The Dallas Opera’s 2020-2021 season was just announced in the Winspear’s conference room with all types of news. To kick off the announcement, TDO Kern Wildenthal General Director/CEO Ian Derrer announced the following “Embrace The Passion!” season operas:
- “The Marriage of Figaro” – Friday, October 9; Sunday, October 11 (m); Wednesday, October 14; Saturday, October 17; Friday, October 23 and Sunday, October 15 (m)
- “Lohengrin”* – Friday, October 30; Sunday, November 1 (m); Wednesday, November 4 and Saturday, November 7
- “The Diving Bell And The Butterfly” (A Dallas Opera World Premiere) – Friday, March 5; Sunday, March 7 (m); Wednesday, March 10 and Saturday, March 13
- “Orfeo ed Euridce” – Friday, April 9; Sunday, April 11 (m); Wednesday, April 14 and Saturday, April 17
- “Tosca” – Friday, April 16; Sunday, April 18 (m); Wednesday, April 21; Saturday, April 24; Friday, April 30 and Sunday, May 2 (m)
Bela and Chase Cooley (File photo)
The two “special events’ for the season include two biggies — one familiar and one brand new, both being co-chaired by Bela and Chase Cooley.
The familiar one will be the black tie “First Night” that will take place on the first night of the operatic season (aka Friday, October 9) at the Winspear with a pre-performance seated dinner, the production and an after-party with the cast of “The Marriage of Figaro.”
The new event is “Viva Diva!” on Friday, November 6, with Grammy Award-winning soprano Joyce DiDonato onstage with The Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume conducting The Dallas Opera Orchestra. The program will include Jake Heggie‘s song cycle, “Camille Claude/: Into the Fire” (composed for the artist), “The Death of Cleopatra” by Berlioz, and two works by Beethoven, just in time for the composer’s 250th Birthday celebration!
One of the highlights of the day’s presentation was the presence of “The Diving Bell And The Butterfly” lead team of British composer Joby Talbot, librettist Gene Scheer and director Leonard Foglia. Based on the best-selling book about the late Jean-Dominique Bauby, it was an undertaking that was deeply personal for Gene, who had spent much time getting to know Bauby’s wife and children.
Joby, whose “Everest” premiered at the Winspear in 2015, described returning to the Winspear for the world premiere of “The Diving Bell and The Butterfly”: “I couldn’t be happier about returning to my operatic ‘home’ of Dallas for my new collaboration with Gene Scheer.”
And speaking of “Everest,” the trio departed the press conference midway to catch a plane back to Austin for the opening night of “Everest” at the Austin Opera.
Other season highlights include the following:
- The 2021 Robert E. And Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital on Sunday, January 31, at Moody Performance Hall
- The Hart Institute For Women Conductors Shows on Friday, February 19, at the Winspear Opera House
- The Dallas Opera National Vocal Competition, with the finals being held on Saturday, May 1
- The 2020/2021 Family Performance Series at the Winspear – “Doctor Miracle” on Saturday, October 24, and Saturday, March 6; and “Jack and the Beanstalk” on Saturday, October 10, and Saturday, March 27, 2021.
* Evening performances will begin at 7 p.m.