. McCarthy
Lighting Design: Thomas C. Hase
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Ekaterina Scherbachenko* (Iolanta), Sergey Skorokhodov* (Count Vaudémont), Joanna Mongiardo* (Brigitta), Lauren McNeese (Laura), Tamara Mumford* (Marta), Andrei Bondarenko** (Robert, Duke of Burgandy), Mikhail Kolelishvili (Renè, King of Provence), Andrew Bidlack (Alméric), Vladislav Sulimsky** (Ibn-Hakia) and Jordan Bisch (Bertrand).
Another New Dallas Opera Production

* Dallas Opera Debut
** American Debut
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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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