The Dallas Opera has announced that the cancelation of its 2021 spring season.

The company’s Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, Ian Derrer said that due to extreme and ongoing COVID-19 concerns, the company has been forced to cancel its March and April 2021 subscription performances, with full-scale operas in the Winspear Opera House resuming in February and March of 2022 in a brand-new 2021-22 Season.

In a statement, General Director and CEO said, “It is with profound disappointment that TDO has made the decision not to proceed with the 2020-2021 Season performances planned for March and April of this year. The ongoing spread of COVID, the level of hospitalizations in our area, and the rate of vaccine rollout is such that we believe we cannot proceed with the modified season we had planned. On the advice of medical experts, and with the full safety of our artists, patrons, and staff of paramount importance, we are moving all our subscribers to the new 2021/2022 Season in the Winspear that will begin February of 2022 with four, full-scale grand opera productions.

He continued by announcing the February 2022 slate stating, “We want to return to the Winspear with a collection of grand opera favorites that we know will thrill our audiences. With ‘Madame Butterfly,’ ‘The Barber of Seville,’ and ‘The Pearl Fishers,’ that is what we will accomplish. The season will also include the TDO premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Flight, a crowd-pleaser that takes place in an airport terminal: it’s a story about identity and connection that’s sometimes very funny and always fascinating. We have some very exciting plans brewing for this spring and fall, 2021, as well as some unique presentations that will keep TDO front and center on the digital stage.”

The General Director and CEO announced that the company was planning a series of live outdoor opera events, as well as some socially distanced recitals in the Winspear Theatre that will take place in late spring this year.

The company also announced that the planned world premiere of “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” will be rescheduled for the 2022-23 season.

Full details of the 2021-22 season will be published in a separate article.