The buck stops here, at the desk of the GENERAL DIRECTOR. Fund-raising, balancing budgets, negotiating union contracts, strategic planning, public speaking and casting the final vote on nearly every aspect of company business is the arduous and exhilarating lot of the head of The Dallas Opera.

Control of what you see and hear onstage is the combined task of the CONDUCTOR, who directs the orchestra, chorus and singers in their musical performance and the STAGE DIRECTOR, who supervises the blocking, staging and dramatic aspects of the presentation. However, it is the CHORUS MASTER who does the work of preparing the members of the chorus for their important contribution to the overall performance. MUSICAL PREPARATION coaches the principal singers on their roles (from the piano) during the early rehearsal stage.

SUPERNUMERARIES or “Supers” as they are commonly known, are the non-singing performers on stage who make individual cameo appearances or are part of a crowd. Supers may be selected on their ability to fit into a particular costume!

The CHOREOGRAPHER creates dances and movement for a production. DESIGNERS are largely responsible for the look of the entire production, from the sets and costumes to the lighting design.

Where do the ideas for an opera come from?
From ancient mythology to today’s headlines and everything in between. Giuseppe Verdi used to travel with three books constantly in his possession: The Bible, the Complete Works of William Shakespeare, and the poetry of Schiller. Nearly all his operas were inspired by one of these three volumes. However, today’s operas come from a wide variety of source materials, both fictional and historical. Whether the subject is Nixon in China, Dead Man Walking, An American Tragedy or The Little Prince, opera has shown an uncanny ability to spark dialogue and touch hearts from one generation to the next.

What are the most famous operas today?
Start with the “ABC’s” Aida (the Egyptian opera, elephants are optional), Boheme (or, to be precise, La bohème, a tale of starving artists that continues to inspire works like Rent and the movie musical Moulin Rouge), and Carmen, the opera that proves that smoking isn’t the only thing bad for your health! Add Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Wagner’s Ring Cycle and Puccini’s Madame Butterfly to begin a modest list of today’s most popular operas.

Do opera singers wear microphones?
No, and this points out another difference between opera and today’s Broadway musicals. While a few opera companies permit microphones, most – including The Dallas Opera – do not, which means the singers must have the talent and training to compete, unaided, against the sound of a full-scale orchestra. It’s an extraordinary feat designed to create a spine-tingling musical experience that cannot be duplicated in any of the other performing arts.

If I don’t see a production this time, can I catch the same show later on?
Contrary to popular belief, these are NOT touring shows. When a Dallas Opera production ends, it goes back to the warehouse. It may be rented to another opera company in another part of the world or it could be revived by The Dallas Opera in a later season. However, it’s best to assume that this may be your only chance to see a given production, which is what keeps our season subscribers coming back, year after year.

Why are so many opera singers fat?
You’ve been watching too many old movies! Today’s opera singer is more likely to be a calorie-counting athlete than a couch potato. Improved physical conditioning has led to more theatrical opera stagings than in the past, and much longer, healthier, and impressive international careers.

COMPRIMARIO
is a 19th century Italian term for a singer who plays a supporting role.

DIVA
means “goddess,” and was once used to describe the supreme female singers of an era. Nowadays, it has acquired the connotation of great temperament as well as talent.

LEITMOTIF
is a signature musical passage or theme used as a dramatic device to underline character motivations and actions.

COLORATURA
is an ornamental section in an aria that consists of rapid runs and trills that display the singer’s exceptional virtuosity, agility and range.

DRAMMA GIOCOSO
means “jocular drama,” an Italian term for a comic opera with tragic overtones. Mozart’s Don Giovanni is a perfect example of the form.

HELDENTENOR
is a “heroic tenor” with a voice of great stamina and size needed for long and demanding operas, particularly those by Richard Wagner.

LIBRETTO,
or “little book,” contains the words of an opera or operetta.

IMPRESARIO
is the Italian title of the manager of an opera company. The German term is INTENDANT.

TEMPO
means “time” and indicates the preferred pace of the music.

ADAGIO
is music played (or sung) at a slow tempo.

BEL CANTO
means “beautiful singing” and describes an ornate style of writing designed to show off the splendors of the human voice. Lucia di Lammermoor and Norma are representative of the form.

INTERMEZZO
is a musical interlude between scenes, normally featuring the orchestra performing alone.

DA CAPO
means “from the top” and refers to repeating material in arias from the Baroque and Classical period.