FROM UKRAINE TO THE UNITED STATES: Conversation with TDO Chorus Master, Alexander Rom.

He's come a long way since his childhood days in the former Soviet Union. Though his love and gift for music have always been strong, they haven't always paid the bills. Alexander Rom has made his mark in the United States, but he worked hard to do it. He tells his story to Suzanne Calvin, Associate Director of Marketing.

Calvin:  Tell us a little about yourself, Alexander.

Rom:  I was born in what is now the sovereign nation of Ukraine, which, at that time was a part of the Soviet Union.  This is where I went to a special music school for gifted children and later applied for the St. Petersburg Conservatory of Music (then, Leningrad), one of the two finest conservatories in the country.  I was fortunate enough to be admitted and I finalized my studies there.

Calvin:  Were you always interested in choral music?

Rom:  Well, strangely enough, it was a very choral-oriented music school with a very extensive program at that time, because the director of the school was a chorus master herself.  I've always been affiliated with choral music, in some form or fashion.

Calvin:  When did you arrive in the United States?

Rom:  In 1976.  New Orleans, Louisiana became my new hometown...

Calvin:  That's quite a culture shock!  From Ukraine to the "Big Easy?"

Sept 24 -- "Inside The Dallas Opera!" TDO's very own 30-minute radio show at noon on WRR, 101.1FM

Now through September 30 -- Subscriber Ticket Pre-Sale- a 20% savings on single tickets!

Oct 1 -- Single Tickets Become Available to the General Public at 10:00 am!

Oct 12 - Amici di Opera launch party!

Oct 15 -- "Inside The Dallas Opera!" TDO's very own 30-minute radio show at noon on WRR, 101.1FM

Oct 24 -- Opera and the Movies Screening, "Raging Bull,"The Shops at Legacy (Plano) Angelika Film Center.  7:00 pm start time.

Oct 25 -- Opera and the Movies Screening, "Raging Bull," Mockingbird Station (Dallas) Angelika Film Center.  7:00 pm start time.

See complete calendar & event details!

FREE SUBSCRIPTION to The Dallas Opera!

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"Dallas Arts United for Hurricane Relief"

Donors, patrons and supporters of The Dallas Opera were at the forefront of a local performing arts campaign to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  Approximately one-third of the total volunteers collecting cash donations, in addition to non-perishable food, clothing and other badly needed items for "Dallas Arts United for Hurricane Relief," were associated with our company. 

And the award goes to...

When it came to the "Best Use of Opera in a Major Motion Picture," you had several strong choices- from a widowed bookkeeper in Brooklyn to an oh-so-charming Hollywood hooker! But, the results don't lie....  Here's the tally!

FAVORITE ITALIAN FILMS

In the spirit of Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, the opening production of the 2005-06 season, TDO Artistic Director, Jonathan Pell, racked his brain for his favorite Italian films. We're not talking about stuff like "The Italian Job" or "Roman Holiday." Jonathan delved into his treasure chest of knowledge to give us his favorite neo-realism films of the late forties and fifties (most are actually available on Netflix!).

Karen invites you to sit back and relax!

Here I am, writing about wine - again! And what makes a better accompaniment to a good glass of wine than a memorable recording?

When I think CDs, my heart leaps at the memory of being in the audience for a performance that resulted in an unbelievable recording: February 1970, in the Royal Albert Hall, London, Leonard Bernstein set the audience alight with a magical interpretation of Verdi's Requiem. Karen's recomendations!

A Look Back:

The Dallas Opera Board President John T. Cody, Jr.

Whenever I encounter someone who's never been to the opera, I know it's because they haven't been properly introduced.  And that's a real problem these days.  People are understandably afraid that they won't be able to follow the plot.  Many, many people don't know that projected English translations, like we have here at The Dallas Opera, are the norm.  There's no need to search your attic for old foreign language textbooks in order to figure out what's happening onstage!  However, a little advance planning can make your evening at The Dallas Opera better than ever!

Film and Lecture Series Opens with GREAT Success!

Audiences eagerly entered the Angelika's Plano and Dallas locations Sept 19 and 20 for the free screenings of "Flashmob: The Opera."  Most of the patrons had only read about the movie online and were anxious to see how it would play out.

One hour and many laughs later - the audience emerged with smiles on their faces. "It took opera out of the box and brought it to the streets. Fantastic film!" one patron said.