FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Monday, November 26, 2018

Contact: Suzanne Calvin 214.443.1014

suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org

 

The Dallas Opera Proudly Presents

Tenor Simon O’Neill

In an Exclusive Afternoon Recital Accompanied by Terence Dennis

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019, 2:00 P.M.

MOODY PERFORMANCE HALL (Dallas Arts District)

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THE 2019 ROBERT E. AND JEAN ANN TITUS ART SONG RECITAL

MARKING THE INTERNATIONAL LAUNCH OF A NEW DECCA/UNIVERSAL CD:

“DISTANT BELOVED”

Available for Purchase On Site

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TICKETS GO ON SALE WEDNESDAY

NOVEMBER 28, 2018

$15 and $25

 

DALLAS, TX, NOVEMBER 26, 2018 – The Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series will feature internationally-acclaimed New Zealand-born heldentenor, Simon O’Neill, a principal artist at The Metropolitan Opera; the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Teatro alla Scala; and both the Bayreuth and Salzburg Festivals; in an exclusive recital produced by The Dallas Opera.

The eagerly-anticipated performance will take place on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in Moody Performance Hall (a 749-seat venue located at 2520 Flora Street—across the street from the Winspear Opera House in the Dallas Arts District).  Tickets go on sale at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday for $15 and $25 and may be purchased at www.dallasopera.org/titus or by contacting the friendly professionals in The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000.

 

“Simon O’Neill is the heroic tenor of choice for many of the world’s top opera companies,” explains Ian Derrer (The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO) “and The Dallas Opera is proud to present him in person to North Texas opera lovers.

“The opportunity to enjoy Simon’s titanic voice and presence in the most intimate of art songs is an experience not to be missed – especially for those left spellbound by his recent appearance with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  We are incredibly grateful for the Titus Family’s continued generous support of these annual recitals.”

 

Earlier this year Classical Music Critic William Dart wrote in the New Zealand Herald that his recent performances “confirmed (Simon O’Neill) is still the Heldentenor of our dreams.”

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Simon O’Neill will be accompanied by renowned pianist, Terence Dennis, the head of Performance Studies at the University of Otago Department of Music in his native New Zealand.  Mr. Dennis frequently accompanies some of the world’s most renowned vocalists, ranging from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to Sir Bryn Terfel and has collaborated with Mr. O’Neill for more than a decade.

The Dallas Opera’s Titus Recital will also mark the launch of the international release of the first collaboration of these artists on CD: “Distant Beloved,” a Decca/Universal release featuring works by Wagner, Beethoven, Schumann and Richard Strauss performed by O’Neill and Dennis.

The CD will be available for sale the day of the recital at Moody Performance Hall.

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The 2019 Titus Recital will include a variety of much-loved material from the disc repertoire including; Beethoven’s An die ferne Geliebte, lieder by Robert Schumann and Richard Strauss, and Richard Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder. Throughout the Titus recital the acclaimed duo will also be performing selections from O’Neill’s operatic repertoire including; Wagner’s Die Walküre and Parsifal and Richard Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten (program specifics may be subject to change).

Simon O’Neill explains that the genesis of the new recording is surprisingly personal:

“The inspiration for this recording of German lieder is distance.

Travel plays a significant part in the life of any opera singer, and, whilst I am privileged to have the opportunity to sing Siegmund, Siegfried, Parsifal and many other dream roles in the great opera houses and concert halls of the world, my career takes me away from home and loved ones for over nine months each year. Such is the singer’s lot.

The title of this album is deeply evocative for me. Though I may be performing on the opposite side of the world, my thoughts are never far from my beautiful wife and children, and our wonderful family home in New Zealand, overlooking endless majesty of the Pacific Ocean.

I began my musical life in New Zealand as a pianist and brass player, before embarking upon my vocal studies as a lieder baritone. Schubert and Schumann featured heavily in this early period of my vocal training. Further study at the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard School in New York, saw me develop into a young lirico-spinto tenor.

It was around that time that I first heard Fritz Wunderlich’s 1963 lieder album (on the Philips label), pairing An die ferne Geliebte with some of the same Richard Strauss songs which appear on this album. ‘Distant Beloved’ is something of a tribute to that album, and to Wunderlich himself, who was, for me, the greatest lieder tenor of all.

Since those early days, much has changed in my singing life. Travel has taken me ever further from home, and time and experience have seen my voice graduate from that earlier lirico-spinto repertoire into the more dramatic, heroic repertoire of Wagner and Strauss. Throughout that long journey, I never stopped singing these magnificent songs. It brings me great joy and satisfaction to sit at the piano, playing and singing them.

I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do.”

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“Heading into the sixth year, our family continues to be impressed with the high caliber of singers The Dallas Opera presents for the series,” writes Dallas Opera Trustee Sarah Titus.  “Ian’s selection of tenor Simon O’Neill and pianist Terence Dennis continues in this tradition,” she adds. “We anticipate a moving and memorable performance in January.”

Mr. O’Neill also appears this season as Siegmund in concert performances of Die Walküre. He has also scheduled stage productions with Oper Leipzig under Ulf Schirmer, the Bayerischer Staatsoper conducted by Kirill Petrenko and the Berlin Staatsoper with Daniel Barenboim.

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SIMON O’NEILL, Tenor

 

A native of New Zealand, Simon O’Neill has established himself as one of the finest helden-tenors on the international stage. He is a principal artist with the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala and both the Bayreuther Festspiele and Salzburger Festspiele, appearing with a number of illustrious conductors including James Levine, Riccardo Muti, Valery Gergiev, Sir Antonio Pappano, Daniel Barenboim, Pietari Inkinen, Pierre Boulez, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Colin Davis, Daniele Gatti, Edo de Waart, Fabio Luisi, Donald Runnicles, Sir Simon Rattle, Thomas Hengelbrock, Jaap van Zweden and Christian Thielemann.

Simon’s performances as Siegmund in Die Walküre at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden with Pappano, Teatro alla Scala and Berlin Staatsoper with Barenboim, at the Metropolitan Opera with Runnicles in the celebrated Otto Schenk production returning with Luisi in the Lepage Der Ring des Nibelungen and in the Götz Friedrich production at Deutsche Oper Berlin with Rattle were performed to wide critical acclaim. He was described in the international press as “an exemplary Siegmund, terrific of voice”, “THE Wagnerian tenor of his generation” and “a turbo-charged tenor”.

Notable debuts have included: Jenik in The Bartered Bride at the Royal Opera House with Mackerras (2005), Die Zauberflöte at the Salzburg Festival with Muti (2005), Gran Sacerdote in Idomeneo at the Metropolitan Opera under Levine (2006), Sergei in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with Armstrong for Opera Australia (2009), Siegmund in Die Walküre at Teatro alla Scala with Barenboim (2010) and the Bayerische Staatsoper with Nagano (2013), Lohengrin (title role) for the Bayreuth Festival with Nelsons (2010), Parsifal (title role) with Gatti (2011), Chairman Mao in Nixon in China with Lawrence Renes with the San Francisco Opera (2012), and Parsifal at the Wiener Staatsoper with Thielemann (2012).

Simon made his Bayreuth festival debut in the title role of Lohengrin in the new Hans Neuenfels production and returned as Parsifal in the celebrated Stefan Herheim production. Other recent engagements have included opening La Scala’s season as Siegmund in Die Walküre with Barenboim, the Wiener Staatsoper with Welser-Möst, his return as Siegmund in the Keith Warner’s celebrated Der Ring des Nibelungen, Lohengrin, Fidelio, Stolzing in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and the title role of Parsifal in the Stephen Langridge production at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Tambourmajor in Wozzeck with Levine at the Metropolitan Opera, Erik in Der Fliegende Holländer at the Ravinia Festival with Conlon and the Chicago Symphony, Cavaradossi in Tosca in Tokyo, Berlin and Hamburg, Florestan in Fidelio, and Die Walküre at the Houston Grand Opera and Hamburg Staatsoper. Simon also made his debut in the role of Siegfried in concert performances of Götterdämmerung with the Orquesta Sinfonica Galicia, reprised Parsifal with the Balthasar-Neumann Ensemble and Hengelbrock at Teatro Real Madrid and returned to Opera Australia and Houston Grand Opera as the title role in Otello. Recent highlights include: Die Walküre in his debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Boris in Katya Kabanova at the Berliner Staatsoper and Gurrelieder at the 2017 BBC Proms, all with Sir Simon Rattle; he also recently performed Die Walkure with Andrew Davis at the Edinburgh Festival, made his debut in the title role of Siegfried with Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and performed Siegfried in Götterdämmerung for the first time on stage at the Houston Grand Opera.  Forthcoming projects include Das Lied von der Erde at the Barbican Centre and in Luxembourg with Rattle, a return to the Hamburgische Staatsoper as Tambourmajor in Wozzeck, Die Walküre with La Fura dels Baus in Taipei, performances under Jaap van Zweden with the New York Philharmonic and Dallas Symphony orchestras, a tour with the Kammerphilharmonie Bremen and Paavo Järvi to China, and a return to the Bayerischer Staatsoper with Petrenko. At extremely short notice, short notice Simon made his debut in the title role of Verdi’s Otello in concert at the Barbican with the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir Colin Davis (2009). His performance was widely acclaimed by critics, who described his musical and dramatic portrayal of the infamous protagonist as “thrilling”, “a triumph”, “an immense performance”, “a tremendous debut in the title-role, giving notice that he is the best heroic tenor to emerge over the last decade.”

Simon has appeared in many of the world’s leading concert halls including Carnegie Hall for Das Lied von der Erde with Levine and The Met Orchestra, Missa Solemnis with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Florestan at the Salzburger Festspiele and BBC Proms with Barenboim, Florestan with the National Symphony Orchestra with Eschenbach at the Kennedy Center Washington, Gurrelieder in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Das Lied von der Erde and Parsifal in concert at Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia with Pappano and Gatti, Act Three Parsifal with Nelsons and the Bayerischer Rundfunks Orchestra at the Herkulessaal München, Der Freischütz with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass with Dutoit at Tokyo’s NHK Hall and with Boulez in the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, Mahler’s Symphony No.8 at the Sydney Opera House with Ashkenazy and Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 for the reopening of London’s Royal Festival Hall. He also had the honour of touring Europe with Daniel Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra performing Act One of Die Walküre in concert and performing complete the ring cycle with the Staatskapelle Berlin at the BBC Proms.

Multi-Grammy nominated, his discography includes his debut solo award winning album Father and Son, Wagner Scenes and Arias (Lohengrin, Parsifal, Siegmund and Siegfried) with Pietari Inkinen and the NZSO for EMI, the title role Parsifal on Blu-ray and DVD with Sir Antonio Pappano from Covent Garden, the title role Otello and Max in Der Freischütz with Sir Colin Davis for LSO Live, Die Walküre on Blu-ray and DVD with Daniel Barenboim from La Scala, Die Zauberflöte for the Salzburger Festspiele Mozart 25 DVD with Riccardo Muti, Mahler’s Symphony No.8 with Vladimir Ashkenanzy and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven Symphony No.9 with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie conducted by Paavo Järvi and with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra under Kent Nagano, Frank Martin’s Der Sturm with the Netherlands Radio Symphony and Thierry Fischer, Chausson’s Le Roi Arthus with Leon Botstein and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and most recently Voices of German Opera on EMI.

Simon became an Officer of New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, he is an alumnus and holds a Doctor of Music (Honoris Causa) from Victoria University of Wellington and is an alumnus of the University of Otago, the Manhattan School of Music and the Juilliard Opera Center. He is a Fulbright Scholar, was awarded the 2005 Arts Laureate of New Zealand and was a grand finalist in the 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Auditions returning as guest artist in 2007. He also appears on the 1998 New Zealand one-dollar performing arts postage stamp.

 

TERENCE DENNIS, PIANIST

 

Terence Dennis was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and is a graduate of the University of Otago and of the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik, Cologne, Germany where he obtained his Konzertexamen with distinction. He is currently Blair Professor and Head of Performance Studies at the University of Otago, Department of Music in Dunedin, New Zealand—the first performance staff member to be appointed to a professorial chair in that nation. Terence Dennis has been acclaimed both overseas and in New Zealand for his performances, teaching, masterclasses and presentations, regularly partnering leading resident musicians and distinguished visiting artists in recital including Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (more than 50 concerts, including two Royal Recitals), Sir Bryn Terfel, Sir Donald McIntyre, Sarah Walker and cellist Maria Kliegel. He has been official pianist for seven international string competitions and guest adjudicator for regional finals of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions competition in the United States. Terence Dennis was appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2004, and in 2009 appointed a Fellow of the New Zealand Academy of Humanities. Professor Dennis is also a member of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

 

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ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA 

 

Founded in 1957, The Dallas Opera is an internationally-recognized innovator dedicated to the overall advancement of the operatic art form and the support of established and emerging artists, as well as the education and development of new opera audiences in North Texas—and beyond. These goals are achieved by commissioning and producing world-class opera; through ground-breaking institutes, national competitions and topical programs; and by presenting opera in both traditional and non-traditional formats and venues in order to attract patrons of every age, background, educational level, and ethnicity—while engaging with more than 87,000 people in our community each year.  TDO is equally committed to the task of responsible stewardship and is managed with efficiency and accountability, to the highest possible standards.

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2018-2019 SEASON SPONSOR

The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family

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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA

IS AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7.  VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG

 

FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOGRAPHS

Contact Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and PR at suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org

 

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.

 

The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by

Texas Instruments, Lockheed Martin, and

The Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund

TDO Family Performances are a part of the

Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

 

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2018-2019 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated. Full and Flex Subscriptions are on sale now; single Tickets range from $19 to $289. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

 

THE DALLAS OPERA 2018-2019 MAINSTAGE SEASON: SPRING

The Dallas Opera celebrates its 62nd 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. With the exception of FIRST NIGHT, The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances.

 

MANON LESCAUT by Giacomo Puccini

Semi-Staged Concert, March 1, 3 (m), 6, 9, 2019

Featuring images of select art works from the collections of The Dallas Museum of Art!

The woman who has everything discovers too late that she has nothing – without true love!

Libretto by Domenico Oliva and Luigi Illica

Time: Late 18^th century

Place: France and America

Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

Director: Ed Berkeley

Costume Designer: Tommy Bourgeois

Lighting Designer: Krista Billings

Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Kristin Lewis* (Manon Lescaut), Musa Ngqungwana (Lescaut), Gregory Kunde (Chevalier des Grieux), Andrea Silvestrelli (Geronte de Ravoir), Jonas Hacker* (Edmondo), Mark S. Doss (Innkeeper), Alyssa Martin (Singer), Matthew Grills* (Dance Master), Clay Hilley* (Lamplighter), Mark McCrory (Sergeant of the Royal Archers) and David Leigh* (Naval Captain).

 

LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini

March 15, 17 (m), 20, 23, 29, 31 (m), 2019

The most timeless love story in all of opera returns to break your heart!

Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Time: 19^th century

Place: The Latin Quarter of Paris, France

Conductor: Giuliano Carella

Director: Tomer Zvulun

Set Designer: Erhard Rom

Costume Designer: Peter J. Hall

Lighting Designer: Robert Wierzel

Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Jean-Francois Borras* (Rodolfo), Pumeza Matshikiza** (Mimi), Anthony Clark Evans* (Marcello), Sara Gartland (Musetta), Will Liverman* (Schaunard), Nicholas Brownlee* (Colline), and Samuel Ramey (Benoit/Alcindoro).

 

FALSTAFF by Giuseppe Verdi

April 26, 28 (m), May 1, 4, 2019

Shakespeare’s uproarious comedy brought to musical life!

Libretto by Arrigo Boito

Time: During the reign of Henry IV of England

Place: Windsor

Conductor: Riccardo Frizza

Original Director: Lee Blakeley

Revival Director: Shawna Lucey*

Set and Costume Designer: Adrian Linford*

Lighting Designer: Rick Fisher*

Wig & Make-up Designer: Dawn Rivard

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Mark Delavan* (Sir John Falstaff), Angela Meade (Alice Ford), Quinn Kelsey* (Ford), Mojca Erdmann* (Nanetta), Airam Hernández* (Fenton), Stephanie Blythe* (Dame Quickly), Megan Marino* (Meg Page), Alex Mansoori* (Bardolfo), Andrea Silvestrelli (Pistola), and Robert Brubaker (Dr. Caius).

 

* Dallas Opera Debut

** American Debut

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