FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Contact: Suzanne Calvin (214.443.1014/suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org)
Or Megan Meister (214.443.1071/megan.meister@dallasopera.org)
A LONE STAR STATE RECORD!
AN ESTIMATED 15,000
THRILL TO THE MUSIC OF MOZART AT THE DALLAS OPERA COWBOYS STADIUM SIMULCAST!
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PRESENTED BY THE DALLAS FOUNDATION
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HISTORIC SIMULCAST GENERATES TICKET REQUESTS OF MORE THAN 34,000 AND HUNDREDS OF WALK-UPS AT COWBOYS STADIUM!
DALLAS, TX, APRIL 29, 2012 – The Dallas Opera, in partnership with Cowboys Stadium, drew an estimated fifteen thousand patrons to the Dallas Opera’s one-night-only April 28th Dallas Opera Cowboys Stadium Simulcast, presented by The Dallas Foundation, making it the best-attended opera stadium simulcast in Texas history. More than 34,000 ticket requests came in from throughout Texas and 26 additional states, Canada, and the District of Columbia.
Hundreds of patrons descended on Cowboys Stadium after 5:00 p.m. yesterday to scoop up the limited number of general admission tickets made available for the event.
Additional data collected from those making ticket requests indicate that, in the final analysis, 92% of participating households have no previous purchasing history with the Dallas Opera. For many, the Cowboys Stadium Simulcast was their first, live experience of the art form in any venue.
Patrons appeared captivated by the three-hour performance of Mozart’s THE MAGIC FLUTE, originating in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, on the world’s largest high-definition video board structure, comprised of four massive viewing screens (the largest, 72 feet tall and 160 feet wide) suspended directly above the playing field.
“We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to last night’s performance,” said Charlotte Anderson, Dallas Cowboys Executive Vice President. “While we loved the idea of helping provide a free simulcast of the Dallas Opera’s performance of THE MAGIC FLUTE when this project first started, I don’t think any of us initially imagined we would ultimately have around fifteen thousand people gather here at Cowboys Stadium to take part in this community event.
“This truly is a powerful showing of support for the arts here in North Texas.”
Operagoers, including many families with younger children, hit Cowboys Stadium concession stands before settling into their seats for an evening of world-class entertainment. Comments, Facebook postings and tweets were overwhelmingly positive throughout the night. Even patrons at the Winspear Opera House got into the spirit of the event, creating an audience “wave” (led by Patrick Carfizzi) that rippled through the entire opera house!
“There has never been a simulcast of this magnitude even attempted in North Texas,” says Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. “We are so proud of everyone involved: the Jones Family, the Dallas Foundation, our union partners and staff, our patrons, our amazing artists and orchestra, and every individual who stepped up their game to lend support to this extraordinary community event.
“The fact that we attracted requests from tens of thousands of people from all across the country and, ultimately, drew approximately fifteen thousand to Cowboys Stadium in our first offering there, makes this event an unqualified success,” Mr. Cerny explains. “And more importantly, the lengthy and enthusiastic ovation that came at the conclusion of the performance at Cowboys Stadium indicated, strongly, that we either met—or exceeded—our audience’s high expectations.”
The artists themselves were caught up in the simulcast adventure last night. Soprano Ava Pine, who dazzled in the role of Pamina, remarked, “As a born and bred Texan, I already knew we did things just a little bit bigger, but this is amazing! It has been a true joy to be a part of the energy and excitement surrounding this historic simulcast. I only wish I could have seen it myself!”
Bass-baritone Patrick Carfizzi, whose antics as the love-starved Papageno delighted crowds in both venues added: “Dallas, these are your Cowboys, this is your opera company, and I am honored to be a part of it!”
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Single tickets for the final mainstage productions of the Dallas Opera’s “Tragic Obsessions” Season are on sale now, starting at just $25, through the Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or online at www.dallasopera.org. Student Rush best-available tickets can be purchased at the lobby box office for $25 (one per valid Student I.D.) ninety minutes prior to each performance.
Secure your seats today for the remaining spring mainstage productions: La traviata (through today) and The Magic Flute (April 20th through May 6th).
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THE DALLAS OPERA GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES
THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION,
PRESENTER OF THE 2011-2012 SEASON
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE “TRAGIC OBSESSIONS” SEASON
IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7
VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG
For high-resolution, digital photographs suitable for print
To arrange an interview
Or for additional information
Please contact Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director Media & PR
214.443.1014 or suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org
THE DALLAS OPERA WISHES TO EXPRESS ITS GRATITUDE TO OUR EXCLUSIVE PARTNERS:
AMERICAN AIRLINES – OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE DALLAS OPERA
LEXUS – OFFICIAL VEHICLE OF THE DALLAS OPERA
CARTIER – OFFICIAL JEWELER & WATCHMAKER OF THE DALLAS OPERA
ROSEWOOD CRESCENT HOTEL – OFFICIAL HOTEL OF THE DALLAS OPERA
THE DALLAS OPERA 2011-2012 SPRING SEASON INFORMATION
The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Fifth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in downtown Dallas. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees will begin at 2:00 p.m. Performances of The Lighthouse (new chamber opera series) will take place in the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre located directly across Flora street from the Winspear in the AT&T Performing Arts Center. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance. Assistance is available for the hearing impaired. All ticket sales are final and no late seating is permitted prior to intermission. Events and guest artists subject to change.
THE LIGHTHOUSE by Peter Maxwell Davies
Inaugural production of the Dallas Opera Chamber Series
Presented in collaboration with the Dallas Theater Center
In the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the AT&T Performing Arts Center
March 16, 17 & 18(m), 2012
A chilling supernatural and psychological thriller!
Time: December 1900
Place: Edinburgh Court of Enquiry, Fladda Isle Lighthouse off the Scottish coast
Conductor: Nicole Paiement*
Stage Director: Kevin Moriarty* (opera directorial debut)
Scenic Design: Beowulf Boritt*
Costume Design: Claudia Stephens*
Starring: (in order of vocal appearance:) Andrew Bidlack* (Officer 1/Sandy), Robert Orth (Officer 2/Blazes), and Daniel Sumegi (Officer 3/Arthur/Voice of the Cards).
LA TRAVIATA by Giuseppe Verdi
April 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 & 29(m), 2012
Let’s Party Like It’s 1849!
An opera in three acts first performed in Venice at Teatro La Fenice, March 6, 1853
Text by Francesco Maria Piave, based on Alexandre Dumas’ play, La dame aux camélias
Time: 19th century
Place: Paris
Conductor: Marco Guidarini
Stage Director: Bliss Hebert
Production Design: Allen Charles Klein
Lighting Design: Thomas Hase
Choreographer: Rosa Mercedes*
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Starring: Myrtò Papatanasiu** (Violetta Valéry), James Valenti (Alfredo Germont), Laurent Naouri* (Giorgio Germont), Amanda Crider* (Flora Bervoix), Timothy Mix* (Baron Douphol), Mark McCrory (Marchese D’Obigny), Ethan Herschenfeld* (Doctor Grenvil), and Susan Nicely (Annina).
THE MAGIC FLUTE by W.A. Mozart
April 20, 22(m), 25, 28, May 4 & 6(m), 2012
Hearts Tested, Tried and True!
An opera in two acts first performed in Vienna, September 30, 1791.
Text by Emanuel Schikaneder.
Time: Legendary
Place: Mythological Egypt
Conductor: Graeme Jenkins
Production: August Everding
Stage Director: Matthew Lata
Scenic Design: Jörg Zimmermann*
Costume Design: Renate Kalanke*
Lighting Design: Duane Schuler
Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman
Chorus Master: Alexander Rom
Children’s Chorus Master: Melinda Cotten
Starring: Ava Pine (Pamina), Shawn Mathey* (Tamina), Patrick Carfizzi (Papageno), L’ubica Vargicová* (The Queen of the Night), Raymond Aceto (Sarastro), Kevin Langan (The Speaker), David Cangelosi (Monostatos), Angela Mannino* (Papagena), Caitlin Lynch* (First Lady), Lauren McNeese* (Second Lady), Maya Lahyani* (Third Lady), Aaron Blake (First Man in Armour) and Darren K. Stokes* (Second Man in Armour).
* Dallas Opera Debut
** American Operatic Debut
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The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; TACA; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Opera. Cartier is the official jeweler and watchmaker of The Dallas Opera. Rosewood Crescent Hotel is the official hotel of The Dallas Opera. Advertising support from The Dallas Morning News. A special thanks to Mrs. William W. Winspear and the Elsa von Seggern Foundation for their continuing support.
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