Half a century ago, a benefit concert featuring the legendary Maria Callas began a tradition that gave birth to today’s Dallas Opera. Since then, The Dallas Opera has established the Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award to honor the singers who have made the strongest impression on our patrons. The list contains a slew of phenomenal artists, such as Sharon Sweet, Cecilia Bartoli and last year’s winner, Mary Dunleavy. What’s just as impressive, however, is the list of artists who were on the ballot for the Maria Callas Award but did not win.   

In the 1992-1993 season, Jerry Hadley was named as the Maria Callas Award winner. Since that time, he has been considered the leading American tenor of his generation and one of the most sought-after singers of our time. Interestingly, a young Pennsylvania soprano named Renée Fleming and a mezzo-soprano turned soprano, Carol Vaness, were also on the ballot. Today, these are two of most sought-after sopranos in the world.

Fleming appeared as Madam de Tourvel in the world premiere of Susa's The Dangerous Liaisons in 1994 and she premiered the role of Blanche DuBois in André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire at the San Francisco Opera in 1998. Her repertoire also includes the roles of Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, the title role in Dvorák's Rusalka, and many more.

In recent seasons, Vaness has added several roles to her repertoire. In 2003, she starred as Nivian in Albeniz's Merlin, at the Teatro Real in Madrid. Vaness's performance of Lady Macbeth in Verdi's Macbeth at the Netherlands Opera in 2003 was an internationally acclaimed success.

Other Maria Callas Award nominees include Verónica Villarroel who will be returning to The Dallas Opera this season as Magda in La Rondine, and Frances Ginzer, one of the world’s leading Wagnerian sopranos. Franco Farina, Richard Leech, Robert Lloyd, Ewa Podles and Teddy Tahu Rhodes were also on the ballot at various times, but had to settle for the honor of being nominated.