Charlie & Rogue's 
Favorite Opera Houses

When Charlie joined my family he was 10 weeks old, and his first operatic experience was in the magnificent historic opera house in Graz, Austria. He showed  that he had a good ear for singers, when, at 12 weeks, he was lying quietly in a corner of my office as I listened to a series of demo CDs from agents and singers, eventually I played one from a rather screechy soprano, singing the mad scene from "Lucia di Lammermoor", at which he ran across the room, jumped into my lap and hid his head under my arm!  Needless to say I followed his advice and did not engage the said singer.

At 14 weeks he travelled to the Vienna State opera (he loved the Intercontinental Hotel and the room service salmon sashimi). At 16 weeks it was Duesseldorf and Cologne (Duesseldorf had more trees outside the Opera House but Cologne had dog biscuits in the General Manager's office).  Stuttgart had a lovely park, but he had to stay at the porter's lodge (no biscuits).

He came into his element at the Salzburg Festival, where dogs and owners wore matching diamonds, and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich with it's nearby Beer Garden under chestnut trees, where he could slurp down the froth off the top of the Bier Stein.

He tells Rogue of his travels, but Rogue only knows Fair Park. They both hope there will be plentiful trees and a fountain outside the Winspear Opera House!

- Karen Stone,
  General Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are stars and, then, there are comets - returning artists who dazzle us again and again. Suzanne Calvin talks with Director of Artistic Administration Jonathan Pell about a few of those returning stars now preparing to streak across The Dallas Opera horizon, leaving a sense of genuine enchantment in their wake.

Read this interview to find out who we're raving about!
 

 Rossini, Master Composer...and Chef!

Gioachino Rossini, the master of melody who composed The Barber of Seville in a mere thirteen days, was a "foodie" of the first rank.  Known as one of the greatest gastronomes of the 19th century (the hoity-toity term for "foodie"), the composer once wrote, "I travel not so much for the sake of my music as for that of my stomach."  Rossini claimed, according to another anecdote, to have wept only three times in his life: over the fiasco of his first opera, when he heard Paganini play the violin, and the day a turkey stuffed with truffles fell overboard while he was enjoying a floating picnic.  Chefs from throughout Europe dedicated recipes to the maestro, many of which are still enjoyed today, and culinary references abound in Rossini's operas.

Click here to read more about Rossini and get a FREE recipe for the famous "Tournedos a la Rossini".

HOT Ticket:  The Dallas Opera Offers You Flexibility in the Value Zone.

For the first time, you have the flexibility to create your own subscription.  A three-performance-package starts at just $105.  You pick the night you attend, you pick the productions you want to experience, and you receive subscriber benefits*!  These packages are available only in Value Zone areas.  Call the Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 for more details.

*Full exchange and ticket insurance privileges apply.  Seats are not guaranteed for 07/08 season. 

Movies for a HOT Summer Night
By Jonathan Pell

When asked to recommend some films for a summer evening's entertainment, I first thought of David Lean's romantic masterpiece, "Summertime", made in 1955 and starring Katharine Hepburn and Rossano Brazzi.  It is the story of a spinster school teacher on vacation in Venice, who is seduced by the magic of one of the world's most romantic cities.

Well, thinking about Venice triggered thoughts of two other films shot in Venice, but unlike the sunny atmosphere of "Summertime", both of these are dark and disturbing.

Click here to read Jonathan's movie picks!

Animals Get the Upper Paw

During the famous opening night fiasco of The Barber of Seville, a cat wandered onstage during the First Act finale, sparking (as you might have guessed) cat-calls and every manner of bad behavior from the audience.  But it's not the only time an animal's unexpected appearance (or reaction) has stolen the spotlight from the human performers in an opera.  Click here to read about several other classic instances!

The Dallas Opera On MySpace
A word from Music Director, Graeme Jenkins

After a summer of performances with the Vienna State Opera and other world-renowned organizations, it's always good to come home to Dallas.  One of the things I most enjoy about conducting performances here are the endlessly diverse opinions I hear from our music savvy audiences.  Now, you have an opportunity to share those opinions with each other on The Dallas Opera's new "MySpace" page.  Just click on the link below.

http://www.myspace.com/thedallasopera

Friends who sign-up will get all the latest company news, invitations to special events and a chance to make great new contacts, both in and out of town.  The Dallas Opera "MySpace" page will also allow you to post your own reviews of our performances, or provide an intelligent counterpoint; a prospect that should prove as lively and entertaining as it is thought-provoking.  So, what are you waiting for?  Sign up now and get the conversation going today.

Many thanks, and let the coversation begin!

Graeme Jenkins, Music Dir.
The Dallas Opera

Attention All Grocery Shoppers:
1% of your Tom Thumb bill can go to TDO!

Click here to download a Reward Card Application and return it to your neighborhood Tom Thumb Courtesy Booth to link your card to our account (#4665).

Tom Thumb will pay us a percentage of your account total, so be sure to use your card every time you shop.