Dallas Opera
Encyclopedia
The Dallas Opera is an opera
company located in Dallas
, Texas
(USA
). The company was founded in 1957 as the Dallas Civic Opera by Laurence Kelly
and Nicolà Rescigno
, both of whom had been active with the Lyric Opera of Chicago
, the first as administrator, the second as artistic director.
opened the Civic Opera's first season with an inaugural recital conducted by Rescigno. She returned the following year to perform in La traviata
in a production by Franco Zeffirelli
and in Medea
, directed by the Greek director, Alexis Minotis
, two of her infrequent performances in the United States. According to John Ardoin
, the long-time music critic for The Dallas Morning News
, she sang in Lucia di Lammermoor
in the 1958 season. Callas' rehearsal, with Resigno conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
, on 20 November 1957 was recorded, as was her performance in Medea on 6 November 1958.
Of the company's successes, one writer notes that "the Dallas Opera may have been just beginning, but what they accomplished was of the highest standard", while, in an interview, John Ardoin outlines the role of Laurence Kelly:
Many singers have made their American debut in Dallas, such as Montserrat Caballé
, Plácido Domingo
, Gwyneth Jones
, Waltraud Meier
, Magda Olivero
, Joan Sutherland
, and Jon Vickers
. Designer/director Franco Zeffirelli
also made his US debut there.
Dallas also has helped launch the careers of such American singers as Renée Fleming
, Diana Soviero
, and Ruth Ann Swenson
.
The Dallas Opera commissioned Dominick Argento
’s The Aspern Papers and gave its world premiere, which was nationally broadcast to four million viewers on PBS's “Great Performances” series in 1988. The Dallas Opera's first commission was for Robert Xavier Rodriguez
's one-act children's opera Monkey See, Monkey Do in 1985. Additional commissions were for Tobias Picker
's Thérèse Raquin in 2001 and Jake Heggie
's Moby-Dick
in 2010.
became general manager in 2001. However, his plans for expanding the company's repertory did not come to fruition in the wake of an economic downturn during his tenure, and he stood down from the post in 2003. His successor, Karen Stone, was appointed in mid-2003 as the fifth General Director of the company. She had previously worked with Graeme Jenkins at the Cologne Opera in Germany, where he was principal guest conductor. In August 2007, Stone announced her resignation from the general directorship of Dallas Opera effective 30 September 2007. The current general director is Keith Cerny, who began his tenure with Dallas Opera in May 2010.
The current Music Director of the Dallas Opera is the English
conductor Graeme Jenkins
, who has held the post since 1994. In May 2011, the Dallas Opera announced the conclusion of Jenkins' tenure after the 2012-2013 season, after which he is scheduled to take the title of Music Director Emeritus.
. The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
, one venue of the AT&T Performing Arts Center
, became the opera's new home for the inaugural 2009-2010 Season, which includes the world premiere of Moby-Dick
by composer Jake Heggie
. Musical Director Graeme Jenkins believes that the new venue will prove an engine of growth for the company, and predicts that, within five years, it will be operating on a par with the Lyric Opera of Chicago
and San Francisco Opera
.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
company located in Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
(USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
). The company was founded in 1957 as the Dallas Civic Opera by Laurence Kelly
Laurence Kelly
Laurence Kelly is a former Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He was elected as a Fianna Fáil Teachta Dála for the Cork North West constituency at the 1989 general election. He lost his seat at the 1992 general election.-References:...
and Nicolà Rescigno
Nicola Rescigno
Nicola Rescigno was an Italian-American conductor, particularly associated with the Italian opera repertory. Opera News said that "Rescigno was a seminal figure in the history of opera in America, a maestro and mentor who shaped the destiny and reputation of two major U.S...
, both of whom had been active with the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
, the first as administrator, the second as artistic director.
The company's artistic successes
The company made its mark in American opera long before the upsurge of regional opera in the US.Maria CallasMaria Callas
Maria Callas was an American-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique, a wide-ranging voice and great dramatic gifts...
opened the Civic Opera's first season with an inaugural recital conducted by Rescigno. She returned the following year to perform in La traviata
La traviata
La traviata is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on La dame aux Camélias , a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, fils. The title La traviata means literally The Fallen Woman, or perhaps more figuratively, The Woman...
in a production by Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
and in Medea
Médée (Cherubini)
Médée is a French language opéra-comique by Luigi Cherubini.The libretto by François-Benoît Hoffmann was based on Euripides' tragedy of Medea and Pierre Corneille's play Médée....
, directed by the Greek director, Alexis Minotis
Alexis Minotis
Alexis Minotakis, known as Alexis Minotis , was born 8 August 1898 or 1899 in Deliana , Chania, Crete and died on 11 November 1990 in Athens, Greece....
, two of her infrequent performances in the United States. According to John Ardoin
John Ardoin
John Ardoin, , was best known as the music critic of The Dallas Morning News for thirty-two years and especially for his friendship with and encyclopedic knowledge of the work of the famous opera soprano, Maria Callas, about whom he wrote four books...
, the long-time music critic for The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News
The Dallas Morning News is the major daily newspaper serving the Dallas, Texas area, with a circulation of 264,459 subscribers, the Audit Bureau of Circulations reported in September 2010...
, she sang in Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor....
in the 1958 season. Callas' rehearsal, with Resigno conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is an American orchestra. It performs its concerts in the Meyerson Symphony Center in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas, United States....
, on 20 November 1957 was recorded, as was her performance in Medea on 6 November 1958.
Of the company's successes, one writer notes that "the Dallas Opera may have been just beginning, but what they accomplished was of the highest standard", while, in an interview, John Ardoin outlines the role of Laurence Kelly:
- “Everything must ride or fall on the taste of one man…. As it did with Kelly and his company. He went through all kinds of crap for 10 months out of the year -- mean fund-raising and playing social games and all -- to do what he loved the most for two months out of the year. And Kelly didn't care if you did AidaAidaAida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
, or RigolettoRigolettoRigoletto is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi. The Italian libretto was written by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo. It was first performed at La Fenice in Venice on March 11, 1851...
, or CarmenCarmenCarmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
-- it just had to be the best Aida, and Rigoletto, and Carmen. He would agonize over it, and think it out. Nothing was ever casual with him, in the casting or the productions. That's not to say he didn't make mistake. But, ultimately, it was his taste, and his vision, and his commitment that did the trick".
Many singers have made their American debut in Dallas, such as Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé
Montserrat Caballé is a Spanish operatic soprano. Although she sang a wide variety of roles, she is best known as an exponent of the bel canto repertoire, notably the works of Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti and Verdi....
, Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, Gwyneth Jones
Gwyneth Jones (opera singer)
Dame Gwyneth Jones DBE is a Welsh soprano.Before becoming a professional singer, Dame Gwyneth worked as a secretary at the Pontypool foundry. She studied music at the Royal College of Music, London, the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena as well as the International Opera Studio in Zürich...
, Waltraud Meier
Waltraud Meier
Waltraud Meier is a Grammy Award–winning German dramatic soprano and mezzo-soprano singer. She is particularly known for her Wagnerian roles as Kundry, Isolde, Ortrud, Venus and Sieglinde, but has also had success in the French and Italian repertoire appearing as Eboli, Amneris, Carmen and Santuzza...
, Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero
Magda Olivero is a soprano of the verismo-school of singing. She was born in Saluzzo, Italy. Olivero made her operatic debut in 1932 on Turin radio in Cattozzo’s oratorio I misteri dolorosi. She performed widely and increasingly successfully until 1941, when she married and retired from performing...
, Joan Sutherland
Joan Sutherland
Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s....
, and Jon Vickers
Jon Vickers
Jonathan Stewart Vickers, CC , known professionally as Jon Vickers, is a retired Canadian heldentenor.Born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, he was the sixth in a family of eight children. In 1950, he was awarded a scholarship to study opera at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto...
. Designer/director Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli
Franco Zeffirelli KBE is an Italian director and producer of films and television. He is also a director and designer of operas and a former senator for the Italian center-right Forza Italia party....
also made his US debut there.
Dallas also has helped launch the careers of such American singers as Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
, Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero
Diana Soviero is an American operatic soprano of international stature, a recipient of the Richard Tucker Award in 1979....
, and Ruth Ann Swenson
Ruth Ann Swenson
Ruth Ann Swenson is an American soprano who is renowned for her brilliance in coloratura roles.Born in Bronxville, New York and raised in Commack, New York on Long Island, Swenson studied at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and briefly at Hartt College of Music in West Hartford, Connecticut...
.
The Dallas Opera commissioned Dominick Argento
Dominick Argento
Dominick Argento is an American composer, best known as a leading composer of lyric opera and choral music...
’s The Aspern Papers and gave its world premiere, which was nationally broadcast to four million viewers on PBS's “Great Performances” series in 1988. The Dallas Opera's first commission was for Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodriguez
Robert Xavier Rodríguez is an American classical composer, best known for his eight operas and his works for children.- Life and career :...
's one-act children's opera Monkey See, Monkey Do in 1985. Additional commissions were for Tobias Picker
Tobias Picker
Tobias Picker is an American composer. Picker began composing at the age of eight and studied at the Manhattan School of Music, The Juilliard School and Princeton University, where his principal teachers were Charles Wuorinen, Elliott Carter and Milton Babbitt...
's Thérèse Raquin in 2001 and Jake Heggie
Jake Heggie
Jake Heggie is an American composer and pianist.Jake Heggie is the composer of the operas Dead Man Walking , The End of the Affair , At The Statue of Venus , To Hell and Back , and Moby-Dick , as well as the stage work For a Look or a Touch...
's Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick (opera)
Moby-Dick is an opera in two acts by Jake Heggie to an English libretto by Gene Scheer from Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick. It premiered at the Dallas Opera in Dallas, Texas on April 30, 2010.-Background:...
in 2010.
Administration
Anthony Whitworth-JonesAnthony Whitworth-Jones
Anthony Whitworth-Jones has been the General Director of the Garsington Opera since 2005. He also worked with the Glyndebourne opera during the 1980s....
became general manager in 2001. However, his plans for expanding the company's repertory did not come to fruition in the wake of an economic downturn during his tenure, and he stood down from the post in 2003. His successor, Karen Stone, was appointed in mid-2003 as the fifth General Director of the company. She had previously worked with Graeme Jenkins at the Cologne Opera in Germany, where he was principal guest conductor. In August 2007, Stone announced her resignation from the general directorship of Dallas Opera effective 30 September 2007. The current general director is Keith Cerny, who began his tenure with Dallas Opera in May 2010.
The current Music Director of the Dallas Opera is the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
conductor Graeme Jenkins
Graeme Jenkins
Graeme James Ewers Jenkins is a British conductor, specializing in opera. He read music at the University of Cambridge, and later studied conducting at the Royal College of Music. He worked with Norman Del Mar and Sir David Willcocks, and as an Adrian Boult Conducting Scholar, Jenkins conducted...
, who has held the post since 1994. In May 2011, the Dallas Opera announced the conclusion of Jenkins' tenure after the 2012-2013 season, after which he is scheduled to take the title of Music Director Emeritus.
Performance Venues
From 1957 to 2009 the Dallas Opera performed in the historic Music Hall at Fair ParkMusic Hall at Fair Park
The Music Hall at Fair Park is a 3,420 seat performing arts facility in Dallas's Fair Park that opened on October 10, 1925.The building is of Spanish Baroque style with Moorish architectural influences, containing six stair towers capped with cast domes and arcade porches overlooking Fair Park...
. The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House
The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is an opera house located in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas ....
, one venue of the AT&T Performing Arts Center
AT&T Performing Arts Center
The AT&T Performing Arts Center, preliminarily referred to as the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts is a $354 million multi-venue center in the Dallas Arts District for performances of opera, musical theater, classic and experimental theater, ballet and other forms of dance...
, became the opera's new home for the inaugural 2009-2010 Season, which includes the world premiere of Moby-Dick
Moby-Dick (opera)
Moby-Dick is an opera in two acts by Jake Heggie to an English libretto by Gene Scheer from Herman Melville's novel Moby-Dick. It premiered at the Dallas Opera in Dallas, Texas on April 30, 2010.-Background:...
by composer Jake Heggie
Jake Heggie
Jake Heggie is an American composer and pianist.Jake Heggie is the composer of the operas Dead Man Walking , The End of the Affair , At The Statue of Venus , To Hell and Back , and Moby-Dick , as well as the stage work For a Look or a Touch...
. Musical Director Graeme Jenkins believes that the new venue will prove an engine of growth for the company, and predicts that, within five years, it will be operating on a par with the Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
and San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
.