September 14, 2021
As a resident company of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, The Dallas Opera adheres to the health and safety protocols and policies in our home venue, the Winspear Opera House. Together, we put the safety of our patrons, artists, volunteers, and staff first. Based on guidance from health authorities and government agencies, there are new safety measures for live performances this fall. The Center will continue to monitor guidelines from the leading public health agencies for the latest information and update protocols accordingly.
Please review the latest public health and safety measures for fall 2021 concerts here.
Visit the AT&T Performing Art Center’s website for more information about health and safety protocols and policies, including detailed information about ventilation and sanitization procedures.
————————————————————
March 31, 2021
The Dallas Opera Cancels Upcoming Song Series Concerts on March 31 and April 3
The Dallas Opera announces the cancellation of two recitals in its “Welcome Back” Song Series: bass Morris Robinson on Wednesday, March 31 and the duo of soprano Leah Crocetto and mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton on Saturday, April 3, due to a positive Covid-19 test by a contractor associated with these concerts.
Read the full Press Release >>
————————————————————
March 3, 2021
SAFETY UPDATE
Following Governor Abbott’s recent repeal of the statewide mask mandate and business capacity limitations, The Dallas Opera will continue to adhere to CDC guidelines regarding mask wearing and social distancing. Staff and patrons visiting the Winspear Opera House will be required to wear a mask at all times. As we prepare to announce our exciting spring lineup of TDO events, these important safety protocols will ensure a successful spring season while doing our part to lessen the spread of COVID-19.
Your Dallas Opera team remains absolutely committed to your health and safety. View additional safety measures here.
————————————————————
January 27, 2021
Due to extreme ongoing COVID concerns, the 2021 spring season has been cancelled.
On the advice of medical experts, and with the full safety of our artists, patrons, and staff of paramount importance, the reconfigured 2020/2021 season, which called for specially produced, 90-minute presentations to allow for social distancing, is now cancelled. Opera performances affected are: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, composed by Joby Talbot with libretto by Gene Scheer, Verdi’s Don Carlo, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Puccini’s Tosca.
The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition, The Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase Concert, the TDO Family Season performances of Jack and the Beanstalk and Doctor Miracle, and the Student Matinees will all be delayed until later in the year, with dates yet to be announced.
- Read the full Press Release >>
- More information for subscribers and ticket holders >>
- Frequently Asked Questions >>
- View the just-announced 2021/2022 Season of full-scale, grand opera productions here >>
————————————————————
December 10, 2020
The Dallas Opera brings live opera back to the Winspear on March 5, 2021, as it begins its 2020/2021 Season with the world premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (March 5, 7, 13), followed by 90-minute abridged productions of Don Carlo (March 27, 31; April 3), The Marriage of Figaro (April 9, 11, 14, 17), and Tosca (April 16, 18, 21, 24, and May 2). Social distancing and strict safety protocols in place both onstage and off, no intermissions, and hall capacity no greater than 30%. On-demand videos of productions to be made available free of charge to subscribers not wishing to attend in person. The Hart Institute for Women Conductors Showcase Concert to take place with the Dallas Opera Orchestra as planned on Friday, February 19, 2021; National Vocal Competition proceeds on May 1, 2021; Joyce DiDonato concert remains on May 10, 2021; Benjamin Appl recital, part of the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series, rescheduled to January, 2022.
Read the full Press Release.
View AT&T Performing Arts Center’s COVID-19 Safety Strategies.
————————————————————
August 13, 2020
Click here to read Frequently Asked Questions about the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020/2021 Season (updated December 10, 2020).
————————————————————
June 4, 2020
Today The Dallas Opera announced major changes to the company’s 2020/2021 season brought about by the serious ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The entire season will be consolidated into spring of 2021 with four opera productions presented, instead of the original five. Nine mainstage performances will be cut from TDO’s 2020/2021 schedule—a 38% reduction. Verdi’s Don Carlo will replace Wagner’s Lohengrin, and Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice will be eliminated.
The 2020/2021 season, which was to have opened on October 9, 2020, will now begin on March 5, 2021, with the world premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, composed by Joby Talbot with libretto by Gene Scheer. There will be two additional performances of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, followed by three performances of Verdi’s Don Carlo canceled in 2019 because of COVID-19, four performances of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and five performances of Puccini’s Tosca.
Staff layoffs and additional administrative cutbacks were also announced. The Dallas Opera Emergency Relief (DOER) fundraising campaign, which resulted from the spring 2020 performance cancellations due to COVID-19, has a goal of raising $4 million by September 30, 2020.
————————————————————
March 17, 2020
Dear Friends and Members of The Dallas Opera Family,
In this constantly evolving public health crisis, The Dallas Opera is closely monitoring latest developments in the U.S. and around the world. The safety of our audiences, artists, and staff is our top priority and as a company, we are closely following the CDC guidelines.
In this regard, it is with the deepest regret that I announce that The Dallas Opera is cancelling all performances and programs, both inside and outside the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, for the remainder of the 2019/2020 Season. This includes all mainstage performances of Don Carlo, Pulcinella/La voix humaine and The Barber of Seville, as well as “Songs for Dallas” and the Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition hosted by The Dallas Opera Guild. This cancellation includes all educational, donor, and community engagement events.
Please know that at TDO, we continue to plan for bringing you great, life-enhancing opera that means so much to us all. We fully expect to welcome you back in the fall as we prepare for a spectacular 2020/2021 “Embrace the Passion!” Season, including FIRST NIGHT, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Wagner’s Lohengrin, Talbot’s The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice, Puccini’s Tosca, and VIVA DIVA! starring Joyce DiDonato.
These are ambitious plans for an opera company in the best of times—and now, more than ever, your generosity and continued support is critically important to the future of The Dallas Opera.
We are encouraged that so many of you have already renewed your seats for next season, and that renewals continue to come in via phone, mail, and online.
Although you are entitled to a full refund for the tickets you purchased for the remainder of the current season, we ask you to please consider donating the value of your seats to help sustain our day-to-day operations, or allow us to credit that amount to your season subscription or single tickets for next season.
At your convenience over the next week, ticket holders are asked to contact TDO Patron Services by filling out this request form. You may also call us at 214.443.1000 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or email us at info@dallasopera.org.
Any additional gift you can make, in these extraordinary circumstances, would be deeply appreciated. Please visit dallasopera.org/donate.
Take care for yourself and your loved ones and thank you for your invaluable support.
Sincerely,
Ian Derrer
The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO
————————————————————
March 13, 2020
Dear Friends and Members of The Dallas Opera Family,
The safety of our patrons, guest artists, musicians, and staff members is of paramount importance to the Board and leadership of this company, and we are in constant consultation with both public health experts and civic leaders during the current crisis. In accordance with city and county declarations, The Dallas Opera cancelled all events, public and private, for the next seven days.
This weekend, both Dallas Opera rehearsal and performance venues are undergoing an augmented cleaning procedure to ensure that every part of the building is pristine—with extra attention being paid to heavily used areas, from handrails to elevator buttons. Hand-sanitizing stations have been added throughout the public areas.
However, after numerous consultations with public health experts and civic leaders, company leadership concluded that these steps were not enough to shield all our patrons, as well as our guest artists and orchestra members, from the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
For this reason, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all performances, education and community engagement programs, and donor events through April 28, 2020. This includes all performances of Verdi’s Don Carlo, the double bill of Pulcinella/La voix humaine, and the first two performances (April 24 and 26) of The Barber of Seville.
We are heartbroken that such drastic measures are necessary to deal with this severe public health crisis. In a world where physical contact is now discouraged, The Dallas Opera embraces the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO) and local health experts about keeping safe distances and taking additional steps to limit exposure.
Season subscribers and those who have already purchased single tickets for these performances have the following options:
- You may donate the value of your ticket or tickets as a much-needed tax-deductible gift to TDO
- You may credit the value of your tickets to your account and decide on a future Dallas Opera performance later this season or in the 2020/2021 Season
- You may apply the value of your tickets to the purchase of a TDO season subscription or your subscription renewal for 2020/2021
- You may request that the purchase price be fully refunded to the original method of payment
At your convenience in the next few days, please call Patron Services at 214.443.1000 (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or email us at info@dallasopera.org.
We appreciate all the support you’ve given to The Dallas Opera this season and in years past, and we assure you that we will share regular updates and do everything possible to provide a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment in which to enjoy world-class opera.
There is a silver lining: conditions permitting, we still intend to present four performances of The Barber of Seville, Rossini’s comic masterpiece, on April 29, May 2, 8 & 10, 2020, in addition to an uplifting program on May 6th entitled, “Songs for Dallas.” I sincerely hope we will see you there.
In the meantime, please take extra care of yourself and your loved ones and continue to check the websites for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) for the latest information on COVID-19.
We sincerely cherish our patrons and artists and want what is best for you, today and always.
Warm regards,
Ian Derrer
The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO