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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, August 12, 2011
Contact: Suzanne Calvin
214-443-1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA IS PROUD TO OFFER
SINGLE TICKETS
FOR THE GLORIOUSLY HAND-WRINGING
2011-2012“TRAGIC OBSESSIONS” SEASON
Presented by Texas Instruments Foundation
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Season Subscriptions under a Hundred Dollars are on Sale Now!
Single Tickets will Start at $25 and go on Sale Sept. 12, 2011
DALLAS, AUGUST 12, 2011 – The Dallas Opera is very pleased to announce
that single ticket sales to the general public for the action-packed 2011-2012 Season – our third in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center – will begin on Monday, September 12, 2010 at 10:00 am.
Single tickets will be priced, starting at $25 and may be purchased conveniently online at dallasopera.org or by calling the friendly staff at the Dallas Opera Ticket Services office at 214.443.1000.
Season subscriptions for all four productions start at just $76. FLEX three-performance subscriptions, and “Build Your Own” subscriptions starting at $75 are on sale now, as well! (Yes, you can add an opera for one, cool buck!)
The productions of the 2011-2012 “Tragic Obsessions” Season, presented by Texas Instruments Foundation, are:
· LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR by Gaetano Donizetti
(Oct. 21, 23m, 26, 29 & Nov. 6m, 2011)
· TRISTAN & ISOLDE by Richard Wagner (Opera in Concert)
(Feb. 16, 19m, 22 & 25, 2012)
· LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi
(April 13, 15m, 18, 21, 27 & 29m, 2012)
· THE MAGIC FLUTE by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
(April 20, 22m, 25, 28, May 4 & 6m, 2012)
Any remaining single tickets for the inaugural production of the Dallas Opera’s new Chamber Opera Series, The Lighthouse by Peter Maxwell Davies, will go on sale in December—after Dallas Opera and Dallas Theater Center subscribers have had a chance to make their purchases. Seating is limited.
“During the upcoming season,” explains Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, “we’ll be exploring ways to refresh and re-imagine our approach to some of the most popular and compelling works in the repertoire. At the same time, we will also strive to keep the company on a bold, 21st century trajectory through the use of exciting new technologies, innovative use of the extraordinary production capabilities of the Winspear Opera House, and a renewed emphasis on strengthening connections with our existing patrons while also developing new audiences.”
A host of noteworthy Dallas Opera on-stage debuts this season include:
· Elena Mosuc. This remarkable Romanian soprano was selected her country’s “Woman of the Year” in 2009. She has been praised by Renata Scotto as “the ideal interpreter of Lucia di Lammermoor” and will make her company debut in this title role.
· Bryan Hymel, an “ardent and charismatic” New Orleans-born tenor with “an attractive warm timbre” (Allan Kozinn, The New York Times) is recognized as one of the most exciting lyric tenors onstage today; an artist who leaves audiences breathless! Look for his TDO debut as Edgardo di Ravenwood in our LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR.
· Luca Grassi, an Italian baritone making his American debut as Lord Enrico Ashton in our revival of LUCIA. “This guy is destined for a great career,” trumpeted Barihunks which also praised his “rich, dark top voice.”
· Jordan Bisch, “an impressive bass with an easy, smooth vocal production” (Judith Malafronte, Opera News) will sing the role of Raimondo Bidebent, also in LUCIA.
· Jukka Rasilainen, a renowned Wagnerian making his American debut in the role of Tristan’s retainer, Kurvenal, in our performances of TRISTAN & ISOLDE.
· Kristinn Sigmundsson, Iceland’s foremost bass, will make his Dallas Opera debut in the pivotal role of King Marke of Cornwall in our new TRISTAN, with projections by Elaine J. McCarthy, the creator of special video affects for our world premiere production of MOBY-DICK.
· Myrtò Papatanasiu, a Greek soprano who triumped in the leading role in LA TRAVIATA at both Welsh National Opera and in Rome. Praised for her “beautiful coloratura and balance” (Paolo Isotta, Corriere della Sera), she will make her American operatic debut as the doomed courtesan Violetta Valery.
· Laurent Naouri, a leading French baritone will make his TDO debut as Giorgio Germont in LA TRAVIATA. Praised by Chicago Classical Review “as fatherly yet compassionate and his memorable ‘Di provenza’ was a highlight of the evening.”
· Shawn Mathey, “a honeyed tenor” (Lawrence A. Johnson) and already a star in Europe, now conquering the American stage in a variety of roles including Mozart’s Tamino, in which he will make his company debut.
· L’ubica Vargicová, our “Queen of the Night” in THE MAGIC FLUTE is a gorgeous Slovakian coloratura soprano who has sung this challenging role in theaters around the world.
The benefits of becoming a Dallas Opera subscriber will take a significant leap during the 2011-2012 Season. In addition to perks that already include priority seating, lost ticket replacement, invitations to special events and dramatic savings over the price of single tickets, the company is adding two, new FREE incentives for full-season (four-performance) subscribers:
· An exclusive patron recital on November 9, 2011, “A Cabaret Evening with Patricia Racette,” featuring the luminous Miss Racette performing selections from the “Great American Songbook” in the intimacy of the Winspear Opera House.
· And a lively, fun-filled Family Concert on November 12, 2011, featuring stellar soprano Ava Pine, tenor Aaron Blake and mezzo Sasha Cooke in performance with the esteemed Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Barrese.
Writing about a recent Patricia Racette cabaret performance, Joe Banno of The Washington Post found the singer “so magnetic, so naturally inside the style, she left other opera singers’ stiff-backed attempts at this repertoire in the dust…She needs to be heard in this material.”
And, as mentioned, subscribers will get “first crack” at tickets for the Dallas Opera’s thrilling new Chamber Opera Series, being inaugurated in February with Peter Maxwell Davies’ THE LIGHTHOUSE. This contemporary opera, being produced in collaboration with the Dallas Theater Center, will be conducted by the renowned Nicole Paiement and staged by the DTC’s acclaimed Artistic Director, Kevin Moriarty, in his opera debut!
Full season subscriptions (four performances) for the 2011-2012 Season range from $75 to $1,015. Inner Circle seating may be higher.
THE DALLAS OPERA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES
THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION,
PRESENTER OF THE 2011-2012 SEASON
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EVENTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT “AUGUST AT THE DALLAS OPERA”
IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS
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 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
ROSEWOOD CRESCENT HOTEL – OFFICIAL HOTEL OF THE DALLAS OPERA
Ticket Information for the 2011-2012 Dallas Opera Season
All performances are in the acoustically acclaimed Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Season subscriptions start at just $76, FLEX subscriptions (three performances) begin at $75—and are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale in September. For more information, contact the friendly staff at The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online at www.dallasopera.org.
THE DALLAS OPERA 2011-2012 SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Fifth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in downtown Dallas. With the exception of Tristan & Isolde, evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tristan’s evening performances will start at 7:00 p.m. and matinees at 2:00 p.m. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance. Assistance is available for the hearing impaired.
LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR by Gaetano Donizetti
Dead Men DO Wear Plaid!
October 21, 23(m), 26 & 29, and November 6(m), 2011
An opera in three acts first performed at Teatro San Carlo, Naples on September 26, 1835.
Text by Salvatore Cammarano, based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel, The Bride of Lammermoor.
Time: Around 1700
Place: Scotland
Conductor: Riccardo Frizza
Stage Director: Garnett Bruce
Costume Design: Peter J. Hall
Lighting Design: Marie Barrett
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Fight Choreographer: Bill Lengfelder
Starring: Elena Mosuc* (Lucia Ashton), Bryan Hymel* (Sir Edgardo di Ravenwood), Luca Grassi** (Lord Enrico Ashton), Jordan Bisch* (Raimondo Bidebent), Scott Quinn (Normanno), Aaron Blake (Lord Arturo Bucklaw), and Cynthia Hanna* (Alisa).
TRISTAN & ISOLDE by Richard Wagner
February 16, 19(m), 22 & 25, 2012
A Special Opera-in-Concert, with projections by Moby-Dick’s Elaine McCarthy!
Ancient Myths, Modern Cine-Magic! And a special curtain time: 7:00 p.m.!
An opera in two acts first performed in Munich, June 10, 1865.
Text by Richard Wagner, based on an ancient Celtic and Icelandic legend.
Time: Legendary
Place: A ship at sea; outside King Marke’s palace, Cornwall; Tristan’s castle at Kareol
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Stage Director: Christian Räth
Video Design: Elaine McCarthy
Lighting Design: Alan Burrett
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Jeanne-Michele Charbonnet (Isolde), Clifton Forbis (Tristan), Elizabeth Bishop (Brangäne), Jukka Rasilainen** (Kurvenal), Kristinn Sigmundsson* (King Marke), Erik Nelson Werner (Melot), and Aaron Blake (A Young Sailor/A Shepherd).
THE LIGHTHOUSE by Peter Maxwell Davies
Inaugural production of the Dallas Opera Chamber Series
Presented in collaboration with the Dallas Theater Center
In the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
March 16, 17 & 18(m), 2012
A chilling supernatural and psychological thriller!
Time: December 1900
Place: Edinburgh Court of Enquiry, Fladda Isle Lighthouse off the Scottish coast
Conductor: Nicole Paiement*
Stage Director: Kevin Moriarty* (opera directorial debut)
Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt*
Costume Design: Claudia Stephens*
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi
April 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 & 29(m), 2012
Let’s Party Like It’s 1849!
An opera in three acts first performed in Venice at Teatro La Fenice, March 6, 1853
Text by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Alexandre Dumas’ play, La dame aux camélias
Time: 19th century
Place: Paris
Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Stage Director: Bliss Hebert
Production Design: Allen Charles Klein
Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
Choreographer: Rosa Mercedes*
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Myrtò Papatanasiu** (Violetta Valéry), James Valenti (Alfredo Germont), Laurent Naouri* (Giorgio Germont), Amanda Crider* (Flora Bervoix), Timothy Mix* (Baron Douphol), Mark McCrory (Marchese D’Obigny), Ethan Herschenfeld* (Doctor Grenvil), and Susan Nicely (Annina).
THE MAGIC FLUTE by W.A. Mozart
April 20, 22(m), 25, 28, May 4 & 6(m), 2012
Hearts Tested, Tried and True!
An opera in two acts first performed in Vienna, September 30, 1791.
Text by Emanuel Schikaneder.
Time: Legendary
Place: Mythological Egypt
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Production: August Everding
Stage Director: Matthew Lata
Scenic Design: Jörg Zimmermann*
Costume Design: Renate Kalanke*
Lighting Design: Duane Schuler
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
Starring: Ava Pine (Pamina), Shawn Mathey* (Tamina), Patrick Carfizzi (Papageno), L’ubica Vargicová* (The Queen of the Night), Raymond Aceto (Sarastro), Kevin Langan (The Speaker), David Cangelosi (Monostatos), Angela Mannino* (Papagena), Caitlin Lynch* (First Lady), Lauren McNeese* (Second Lady), Maya Lahyani* (Third Lady), Aaron Blake (First Man in Armour) and Darren K. Stokes* (Second Man in Armour).
* 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. Rosewood Crescent Hotel is the official hotel 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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