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History

Lawrence Kelly and Maria Callas

More than half a century of artistic excellence and community engagement has made the Dallas Opera a major factor in the international cultural reputation of Dallas and a major contributor to the economic impact of the performing arts in North Texas.

The Dallas Opera has presented many international stars in their American debuts, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Jon Vickers, and Plácido Domingo, as well as designer-director Franco Zeffirelli. A champion of new work, the Dallas Opera has also presented the American premieres of five operas and additional world premieres. Most recently, the company commissioned composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create a new opera based on Herman Melville's 19th-century novel "Moby-Dick."

Maestro Nicola Rescigno

In 1957, civic leaders worked diligently to found a resident opera company in Dallas, including Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Miller, Jr., Dallas Morning News critic John Rosenfield, and William A. McKenzie. They approached Lawrence Kelly, formerly associated with Chicago's Lyric Theater, about establishing an opera company in Dallas. Mr. Kelly agreed to pursue that goal and the Dallas Civic Opera was chartered in March of 1957. Mr. Kelly named his long-time associate, Maestro Nicola Rescigno, as artistic director. The Dallas Civic Opera opened with an inaugural concert by legendary Greek soprano Maria Callas in November of that year, and a production of what was then a Rossini rarity, The Italian Girl in Algiers.

The Dallas Opera has been inviting young students to the opera to experience special school performances since 1961, and our wide-ranging youth education programs have garnered numerous awards. Recently, the Dallas Opera worked with Southern Methodist University to develop the Emerging Artists Program and a presentation of the 35-minute one act opera, Red Carnations, designed to introduce students to the art form while also sparking discussion of "stranger danger" and internet predators. The company also launched its first Young Artists Program to advance the education and opportunities for tomorrow's talented young singers and developed "Opera in a Box: Follow Your Dreams," a classical version of "A Chorus Line," which has delighted audiences, both young and old.

The Winspear Opera House

The Dallas Opera inaugurated performances in the Foster + Partners designed Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in October of 2009 and adopted a semi-repertory format later in the same season.

The performing arts in Dallas will never be the same.

See also our Opera 101 and Frequently Asked Questions.