Whilst busy attempting to balance my left leg …sorry, more information than you wanted to know…Anyway, I missed it: the announcement that season ticket holders had selected tenor James Valenti (Rodolfo in our recent production of Puccini’s LA BOHEME) as the “Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year.”
It all happened at the annual appreciation dinner for Dallas Opera Board and Trustees, when, to nearly everyone’s surprise, Valenti appeared in person to collect his prize (a gorgeous Tiffany-designed crystal trophy) and delight patrons with an impromptu season encore.
As KERA pointed out, Dallas Morning News Classical Music Critic Scott Cantrell was altogether wowed by Valenti’s vocal quality.
Photo by Randal Ford.
Suzanne Calvin, Assoc. Dir. of Marketing, The Dallas Opera