Breaking New Ground

Courtesy of The Dallas Center for Performing Arts Foundation

November 10, 2005, construction crews will break ground on The Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, a $275 million project being designed to be among the finest performing arts facilities in the world. It will feature the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre, the City Performance Hall, a new and improved Annette Strauss Artist Square, the Grand Plaza (larger in size than London's Trafalgar Square), and an Underground Parking Garage. 

The Center is the largest public/private cultural initiative ever undertaken in the North Texas region. Construction of the Winspear Opera House and Wyly Theatre begins next year.

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House was designed by Foster and Partners, based in London.  Organizationally, the Winspear Opera House reinvents the conventional typology of the opera house, inverting its closed, hierarchical form to create a transparent, publicly welcoming series of spaces, wrapping around the rich red drum of the 2,200 seat auditorium.

The ambition is to create a building that will not only be fully integrated with the cultural life of Dallas, but will become a destination in its own right and will be accessible for the public throughout the day.

Formally, there is a strong connection between inside and outside spaces, emphasized by the transparency of the façade - its glass walls revealing views of the public concourse, upper-level foyers and grand staircase. Entered beneath a solar canopy, which shades the outdoor civic spaces, from the Texan sun, the transition from the public spaces, through the lobbies, into the auditorium is designed to heighten the drama of attending a performance, in effect, to take the theatre to the audience.

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.

Nov 11 -- Opening Night Celebration! Don't miss The Dallas Opera's socal season kick off.   

See complete calendar & event details!

10% OFF Tickets to Season Opener!

The season opens with two powerful works, Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci, that redefined opera for the world, in a brand new production for The Dallas Opera. Lust, jealousy and love, need we say more...?

Special invitation to young professionals!

Check out the new socializing and networking crew of The Dallas Opera - Amici di Opera!

It's a diverse group of professionals between the ages of 25 & 45 who want to meet new people, learn about the opera, socialize before and after performances, and get great discounts on opera tickets! Click here for more information.

Karen's Fall Reading Recommendations!

With Fall right around the corner, what better time to grab a cup of tea and get comfy on the couch with a great book! From a triple murder in a forest to a look back at London during the 17th century, Karen has several recommendations that will keep you turning the page!

Costumes: What a Sight!

Legendary costume and scenic designer, Peter J. Hall, has worked on more than 70 Dallas Opera productions. Mr. Hall has designed for many of the most notable celebrities of the past half-century, including Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and David Bowie.

Mr. Hall says there is always something special about the way people look in costume no matter where they come from. Listen in!

Where in the World is Graeme?
The Fall Edition

As autumn beckons, Dallas Opera Music Director Graeme Jenkins (in between preparing for the exciting 2005-2006 Season) has a full schedule of overseas performances to keep things hopping!  Recently, Graeme was in Copenhagen, Denmark, to conduct a series of concerts featuring the music of Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart. Read on....

Opera and the Movies.

TDO continues FREE Film and Lecture Series!

Catch "Raging Bull" Monday, Oct. 24th at The Shops at Legacy in Plano and Tuesday, Oct. 25th at Mockingbird Station in Dallas. Both showings begin at 7:00 pm. "Raging Bull" features music from Cavalleria rusticana, the first production of the 2005-06 Season at The Dallas Opera. Read more...