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    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

    Special Event: “Flicka” Documentary

    Flicka von Stade, beloved opera superstar and recording artist for five decades, uses her powerful voice as an inspirational community activist, mentor, mother and friend.

    The documentary Flicka follows Frederica von Stade’s remarkable journey in the years following her retirement from a legendary opera career. Along the way, we learn that Flicka is an extraordinary artist and inspirational humanitarian, giving countless hours and energy to her causes, working to bring both musical training to low-income, underprivileged students, and the joy of music to the lives of unhoused people. Flicka reflects on her life as a child, mother and singer, and we learn about her through the experiences of colleagues Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, and Jake Heggie and in conversations with her family. In archival footage of performances from stages around the world, we celebrate her talent as one of the best mezzo-sopranos in the repertoire. During the journey, we try to answer the question, “Why does everyone want to be in the room with Flicka?” Quickly one realizes it’s because, from family to friends, colleagues to opera fans, and those whose lives she touches in her community, all feel she is a hero, friend and mentor.

    The event is free of charge. RSVP for up to 4 tickets using the link below. Note that concessions will not be available for this event.

     

    The People’s Choice Concert

    Registrations for this event are at capacity and closed via online ordering. Limited walk-up tickets will be available day-of-show on a first come first serve basis. Box Office opens at 6:00pm inside the Winspear Opera House lobby. For more details, please call us at 214.443.1000 Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. All seating is general admission, and tickets are required for admittance. Limit of 4 tickets per household.

    The Dallas Opera’s 2024/2025 Season opens with a spectacular free concert! If you’re new to opera, this 60-minute performance of famous arias is the perfect way to sample the opera experience in the iconic Winspear Opera House. Hear music from La bohème, Il trovatore, Così fan tutte, and La forza del destino, and more—including a sneak preview of music from our 2024/2025 Season opener, La traviata. Plus, audiences vote for the encore!

    Taking the stage are internationally celebrated singers from the cast of La traviata: Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz, American tenor Wayd Odle, South-African mezzo-soprano Siphokazi Molteno, and Mexican baritone Alfredo Daza. Conductor Paolo Bressan leads The Dallas Opera Orchestra; hosted by Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO.

    Alfredo Daza is a concertist of Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes (National Institute of Fine Arts, México)

    View the full program here.

    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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