The Dallas Opera is set to embark on the 10th edition of its Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors. To honor its 10th anniversary, the institution will shift its format. Whereas before it was a residency with a class of composers, this year, the program will feature a special Anniversary Showcase Concert on Jan. 25, 2025. Among the {…}
The Dallas Opera (TDO) has named Emily Sitton to the position of Director of Marketing and Communications. Prior to her TDO appointment, Sitton was Director of Marketing for Tennessee Performing Arts Center for four years. She was previously at Houston Grand Opera where she worked with the Young Professionals Group. “I am honored and excited to join the dedicated team {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced its streaming slate of recent productions. The company had previously announced a slate of operas to stream this summer, mainly those from its 2024-25 season. First up is the October 2022 production of “Rigoletto” starring George Gagnidze in the title role, Madison Leonard as his daughter Gilda, and René Barbera as the Duke of Mantua. {…}
(Photo by Curtis Brown) Mezzo-soprano Kayla Nanto has won the first prize at The Dallas Opera’s Lone Star Vocal Competition. She also took home the Jonathan Pell People’s Choice. The mezzo will now automatically advance to the final round of the 2026 National Vocal Competition. She has performed with Santa Fe Opera, Opera Montana, Pensacola Opera, Painted Sky Opera, Fort {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced the 10 finalists for its 2025 Lone Star Vocal Competition. The finalists include soprano Amelia Burshe, bass-baritone Sam Dhobhany, mezzo-soprano Stephanie Doche, mezzo-soprano Joanne Evans, mezzo-soprano Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano Kayla Nanto, baritone Michael Pandolfo, soprano Ardeen Pierre, and soprano Laura Corina Sanders. The 10 will perform on March 7, 2025, at the Winspear Opera House {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced a series of cast changes for tis upcoming “Pelléas et Mélisande” production. The company revealed that Edward Nelson would take on the role of Pelléas instead of Benjamin Appl, who withdrew due to family reasons. This is Nelson debut with the company. Additionally, Benjamin Bjorklund will take on the role of Ynold, taking over for {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced the selection of the 2024-25 participants in the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors. This season the conductors selected are Jiannan Cheng (China), Virginie Déjos (France), Anna Castro Grinstein (Spain/Argentina), and CJ Wu (Taiwan). The musicians were chosen from a worldwide applicant pool of 94 conductors, the second largest group since the program’s {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced that tenor Long Long is the recipient of the 2023-24 Maria Callas Debut Artist Award. The tenor debuted in “Roméo et Juliette” this season. “Words can’t express how excited and touched I am to receive this precious award,” said Long Long in an official press release. “It’s a great honor for me and a significant {…}
The Dallas Opera and WRR 101.1FM have announced that they will partner again this year to broadcast the four mainstage productions from TDO’s 2023/2024 Season on the Concert Hall program. The series will begin on July 22 with “Tosca” starring Ewa Płonka as Tosca, Jonathan Burton as Cavaradossi, and Gihoon Kim as Scarpia. Then on On August 12, “The Diving {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced the appointment of Paolo Bressan as its next Chorus Director and Head of Music beginning with the 2024-25 Season. Bressan has been an associate conductor with TDO since 2015, and this season conducted Family performances of Pépito and the National Vocal Competition. He also served as assistant conductor for this season’s productions of “Tosca,” “The {…}
The Dallas Opera has announced that it will be releasing free digital streams of its recent productions over the course of the next six months. First up is “Rigoletto” from 2022, directed by Tomer Zvulun and starring George Gagnidze, Madison Leonard, and René Barbera. Emmanuel Villaume conducts. Streaming Dates: April 1 – May 31, 2024 Then comes “Hansel and Gretel,” also {…}
