Feature
by Suzanne Calvin
Giuseppe Verdi |
Early this morning, four decades after it smashed box office records across the U.S., I finally got around to seeing “Love Story” when it snuck up on my television screen. Aside from a head-snapping appearance by a youthful Tommy Lee Jones, the movie was everything I expected and less.
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It featured a sappy, over-the-top music score, “hoot-worthy” dialogue, and a plucky young heroine with one foot planted on the ultimate banana peel, who could easily have been mistaken for either Mimi or Violetta – if only she had TB.
Much has been written about the romanticization of certain diseases; chief among them, the dreaded and once nearly untreatable consumption, better known today by its official name: Tuberculosis.
Read more on our blog >
Suzanne Calvin, Manager/Director of Media and PR for The Dallas Opera, is an award-winning journalist, producer, classical music broadcaster and playwright. Most importantly, she tells you prior to each TDO performance to turn off your cellphone. You were listening, right?
Whole Foods Market
Community Giving Day
Support the Dallas Opera simply by shopping at Whole Foods Market Park Lane on Wednesday, April 4th — 5% of proceeds will go toward supporting the Dallas Opera’s educational programs.
We’ll be at a table where you can learn about the upcoming season, as well as our fun summer kids’ camps. Be sure to stop by and say hi!
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Megan’s Musings
moderated by Megan Meister
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I am sitting down with Ethan Herschenfeld, Doctor Grenvil in TDO’s upcoming production of La traviata, which opens on Friday, April 13th. Ethan is making his debut with us.
Listen on our blog >
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From the Desk of Keith Cerny
by TDO General Director & CEO Keith Cerny
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I recently returned from the Opera America Board meeting in New York, and one of the main topics of discussion for opera companies of all sizes was “new works.” All of us are striving to broaden the appeal of opera, engage new and younger audiences, and develop exciting and thought-provoking new repertoire for the 21st century. The North American Works Directory maintained by Opera America includes over 1,200 entries, many of which, it may surprise you to learn, have been written in the last 25 years.
Read more at TheaterJones >
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The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition
Soprano Heather Hawk receiving her prize from this year's Vocal Competition honorees, Elaine and Bill Blaylock.
The Dallas Opera Guild’s 24th Annual Vocal Competition for young opera singers ended on a high-note (somehow, it always does) on Saturday, March 10th in the Winspear Opera House, when ten outstanding finalists with Texas connections were awarded a total of $20,000 in prize monies, following a nearly unprecedented “battle of the sopranos.”
29-year-old soprano Heather Hawk of Weatherford, who is currently pursuing her doctorate in Musical Arts at the University of North Texas, held the audience transfixed with powerful renditions of “Il est doux, il est bon” from Massenet’s Hérodiade and “Ah, mio cor!” from Händel’s Alcina, accompanied by pianist Julian Reed. Earlier in the day, she performed selections from Così fan tutte and Adriana Lecouvreur during the semifinals round.
Miss Hawk received her $8,000 First Place cash prize from this year’s special honorees, Elaine and Bill Blaylock.
Read more on our blog >
Facebook Question of the Week
“Otello. Amazing opportunity to create a living, breathing character. First the words, THEN the music.”
“Ducca d’Mantua—Rigoletto, Radames—Aida or any sung by the greatest Premo Tenore ever — Luciano Pavarotti!”
“Gotta love The Duke and I’m not talking about John Wayne.”
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