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    Melodies of Hope: Music, Dementia, and Brain Science

     

    Join us for an informative and thought-provoking discussion exploring the connection between music and the brain, inspired by The Dallas Opera’s premiere of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice. This includes a conversation on the power of music in supporting cognition and building connections with those suffering from dementia, like Alzheimer’s disease, and other types of memory disorders.

    In this new TDO production, Director Joachim Schamberger reimagines the Greek myth, placing Orpheus as the grieving husband and caretaker who uses music to connect with his beloved Eurydice, who is suffering from dementia. A brief musical performance depicting a scene from the opera will be part of the evening’s events.

    Before that, a distinguished panel of brain health physicians and researchers from UT Southwestern will explore the fascinating phenomenon of music and memory and how the two are connected so deeply in the human brain. Moderated by W. P. Andrew Lee, M.D., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Provost and Dean, UT Southwestern Medical School.

    UT Southwestern Medical Center Panelists:

    • William Dauer, M.D.
      Professor and Director, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
      Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology
    • Marc Diamond, M.D.
      Professor and Director, Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases
      Professor of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
    • Brendon Kelley, M.D.
      Professor and Clinical Vice-Chair, Department of Neurology, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
    • Sarah Shahmoradian, Ph.D.
      Assistant Professor, Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Biophysics, Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute

    Nearly 7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia today. And according to the National Alzheimer’s Association, there are more than 11 million unpaid caregivers in the U.S. This event will provide information, new research, and findings on how music therapy may help patients and those who care for them. Music therapy has been proven to help with memory cognition and building connections with those suffering from dementia.

    This event is for those affected by this disease, including caregivers and those who love and support them. An understanding of opera is not required. RSVP for up to 4 free tickets using the link below. Program length is approximately 90 minutes.

    2024/2025 Season

    Two Perennial Favorites, Two Dallas Opera Premieres, Important Debuts, and Stunning New Productions—They All Add up to TDO’s Starlit 67th Season!

    The season is bookended by two of the most popular operas worldwide. Verdi’s La traviata, the tragic story of the courtesan who selflessly gives up her only chance at love, opens the season in a new TDO co-production with the Santa Fe Opera starring Yaritza Véliz and Javier Camarena in their TDO debuts. Closing the season is Puccini’s beloved La bohème, featuring our classic period production and a top-notch ensemble cast of international rising stars.

    And in between, we present two treasures of the operatic repertoire that have never been seen in Dallas. You won’t want to miss Pelleas and Melisande, Debussy’s only complete opera, featuring the composer’s signature evocative and sensuous sound. Benjamin Appl, our Titus Family Recitalist in 2022, returns for a rare operatic appearance as Pelleas to the Melisande of Lauren Snouffer, with Katharine Goeldner and Sir Willard White rounding out this impressive cast. Gluck’s Orpheus and Eurydice, one of the most influential operas in the repertoire, presents a provocative perspective on the mythological story in a new production conceived and designed by Joachim Schamberger in his TDO debut.

    This season was tailor-made for you! Please join us!

     

    View the 2024/2025 Season brochure:

    View Brochure PDF

     

    Explore the season:

    Pelleas and Melisande

     

    FORBIDDEN LOVE AND LINGERING SUSPICIONS SIMMER IN A TENSION FILLED FAMILY DRAMA

    Lost, confused, and frightened, Melisande is coerced into marrying the overbearing prince Golaud, and in her marital melancholy, the young bride grows close to her handsome brother-in-law, Pelleas. Golaud’s rage sets the stage for this timeless tale of forbidden love, family jealousy, and regret. Debussy’s luminous orchestrations propel the drama to ecstatic heights, the music a striking contrast to this new Ibsen-esque production by Dutch director Jetske Mijnssen.

    Ludovic Morlot conducts a stunning cast including baritone Edward Nelson as Pelleas, soprano Lauren Snouffer as Melisande, and baritone Nicolas Courjal as Golaud. Sir Willard White makes his Dallas Opera debut as the grandfather Arkel, and mezzo-soprano Katharine Goeldner is the matriarch Genevieve.
    »See full cast

    [Nelson’s] “burnished, gleaming outpouring of languid phrases was matched…with impassioned, thrilling outbursts of persuasive presence.”—Opera Today

    “Snouffer delivered beautifully dark, shimmering tone and thrilling melismatic ornamentation.”—Opera News

    View the full program here or in the Flip Book below.

    Featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra and Chorus
    A co-production with Bayerische Staatsoper

    The Three Little Pigs

    GOOD STORIES + GOOD MUSIC = OPERA FUN FOR ALL AGES!

    Three Singing Pigs, a (Big, Bad) Wolf, and Reading Saves the Day!

    True to the classic tale, our three little pigs prepare to build their separate houses to withstand an impending visit by the hungry wolf. Only this time, the pigs are named for famous characters in Mozart operas (Despina, Cherubino, and Don Giovanni!) and they sing their little hearts out as they debate the merits of straw, sticks, and brick as building materials. (Spoiler alert—Despina prevails because of a research trip to the library!)

    This English-language, 30-minute mini-opera is perfect for young attention spans, a delightful introduction to how music can make a beloved story come alive—and with a message that reading solves all sorts of problems!

    Join us for this special performance, sung in English, and designed for audiences aged 3 and up! All seating is general admission at the beautiful Winspear Opera House.

    All tickets just $5! Purchase tickets to both titles and you’ll pay just $4 per ticket!

     

    View the full program here or in the Flip Book below. Programs and artists are subject to change.

     

    Music by Wolfgang A. Mozart
    Words and Story Adaptation by John Davies

    Pépito

    GOOD STORIES + GOOD MUSIC = OPERA FUN FOR ALL AGES!

    Competing Suitors and Silly Hijinks—Grand Comic Opera on a Family-Friendly Scale!

    Audience favorite Pépito is back! The lovely and faithful Manuelita is at the center of this smalltown love story, and despite being pursued by local suitors, she insists on keeping her marriage promise to Pépito, who is away at war. Manuelita’s resolve is tested as new discoveries come to light, but a happy ending ensues, with lots of fun and surprising plot twists and turns along the way. The Dallas Opera Orchestra is joined by a fabulous cast for this one-act, English-language opera packed with gorgeous singing and beautiful music.

    Join us for this special performance, sung in English, and designed for audiences aged 3 and up! Pépito is just under 60 minutes (with no intermission!), making this the perfect family show! All seating is general admission at the beautiful Winspear Opera House. Featuring The Dallas Opera Orchestra conducted by Paolo Bressan.

    All tickets just $5! Purchase tickets to both titles and you’ll pay just $4 per ticket!

     

    View the full program here or in the Flip Book below. Programs and artists are subject to change.

     

    Music by Jacques Offenbach
    The Dallas Opera Performing Edition
    English translation by Mary Dibbern
    Based on the integral edition of the opera by Michael Kaye

    Lone Star Vocal Competition

    Witness dreams come true as vocal talents from across Texas converge on the Dallas Arts District for a chance to sing on the Winspear stage—and win cash prizes! Singers compete for the opportunity to dazzle our local judges and win the hearts of our opera-loving audiences, who vote for the “People’s Choice” winner at the end of the evening. This concert is brimming with exceptional talent and youthful energy, an intoxicating and inspiring experience for all!

    Hosted by Sylvia D’Eramo, previous Vocal Competition winner and performing the role of Mimì in this season’s finale of La bohème, running Feb. 28–Mar. 9.

     

    WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

    First Place: Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano
    Kayla Nanto is automatically advanced to the final round of the 2026 National Vocal Competition.
    Second Place: Michael Pandolfo, baritone
    Third Place: Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano
    Jonathan Pell People’s Choice Award (determined by audience vote): Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano

     

    9 FINALISTS SELECTED

    The finalists will each perform the following arias during the first round of the Vocal Competition:

    Amelia Burshe, soprano: “Amour ranime mon courage” from Roméo et Juliette (Charles Gounod)

    Stephanie Doche, mezzo-soprano: “Se Romeo t’uccise un figlio” from I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Vincenzo Bellini)

    Sam Dhobhany, bass-baritone: “Scintille diamant” from Les contes d’Hoffmann (Jacques Offenbach)

    Joanne Evans, mezzo-soprano: “New scenes of joy” from Theodora (George Frideric Handel)

    Laura Corina Sanders, soprano: “I never travel without one … a hand mirror” from Postcard from Morocco (Dominick Argento)

    Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano: “Oh mio Fernando!” from La favorita (Gaetano Donizetti)

    Michael Pandolfo, baritone: “Largo al factotum” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioachino Rossini)

    Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano: “Nobles seigneurs, salut!” from Les Huguenots (Giacomo Meyerbeer)

    Ardeen Pierre, soprano: “Toi qui sus le néant” from Don Carlo (Giuseppe Verdi)

     

    After a brief pause, each artist will sing a second aria of the judges’ choosing. After the second round of singing, there will be a brief intermission while the judges deliberate. The audience may vote for the People’s Choice winner at this time.

    Amelia Burshe: “I want magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire (André Previn) OR “Ah fors’è lui” … “Sempre libera” from La traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)

    Stephanie Doche: “Midnight in the Loneliest Hour” from JFK (David T. Little) OR “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)

    Sam Dhobhany: “Non più andrai” from Le nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) OR “Come, master, observe the host” from The Rake’s Progress (Igor Stravinsky)

    Joanne Evans, Mezzo Soprano: “Cruda sorte” from L’italiana in Algeri (Rossini) OR “Wie Du warst!” from Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss)

    Laura Corina Sanders: “Regnava nel silenzio” from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) OR “Die Wiener Herrn verstehen sich” from Arabella (Strauss)

    Ani Kushyan: “Werther! Werther! Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther (Jules Massenet) OR “Höre mit Sinn” from Götterdämmerung (Richard Wagner)

    Michael Pandolfo: “Hai già vinta la causa!…Vedrò mentre io sospiro” from Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) OR “Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse” from Hamlet (Ambroise Thomas)

    Kayla Nanto: “We had one room” from Elizabeth Cree (Kevin Puts) OR “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)

    Ardeen Pierre: “My Man’s Gone Now” from Porgy & Bess (George Gershwin) OR “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser (Wagner)

     

    Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of judges, chaired by The Dallas Opera’s Artistic Consultant, David Lomelí. The rest of the panel includes Annie Burridge, General Director & CEO of Austin Opera; Jonathan Pell, TDO’s former Artistic Director; Kristian Roberts, TDO Director of Education; and Emmanuel Villaume, the Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director of The Dallas Opera.

     

    View the full program here or in the Flip Book below.

     

    Tickets Just $10
    All seating is general admission.

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