The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has announced its 2025-26 season.

Opera 

The season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen” led by an all-female team composed of Chelsea Gallo, a rising star within the conducting world, Irene Rodriguez, an award-winning Flamenco dancer and choreographer, and Dayton Opera’s Artistic Director Kathleen Clawson as stage director.

Performance Dates: Nov. 1-2, 2025

A double will be presented featuring Shawn E. Okpebholo’s “The Cook-Off” and Lee Hoiby’s “Bon Appétit!” 

Performance Dates: Feb. 6-7, 2026

John Holiday takes the stage, backed by the full Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra.

Performance Date: April 25, 2026

The season concludes with Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess” In Concert.

Performance Dates: May 15–16, 2026

Masterworks

The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Dayton Philharmonic Chamber Chorus unite for Handel’s “Messiah.”

Performance Date: Dec. 16, 2025

Pianist Awadagin Pratt joins the DPO to perform two concertos written especially for him, both inspired by T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. The program concludes with Mozart’s Requiem.

Performance Dates: May 1-2, 2026